fig1 a shows an embodiment of a needle hub 1 with a rigid insertion needle 3 and means 14 for retaining a device which could be either a handle or an inserter . the means 14 in this embodiment comprise a cylindrical opening which opening can receive a corresponding form mounted on a handle or an inserter when the handle / inserter is pushed toward the needle hub 1 . this embodiment of a needle hub is known from u . s . pat . no . 6 , 355 , 021 - b1 . fig1 b shows the same needle hub as fig1 a seen from the side . fig2 shows an embodiment of the same needle hub 1 as in fig1 a and 1 b combined with an infusion part 2 . the infusion part can be in one piece comprising a soft cannula extending from the proximal side of the infusion part and a connection in the form of a tube 4 extending from the distal side of the infusion set . in the embodiment of fig2 the connection is extending parallel to the patient &# 39 ; s skin . the infusion part can also be a combination of two pieces , a part holding the cannula and a connector part , where a cannula is extending from the proximal side of the infusion part while the connection is extending from a distal side of the connector part . the infusion part 2 is formed with a center piece 5 on the proximal side . the center piece 5 can be extending relatively to the proximal surface of the infusion part 2 or the proximal side of the adhesive 6 , as it is shown in fig2 , but it can also be retracted relatively to these surfaces . if the center piece 5 is retracted it can be formed by a circular groove or recess in the infusion part 2 surrounding the center piece 5 . an adhesive layer 6 preferably covered with a release layer 6 a is unreleasably fastened to the proximal side of the infusion part 2 . in the embodiment of fig2 the cannula is adjoined to the insertion needle although the cannula is not actually shown in the figure . fig3 shows a combination comprising a needle hub 1 and an infusion part 2 in an embodiment of the inventive packaging 7 , 8 . the packaging comprises an impenetrable part 7 preferably formed of a relatively hard plastic such as polypropylene ( pp ), polyethylene ( pe hd ) or polyvinyl chloride ( pvc ). at least the impenetrable part 7 should be able to resist forces experienced within normal handling of the device without being deformed and / or penetrated by the insertion needle 3 . the impenetrable part 7 covers the proximal side of the combination 1 , 2 and due to the chosen material and also due to the positioning of the needle 3 , as the needle 3 of the needle hub 1 is placed in a certain distance from the surface of the packaging , the impenetrable part 7 protects the surroundings from the needle . at least a part of the distal side of the combination 1 , 2 is covered by a removable part 8 which is at least partly removed by the user before the device is applied . when placed in the packaging the combination 1 , 2 is in contact with a support part 9 which part is fastened to or being a part of the inner surface of the packaging . the support part 9 could be circular or in the form of one or more beams , and / or it could be fastened to either a central part reaching towards the periphery without actually touching the periphery or it could be fastened to the periphery reaching for the center . the support part 9 can also function as a release layer for the adhesive 6 meaning that the support part 9 totally or partly protects the adhesive surface during storage . if the support part 9 functions as a release layer it is important to consider the force needed to overcome the release of the infusion part 2 from the support part 9 as the infusion part 2 in some degree is fastened to the support part 9 by adhesion . in order to regulate the attraction between the infusion part 2 and the support surface 9 and thereby also regulate the force needed to overcome the release of the infusion part 2 , a suitable fraction of the adhesive 6 surface can be covered by a release layer which has no attraction to the support surface 9 . the support part 9 assures that the combination 1 , 2 is positioned in a stable manner . in a preferred embodiment the support part 9 has the form of a number of ribs fastened to or integrated with the walls of the impenetrable part 7 , preferable the ribs are equally distributed along the inner surface of the impenetrable part 7 in order to offer maximum support for the infusion set . also in a preferred embodiment the periphery of a spiral release layer 6 a protecting the adhesive surface 6 is fastened to the impenetrable part 7 or to a part integrated with the impenetrable part 7 . the spiral release layer 6 a could be fastened to the impenetrable part 7 by gluing , welding or mechanically . in this embodiment of the packaging the needle / cannula of the combination 1 , 2 is placed in a circular center part 7 a with walls standing upright from the inner surface of the impenetrable part 7 . the center piece 5 is squeezed down into the corresponding circular center part 7 a and the friction between the piece 5 and the walls in the center part 7 a keeps the combination 1 , 2 in place . in another not shown embodiment means 7 a comprises flat springs fastened to the periphery of the impenetrable part 7 and pushing down on parts of the infusion part 2 and / or parts of the needle hub 1 . the flat springs can during production be pushed down over parts of the infusion device 2 and fastened to the periphery which will keep the combination 1 , 2 in place . in fig3 the removable part 8 is made of a paper material e . g . integra peel medical grade paper or heat seal coated tyvek ®, and the paper material is fastened to the upper edge of the impenetrable part 7 . before applying the device the user pulls of the removable part 8 making the combination accessible . the connection in form of a tube 4 can be twined around