Patent ID: 8313459

Claim:
An insertion device for the introduction of a medical implement, the insertion device including: a hollow body with a forward opening and with a needle holder mounting portion; a needle holder which extends at least partially into the hollow body through the forward opening; a needle supported by the needle holder and adapted for a medical implement to be mounted therewith relative to the needle; biasing means to bias the needle holder into a retracted condition in which the needle is received within the hollow body; and a retaining mechanism associated with the needle holder mounting portion and adapted to at least temporarily retain the needle holder in a forward condition in which the needle extends forward of the hollow body against the biasing force of the biasing means, wherein the medical implement includes a retention portion temporarily associated with the retaining mechanism, wherein the retention portion temporarily associated with the retaining mechanism retains the needle holder in the forward condition until the retention portion is disassociated from the retaining mechanism and the retaining mechanism is operated independently of the retention portion to retain the needle holder in the forward condition, and wherein the retaining mechanism is operated independently through the application of a compressive force to at least two portions located on the external surface of the hollow body adjacent the retaining mechanism.