Injection Device with Adhesive and Method

Abstract

An on-body medical fluid injection device with adhesive assembly includes a housing, an injection needle, a skin-facing surface that faces the skin of a patient when on the patient's body, a skin adhesive carried by at least a portion of the skin facing surface and a plurality of substantially contiguous folded film segments covering the skin adhesive.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a medical fluid injection device to a patient comprising the steps of: a. providing a medical fluid injection device including a skin facing surface with skin adhesive carried by the skin-facing surface and a first substantially contiguous folded film segment covering at least a portion of the skin adhesive, said first film segment including a first fold line dividing the first film segment into a first adhesive contact portion that is releasably adhered to the skin adhesive and a first free portion; b. tensioning the first free portion of the first film segment so as to progressively pull the first skin adhesive contact portion away from the skin adhesive so as to expose the skin adhesive; c. attaching the exposed skin adhesive to skin of a patent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first film segment covers a first portion of the skin adhesive, and further comprising a second substantially contiguous folded film segment covering a second portion of the skin adhesive, said second film segment including a second fold line dividing the second film segment into a second adhesive contact portion that is releasably adhered to the second portion of the skin adhesive and a second free portion, and wherein step b. exposes the first portion of the skin adhesive and further includes tensioning the second free portion so as to progressively pull the second skin adhesive contact portion away from the skin adhesive so as to expose the second portion of skin adhesive.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the tensioning of step b. is accomplished by removing the injection device from a transfer device to which the first free portion and the second free portion are attached.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first and second portions of the skin adhesive each include half of the skin adhesive.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein step b. includes grasping the injection device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step b. includes grasping a peripheral edge of the injection device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step b. including grasping the transfer device.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the first free portion includes a first extended mounting tab attached to the transfer device and the second free portion includes a second extended mounting tab attached to the transfer device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the tensioning of step b. is accomplished by removing the injection device from a transfer device to which the first free portion is attached.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein step b. includes grasping the injection device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step b. includes grasping a peripheral edge of the injection device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step b. including grasping the transfer device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first free portion of the first film segment includes a first extended mounting tab that is mounted to a transfer device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the skin adhesive is carried by a skin attachment layer bonded to the skin-facing surface of the injection device, where the skin attachment layer includes a removal tab, and further comprising the step of removing the injection device from skin of a patient by gripping and pulling the removal tab.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of removing the injection device from skin of a patient includes grasping the injection device with the removal tab gripped against a peripheral edge of the injection device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of removing the injection device from skin of a patient includes lifting and twisting the injection device so that the skin attachment layer is removed from the skin of a patient at an angle

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] In describing the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1a is a side view of an illustrative on-body injection device with adhesive assembly having a skin adhesive configuration.

[0010] FIG.1 b is a perspective exploded view of a skin adhesive structure that is carried on the underside of the injection device assembly of FIG. 1a, with relative thicknesses exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the on-body injection device with adhesive assembly of FIG. 1a.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the injection device assembly of FIG. 1a.

[0013] FIGS. 4a-4c diagrammatically illustrate the on-body injection device assembly gradually being pulled away from a support surface, such as the support surface of a transfer device (or other packaging) with a skin adhesive release liner being simultaneously pulled away from the skin adhesive on the underside of the injection device.

[0014] FIGS. 5a-5e illustrate an on-body injection device assembly being gradually pulled away from a support surface with a skin adhesive release liner being simultaneously pulled away from the skin adhesive on the underside of the injection device.

[0015] FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate, using a balloon, benefits of the skin adhesive structure incorporated in the injection device assembly of FIG. 1a in conforming to differing body shapes.

[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates removal of the injection device assembly of FIG. 1a from the skin of a patient after injection is completed.

[0017] FIG. 8a is a perspective view, taken from one viewing angle, of a combination of the on-body medical fluid injection device with adhesive assembly of FIG. 1a and a medical fluid transfer device, with a standard medical drug vial and syringe attached thereto.

[0018] FIG. 8b is a perspective view of the combination of FIG. 8a, taken from a different viewing angle.

[0019] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the combination of FIG. 8a.

[0020] It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale. While some details of the example injection device with adhesive assembly, including potential alternative configurations, have not been included, such details are considered within the comprehension of those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the example embodiments illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Turning to FIG. 1a, an example injection device with adhesive assembly is shown as an on-body medical fluid injection device with adhesive assembly 102, which includes an on-body injection device 104 and a skin adhesive structure 106 (see also FIG. 1b). The injection device 104 has an upper or top surface 108 and a bottom surface or underside 110 that faces the skin of the patient during the injection. The skin adhesive structure 106 is carried on the bottom surface 110 and functions as below described.

[0022] The details of the illustrated injection device may be found in published U.S patent application publication no. 2016/0144105, filed Jun. 17, 2014, and herein above incorporated by reference. This device is used for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The features of the adhesive structure of the present application may also find application on other on-body injection devices of differing shape, structure or operating principle.

