Disposable Transcutaneous Sensor Inserter With Spring-Driven Needle Hub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inserters for transcutaneous sensors are complex and costly, making them difficult to handle and dispose of safely, and often require multiple components for assembly.
Innovation Solution
A disposable, low-profile inserter with a housing, needle hub, and spring unit, where the needle hub and carrier body are unreleasably connected, allowing for easy subcutaneous insertion and safe disposal without the need for screws or complex assembly, featuring a U-shaped or single-piece design for simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex inserter structure with multiple housing portions and fastening means is used, then the inserter can achieve reliable sensor placement, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the first and second housing portions into a single integrated housing structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate fastening means (screws, tabs, or adhesive) to retain the housing portions together, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the reliability of sensor placement through the unified structural design.
2Ease of manufacture
If a disposable inserter design is used, then the cost and disposal complexity are reduced, but the structural integrity and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inserter is pre-assembled with the sensor and needle in a ready-to-use configuration before sterilization and packaging. This preliminary assembly ensures that all components are properly positioned and secured prior to disposal, maintaining insertion reliability while enabling the entire assembly to be disposed of as a single unit, simplifying the manufacturing and disposal process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple fastening means are used to retain housing portions, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first and second housing portions into a single housing structure, eliminating the need for multiple fastening means (screws, interlocking tabs, or adhesive). This integration maintains structural stability through the unified design while significantly simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process, as no separate fastening operations are required.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inserter provides a simple, safe, and cost-effective solution for transcutaneous sensor insertion and disposal, reducing user handling complexity and assembly requirements while ensuring proper insertion angle and secure needle management.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier body is connected to release means, and when the release means are manipulated, the carrier body, the sensor housing and the needle hub are forced by the spring unit to an advanced position
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an inserter for a transcutaneous sensor comprising a sensor part e.g. for registration of the bloods content of glucose. The inserter comprises a needle unit comprising a needle hub and a carrier body, and a sensor housing. The sensor housing and the needle hub are releasably connected and when they are connected, the insertion needle is placed along the sensor e.g. surrounding the sensor wholly or partly. The carrier body guides the movement relative to the housing between a retracted and an advanced position. When released the needle unit and the sensor housing are forced by a spring unit to an advanced position where the needle and sensor are placed subcutaneously. The object of the invention is to provide a disposable inserter for a transcutaneous sensor which inserter is easy and safe for the user to handle during use and to dispose of after use.