Patent ID: 7780636

Claim:
A medical device, comprising: a mounting surface adapted for application to the skin of a subject, a transcutaneous device portion having a first end adapted to penetrate the skin of the subject, the transcutaneous device portion forming a first portion, an inlet portion in fluid communication with the first portion and having a second end, the inlet portion forming a second portion, and enclosure means being transformable from an initial configuration encapsulating the first and second portions in an initial sterile state, to a second configuration in which the first and second ends are allowed to communicate with the exterior through the enclosure means, wherein the enclosure means does not enclose the mounting surface, wherein the device further comprises: a generally U-formed hollow needle the legs thereof forming the first and second portions, wherein the U-formed hollow needle is moveable from an initial position, corresponding to the initial state and with the first needle portion retracted relative to the mounting surface, and a second position in which the second needle portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir and the pointed end of the first needle portion projects relative to the mounting surface, and wherein the U-formed hollow needle is connected relative to the mounting surface by a hinge allowing the needle unit to pivot from the initial to the second position corresponding to a pivoting axis defined by the hinge, the pivoting axis being arranged substantially in parallel with the mounting surface.