Implanter device for subcutaneous implants
AssigneeAlza Corporation
InventorsCraig R. Davis, John R. Peery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implanter for inserting subcutaneous implants includes a handle for grasping the implanter during implantation, a hollow cannula receiving the implant, and a rod for releasing the implant from the cannula. The rod is longitudinally fixed within the handle while the cannula slides over the rod to release the implant. The cannula is moved over the rod by a sliding actuator mounted in a track of the handle. The actuator is locked in an extended position to prevent unintended release of the implant. Preferably, the implanter is a single-use device having a actuator locking feature preventing reuse.
Claims12
An implanter for inserting implants comprising:
- a handle for grasping the implanter during insertion of an implant, the handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and a track formed along a first surface of the handle;
- a rod longitudinally fixed to the handle, the rod extending from the distal end of the handle;
- a hollow cannula positioned coaxially around and longitudinally slidable over the rod from an extended position in which an implant is retained in the cannula to a retracted position in which the implant is released from the cannula;
- and
- an actuator connected pivotally to the cannula and slidable in the track of the handle to move the cannula from the extended position to the retracted position to release the implant from the cannula, wherein the actuator pivots between a locked and an unlocked position.
An implanter for inserting implants comprising:
- a handle for grasping the implanter during insertion of an implant, the handle having a distal end, a proximal end, and a track formed along a first surface of the handle, wherein a distal end of the track includes a locking portion which is angled with respect to a remainder of the track;
- a rod longitudinally fixed to the handle, the rod extending from the distal end of the handle;
- a hollow cannula positioned coaxially around and longitudinally slidable over the rod from an extended position in which an implant is retained in the cannula to a retracted position in which the implant is released from the cannula;
- and
- an actuator connected to the cannula and slidable in the track of the handle to move the cannula from the extended position to the retracted position to release the implant from the cannula, wherein the actuator engages the locking portion to prevent retraction of the cannula.
A method of inserting an implant subcutaneously with an implanter comprising:
- inserting a cannula of an implanter beneath the skin of a patient with an implant positioned within the cannula, the implanter including a handle and a slidable actuator pivotally attached to the cannula;
- unlocking the activator by pivoting then actuator with respect to the cannula from a locked to an unlocked position;
- manually retracting the cannula by sliding the actuator along a track in the handle to release the implant beneath the skin;
- and
- withdrawing the implant from the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.