Transdermal introducer assembly

A transdermal introducer assembly, comprising:

• a medical device for placement into the subcutaneous tissue of a patient;
• an introducer thread connected to said medical device;
• and
• an introducer needle including means for slide-fit threaded engagement with said introducer thread, said thread when engaged with said introducer needle permitting said medical device to be positioned in close fitting side-by-side relation with said needle in a position trailing a distal end of said needle, whereby manipulation of said introducer needle to pierce the patient's skin carries said medical device to a subcutaneous position, said introducer needle being slidably withdrawable from the patient's skin for slide-off separation from said introducer thread to leave said thread and said medical device on the patient.

A transdermal introducer assembly, comprising:

• a tube segment defining a hollow lumen extending between a distal end for placement into the subcutaneous tissue of a patient, and a proximal end for placement outside the patient, said tube segment having a radially open window formed therein generally at the distal end thereof;
• an elongated flexible introducer thread connected to the distal end of said tube segment, said introducer thread being formed integrally with said tube segment as an extruded extension at the distal end thereof;
• and
• a hollow introducer needle having an open distal end sized for slide-fit reception of said introducer thread, said thread permitting said tube segment to be folded back to extend along said introducer needle in close fitting side-by-side relation, whereby manipulation of the introducer needle to pierce the patient's skin carries said tube segment to a transcutaneous position, said introducer needle being slidably withdrawable from said introducer thread to leave said introducer thread and said tube segment transcutaneously positioned on the patient.

A method of placing a medical device into the subcutaneous tissue of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing the medical device with an elongated introducer thread connected thereto;
• theadably coupling the introducer thread with an introducer needle;
• piercing the patient's skin with the introducer needle, with the introducer thread coupled thereto, to carry the introducer thread and the medical device to a subcutaneous position on the patient;
• and
• withdrawing the introducer needle from the patient's skin to slidably separate the introducer needle from the introducer thread and thereby leave the introducer thread and the medical device on the patient.