The present invention relates to a container for a disposable needle. More particularly, the invention refers to a container for a disposable needle for drug infusion, which container makes needle placement through a patient's skin easier.

As known, several medical treatments exploit subcutaneous infusion of liquid drugs: the drug flows through a hose connected to a needle placed through the patient's skin and it is directly delivered under the skin through said needle. Alternatively, insertion needles are employed for placement through the patient's skin of a soft and relatively flexible tubular cannula, followed by insertion needle removal and subsequent infusion of medical fluid to the patient directly through the cannula. In some cases, the patient himself/herself is to administer the drug. For instance, many diabetic patients self-administer insulin, in the form of controlled and prolonged infusion.

Clearly, many patients have no medical knowledge and therefore they may be reluctant to place the needle or cannula through their skin or inexpert in doing so. Thus, it is necessary to provide means allowing automatic placement, so as to prevent the patient's lack of skill or hesitation from resulting in an incorrect needle or cannula placement, with possible dangerous consequences.

Devices of this kind, which can be employed for the subcutaneous infusion of a liquid drug either through a needle or through a soft cannula, already exist and one of them is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,172.

According to the teaching of the above mentioned patent, a device for needle placement comprises a cylinder, the lower portion of which can receive the outward-directed needle and related hose, ready for placement through the patient's skin. Said cylinder internally includes a spring that can be brought into a loaded condition and, on its upper portion, a trigger that is to release said spring. By depressing the trigger, the spring is released so as to outward project, more particularly through the patient's skin, the needle located in the lower portion of the device. Once the needle is placed through the skin, a slight traction is sufficient to retract the device and leave the needle in place, in the correct position.

A problem with such kind of devices is that the patient is to provide for the correct introduction of the infusion set into the lower portion of the cylinder, to ensure a correct needle positioning.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a container within which a needle and the related hose or, alternatively, a cannula, are already correctly positioned, so that the patient only has to place said container against his/her skin and to release the needle or cannula through a simple movement.

Another drawback of such known devices is that, while the needle is being placed inside the device, the user risks to prickle himself/herself while handling the needle. Moreover, at such step, the needle is exposed to the outside environment and in particular to germs and bacteria.

Thus, it is another object of the present invention to provide a container for a disposable needle or cannula that does not result in the risk for the user to prickle himself/herself during use and that allows maintaining hygiene and safety in respect of possible contamination by external agents.

A container for a disposable needle intended to facilitate needle or cannula placement through a patient's skin is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,172.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by a container as defined in the appended claims.

The container according to the invention has the appearance of a small housing of plastic material, already containing the needle connected with the related hose or, alternatively, the end of the cannula connected with the related insertion needle, and protected from the surrounding environment by means of a protecting film.

After said film has been removed and the container base has been placed against the skin, a simple push is sufficient to release the needle and pierce the skin.

Once the needle has been placed through the skin, the container can be removed by slightly pulling it, without risks of displacing the needle from the correct position.

If the drug is to be delivered to the patient directly through a soft cannula, the insertion needle of said cannula can be removed together with the container, without displacing the cannula.

Advantageously, the construction of a disposable device affords maximum simplicity of use and maximum hygiene.

A number of embodiments of the invention will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the container according to the invention is employed for the insertion of a needle through a patient's skin. However, as already mentioned, the container according to the invention can be similarly used for the insertion of a soft cannula through a patient's skin.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention, shown before use;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, after needle insertion;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the container according to said first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view of the container according to a second embodiment of the invention, shown before use;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the container shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the needle-retaining member in the container shown in FIG. 7, shown before assembling;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the needle-retaining member shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line D-D, of the needle-retaining member shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a cylindrical housing 1, in which there is defined a cap 1a axially slidable relative to a sleeve 1b when a sufficient pressure is exerted on said cap 1a.

Said cap 1a moreover has an inner diameter slightly exceeding the outer diameter of sleeve 1b, so as to allow sleeve 1b to be received within cap 1a when the latter has been wholly depressed.

Sleeve 1b is integral with a base 1c intended for placing the container against the patient's skin, in the area where a L-shaped needle is to be inserted.

A hose 11, intended to supply the needle located within housing 1 with the drug, as it will be better disclosed hereinafter, radially comes out from sleeve 1b through an axial slit 63.

It is to be noted that said L-shaped needle with its related hose can be replaced by a soft cannula provided with an insertion needle of the type shown above captioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,172. Said cannula is a hollow tube made from a soft and flexible material, which can be bent into a desired configuration. In order to insert the cannula through a patient's skin, an insertion needle is introduced in the free end of the cannula and used for piercing the patient's skin and driving through the patient's skin said end of said cannula. The insertion needle is then removed, the cannula is bent into a L-shaped configuration for purpose of practicalness so as to adhere to the patient's skin and the drug is infused through the cannula. It is evident that, within the scope of the invention, the above disclosed cannula, together with the associated insertion needle, is equivalent to the aforesaid L-shaped needle and, for this reason, it will not be further described.

