Introducer for a medication infusion set

Abstract

An introducer is provided for introducing a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient. The fluid is generally a medication, for example, 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 connection guides. The introducer includes an introducer needle and one or more guide arms that slide over the rail-like extensions to guide the needle into the self-sealing septum. The introducer includes one or more locking arms, with barbs at the end, to connect with one or more recesses that are provided in the cannula housing.

1 . An introducer to introduce a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient, the introducer comprising: 
 an introducer needle;    a first arm having a first groove adapted to slide on a first guide rail of a cannula housing and a second arm having a second groove adapted to slide on a second guide rail of the cannula housing,    wherein the cannula housing includes a cannula mounted thereon and fluid communication with a fluid passageway inside a projection, and wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are each on the projection.    
   
   
       2 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove extends along substantially all of the length of the first arm.  
   
   
       3 . The introducer of  claim 1 , further comprising a first locking arm, wherein the first locking arm includes a first barb adapted to be received by a first recess in the cannula housing.  
   
   
       4 . The introducer of  claim 3 , further comprising a second locking arm, wherein the second locking arm includes a second barb adapted to be received by a second recess in the cannula housing.  
   
   
       5 . The introducer of  claim 3 , wherein the locking arm includes a grip.  
   
   
       6 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are each substantially triangular shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is insulin.  
   
   
       8 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is composed of acrylic.  
   
   
       9 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is composed of polypropylene.  
   
   
       10 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is composed of polycarbonate.  
   
   
       11 . The introducer of  claim 1 , further including a needle guard adapted to cover the introducer needle.  
   
   
       12 . The introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the introducer is reversible.  
   
   
       13 . A method of introducing a cannula for subcutaneous administration of fluid into a patient, comprising: 
 inserting an introducer needle of an introducer and a cannula into a insertion site on a patient, wherein the introducer includes: 
 the introducer needle; and  
 a first arm having a first groove adapted to slide on a first guide rail of a cannula housing and a second arm having a second groove adapted to slide on a second guide rail of the cannula housing,  
   wherein the cannula is mounted on a cannula housing and is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway inside a projection on the cannula housing, and wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are each on the projection, and    wherein the introducer is connected to the cannula housing such that the introducer needle extends through the cannula; and    disconnecting the introducer from the cannula housing, whereby the introducer needle is removed from the cannula.