Abstract
Disclosed is septum arrangement having a pierceable septum. The pierceable septum has first and second surfaces positioned opposite to one another and a peripheral surface. A compression element has at least two compression members that partially or fully surround the peripheral surface and has at least two gripping members. Each compression member is connected to at least one gripping member, and the gripping members extend from the compression members towards a common axis (A) which intersects the first surface. A resilient element exerts a biasing force on the pierceable septum that is directed towards the common axis (A). The gripping members define an aperture between them such that introduction of a needle into the aperture exerts a force on the gripping members that counteracts the biasing force and moves the gripping members apart from each other.
Claims
1. A septum arrangement, comprising: a pierceable septum having a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite to one another and a peripheral surface; a compression element having at least two compression members that partially or fully surround the peripheral surface and having at least two gripping members, wherein each compression member is connected to at least one of the gripping members, and wherein the gripping members extend from the compression members towards a common axis (A) which intersects the first surface; a resilient element that exerts a biasing force on the pierceable septum, wherein the biasing force is directed towards the common axis (A); wherein the gripping members define an aperture between them whereby introduction of a needle into the aperture exerts a force on the gripping members that counteracts the biasing force and moves the gripping members apart from each other; and wherein the introduction of the needle results in the piercing of the septum creating a through cut extending through a thickness of the septum from the first surface to the second surface and wherein, upon removal of the needle, the biasing force sealingly closes the through cut.
2. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force is a radial force.
3. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two compression members and/or the at least two gripping members are connected to the resilient element.
4. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two gripping members comprises two gripping members positioned opposite to each other.
5. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two compression members are configured as an integrally formed resilient ring.
6. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is an elastomer or a spring.
7. The septum arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two compression members and the at least two gripping members are made from metal or a metal alloy, or from a polymeric material.
8. An infusion set comprising a septum arrangement according to claim 1.
9. A reservoir for a liquid drug comprising a septum arrangement according to claim 1.
10. A septum arrangement, comprising: a pierceable septum having a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite to one another and a peripheral surface; a compression element having at least two compression members that partially or fully surround the peripheral surface and having at least two gripping members, wherein each compression member is connected to at least one of the gripping members, and wherein the gripping members extend from the compression members towards a common axis (A) which intersects the first surface; a resilient element that exerts a biasing force on the pierceable septum, wherein the biasing force is directed towards the common axis (A); wherein the gripping members define an aperture between them whereby introduction of a needle into the aperture exerts a force on the gripping members that counteracts the biasing force and moves the gripping members apart from each other; and wherein the first and second surfaces of the septum are parallel with each other and separated by a thickness of the septum.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1a shows a plan view of a septum arrangement according to one embodiment;
(3) FIG. 1b shows a plan view of a septum arrangement according to another embodiment;
(4) FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement in accordance with an embodiment;
(5) FIG. 2b shows a the cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement according to another embodiment;
(6) FIG. 3a shows a plan view of a septum arrangement in accordance to another embodiment;
(7) FIG. 3b shows a plan view of a septum arrangement according to another embodiment;
(8) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the septum arrangement in accordance to another embodiment;
(9) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the septum arrangement in accordance to another embodiment;
(10) FIG. 6a shows a cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement built into a cannula unit in accordance to another embodiment;
(11) FIG. 6b shows a cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement built into a cannula unit in accordance to another embodiment; and
(12) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement built into a reservoir for a liquid drug in accordance to another embodiment.
DESCRIPTION
(13) The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.
(14) An advantageous embodiment of a septum arrangement 1 is shown in FIG. 1a. The septum arrangement 1 comprises a pierceable septum 2, with a first surface 21 as well as a compression element 3 with compression members 4 and gripping members 5. As can be readily seen, the gripping members 5 extend from the compression members towards a common axis A (shown in FIG. 2a) that intersects the first surface. In the particular embodiment shown, the two gripping members 5 are further positioned opposite to each other. The septum arrangement 1 depicted in FIG. 1 further comprises a resilient element 6, which is designed such that a biasing force F.sub.b is directed towards the common axis A that intersects the first surface. A needle 7 is introduced in the aperture 8 (shown in FIG. 1b), defined by gripping members 5, which causes the exertion of a force F.sub.c that counteracts the biasing force F.sub.b and moves the gripping members 5 apart from each other. As a consequence, the septum 2 is not significantly compressed or the compression is at least significantly decreased when a needle 7 is introduced into the aperture.
(15) FIG. 1b depicts septum arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 1a, however in the absence of needle 7. The resilient elements 6 exert a biasing force F.sub.b on the pierceable septum 2. The biasing force F.sub.b is directed towards the common axis A that intersects the center of the first surface. As a result, force F.sub.b causes the compression elements 3 with gripping members 5 and compression members 4 to move towards each other. In the event, compression members 4 may transfer the biasing force F.sub.b on septum 2, which entails compression and tight sealing of the septum. In the particular embodiment shown, the septum 1 is radially compressed by compression members 4. Furthermore, aperture 8 is depicted in FIG. 1b, which is defined by gripping members 5.
