Compact spring inserter for drug delivery infusion set

An infusion set, comprising:

• a base;
• an inserter removably connected to said base and rotatable to initiate operation of said infusion set;
• a catheter hub movable from a first catheter hub position to a second catheter hub position;
• a catheter connected to said catheter hub and movable from a first catheter position to a second catheter position upon rotation of said inserter, said catheter being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said catheter hub is in said first catheter hub position and said catheter is in said first catheter position and said catheter having a free disposed externally of said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position and said catheter is in said second catheter position;
• an introducer needle located within said catheter and movable with said catheter and said catheter hub from a first introducer needle position to a second introducer needle position upon rotation of said inserter, said introducer needle being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said introducer needle is in said first introducer needle position and said introducer needle having a free end disposed externally of said base when said introducer needle is in said second introducer needle position;
• and
• a spring member for moving said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle, wherein prior to activating said spring member, said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle are in said first catheter hub position, said first catheter position and said first introducer needle position, respectively, and when said spring member is activated, said catheter hub is moved to said second catheter hub position, said catheter is moved to said second catheter position and said introducer needle is moved to said second introducer needle position and then retracted to said first introducer hub position, said spring member being disposed entirely within said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position.

An infusion set, comprising:

• a base;
• an inserter removably connected to said base;
• a catheter hub movable from a first catheter hub position to a second catheter hub position;
• a catheter connected to said catheter hub and movable from a first catheter position to a second catheter position, said catheter being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said catheter hub is in said first catheter hub position and said catheter is in said first catheter position and said catheter having a free disposed externally of said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position and said catheter is in said second catheter position;
• an introducer needle located within said catheter and movable with said catheter and said catheter hub from a first introducer needle position to a second introducer needle position, said introducer needle being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said introducer needle is in said first introducer needle position and said introducer needle having a free end disposed externally of said base when said introducer needle is in said second introducer needle position;
• and
• a spring member for moving said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle, wherein prior to activating said spring member, said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle are in said first catheter hub position, said first catheter position and said first introducer needle position, respectively, and when said spring member is activated, said catheter hub is moved to said second catheter hub position, said catheter is moved to said second catheter position and said introducer needle is moved to said second introducer needle position and then retracted to said first introducer hub position, said spring member being disposed entirely within said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position, wherein
• said catheter hub engages an inner shoulder of said inserter to retain said catheter hub in said first catheter hub position,
• rotation of said inserter disengages said inner shoulder of said inserter from said catheter hub such that said spring member moves said catheter hub to said second catheter hub position, and
• rotation of said inserter when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position moves a locking member into engagement with said catheter hub to lock said catheter hub to said base.

An infusion set, comprising:

• a base;
• an inserter removably connected to said base;
• a catheter hub movable from a first catheter hub position to a second catheter hub position;
• a catheter connected to said catheter hub and movable from a first catheter position to a second catheter position, said catheter being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said catheter hub is in said first catheter hub position and said catheter is in said first catheter position and said catheter having a free disposed externally of said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position and said catheter is in said second catheter position;
• an introducer needle located within said catheter and movable with said catheter and said catheter hub from a first introducer needle position to a second introducer needle position, said introducer needle being disposed substantially entirely within said inserter when said introducer needle is in said first introducer needle position and said introducer needle having a free end disposed externally of said base when said introducer needle is in said second introducer needle position;
• and
• a spring member for moving said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle, wherein prior to activating said spring member, said catheter hub, said catheter and said introducer needle are in said first catheter hub position, said first catheter position and said first introducer needle position, respectively, and when said spring member is activated, said catheter hub is moved to said second catheter hub position, said catheter is moved to said second catheter position and said introducer needle is moved to said second introducer needle position and then retracted to said first introducer hub position, said spring member being disposed entirely within said base when said catheter hub is in said second catheter hub position, wherein
• a first end of said spring member is connected to said catheter hub and a second end of said spring member is connected to said base.

A method of inserting a catheter of an infusion set, comprising the steps of

• disposing an infusion set base and an inserter on a skin surface at an injection site while said infusion set base is coupled to said inserter;
• rotating said inserter to activate a spring member;
• inserting an introducer needle and the catheter through the skin surface upon activation of the spring member of the inserter;
• removing the inserter from the infusion set base;
• and
• storing the spring member in the infusion set base.