Abstract: An insertion device for an infusion set, the insertion device including a two-part housing and a retainer or a retention means by which the infusion set can be temporarily held on the device, and a driver or a drive means including a pretensionable spring for providing the drive energy for an insertion movement of the infusion set, wherein one of the housing parts can be pivoted relative to the other to engage the infusion set and, after engagement of the infusion set, they can be pivoted again, as a result of which the spring is pretensioned and the insertion device is brought to a ready-to-use state. After the insertion movement has been triggered, the infusion set is separated from the device, such that it can execute the greatest part of the insertion movement free of the retainer.

Abstract: A cannula insertion device for use with an insertion set includes an insertion module and a cannula insertion needle. The insertion module has a housing (with a housing distal end, a housing proximal end, and a housing opening extending from the distal to the proximal end) and a plunger that is disposed within the housing opening. The plunger has a plunger distal and proximal ends. The cannula insertion needle is attached to the plunger distal end. In addition, the plunger distal end is configured to releasably retain a cannula cartridge of the infusion set in operative alignment with the cannula insertion needle and the housing distal end is configured to releasably retain an infuser base of the infusion set in operative alignment with the cannula cartridge.

Abstract: An insertion device for an infusion set, the device including a retention means by which the infusion set can be temporarily held on the device and drive means including a pretensionable spring for providing drive energy for an insertion movement of the infusion set, wherein the infusion set is secured by the retention means by clamping when the retention means is in an engage position and can then be moved, with simultaneous pretensioning of the spring, to an insertion movement starting position, wherein the infusion set is already separated from the retention means at the start of the insertion movement, and wherein the infusion set moves through at least part of the insertion movement free of the retention means.

Abstract: An injection device comprising an outer housing inside which is located a medicament-holding barrel (9) with a needle (10) at one end thereof, at least part of the needle being moveable in and out of the outer housing, a plunger (8) moveable within the barrel, an inner housing (7) intermediate the outer housing (6) and the barrel and plunger and an energy source (1) in communication with said inner housing. The inner housing is moveable by the energy source between a first position in which the plunger and barrel are movable axially so as to move at least part of said needle out of the outer housing; a second position in which the plunger is movable axially into said barrel so as to expel medicament through the needle; and a third position in which the plunger and barrel are able to retract in order to retract the needle into the outer housing.

Abstract: The invention is a non-surgical method for the eradication of pigmentation and scar tissue from an area of skin. The method comprises repeatedly puncturing the area of skin with an array of needles. As the needles are inserted into the skin, the needles and surface of the skin are washed with a clean solution. As the needles are withdrawn from the skin, the flow of clean solution ceases and the dirty solution, which contains cellular fluids and pigments released by the action of the needles, is removed from the surface. The invention is also a solution, which is used to clean the needles and to aid in destroying the pigment containing cells, and an apparatus, which is especially designed to move the needles into and out of the surface of the skin and to provide synchronization of the motion of the needles and flow of the solution such as to maximize the effectiveness of the method.

Abstract: An injection device comprises a syringe (1) extendible against a spring bias (9) from a retracted position in a housing (2) to a projecting injecting position. A spring biased plunger has collapsible elbows (10) which, when the plunger is released, initially engage the end of the syringe to drive it to the projecting position, whereupon arresting of the syringe movement causes the elbows to collapse inside the syringe to allow the plunger to engage and drive the bung (3).

Abstract: An automated insertion assembly includes a first dermal perforation assembly configured to releasably engage a first subdermal device. A first actuation assembly is configured to drive the first dermal perforation assembly into a user's skin to a first depth and drive the first subdermal device into the user's skin to a second depth. The second depth is greater than the first depth.

Abstract: A reloadable medicine injector and methods are described in which a barrel with a receiving cavity is adapted to slidably receive a syringe subassembly for axial movement therein. Upon removal of a safety and release of a syringe driver, the syringe driver moves forward and injects the syringe needle. A plurality of penetration controls are shown for controlling injection needle penetration depth. The penetration controls have an abutment and various lengths to provide different needle penetration depth positions. In one form of penetration control a sleeve is used against which the syringe or related parts contact. In another form the front return spring is used as a penetration control. A cushioning ring may be used to reduce syringe breakage. A load distribution and guide ring may be used to distribute loading applied to the syringe and help guide the moving syringe.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes including a lancet and a lancet drive having a loadable elastic drive spring provided within an elongated housing. A relaxing motion of the drive spring is converted into a puncturing motion to move the lancet at high speed in a puncturing direction until its tip exits out of an opening of the housing. The device includes a transmission in the housing that has an input side that transforms the motion of a loading element along a linear loading path into a rotational motion of a lancet drive rotor to load the lancet drive rotor by tensioning the drive spring. When the lancet drive is triggered, the output side of the transmission converts a rotational motion of the lancet drive rotor, driven by the drive spring, into the puncturing motion in a direction along the main axis.