the combination 1 , 2 ( not shown in the figures ) which makes it possible to pull out the tube 4 without the tube getting tangled . fig4 shows another embodiment of the packaging where the removable part 8 is in the form of a relatively hard lid . before applying the device the user will have to pull of the removable part 8 making the combination accessible . fig5 shows an embodiment comprising a handle for manual insertion . the handle is formed by integrating the needle hub 1 with the removable part 8 , either by creating the two parts as one or by connecting the two parts in a stable manner . fig6 shows an embodiment of the invention where the center piece 5 is replaced with a material 10 placed inside the circular center part 7 a . in another not shown embodiment the lower part of the impenetrable part 7 is filled with this material 10 , which e . g . can be silicone , to a height exceeding the length of the needle , in this embodiment the filling material 10 constitutes the support part 9 . according to this solution the combination 1 , 2 is kept in place by the friction between the needle and the filling material 10 . fig7 shows an embodiment of the invention where a release layer 6 a covering the adhesive 6 is removed during release of the combination 1 , 2 from the packaging . the release layer 6 a is formed as a spiral band where one end — in this embodiment the end closest to the periphery — is connected to the support part 9 , and the rest of the release layer 6 a is releasably fastened to the adhesive surface 6 . the fig8 a to 8 f illustrate an embodiment of the invention and how this embodiment functions during use . in fig8 a the combination of needle hub 1 and infusion part 2 is placed inside a packaging according to the invention under sterile conditions , and the impenetrable part 7 protects the surroundings from contact with the insertion needle 3 . the removable part 8 is loosened from the distal edge formed by the impenetrable part 7 but is not totally removed . in fig8 b the removable part 8 has been totally removed and the tube 4 which is connected to the infusion part 2 has been pulled out of the packaging . in fig8 c an inserter 11 with a handle 13 has been fastened to the needle hub 1 by pushing the inserter 11 towards the needle hub 1 through the opening that was revealed when the removable part 8 was removed . the inserter 11 comprises internal tracks corresponding to the means 14 of the needle hub 1 , and when the inserter 11 is pushed toward the needle hub 1 in the right angle , the needle hub 1 will be pressed into the tracks of the inserter 11 causing the needle hub 1 and the inserter 11 to be fastened to each other . in fig8 d the tube 4 of the infusion device has been connected to a medical device 12 which in this embodiment has the form of an insulin pump . in fig8 e the inserter 11 has been prepared for insertion of the infusion set by pulling up the handle 13 . the act of pulling up the handle could also be referred to as “ tightening ” or “ loading ” the inserter as an internal spring in the inserter is biased by this action . when preparing the inserter 11 the needle hub 1 and the infusion part 2 is released from the packaging and placed inside the inserter 11 . in fig8 f the infusion set connected to the inserter 11 is lifted out of the packaging and it is now ready for inserting the infusion set . when inserting the infusion set the user places the proximal end of the inserter 11 against the skin and thereafter the user activates the inserter 11 and causes the insertion needle 3 to penetrate the skin of the user . after insertion the inserter 11 is pulled away , and if the needle hub 1 to which the insertion needle 3 is fastened , is adequately secured to the inserter , the insertion needle 3 will be removed together with the inserter leaving only the infusion part 2 on the users skin . fig9 shows an embodiment of the packaging 7 , 8 together with an inserter 11 just before the inserter 11 is fastened to the needle hub 1 . in this embodiment the retaining means 7 a squeezes very firmly around corresponding means — the central piece — 5 . in order to loosen the strong hold of the central piece 5 the internal form of the packaging is constructed in such a way that the pressing the inserter 11 down toward the needle hub 1 forces the sides of the impenetrable part 7 of packaging outwards . fig1 shows the appearance of the impenetrable part 7 of the packaging after the inserter 11 has been pushed down over the needle hub 1 . the diameter of the upright walls constituting the retaining means 7 a has been extended and a result of this is that the force needed to pull the center piece 5 out of the retaining means 7 a has been reduced . fig1 shows an embodiment of the packaging with means for easy - opening . the impenetrable part 7 is provided with a top flange and the removable part 8 which is preferably made in paper , has been welded to the whole surface of the flange . a line of fracture 15 isolates a corner or a piece of the top flange of the impenetrable part 7 and when the user opens the packaging the corner / piece is broken of the top flange and the removable part which is not provided with a fractured line will be easily removed by pulling the in the broken off piece which is still welded to the piece of the removable part 8 covering the piece . fig1 - 14 shows a further embodiments of the packaging from the outside at three different angles . the impenetrable part 7 has an upper end which is provided with the removable part 8 and a lower end positioned opposite the upper end . fig1 shows the packaging from above , meaning from the upper end of the impenetrable part 7 of the packaging , where fig1 and 14 shows two different side views of the packaging . this embodiment of the packaging according to fig1 - 14 shows the impenetrable part 7 being