Rotationally biased insertion mechanism for a drug delivery pump

A drug pump comprising:

• a housing, an activation mechanism;
• a drive mechanism;
• and
• an insertion mechanism including
• an axis,
• a rotatably disposed housing having an internal chamber,
• at least one rotational biasing member coupled to the housing and initially held in an energized state, the rotational biasing member being disposed to rotate the housing as the rotational biasing member de-energizes,
• a sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing,
• a needle having a hollow interior, a proximal end, and a distal end and disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing,
• a hub connected to the proximal end of the needle and disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing, the needle and hub being configured to axially translate between an initial position and an insertion position,
• at least one retraction biasing member disposed between the hub and at least one axially-stationary element, the retraction biasing member being disposed to move the hub and needle from the insertion position to an at least partially retracted position as the retraction biasing member de-energizes, and
• wherein rotation of the housing caused by de-energizing of the rotational biasing member causes axial translation of the hub and needle in a distal direction from the initial position to the insertion position and further wherein de-energizing of the retraction biasing member causes translation of the hub and needle in a proximal direction to the at least partially retracted position.

A method of operating a drug pump comprising:

• providing an insertion mechanism including
• an axis,
• a rotatably disposed housing having an internal chamber,
• at least one rotational biasing member coupled to the housing and initially held in an energized state, the rotational biasing member being disposed to rotate the housing as the rotational biasing member de-energizes,
• a sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing,
• a needle having a hollow interior, a proximal end, and a distal end and disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing,
• a hub connected to the proximal end of the needle and disposed at least partially within the internal chamber of the housing, the needle and hub being configured to axially translate between an initial position and an insertion position,
• at least one retraction biasing member disposed between the hub and at least one axially-stationary element, the retraction biasing member being disposed to move the hub and needle from the insertion position to an at least partially retracted position as the retraction biasing member de-energizes, and
• wherein rotation of the housing caused by de-energizing of the rotational biasing member causes axial translation of the hub and needle in a distal direction from the initial position to the insertion position and further wherein de-energizing of the retraction biasing member causes translation of the hub and needle in a proximal direction to the at least partially retracted position;
• permitting the at least one rotational biasing member to de-energize from its initial energized state, wherein such de-energizing causes rotation of the needle housing and thereby causes translation of the needle and hub in the distal direction from the initial position to the insertion position;
• connecting a sterile access connection to a drug container;
• and
• activating a drive mechanism to force a fluid through the sterile access connection, the conduit, the needle, and into a target.