Cannula insertion device

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cannula insertion device comprising:

a frame;

a hub mounted to the frame and arranged to be slidably moveable from a first position in a first direction to a second position relative to the frame; and

a needle projecting in the first direction from the hub, the needle being shielded by the frame when the hub is in the first position; and

a detachable cannula assembly including a cannula, the needle carrying the detachable cannula assembly;

the frame and hub arranged to allow the hub to be moved from the first position to the second position so as to insert the cannula into a patient and to be moved in a second, reverse direction backwards to a third position in which the frame shields the needle;

the apparatus further comprising:

a housing for receiving the detachable cannula assembly,

wherein the cannula insertion device is removeably attached to the housing and is detachable from the housing only once the hub is in the third position,

wherein the frame includes first and second arms running along opposite sides of a central portion of the frame and attached thereto by respective deformable hinges, each arm having an anterior distal end and a posterior distal end relative to the hinge of the arm, the anterior distal ends of the arms arranged to provide jaws for releasably attaching the cannula insertion device to the housing for receiving the detachable cannula assembly; and

wherein the hub has opposing surfaces for gripping between a finger and thumb of one hand and which lie outside the arms of the frame, at least a portion of the hub being deformable so as to allow the opposing surfaces to be moved inwards when pressed together.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is elongate and the hub is slidably moveable along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame and hub are further arranged to provide a latch so as to lock the hub in the third position so as to prevent the hub being moved forward.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes first and second beams running adjacently between first and second ends, the hub and frame arranged such that the needle sits between the beams.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the frame includes a cover spanning the beams and running between the first and second ends so as to define a space in which the needle sits.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second beams include respective lip portions partially spanning the beams and running between the first and second ends so as to define slot along the frame.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hub includes first and second arms disposed on either side of a central portion, said opposing surfaces being outer surfaces of the first and second arms.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is arranged such that when the hub is substantially in the third position and the opposing surfaces are pressed together, the posterior distal ends of the arms of the frame are pressed inwards and the anterior distal ends of the arms of the frame move outwards away from the central portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame and hub are provided with cooperating surfaces such that when the hub is in a position which allows the posterior distal ends of the arms of the frame to be pressed inwards, the cooperating surfaces resist inward movement of the posterior distal ends of the arms of the frame and thus prevent outward movement of anterior distal ends of the arms of the frame away from the central portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the cooperating surface of the frame comprises outward facing sides of the central portion.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the cooperating surface of the hub comprises upstanding fins.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame and hub are arranged such that when the hub is between the first and second positions and when the opposing surfaces of the hub are pressed together, anterior distal ends of the arms are pressed towards the central portion.

13. A method of inserting a cannula using apparatus comprising a cannula insertion device comprising a frame, a hub mounted to the frame and arranged to be slidably movable in a first direction from a first position to a second position relative to the frame and a needle projecting in the first direction from the hub along the longitudinal axis and carrying a detachable cannula assembly including a cannula, the needle being shielded by the frame when the hub is in the first position, the apparatus further comprising a housing for receiving the detachable cannula assembly, wherein the cannula insertion device is removeably attached to the housing and is detachable from the housing only once the hub is in a third position, wherein the frame includes first and second arms running along opposite sides of a central portion of the frame and attached thereto by respective deformable hinges, each arm having an anterior distal end and a posterior distal end relative to the hinge of the arm, the anterior distal ends of the arms arranged to provide jaws for releasably attaching the cannula insertion device to the housing for receiving the detachable cannula assembly; and wherein the hub has opposing surfaces for gripping between a finger and thumb of one hand and which lie outside the arms of the frame, at least a portion of the hub being deformable so as to allow the opposing surfaces to be moved inwards when pressed together, the method comprising:

gripping the opposing surfaces of the hub between a finger and thumb of one hand;

moving the hub in the first direction from the first position to the second position so as to insert the cannula into a patient;

drawing the hub in a second, reverse direction to the third position in which the frame shields the needle; and

detaching the cannula insertion device from the housing when the hub is in the third position.