Abstract: A system for delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents into a living body includes a port assembly having a cannula extending from the mounting side, a port opening away from the mounting side and a resilient barrier between the port and the cannula. An access hub includes a connector positionable at the port for opening the resilient barrier. The access hub is movable in the port assembly, is engaged therewith through a resilient ring coupling and forms a seal with the resilient barrier, reducing the amount of volume to be primed. Inserters, both disposable and reusable, include the cannula insertion member as part of the assembly. A spring loaded port driver is operatively mounted within the housing with movement controlled by a latch. The driver includes a seat for receipt of a port assembly. The cannula insertion member is nonremovably fixed in a socket in the port driver in the disposable assembly.

Abstract: An insertion set for insertion through the skin of a patient includes at least one piercing member adapted to be secured to an insertion device and a set housing to be removable from the insertion device while maintaining installation of the insertion set. At least a portion of the at least one piercing member is insertable through the skin. The set housing is coupled to the at least one piercing member and is adapted so that it is shaped to fit an insertion device to orient the at least one piercing member for placement through the skin of at least a portion of the at least one piercing member at a predetermined angle relative to the skin to install the insertion set. The at least one piercing member is adapted to be retainable by the insertion device during removal from the insertion set.

Abstract: A system for delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents into a living body includes a port assembly having a cannula extending from the mounting side, a port opening away from the mounting side and a resilient barrier between the port and the cannula. An access hub includes a connector positionable at the port for opening the resilient barrier. The access hub is movable in the port assembly, is engaged therewith through a resilient ring coupling and forms a seal with the resilient barrier, reducing the amount of volume to be primed. Inserters, both disposable and reusable, include the cannula insertion member as part of the assembly. A spring loaded port driver is operatively mounted within the housing with movement controlled by a latch. The driver includes a seat for receipt of a port assembly. The cannula insertion member is nonremovably fixed in a socket in the port driver in the disposable assembly.

Abstract: A system for delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents into a living body includes a port assembly having a cannula extending from the mounting side, a port opening away from the mounting side and a resilient barrier between the port and the cannula. An access hub includes a connector positionable at the port for opening the resilient barrier. The access hub is movable in the port assembly, is engaged therewith through a resilient ring coupling and forms a seal with the resilient barrier, reducing the amount of volume to be primed. Inserters, both disposable and reusable, include the cannula insertion member as part of the assembly. A spring loaded port driver is operatively mounted within the housing with movement controlled by a latch. The driver includes a seat for receipt of a port assembly. The cannula insertion member is nonremovably fixed in a socket in the port driver in the disposable assembly.

Abstract: A catheter handle for controlling the advancement of a guide wire through a catheter is described. The catheter handle has a distal end to which is coupled a luer lock element, and a proximal end to which a control knob is coupled. The luer lock element is adaptable to allow coupling of the catheter handle to any commonly available commercial catheter. The control knob is coupled to a guide wire advancement mechanism. Movement of the control knob is translated by the advancement mechanism to advancement or braking of the guide wire.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for automatically injecting injection liquids, comprising an axially divided housing, whereof the parts can be removably assembled. In a first part of the housing (13) is guided an axially mobile pressure pin (14) which can be driven in against a force accumulator (15), which can be locked once it has been driven in and can come out when the force accumulator (15) is released. In a second part of the housing (1) are arranged, axially mobile, an injection needle (4) maintained in a needle guide (5) and an ampoule (3). Said injection needle (4) maintained in the needle guide (5) can be axially mobile, relative to the ampoule (3), and has, on its side facing the ampoule (3), a perforation part (23) designed to perforate the ampoule (3). The second part of the housing (1) can be closed with a top (11) at its open end facing the first part of the housing (13).

Abstract: Device for taking a sample from a body.

Abstract: An auto-injector body has a movable spring loaded hypodermic needle and attached plunger activated drug container. The auto-injector body is housed within a palm-sized handle and biased so that a sealed end of the auto-injector body protrudes from an open end of the handle. A cover encloses the protruding end and mates with the handle and has external attaching means such as a key chain, belt clip, or strap slots. Pressing the sealed end of the auto-injector body against the skin forces the auto-injector body into the handle to fire a trigger which releases a spring to force the needle through the sealed end into the user and force the plunger to inject the drug through the needle.

Abstract: An injection device has a barrel (1) for housing and guiding a syringe (13) as it is urged forward to project its needle (14), while the dose is ejected, and as a return spring (22) retracts it. A firing mechanism (6) is connectable to the rear end of the barrel and is re-usable, whereas the barrel (1) with its spent syringe (13) is disposable. The connection (4) has limited freedom of axial movement so that, once made, forward pressure on the firing mechanism (6) moves the syringe (13) up to a ready position. A number of barrels (1) with syringes (13) can be housed in a common box (31) with a single firing mechanism (6), the forward end of each barrel (1) being screwed to a locator (32) on the base of the box.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a housing having a port adapted to receive a moveable first member and a moveable second member is configured to communicate with a tube.

Abstract: An injection device has a housing (12) in which a container (14) for receiving an injectable fluid (18) is longitudinally movable. To its proximal end, an injection needle (26) can be releasably coupled. The injection device has a spring (50) associated with a releasable detent (52) for latching this spring (50) in a cocked configuration (FIG. 2). Further, there is a cocking member (40) insertable into the proximal end of the housing (12) for moving the longitudinally movable container (14) in the distal direction and for thereby bringing the spring (50) into the cocked configuration.

