Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting medicine from a pre-filled container into a patient through an injection needle. After use, the needle is automatically shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle. The device operates by pumping medicine out of the vial and into a transfer chamber. The medicine is then expelled from the transfer chamber into a patient during an injection stroke. At the end of the injection stroke, the needle is released for retraction, and the spring retracts the needle for shielding. The device can include an injector assembly and a vial holder assembly. The injector assembly has a needle retainer for releasably retaining the needle in a projecting position against the bias of a spring. The vial holder assembly is attachable with the injector assembly and is operable to transfer fluid from the vial and into the transfer chamber for an injection.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be substantially permanently retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device is provided for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge. The device includes a needle and a hollow barrel that holds a pre-filled cartridge. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in an extended position so the needle can be inserted into a patient. A plunger in the rear of the barrel cooperates with the cartridge to expel fluid from the cartridge during an injection. After an injection, the needle is automatically retracted into the barrel when pressure is released from the plunger. A locking mechanism locks the contaminated needle and cartridge in the barrel after needle retraction. After use, the device may be safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A safety needle-bearing device for mixing and injecting medication from a two-chambered cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle that extends through the forward end of a barrel. A two-chambered cartridge is attached to the barrel and contains components of a medication stored separately in the chambers. A plunger in the rearward end of the cartridge can be advanced into the cartridge to combine the separate components and prepare the medication. As the cartridge is advanced forwardly into the barrel, the medication is injected through the needle and into a patient. At the completion of the injection stroke, the cartridge engages a needle retainer to actuate needle retraction. The needle is subsequently retracted to shield the contaminated needle.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be substantially permanently retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be substantially permanently retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device is provided for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge. The device includes a needle and a hollow barrel that holds a pre-filled cartridge. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in an extended position so the needle can be inserted into a patient. A plunger in the rear of the barrel cooperates with the cartridge to expel fluid from the cartridge during an injection. After an injection, the needle is automatically retracted into the barrel when pressure is released from the plunger. A locking mechanism locks the contaminated needle and cartridge in the barrel after needle retraction. After use, the device may be safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device is provided for inserting medical instruments, such as pacemaker leads, into a patient. The device includes a flexible needle with a sharpened tip surrounded by a sheath and catheter. A biasing element biases the needle toward a position in which the needle tip is enclosed within the sheath. A method for inserting a medical instrument, such as a pacemaker lead, is also provided, in which the needle is inserted into a patient, followed by the sheath and catheter. The needle is then retracted so that the sharpened tip is enclosed within the sheath. The needle remains in the sheath as the sheath and catheter are curved into alignment with a blood vessel and advanced through the blood vessel. The needle and sheath are then pulled out, and a pacemaker lead or other instrument is fed through the catheter and into the vessel.

Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.

Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.

Abstract: A device is provided for inserting medical instruments, such as pacemaker leads, into a patient. The device includes a flexible needle with a sharpened tip surrounded by a sheath and catheter. A biasing element biases the needle toward a position in which the needle tip is enclosed within the sheath. A method for inserting a medical instrument, such as a pacemaker lead, is also provided, in which the needle is inserted into a patient, followed by the sheath and catheter. The needle is then retracted so that the sharpened tip is enclosed within the sheath. The needle remains in the sheath as the sheath and catheter are curved into alignment with a blood vessel and advanced through the blood vessel. The needle and sheath are then pulled out, and a pacemaker lead or other instrument is fed through the catheter and into the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for injecting medicine from a pre-filled container into a patient through an injection needle. After use the needle is automatically shielded so that the contaminated needle is protected to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle. The device operates by pumping medicine out of the vial into a transfer chamber. The medicine is the expelled from the transfer chamber into the patient during an injection stroke. At the end of the injection stroke, the needle is released for retraction, and the spring then retracts the needle to shield the needle. Preferably, the device includes an injector assembly and a vial holder assembly. The injector assembly has a needle retainer for releasably retaining te needle in a projecting position against the bias of a spring. The vial holder assembly is attachable with the injector assembly and is operable to transfer the medicine out of the vial and into the transfer chamber to prepare the device for an injection.

Abstract: A safety needle-bearing device for mixing and injecting medication from a two-chambered cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle that extends through the forward end of a barrel. A two-chambered cartridge is attached to the barrel and contains components of a medication stored separately in the chambers. A plunger in the rearward end of the cartridge can be advanced into the cartridge to combine the separate components and prepare the medication. As the cartridge is advanced forwardly into the barrel, the medication is injected through the needle and into a patient. At the completion of the injection stroke, the cartridge engages a needle retainer to actuate needle retraction. The needle is subsequently retracted to shield the contaminated needle.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be substantially permanently retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.