Outside housing 1, a removable film 3 is applied onto base 1c, to protect an adhesive gauze 5 placed between said film and base 1c and weakly adhering to base 1c in correspondence of a set of circular portions 7.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the container according to said first embodiment of the invention comprises, within said housing 1, a retaining member 9 comprising a securing portion 9a directed towards cap 1a and a retaining portion 9b directed towards sleeve 1b.

Securing portion 9a is firmly held inside an axial cylindrical hub 10 extending within cap 1a and integral therewith. Retaining portion 9b axially extends inside the container and ends, at its end remote from said securing portion 9a, with a plate 13 transversally arranged relative to the axis of retaining member 9.

As better shown in FIG. 4, said plate 13 has a substantially circular shape and has a pair of diametrically opposite radial grooves 15, through which corresponding axial projections 17 formed within sleeve 1b pass. Said projections are arranged to guide the axial sliding of plate 13, and consequently of member 9, when cap 1a is pressed against sleeve 1b.

Still with reference to FIG. 4, said plate 13 further comprises a groove 19, diametrically crossing the whole plane of plate 13, perpendicularly to radial grooves 15. Groove 19 retains inlet branch 21a of an L-shaped needle 21 for the infusion of the drug, housed inside the container.

Turning back to FIG. 2, said groove 19 axially extends inside plate 13 and retaining element 9b and widens, at its end, into a radial hollow 23, thereby to define two diametrically opposite portions of said plate 13. As it will be explained thereinafter, said portions can be deformed to release needle 21 once cap 1a has been depressed.

Two circumferential rims 25 and 27, respectively, are formed on the internal wall of sleeve 1b to keep plate 13 in engagement against sleeve 1b, thereby preventing cap 1a from sliding until a force sufficient to overcome the resistance of outermost rim 25 relative to said cap 1a is exerted against said cap.

With reference to FIG. 5, the internal wall of sleeve 1b comprises an axial groove 31 housing outlet branch 21b of L-shaped needle 21.

Said sleeve 1b further has, at the end of said axial groove 31, a widened portion 41 in correspondence of base 1c, to prevent branch 21b of needle 21 from sticking into the wall of sleeve 1b while advancing towards the outside through opening 37 provided in gauze 5. Cap 1a has a corresponding widening 43 to receive the outer projection defined by said widened portion 41 when sleeve 1b is completely received within cap 1a.

Turning back to FIG. 2, retaining portion 9b further comprises a pair of diametrically opposite fins 33 upward projecting from plate 13 and diverging towards cap 1a. Said fins 33 end with a convex portion 35, interfering with axial projections 17 when cap 1a is depressed and retaining member 9 is made to slide along sleeve 1b, thereby disengaging plate 13 from rim 25 and bringing the container to the position shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, when cap 1a is completely lowered against sleeve 1b, retaining member 9 is arranged with plate 13 against the inner face of gauze 5, and branch 21b of L-shaped needle 21 will be completely placed through the patient's skin after having passed through opening 37 in gauze 5.

Referring now to FIG. 6, gauze 5 is joined to a second adhesive gauze 39, which in turn is protected by a respective removable adhesive film. The border of second gauze 39 can be folded on gauze 5 when needle 21 has been inserted and the container has been removed. Thus, the patient can advantageously cover the area of gauze 5 and branch 21a of L-shaped needle 21 by said second gauze 39, whereby only the border of gauze 39 is externally visible and the area occupied by the needle is thus protected.

The operation of the container according to said first embodiment is as follows: starting from the configuration shown in FIG. 2, protecting film 3 is removed and adhesive gauze 5 is made to adhere to the patient's skin in the area where needle 21 is to be inserted. Pushing cap 1a towards base 1c results, once the resistance of rim 25 has been overcome, in the release of plate 13 and the sliding of cap 1a on sleeve 1b. During this step, needle 21 is placed through the patient's skin and, at the same time, is released from retaining member 9 because of the deformation of plate 13 due to the pressure radially exerted by projections 17 onto fins 33. The container has thus taken the configuration shown in FIG. 3 and it can be removed, while leaving the needle in place thanks to the weak adhesion between base 1c and gauze 5 if compared with the adhesion between gauze 5 and the patient's skin. Subsequently, the protecting film of second gauze 39 can be removed therefrom and gauze 39 can be folded on and made to adhere to gauze 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 11, a second embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the first embodiment in particular in respect of the structure of the needle-retaining member.

In this second embodiment, the container comprises a cylindrical housing 101, in which a cap 101a and a sleeve 101b are defined. The sleeve has a slightly smaller diameter, so that, when a sufficient pressure is exerted on cap 101a, the latter is axially slidable relative to sleeve 101b and can internally receive the sleeve. Said sleeve 101b is integral with a base 101c intended for placing the container against the patient's skin.

Slightly projecting circumferential rims could be provided on the inner surface of the base of cap 101a and on the outer surface of the edge of sleeve 101b remote from base 101c, respectively. Thanks to the co-operation between said circumferential rims, when housing 101 is assembled, said cap 101a is axially slidable on sleeve 101b but it cannot be accidentally separated therefrom.

Moreover, an annular band, e.g. of plastic material, could be applied around sleeve 101b to prevent cap 101a from accidentally sliding relative to sleeve 101b. Said band can be easily removed by the user before use.

