# US 10,478,102 B2 · Needle protective device for subcutaneous sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,102 B2 - Document ID: US10478102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/996,304 - Filed: 2018-06-01 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-28 - Assignees: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Minimed, Inc. - Inventors: Rebecca K. Gottlieb; Rajiv Shah; Katherine T. Wolfe; Eric Allan Larson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478102B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/1473: invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter - A61B 5/6849: {in combination with a needle set} - A61B 17/3496: {Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips (for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612)} - A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body} - A61M 5/3243: {being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel (devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612)} - A61M 25/0612: {Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders} - A61M 37/0069: {Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments (for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027)} - A61B 2560/0406: specially shaped apparatus housings - A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus - A61B 2560/063: Devices specially adapted for delivering implantable medical measuring apparatus - A61B 2562/0217: Electrolyte containing - A61B 2562/0295: Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 - A61B 2562/247: Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use - A61M 2005/1585: {Needle inserters} - A61M 2005/3247: {Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An introducer is provided for introducing a sensor into the body of a patient. The introducer connects to a sensor hub. When the sensor hub and introducer are connected, the introducer needle is exposed. When the sensor hub and introducer are disconnected, a needle cover and the needle move with respect to each other so that the needle cover substantially covers the needle, protecting a user from being injured by the needle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of covering an introducer needle comprising: providing a sensor hub, a sensor, and an introducer, the introducer being configured to insert the sensor into a patient, the introducer comprising: a housing detachably connectable to the sensor hub, wherein the sensor hub contains the sensor prior to connection to the housing, the housing including a needle cover, wherein the needle cover is an internal compartment of the housing; a needle that is moveable with respect to the needle cover and is extendable out of, and retractable into, the housing; a needle holder connected to the needle and contained within the housing; and a spring having a top end in contact with the needle holder and a bottom end in contact with the housing, wherein said needle holder and spring are configured such that, when the housing is connected to the sensor hub, said spring is in a compressed position and the needle extends out of the housing to insert the sensor into the patient, and such that disconnection of the housing from the sensor hub causes said spring to expand, thereby retracting the needle into the housing to be covered by said needle cover inside the housing, and the sensor remaining inserted in the patient; wherein the housing includes a mating component to mate with the sensor hub and hold said spring in said compressed position when the housing is connected to the sensor hub; and wherein the mating component includes a lock that locks the needle holder into a needle extended position when the housing is connected to the sensor hub, and when the mating component is not mated with the sensor hub the housing is completely detached from the sensor hub; connecting the housing to the sensor hub so as to insert the sensor into the patient; and disconnecting the housing from the sensor hub, whereby the needle cover covers the needle when the housing is detached from the sensor hub. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the needle holder is slidably coupled to the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the housing and the mating component are configured such that disconnection of the housing from the sensor hub causes the mating component to release the needle holder such that the needle holder may move the needle to be covered. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mating component is held in a locking position by friction when the housing is connected to the sensor hub. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mating component includes a catch that catches on the sensor hub when the housing is connected to the sensor hub, whereby the mating component is held in a locking position by the catch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the needle is permanently covered by the needle cover after the housing is disconnected from the sensor hub. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the needle holder has a top portion that defines an indentation therein, said indentation extending radially inwards from a periphery of said top portion, and wherein, when the housing is connected to the sensor hub, said lock extends into, and engages with, said indentation on the needle holder's top portion, thereby locking the needle holder in the needle extended position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the needle holder has a top portion that defines two indentations therein, wherein the housing includes a second mating component, wherein said second mating component includes a second lock, and wherein, when the housing is connected to the sensor hub, each said lock extends into, and engages with, a respective one of said indentations, thereby locking the needle holder in the needle extended position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each said mating component includes an arm, and wherein the arms are moveable towards, and away from, each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein, when the arms are moved towards one another, each said lock extends into, and engages with, a respective one of said indentations on the needle holder's top portion, and when the arms are moved away from one another, each said lock disengages from each said respective indentation.