Container for Disposable Needle or Cannula

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for a disposable needle or cannula, intended to facilitate needle or cannula placement for the infusion of a liquid drug under a patient's skin, the container comprising: a cylindrical housing ( 1; 101 ) in which there are defined a cap ( 1 a; 101 a ) and a sleeve ( 1 b; 101 b ) provided with a resting base ( 1 c; 101 c ), said cap ( 1 a ; 101 a ) being axially slidable relative to said sleeve ( 1 b; 101 b ) when a sufficient pressure is exerted on said cap ( 1 a; 101 a ); a needle ( 21; 121 ) or cannula, which is located inside said housing so as to be directed towards said resting base ( 1 c ; 101 c ) for the infusion of the drug; a retaining member ( 9; 109 ), which is located within said housing ( 1; 101 ) between said cap ( 1 a; 101 a ) and said sleeve ( 1 b; 101 b ) and to which said needle ( 21; 121 ) or cannula is secured; said container being equipped with a releasing member for releasing said needle ( 21; 121 ) or cannula when said cap ( 1 a; 101 a ) is made to slide on said sleeve ( 1 b; 101 b ).

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A container for facilitating insertion of a piercing member through a patient's skin, the container comprising:
 a housing comprising a cap and a sleeve, the cap being axially slidable relative to the sleeve to substantially encase an axial length of the sleeve when sufficient pressure is exerted on an exterior surface of the cap; the sleeve defining a base for placement against the patient's skin;   a retaining member connected to the cap;   the piercing member connected to the retaining member;   wherein the piercing member is concealed within the sleeve in a first housing position wherein a portion of the axial length of the sleeve is unencased by the cap and the piercing member exposed from the sleeve in a second housing position wherein the cap substantially encases the axial length of the sleeve; and   a releasing member for releasing the piercing member from the retaining member;   wherein upon exertion of the pressure on the cap, the cap slides axially toward the patient's skin along said sleeve so that the piercing member is placed through said patient's skin and the piercing member is released from the retaining member.   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a pair of guiding members to guide the cap relative to the sleeve when the cap is depressed. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising a projecting structure defining the retaining member and extending generally axially from an end portion of the cap within said sleeve. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the piercing member is attached to the projecting structure. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the releasing member comprises a pair of projections configured to contact the sleeve to release the piercing member when the cap is depressed. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the pair of projections comprises a first configuration when the cap is in the first position and the pair of projections comprises a second configuration when the cap is in the second position, wherein the pair of projections are moved inward in the second configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising a releasable annular protector surrounding at least a portion of the sleeve to prevent the cap from sliding relative to the sleeve. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the container is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the adhesive layer is releasably attached to the base and configured to adhere to and remain on the patient's skin after the container is removed. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises an opening for extension of at least a portion of the piercing member therethrough. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the piercing member is adapted to administer a drug. 
     
     
         34 . A container for facilitating placement of a medical device through a patient's skin, the container comprising:
 a housing comprising a cap telescopically slidable over a sleeve, the sleeve including a base configured for placement against the patient's skin;   at least one guiding member to guide the movement of the cap relative to the sleeve between a first position to a second position along the sleeve;   a piercing member secured to a retaining member within the housing, the piercing member and the retaining member movable together with the cap toward the second position wherein at least a portion of the piercing member is exposed from the sleeve and the cap substantially encases an axial length of the sleeve; and   a releasing member for releasing the piercing member from the retaining member, the releasing member being activatable to release the piercing member from the retaining member by movement of the cap from the first position to the second position;   wherein upon exertion of pressure on the cap, the cap slides axially toward the patient's skin along the sleeve to the second position so that the piercing member is placed through the patient's skin.   
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 34 , wherein an adhesive layer is releasably attached to the base and configured to adhere to and remain on the patient's skin after the container is removed. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 34 , further comprising a releasable annular protector surrounding at least a portion of the sleeve to prevent the cap from sliding relative to the sleeve. 
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 34 , further comprising a plurality of guiding members to guide the cap relative to the sleeve when the cap is depressed. 
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of guiding members project inward into an interior cavity defined within the sleeve. 
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 34 , wherein the releasing member comprises a plurality of flexible members configured to deform inwardly into an interior of the container when the cap is made to slide on the sleeve. 
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 34 , wherein the sleeve further comprises an axial slit. 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 35 , further comprising a protective film for covering a face of the adhesive layer prior to adhering the adhesive layer to the patient's skin. 
     
     
         42 . The container of  claim 34 , wherein the retaining member is connected to the cap.