[0023] The illustrated on-body injection device 104 has a generally rigid plastic outer housing 112 configured to receive a supply of medical fluid and carries an injection needle movable between a retracted position within the housing 112 and an injection position extending from the housing 112. The housing 112 also includes a skin-facing surface or bottom surface 110 that faces the skin of a patient when on the patient's body. The skin-facing or bottom surface 110 is generally flat and planar, and curves convexly upwardly at its peripheral edge, as may be seen in FIG. 1a. The bottom surface 110 has a central aperture, not shown in FIG. 1a, through which the injection needle movably extends (to penetrate the patient's skin) during an injection.

[0024] As pointed out above, skin adhesive 116 is carried by at least a portion of the skin facing surface 110 for securing the housing 112 to a patient's skin during injection. The skin adhesive structure 106 is carried on the bottom surface 110 of the injection device 104. The illustrated skin adhesive structure 106 includes a skin attachment layer 114 seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and preferably is flexible. In the present example, the skin attachment layer 114 is shown as a flexible non-woven polymeric material, or PET material, which may be referred to as a non-woven carrier substrate or flexible skin contact substrate. This skin attachment layer 114 is sized to extend outwardly to the outermost perimeter of the housing 112 of the on-body injection device 104.

[0025] The flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114 also may include a radially extended portion forming a removal tab 122, which may be seen in FIGS. 1a, 2 and 3. Removal tab 122 enhances ease of removal from the patient. While the removal tab 122 is part of skin attachment layer 114, it is free of adhesive for ease of patient handling. When the patient wishes to remove the injection device 104 from an injection site on the patient's skin, the patient may grasp the injection device 104, with the removal tab 122 gripped against the edge of the injection device 104, and the injection device 104 may be lifted and twisted, thereby pulling the skin attachment layer 114 from the skin of the patient at an angle, as seen for example in FIG. 7.

[0026] The flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114 on one side is preferably permanently bonded to the bottom surface 110 of the injection device housing 112 by a device side adhesive 116. The device side adhesive 116 may be any adhesive of suitable strength, for example a medical-grade acrylic adhesive. It may be seen in FIG. 1a that the device side adhesive 116 does not extend to the full peripheral edge of the injection device 104, and instead leaves a marginal or peripheral edge portion 118 of the flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114 free of adhesive. As will be explained in more detail later, this provides for strain relief and enhanced conformation to the curves on a surface of a patient's body. Alternatively, the skin attachment layer 114 may be permanently bonded to the underside of the injection device by using suitable mechanical means, such as for example heat-staking or ultrasonic welding.

[0027] To adhere the injection device 104 to the skin of a patient during the injection, skin adhesive 120 is preferably provided along the entire surface of the opposed, skin-facing side of the skin attachment layer 114 (except for removal tab 122). The skin adhesive 120 may be made of any suitable adhesive of sufficient strength for the desired wear time and biocompatibility, for example, a medical-grade acrylic adhesive. With respect to strength, it should be noted that the skin adhesive 120 is, of course, weaker than the device side adhesive116 to allow the injection device 104 and skin attachment layer 114 to be removed from the patient's skin after the injection is completed.

[0028] The skin adhesive 120 on the opposed side of the flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114 is covered during shipping and storage with a release layer or liner 124 that must be removed to expose the skin adhesive 120 and allow attachment of the injection device 104 to the skin of a patient. In accordance with the present disclosure, the release layer 124 comprises a film constructed of a material, such as PET, that does not strongly adhere to the skin adhesive 120 and can be pulled away from the skin adhesive 120 with relatively low force for ease of manual removal.

[0029] More particularly, the release layer or liner 124 is formed of a plurality of folded film segments that are substantially contiguous, so as to cover the skin adhesive 120 and protect the skin adhesive 120 from inadvertent contact. As shown for illustration purposes, each folded segment includes a fold so as to be folded back along or over itself, and the fold extends along a fold line that substantially bisects the skin facing surface 110 of the housing 112, and divides the segment into a skin adhesive contact portion that is releasably adhered to the skin adhesive 120 and a free portion that is connected to and below the skin adhesive contact portion and that is operable upon tensioning to progressively pull the skin adhesive contact portion away from the skin adhesive 120 along a peel line that offers lower resistance to removal as compared to simultaneous removal of the release layer 124 over the entire surface area of the skin adhesive 120.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, as may be seen in FIGS. 1a-4c, there are two folded film segments 126a and 126b, each of which is generally circular and folded back along or over itself at a fold line along the diameter, so as to have each segment form a semicircular or half-circle shape when folded.

[0031] As generally described above, each film segment 126a, 126b has a respective fold line 128a, 128b, dividing each segment into a skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b that is releasably adhered to the skin adhesive 120, and a free portion 132a, 132b that is folded back along itself and under the skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b. Thus, each of the folded film segments 126a, 126b covers substantially half of the collective skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b. More than two segments could be used, if desired, such as for example by using a plurality of segments having a pie-shape or other configuration. The free portion 132a, 132b can be tensioned downwardly to pull the respective skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b away from the skin adhesive 120 along a peel line that gradually moves or progresses from the fold line 128a, 128b to the marginal edge of the skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b as downward tension continues to be applied to the free portion 132a, 132b and the skin adhesive contact portion 130a, 130b is gradually and progressively pulled away from the skin adhesive 120.

