Field-chargeable transcutaneous drug delivery system
An automatic needle insertion device assists patients who may be uncomfortable with placing the needle themselves and employs a soft outer needle inserted using a rigid stylet, for example, a standard hypodermic needle, which is then removed after the soft needle is placed, greatly reducing irritation. An ambulatory pump can be filled with a variety of drugs and different amounts of drug on demand, for example, using a syringe prior to use.
1 . A transcutaneous drug delivery system, comprising:
a housing attachable to skin of a patient;
a syringe coupling supported by and exposed on an exterior of the housing providing a leak-free connection between a syringe and the syringe coupling; and
a hypodermic needle supported by the housing at a first end of the hypodermic needle to fluidly communicate with the syringe coupling to receive a liquid from the syringe when the syringe is coupled to the syringe coupling;
a reservoir to receive the liquid; and
a cannula assembly including:
a first opening to receive a second end of the hypodermic needle,
a second opening coupled to the reservoir, and
a passage to a soft needle configured to deliver the liquid to the patient.
2 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a collar surrounding the syringe coupling on an exterior of the housing.
3 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 2 wherein the collar extends outwardly from the housing by at least 1 cm.
4 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the syringe coupling is a Luer-Lock connector providing a one way valve.
5 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the syringe includes a Luer-Lock tip.
6 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the soft needle is configured to receive the hypodermic needle therein.
7 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a first one way check valve permitting movement of the liquid from the cannula assembly to the reservoir and a second one way check valve permitting movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the cannula assembly.
8 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein an apex of the soft needle is pierceable by the hypodermic needle permitting passage of the hypodermic needle through the skin of the patient.
9 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a pump configured to draw liquid from the reservoir.
10 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 9 wherein the pump comprises a motor configured to reciprocate a piston within a cylinder.
11 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a first compression spring configured to move the hypodermic needle along an insertion path through the skin of the patient in a released state.
12 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 11 further comprising a second compression spring exerting a greater force than the first compression spring configured to move the hypodermic needle out of the skin of the patient.
13 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 12 further comprising a spring catch retaining the second compression spring in a compressed state until the hypodermic needle is moved along the insertion path through the skin of the patient.
14 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric gland covering the first opening of the cannula assembly and allowing the hypodermic needle to pierce the elastomeric gland and reseal when the hypodermic needle is removed from the elastomeric gland.
15 . A method of transcutaneous delivery of a drug comprising the steps of:
attaching the housing of the transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 1 to skin of a patient;
connecting a syringe to the syringe coupling;
inserting the second end of the hypodermic needle through the first opening;
expelling the drug from the syringe through the hypodermic needle and through the second opening to fill the reservoir; and
providing a fluid flow path from the reservoir through the second opening and through the passage to the soft needle to deliver the drug to the patient.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising piercing an apex of the soft needle contemporaneously with piercing the skin of the patient with the hypodermic needle.
17 . A transcutaneous drug delivery system, comprising:
a housing attachable to skin of a patient;
a syringe coupling supported by the housing providing a leak-free connection between a syringe and the syringe coupling;
a carriage mechanism configured to slidably move along an insertion path;
a hypodermic needle supported by the carriage mechanism at a first end of the hypodermic needle to fluidly communicate with the syringe coupling to receive a liquid from the syringe when the syringe is coupled to the syringe coupling;
a reservoir to receive the liquid from the hypodermic needle prior to inserting the hypodermic needle through the skin of the patient;
a first compression spring configured to move the carriage mechanism and the hypodermic needle along the insertion path to cause the hypodermic needle to pierce through the skin of the patient;
a second compression spring exerting a greater force than the first compression spring to move the hypodermic needle along the insertion path out of the skin of the patient; and
a set of catches holding the second compression spring in a compressed state, wherein the set of catches are released by the carriage mechanism when the carriage mechanism is moved along the insertion path by the first compression spring.
18 . The transcutaneous drug delivery system of claim 17 further comprising tabs configured to release the first compression spring.