Infusion medium delivery system, device and method with needle inserter and needle inserter device and method

A method of making a needle injector device for connection in fluid-flow communication with the inlet or outlet port of a reservoir, the method comprising:

• providing a housing with an interior channel having a longitudinal, axial dimension and a slot-shaped opening extending through a wall of the housing to the channel, the slot-shaped opening extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the channel;
• supporting a hollow needle in the channel for movement relative to the housing between a start position, an extended position and a retracted position, the needle having a piercing end having an opening and an opposite, second end having an opening;
• connecting a fluid conduit to the opening on the second end of the hollow needle for movement with the hollow needle, the fluid conduit being connectable to the outlet or inlet port of the reservoir;
• supporting a cannula having a nest on the needle, when the needle is in the start position, for movement with the needle to the extended position of the needle;
• connecting a lever member in a fixed relation to the hollow needle and extending an extension portion of the lever member through the slot-shaped opening in the housing;
• arranging a first bias member to impart a first bias force on the lever in a first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle and the supported cannula from the start position to the extended position of the needle, free of manual input;
• providing a lock structure for locking the cannula and nest in a fixed position relative to the housing, when the needle and cannula are moved to the extended position of the needle;
• and
• arranging a second bias member to impart a second bias force on the lever in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle from the extended position to the retracted position, while leaving the cannula in the extended position;
• wherein at least a portion of the first bias member is located outside the housing, and
• wherein at least a portion of the second bias member is located outside the housing.

A needle injector device for connection in fluid-flow communication with the inlet or outlet port of a reservoir, the needle injector comprising:

• a housing provided with an interior channel having a longitudinal, axial dimension and a slot-shaped opening extending through a wall of the housing to the channel and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the channel;
• a hollow needle supported in the channel for movement relative to the housing between a start position, an extended position and a retracted position, the needle having a piercing end having an opening and an opposite, second end having an opening;
• a fluid conduit connected to the opening on the second end of the hollow needle and moveable with the hollow needle, the fluid conduit being connectable to the outlet or inlet port of the reservoir;
• a cannula having a nest supported on the needle, when the needle is in the start position and moveable with the needle to the extended position of the needle;
• a lever member connected in a fixed relation to the hollow needle and having a extension portion extending through the slot-shaped opening in the housing;
• a first bias member arranged to impart a first bias force on the lever in a first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle and the supported cannula from the start position to the extended position of the needle, free of manual input;
• a lock structure for locking the cannula and nest in a fixed position relative to the housing, when the needle and cannula are moved to the extended position of the needle;
• a second bias member arranged to impart a second bias force on the lever in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle from the extended position to the retracted position, while leaving the cannula in the extended position;
• a second lock structure for locking the first bias member in a state at which the first bias member is ready to impart a bias force on the lever member, but does not impart its full force on the lever and for selectively releasing the first bias member to impart its full force on the lever;
• wherein the first bias member is configured such that upon releasing the first bias member, the first bias member imparts a force on the lever member that overpowers the force of the second bias member, to move the lever member and attached needle from the start position to the extended position against the bias force of the second bias member;
• wherein, the lever member is configured to be released from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved to the extended position, to allow the bias force of the second bias member to move the lever member and attached needle to the retracted position;
• wherein the lever member comprises a bendable or breakable portion that bends or breaks to disengage from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved by the first bias member to the extended position;
• wherein the bendable or breakable portion of the lever member is a breakable portion configured to break to disengage from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved by the first bias member to the extended position.

A method of making a needle injector device for connection in fluid-flow communication with the inlet or outlet port of a reservoir, the method comprising:

• providing a housing with an interior channel having a longitudinal, axial dimension and a slot-shaped opening extending through a wall of the housing to the channel, the slot-shaped opening extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the channel;
• supporting a hollow needle in the channel for movement relative to the housing between a start position, an extended position and a retracted position, the needle having a piercing end having an opening and an opposite, second end having an opening;
• connecting a fluid conduit to the opening on the second end of the hollow needle for movement with the hollow needle, the fluid conduit being connectable to the outlet or inlet port of the reservoir;
• supporting a cannula having a nest on the needle, when the needle is in the start position, for movement with the needle to the extended position of the needle;
• connecting a lever member in a fixed relation to the hollow needle and extending an extension portion of the lever member through the slot-shaped opening in the housing;
• arranging a first bias member to impart a first bias force on the lever in a first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle and the supported cannula from the start position to the extended position of the needle, free of manual input;
• providing a lock structure for locking the cannula and nest in a fixed position relative to the housing, when the needle and cannula are moved to the extended position of the needle;
• and
• arranging a second bias member to impart a second bias force on the lever in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, for moving the lever and the attached needle from the extended position to the retracted position, while leaving the cannula in the extended position;
• providing a second lock structure for locking the first bias member in a state at which the first bias member is ready to impart a bias force on the lever member, but does not impart its full force on the lever and for selectively releasing the first bias member to impart its full force on the lever;
• wherein arranging the first bias member comprises arranging a bias member that is configured such that upon releasing the first bias member, the first bias member imparts a force on the lever member that overpowers the force of the second bias member, to move the lever member and attached needle from the start position to the extended position against the bias force of the second bias member;
• wherein the lever member is configured to be released from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved to the extended position, to allow the bias force of the second bias member to move the lever member and attached needle to the retracted position;
• wherein the lever member comprises a bendable or breakable portion that bends or breaks to disengage from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved by the first bias member to the extended position;
• wherein the bendable or breakable portion of the lever member is a breakable portion configured to break to disengage from the first bias member, upon the lever member being moved by the first bias member to the extended position.