[0032] The removal of the release layer 124 is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 4a-4c and relative to an on-body injection device 104 in FIGS. 5a-5e. As shown in successive steps and described above, an injection device 104 with an adhesive structure 106 is gradually separated from a support surface, which could be a support surface of any suitable fluid transfer device or packaging, or other suitable structure. As the injection device 104 is separated from the support surface, the free portions 132a, 132b of the film segments 126a, 126b (which are secured to the support surface at radially extending mounting tabs 134a, 134b that are located 180 degrees apart) begin to pull or peel the skin adhesive contact portions 130a, 130b away from the skin adhesive 120 located on the underside of flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114.

[0033] The pulling or peeling away of the release liner film segments 126a, 126b starts at the fold lines 128a, 128b, and the peel line 136a, 136b between the release layer 124 and skin adhesive 120 gradually progresses outwardly along each segment 126a, 126b as the distance between the injection device 104 and support surface increases, until the film segments 126a, 126b are fully removed from the underside of the skin attachment layer 114. This allows the user to immediately place the injection device 104 on the patient's skin without delay or having to fumble with separately removing the release layer 124. The bi-folded segments 126a, 126b allow for a very smooth, easy removal of the release layer 124. Also, the fold lines 128a, 128b, where the segments 126a, 126b are folded back onto themselves, provide for the initiation of peel points or lines between the release layer 124 and skin adhesive 120 for separation of the film of the release layer 124 from the skin adhesive 120.

[0034] As noted earlier, there is no device side adhesive 116 along the marginal edge portion 118 of the flexible skin contact substrate or skin attachment layer 114 (see FIGS. 1b, 4a and 4b). This permits the skin attachment layer 114 to better conform to the shape of the patient's body or curves or undulations of a patient's skin at the location of attachment to the patient. FIGS. 6a-6d help illustrate this, by employing a balloon to model a curved skin surface. The marginal edge portion 118 of the skin attachment layer 114 can flex with the skin providing a strain relief that helps avoid inadvertent or premature separation of the injection device from the patient.

[0035] Turning to FIGS. 8a and 8b, these figures depict, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, an assembled transfer system comprising the injection device assembly 102 mounted on a support surface of a medical fluid transfer device 150, with vial 152 and syringe 154 attached to the transfer device 150. This particular transfer device (also shown in the simultaneously filed U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/571,419, filed on the same day herewith and incorporated by reference above) is shown for purposes of illustration only and not limitation. Other transfer devices of other configurations may be used without departing from the claimed subject matter.

[0036] FIGS. 8a and 8b are taken from different viewing angles, allowing the assembly to be viewed from opposite sides of the transfer device 150. As labeled in the figures, the illustrated transfer device 104 includes a transfer device base 156, one side of which forms a support surface 158, against which the injection device 104 rests, as seen in FIG. 8a. A harness or retainer 160 holds the injection device 104 on the transfer device base 156 within a peripheral ring or ring structure 162 that is attached to the base 156. Optional valve assembly or subassembly 164, such as a three-way stopcock valve assembly, is mounted on the underside of the transfer device base 156 and provides selective fluid communication among the medical fluid vial 152, syringe 154 and injection device 104 when they are, respectively, secured to the valve subassembly vial port 166, syringe port 168 and upstanding injection device fluid transfer port 170 associated with the valve subassembly 164. The basic operating principles for fluid transfer in this embodiment are essentially the same as previously described in the above identified application (U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/571,419) incorporated by reference herein.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 9, one side of the transfer device base 156 in this embodiment (which may be referred to as the top side or upper side for convenience only) provides the planar support surface 158 upon which the injection device 104 rests when secured to the base 156 by retainer 160. The radially projecting mounting tabs 134a, 134b, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, are attached to the transfer device, for example to the ring structure or other connection area, so that the free portions 132a, 132b of the folded segments 126a, 126b of the release layer 124 pull on the skin adhesive contact portions 130a, 130b of the folded segments 126a, 126b as the injection device 104 is lifted from the support surface 158 of the transfer device 150—operating in the same manner to remove the release layer as shown in FIGS. 4a-4c and 5a-5e. Thus, the free portion 132a, 132b of each folded film segment 126a, 126b includes a release connection to an extended mounting tab 134a, 134b of the release layer 124 and the transfer device 150 is configured to engage the release connection 124. In this example, the release connection is present at an extension 134a, 134b of the folded film segment 126a, 126b and the transfer device 150 includes an engaging surface configured to connect to the extension of the folded film segment 126a, 126b.

[0038] Although the present subject matter is described herein with reference to specific structures, methods and examples, this is for purposes of illustration only, and it is understood that the present subject matter is applicable to a large range of devices and systems that may differ in particular configuration and appearance while still employing this subject matter. See the claims set forth below for the scope of the present subject matter. This patent is only limited by the appended claims and legal equivalents thereof.