(16) FIG. 2a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a septum arrangement 1 according to this disclosure. A needle 7 is introduced into the aperture defined by gripping members 5 and pierced through septum 2. The pierceable septum 2 comprises first surface 21, second surface 22 and peripheral surface 23. As can be readily seen, peripheral surface 23 is arranged between first surface 21 and second surface 22. As already described above (see description of FIG. 1a), a resilient element 6 is designed such that a biasing force F.sub.b is directed towards a common axis A that intersects the first surface 21. Gripping members 5 define an aperture 8 (shown in FIG. 1b) such that the introduction of needle 7 into the aperture exerts a force F.sub.c on the gripping members that counteracts the biasing force F.sub.b and moves the gripping members apart from each other. As a result, the compression of elastic septum 2 is at least significantly decreased, for example such that the septum may expand in the lateral direction, that is transverse to axis A. In FIG. 2a, the axis A is transversely arranged to first surface 21.
(17) FIG. 2b shows the septum arrangement 1 of FIG. 2a, however, the needle 7 has been removed. As a result of the removal of the needle, septum 2 features through cut 9. Due to the removal of the needle, the resilient element 6, exerts a biasing force F.sub.b on the pierceable septum, for example via compression members 4, i.e., the force F.sub.b leads to compression of septum 1 in the lateral direction as gripping members 5 are moved towards each other. As a consequence of the compression, the through cut 9 is sealingly closed and thus the occurrence of leakage is avoided or at least diminished.
(18) FIG. 3a depicts another embodiment of a septum arrangement 1 in accordance to this disclosure. In this embodiment, the septum arrangement 1 comprises two resilient elements 6, which may be either springs, such as coil springs, or elastomer elements. As can be seen, each of the two compression elements 3 is connected to one resilient element 6. The resilient elements 6 are designed such that a biasing force F.sub.b is exerted that is directed towards a common axis that intersects the first surface 21 of the septum 2.
(19) FIG. 3b shows the septum arrangement 1 of FIG. 3a in the absence of the needle 7, for example after removal of the needle 7. Due to the removal of the needle, the gripping members 5 move towards each other and force F.sub.b, which is caused by the resilient elements 6, is exerted on the pierceable septum 2 via compression members 4.
(20) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a septum arrangement 1 according to this disclosure with three compression elements. The compression elements essentially fully surround the peripheral surface of the septum 2. Each compression element comprises a gripping member 5 and a compression member 4. The septum arrangement depicted further comprises one resilient element 6, which is connected to all three compression elements. The particular resilient element shown, may be an elastic element made from rubber or suitable elastomers. Resilient member 6 has a ring shape and exerts a biasing force F.sub.b on the pierceable septum 2, wherein the biasing force F.sub.b is directed towards the common axis A that intersects the center of the first surface 21. As readily understood by those skilled in the art, resilient element 6 can be compressed. The three gripping members 5 define an aperture 8 such that a needle can be introduced and such that upon introduction of the needle into the aperture, a force is exerted that counteracts the biasing force and moves the gripping members 5 apart from each other. During this process, the compression members 4 are pushed against resilient element 6, which leads to a compression of the resilient element. Accordingly, the resilient element may store the respective deformation energy, which may be released upon removal of the needle.
(21) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a septum arrangement 1 according to this disclosure, in which the pierceable septum 2 is a hexagonal prism with a hexagonal first surface 21. Furthermore, the septum arrangement contains six compression elements each comprising one compression member 4 and one gripping member 5. As can be readily seen, each compression member 4 is connected to one resilient element 6. However, as the skilled person understands, the resilient elements can also be integrally formed as one resilient element as shown in FIG. 4.
(22) FIG. 6a depicts a septum arrangement 1 according to this disclosure, which is built into housing unit 31. The housing unit 31 is part of a cannula unit 30, which itself may be part of an infusion set. Additionally, cannula unit 30 may comprise flexible cannula 33, which may be inserted into the patient's tissue by introduction of piercing needle 7 into the aperture that is defined by gripping members 5, and piercing of septum 2. As can be readily seen, the cannula unit comprises compartment 32, which can contain a liquid drug. The septum arrangement 1 comprises pierceable septum 2 with first surface 21, second surface 22 and peripheral surface 23. The peripheral surface 23 is positioned between the first surface and the second surface and can for example be the shell surface of a cylindrical septum. Furthermore, the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are positioned opposite to each other. The septum arrangement 1 further comprises two compression elements with compression members 4 and gripping members 5. The gripping members 5 extend from the compression members towards a common axis A which intersects the first surface. Additionally, the septum arrangement comprises resilient element 6, which exerts a biasing force F.sub.b on the pierceable septum 2, wherein the biasing force is directed towards the common axis A that intersects the center of the first surface. The gripping members 5 define an aperture between them such that introduction of the needle 7 into the aperture exerts a force F.sub.c on the gripping members that counteracts the biasing force and moves the gripping members 5 apart from each other.
(23) FIG. 6b shows cannula unit 30 with septum arrangement 1, built into housing unit 31. However, the piercing needle (see 7 in FIG. 6a) has been removed. As indicated by the curved line, the removal of the needle led to the formation of through cut 9 in septum 2. This through cut is now sealingly closed, as the removal of the needle leads to expansion of resilient element 6 with concomitant exertion of biasing force F.sub.b thus compressing the septum, preferably by radial compression.
(24) FIG. 7 depicts a reservoir for drugs 40, for example an insulin cartridge comprising walls 41 and liquid drug 42. A septum arrangement 1 according to this disclosure allows to withdraw drug 42 from the reservoir by cannula 7 and ensures tight sealing of the pierced septum 2 after removal of the cannula.
(25) While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