shaped with three legs 7 d protruding from the lower surface of the impenetrable part ( 7 ) and a substantially centered shaped protrusion 7 c inside which a separate center part 7 b is positioned . fig1 shows an embodiment of the packaging where the needle / cannula of the combination 1 , 2 is placed in the center part 7 b . in this embodiment the center part 7 b is circular and formed as a separate part . the center part 7 b is placed upright from the inner surface of the impenetrable part 7 in a correspondingly shaped protrusion 7 c in the impenetrable part 7 of the packaging . the separate center part 7 b is lengthwise provided with a through - going slit 14 , which makes the center part 7 b elastic , i . e . it is possible to vary the dimension of the center part 7 b . the center part 7 b is placed in the correspondingly shaped protrusion 7 c engaging with the center piece 5 of the impenetrable part 7 . as the center piece 5 engages with the corresponding circular center part 7 b , the center part 7 b is expanded and the center part 7 b is fixed in the protrusion 7 c . the friction between the center piece 5 and the separate circular center piece 7 b placed in the correspondingly shaped protrusion 7 c in the impenetrable part 7 keeps the combination 1 , 2 in place . further , the friction occurring between the center part 7 b and the protrusion 7 c keeps the center part 7 b within the protrusion 7 b of the packaging , this friction being larger than the friction between the center piece 7 b and the combination 1 , 2 . in preparing the infusion set for insertion the removable part 8 is removed from the impenetrable part 7 and the combined needle hub 1 and infusion part 2 is released from the packaging either manually or by an inserter 11 ( fig1 ). in order to loosen the strong hold of the center piece 5 , the form of the separate center part 7 b is constructed in such a way that the pressing of the inserter 11 down toward the needle hub 1 forces the center part 7 b to expand outwards towards the protrusion 7 c in the packaging , which is possible due to the slit which makes to center part 7 b elastic . fig1 - 19 shows a circular embodiment of the center part 7 b with a lengthwise through - going slit 14 . the circular center part 7 b is in this embodiment provided with a circular part 16 having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the circular center part 7 b via a shoulder part 15 which secures and keeps the center piece 5 in place . fig2 shows an embodiment of the invention where a release layer 6 a covering the adhesive 6 is removed during release of the combination 1 , 2 from the packaging . the release layer 6 a is in this embodiment divided into two sections where each section forms a strip such as a spiral band , thereby forming a double spiral release layer 6 a . the peripheral end 17 of each strip of the release layer 6 a closest to the periphery , only one is shown in the figure , are connected to the impenetrable part 7 or to a part integrated with the impenetrable part 7 , and the rest of the release layer 6 a is releasable fastened to the adhesive surface 6 . as the above mentioned single spiral release layer 6 a , this double spiral release layer 6 a could also be connected or fastened to the impenetrable part by gluing , welding or mechanically . in this embodiment , when pressing the inserter 11 , not shown in fig2 , down for releasing of the combination 1 , 2 from the packaging , the peripheral end 17 of each strip of the release layer 6 a in the form of a tab are pressed down towards the impenetrable part 7 of the interior packaging and fastened with glue , said glue being placed at points corresponding to the tabs 17 within the interior of the packaging on the impenetrable part 7 . when releasing the needle hub 1 and infusion part 2 from the packaging the release layer is then automatically peeled of the adhesive layer . fig2 a shows one embodiment of the release layer 6 a covering the adhesive layer , where the release layer 6 a is in a single piece and has two extending peripheral ends 17 in the form of protruding tabs intended for fastening to the impenetrable part 7 or to a part integrated with the impenetrable part 7 . fig2 b shows another embodiment of the release layer 6 a where the release layer is divided into two sections 6 b and 6 c , each section forming a strip such as a spiral band , thereby forming a double spiral release layer 6 a . in this embodiment each extending peripheral end 17 of each strip of the release layer 6 a are also in the form of protruding tabs 17 intended for fastening to the impenetrable part 7 or to a part integrated with the impenetrable part 7 . this embodiment is a more suitable form of the release layer than the form shown in fig2 a as the strips defines a more precise length for the releasing of the release layer . furthermore , by a single pull the release layer can be removed from the adhesive layer in two narrow strips and only little force is needed to remove it .
the present invention relates to a packing for an infusion set . the infusion set for intermittent or continuous administration of a therapeutic substance , such as insulin , includes an infusion part having a cannula penetrating the skin of a patient and a connector which connects the infusion part with a medical device such as an adaptor for a syringe or an insulin pump . the insertion of the infusion part will be performed with an insertion needle which is delivered together with the infusion part under sterile conditions . the packaging includes an impenetrable part protecting the surroundings from the insertion needle and a removal part which is to be removed by the user before applying the infusion part . the inner surface of the impenetrable part is provided with a retainer for releasable retaining at least a part of the infusion set .