Medication infusion set

Abstract

An infusion set is provided for use in delivering fluid through a cannula, which is housed on a cannula housing, to a selected subcutaneous infusion site on a patient. The fluid is generally a medication, e.g., insulin. The cannula is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway surrounded by a projection on the cannula housing that includes one or more rail-like extensions acting as guides. A connector connects the cannula housing to a fluid delivery system, e.g., an infusion pump. The connector includes a needle, one or more guide arms that slide over the rail-like extensions to guide the needle into the self-sealing septum, and one or more locking arms, with barbs at the end, to connect with corresponding recesses in the cannula housing. An introducer having one or more similar guide arms and locking arms, and a longer needle, may be used to insert the cannula into the patient.

1 . An introducer for introducing a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient, comprising:
 separate first and second guide arms, wherein each of the separate first and second guide arms has opposing inner and outer longitudinal sides, wherein, for each guide arm, the outer longitudinal side is flat along substantially the entire length thereof and the inner longitudinal side has an arcuate profile along substantially the entire length thereof, and wherein the inner side of the first guide arm faces the inner side of the second guide arm; and   a longitudinally-extending needle that is parallel to said guide arms and is disposed laterally spaced apart from, and in-between, said first and second guide arms,   wherein the needle has a distal tip that extends beyond respective distal ends of said first and second guide arms, and wherein the introducer is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis such that it is reversible.   
     
     
         2 . The introducer of  claim 1 , further including a locking arm having a barb. 
     
     
         3 . The introducer of  claim 2 , wherein said locking arm includes a grip. 
     
     
         4 . The introducer of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of locking arms, each said locking arm having a barb associated therewith. 
     
     
         5 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is made of material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein said arcuate profile of the inner longitudinal side of each of said first and second guide arms is concave. 
     
     
         7 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the needle is stationary at all times with respect to the first and second guide arms. 
     
     
         8 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is configured to be detachably connected to a cannula housing in fluid communication with said cannula. 
     
     
         9 . The introducer of  claim 8 , wherein the cannula has a distal end for placement into the patient's skin, and, when the introducer is connected to the cannula housing, the needle's distal tip extends beyond the cannula's distal end. 
     
     
         10 . The introducer of  claim 8 , wherein the cannula housing further includes first and second guide rails, and wherein each of said first and second guide arms is configured to mate with a respective one of said first and second guide rails. 
     
     
         11 . The introducer of  claim 8 , further including a locking arm having a barb, wherein the cannula housing defines a recess therein, and said recess is configured to receive the barb when the introducer is connected to the cannula housing. 
     
     
         12 . The introducer of  claim 8 , further including a plurality of locking arms, each said locking arm having a barb associated therewith, wherein the cannula housing defines a plurality of recesses and each said recess is configured to receive a respective one of said barbs so as to detachably connect the introducer to the cannula housing. 
     
     
         13 . An introducer for introducing a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient, comprising:
 separate first and second guide arms, wherein each of the separate first and second guide arms has opposing inner and outer longitudinal sides, wherein, for each guide arm, the outer longitudinal side is flat along substantially the entire length thereof and the inner longitudinal side has an arcuate profile along substantially the entire length thereof, and wherein the inner side of the first guide arm faces the inner side of the second guide arm;   a longitudinally-extending needle that is parallel to said guide arms and is disposed laterally spaced apart from, and in-between, said first and second guide arms, wherein the needle has a distal tip that extends beyond respective distal ends of said first and second guide arms; and   a plurality of locking arms, wherein each said locking arm has a barb associated therewith, and wherein each said locking arm includes a grip.   
     
     
         14 . The introducer of  claim 13 , wherein the introducer is configured to be detachably connected to a cannula housing in fluid communication with said cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The introducer of  claim 14 , wherein the cannula housing defines a plurality of recesses therein and each said recess is configured to receive a respective one of said barbs so as to detachably connect the introducer to the cannula housing. 
     
     
         16 . The introducer of  claim 14 , wherein the cannula housing further includes first and second guide rails, and wherein each of said first and second guide arms is configured to mate with a respective one of said first and second guide rails. 
     
     
         17 . The introducer of  claim 14 , wherein the cannula has a distal end for placement into the patient's skin, and, when the introducer is connected to the cannula housing, the needle's distal tip extends beyond the cannula's distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The introducer of  claim 13 , wherein the introducer is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis such that it is reversible. 
     
     
         19 . The introducer of  claim 13 , wherein said arcuate profile of the inner longitudinal side of each of said first and second guide arms is concave. 
     
     
         20 . The introducer of  claim 13 , wherein the needle is stationary at all times with respect to the first and second guide arms. 
     
     
         21 . An introducer for introducing a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient, comprising:
 a first guide arm having opposing inner and outer longitudinal sides, wherein the outer longitudinal side is flat along substantially the entire length thereof and the inner longitudinal side has an arcuate profile along substantially the entire length thereof, and wherein the inner side of the first guide arm is configured to mate with a first guide rail of a cannula housing;   a second guide arm separate from said first guide arm, said second guide arm having opposing inner and outer longitudinal sides, wherein the outer longitudinal side is flat along substantially the entire length thereof and the inner longitudinal side has an arcuate profile along substantially the entire length thereof, wherein the inner side of the second guide arm is configured to mate with a second guide rail of the cannula housing, and wherein the inner side of the first guide arm faces the inner side of the second guide arm;   a longitudinally-extending needle that is parallel to said guide arms and has a distal tip that extends beyond respective distal ends of said first and second guide arms; and   a locking arm having a barb, wherein the cannula housing releasably engages with the barb so as to detachably connect the introducer to the cannula housing.   
     
     
         22 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein the introducer is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis such that it is reversible. 
     
     
         23 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein said locking arm includes a grip. 
     
     
         24 . The introducer of  claim 21 , further including a plurality of locking arms, each said locking arm having a barb associated therewith, wherein the cannula housing defines a plurality of recesses and each said recess is configured to receive a respective one of said barbs so as to detachably connect the introducer to the cannula housing. 
     
     
         25 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein the introducer is made of material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene. 
     
     
         26 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein said arcuate profile of the inner longitudinal side of each of said first and second guide arms is concave. 
     
     
         27 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein the needle is stationary at all times with respect to the first and second guide arms. 
     
     
         28 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein the cannula has a distal end for placement into the patient's skin, and, when the introducer is connected to the cannula housing, the needle's distal tip extends beyond the cannula's distal end. 
     
     
         29 . The introducer of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid is insulin.