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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector device to deliver fluid from a fluid delivery device to a body of a user, the connector device comprising:
 separate first and second guide arms having no physical connection therebetween, each of the separate first and second guide arms having 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, said inner side of the first guide arm facing the inner side of the second guide arm; and   a longitudinally-extending connecting 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 and the guide arms have respective distal ends, and the distal ends of the first and second guide arms extend beyond the needle's distal tip.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector device is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis such that it is reversible. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner longitudinal side of each of said first and second separate guide arms is concave. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector device further includes a plurality of locking arms, each said arm having a barb associated therewith. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery device is an infusion pump. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is made of material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle is stationary at all times with respect to the first and second guide arms. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be detachably connected to a cannula housing having a cannula for delivering said fluid to the user's body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is insulin. 
     
     
         10 . A connector device to deliver fluid from a fluid delivery device to a body of a user, the connector device 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 a concave profile along substantially the entire length thereof;   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 a concave profile along substantially the entire length thereof, wherein the inner side of the first guide arm faces the inner side of the second guide arm;   a longitudinally-extending connecting needle that is parallel to said guide arms and is disposed laterally spaced apart from, and in-between, said first and second guide arms; and   a locking arm having a barb.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle has a distal tip and the guide arms have respective distal ends, and the distal ends of the first and second guide arms extend beyond the needle's distal tip 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the connector device is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis such that it is reversible. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said locking arm includes a grip. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further including a plurality of locking arms, each said locking arm having a barb associated therewith. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the connector device is made of material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle is stationary at all times with respect to the first and second guide arms. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid is insulin.