A hose 111 radially comes out from sleeve 101b through an axial slit 163. Said hose is intended to deliver the drug to an L-shaped needle 121, located within housing 101 and comprising an inlet branch 121a, onto which the hose is fitted, and an outlet branch 121b, intended to be at least partly placed through the patient's skin. Said L-shaped needle 121 is housed within a retaining member 109, contained within housing 101.

Said retaining member 109 comprises a securing portion 109a and a retaining portion 109b and consists of two coupled half-shells 109c, shaped so as to define therebetween a cavity 161 capable of receiving said needle 121.

Securing portion 109a comprises two shoulders 157, 159, which are received into corresponding recesses 165, 167 formed in the edge of sleeve 101b remote from base 101c.

More particularly, recess 165 formed in correspondence with slit 163 is so sized that its edges resiliently press against shoulder 157 of retaining member 109, whereas the opposite recess 167 is oversized with respect to the corresponding shoulder 159 in said member 109, so that a clearance is left.

In the alternative, a pair of facing resilient members could be formed on the internal surface of said sleeve 101b, which members radially project towards the centre of said sleeve to such an extent that they press against half-shells 109c of said member 109.

Advantageously, radial projections 166, 168 are provided on the inner surface of sleeve 101b in correspondence with recesses 165, 167 and are firmly held between said shoulders 157, 159 and corresponding teeth 158, 160 formed in securing portion 109a of said retaining member 109. In such manner, retaining member 109 is axially joined to sleeve 101b.

Furthermore, a recess 155, extending up to cavity 161, is defined in securing portion 109a, to receive a projection 151 centrally provided inside cap 101a. Preferably, end 153 of said projection 151 is so shaped that it conforms to the curved profile of hose 111.

Two facing L-shaped axial projections 169, diametrically opposed and parallel to slit 163, are provided inside sleeve 101b and they form a seat for the portion of said retaining member 109 receiving outlet branch 121b of needle 121.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show in detail retaining member 109.

Advantageously, said retaining member 109 consists of two facing half-shells 109c, whereby positioning of needle 121 is particularly easy: indeed, it will be sufficient to place said needle between said half-shells 109c and then to join them, thereby blocking the needle therebetween. Said half-shells 109c are preferably formed by moulding into a single element, and therefore they are advantageously joined by a flexible member 171 making their assembling easier.

One of said half-shells 109c comprises three pins 173 engaging corresponding holes 175 in the other half-shell 109c, thereby assisting in correctly aligning both half-shells 109c at the assembling and, subsequently, in keeping them joined.

Both half-shells 109c have a groove 161a, 161b defining cavity 161 when half-shells 109c are joined.

Inlet branch 121a of needle 121, on which hose 111 is fitted, is retained inside cavity 161 thanks to the co-operation between a pair of support projections 177, 178 and a pair of rigid tongues 181 provided on one of half-shells 109c and housed in respective seats 179 in the other half-shell.

One of said support projections, 178, is suitably arranged on one half-shell 109c in correspondence of the bend between inlet and outlet branches 121a, 121b of needle 121. When the retaining member 109 is assembled, said projection 178 prevents, by co-operating with the surface of the facing half-shell 109, needle removal from housing 101.

As shown in FIG. 11, retaining portion 109b of each half-shell 109c is divided into two sections 109d, 109e connected by a flexible connecting member 183 allowing limited relative displacements of said sections.

When half-shells 109c are joined together, sections 109e in the respective half-shells adhere to each other, whereas a passage for outlet branch 121b of needle 121 is defined between sections 109d.

In this second embodiment, insertion and release of the needle take place as follows. When pushing cap 101a with sufficient force towards container base 101c, projection 151 presses against hose 111 and, by overcoming the resistance of pins 173 and the elastic resistance of sleeve 101b, said projection forces half-shells 109c apart. Sections 109d of said half-shells 109c cannot be separated, since they are rigidly retained by L-shaped projections of sleeve 101b, so that the passage for outlet branch 121b of needle 121 defined therebetween keeps unchanged. On the contrary, sections 109e of said half-shells can be spaced apart, by overcoming the elastic resistance of the edges of recess 165 in sleeve 101b. In such manner, hose 111 can pass through half-shells 109c along slit 163, while needle 121 is guided between facing sections 109d of half-shells 109c, until its outlet branch 121b becomes completely placed through the patient's skin.

Similarly to what described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention, also in this second embodiment the container can comprise, outside housing 101 and against base 101c, an adhesive gauze 5 weakly adhering to base 101c in correspondence of a set of circular portions. Thus, gauze 5 can remain adhering to the patient's skin after needle 121 has been placed through the patient's skin and the container has been removed. Said adhesive gauze 5 could be possibly joined with a second, protecting adhesive gauze which could be folded onto said first gauze after container removal.

It is clear that the above description has been given only by way of non-limiting example and that changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, as already mentioned, even if the above description has been given with reference to the insertion of a needle through which the drug coming from a related hose is delivered to a patient, the container according to the invention can also be used for the insertion through a patient's skin of a cannula provided with an insertion needle when the drug is to be delivered to the patient directly through said cannula.