Abstract: An injection device (1) has a slide (3) which can be displaced in relation to a housing (2) from a retracted position to an injection position, and which comprises a portion (8) situated within the housing (2) and a portion (6) situated outside the housing, both portions (6, 8) being interconnected through a groove (10) in the housing (2). The portion (6) situated outside the housing (2) has a syringe holder (5) for securing a hypodermic syringe (4), and the slide (3) is pretensioned toward the injection position. The housing (2) at the groove (10) is constituted by a tube part, the outer and/or inner surface (7, 9) of which forms a guide for the slide (3), and the slide (3) has one or more contact faces which are in contact with the guide at least at three areas distributed over more than the half of the circumference of the tube part.

Abstract: An injection device houses a syringe and contains a drive spring, to urge the syringe forwards to project its needle and then eject the dose, and a return spring, to push the syringe back into the housing and retract the needle. A trigger is operated in one way to release the drive spring and in another way to release the return spring, these operations being mutually exclusive and there being parts for ensuring they are performed in the correct order.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for delivering medicament by jet injection to an injection site in a patient. The method includes inserting a needle into an insertion point, wherein the needle has a length of less than 5 mm and is operatively associated with an orifice in a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with an ampule chamber containing the medicament. The needle extends less than about 5 mm from the nozzle assembly orifice when the medicament is expelled. Next, a force generating mechanism is activated, and a pressure wall member that is operatively associated with the force generating member moves in response to the activation of the force generating mechanism at a speed sufficient to jet inject the medicament from the ampule chamber through the orifice and needle under a pressure of less than about 4000 psi to deliver a substantial portion of the medicament through the needle and past the insertion point to the injection site.

Abstract: An automatic needle insertion device for a pen shaped syringe comprising a cartridge holder (2) wherein a cartridge with a drug can be accommodated, and a dose setting and injection part (1) by which a wanted dose may be set an subsequently pressed out from the cartridge by pressing a button (12) projecting from the dose setting and injection part (1). The device comprises a mainly tubular housing (31) in which a tubular pen holder (22) in which a pen can be mounted can be axially displaced in a proximal direction to cock a spring (30) which can thereafter be released to drive the pen holder (22) with the pen a set distance in a distal direction.

Abstract: A needle assisted jet injector and method for jet injecting medicament are disclosed. In one embodiment of the injector, the needle is retractably located within an injector nozzle assembly. Upon activation of the energy source, a portion of the needle extends past the nozzle assembly and penetrates the outer layer of skin to deliver the medicament via jet injection to a deeper region. After activation, the needle retracts back into the nozzle assembly. In another embodiment, the needle is fixed to the end of the nozzle assembly. In both embodiments, the length of the portion of the needle that penetrates the skin is less than 5 mm.

Abstract: An insertion device and insertion set. The insertion device for inserting at least a portion of at least one piercing member of an insertion set through the skin of a patient includes a device housing, a carrier body and a driver. The carrier body is slidably received within the device housing for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position. The carrier body also includes a receiving structure to support the insertion set in a position with the at least one piercing member oriented for insertion through the skin of the patient at a predetermined angle relative to the skin of the patient upon movement of the carrier body from the retracted position to the advanced position.

Abstract: An apparatus for intracardiac drug administration of a therapeutic drug comprises a catheter having a distal end and a drug delivery device which is driveable from the distal end. The drug delivery device includes a needle and a spring-loaded mechanism operatively connected to the needle. The spring-loaded mechanism drives the needle out of the distal end of the catheter upon administering of the therapeutic drug. The spring-loaded mechanism returns the needle within the distal end of the catheter after the administering of the therapeutic drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic injector having a drive assembly with an actuator extending from the rearward end portion of the housing and a removal resistant cover for preventing unintended operation of the actuator. The present invention also relates to a sealing arrangement wherein the needle is sealed within a sterilized needle chamber by at least three sealing members which cooperate to form the chamber. Also, the present invention relates to an injector in which the cartridge is mounted to a tubular cartridge mounting portion of the needle carrier with an annular sealing member disposed therebetween. The cartridge mounting portion has at least one generally axially extending groove which allows air to escape from the cartridge mounting portion as the cartridge is being moved forwardly to a medicament supplying position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: An injection device has a drive spring which, when released, urges a loaded capsule forwards to project its needle from the end of a barrel and ejects the dose. A light return spring then retracts the needle. The drive spring acts on the capsule plunger through a drive member having a movable barrier against which the rear end of the plunger initially abuts. A first trigger releases the drive member and drive spring and after an injection a second trigger can be actuated to shift the barrier relative to the drive member and allow the return spring to act.

Abstract: A autoinjector type syringe apparatus is provided for injecting a liquid medicine or like into a patient. The apparatus includes a housing that is of two parts including a transversely extending upper housing and a downwardly extending vertically oriented lower housing. A syringe barrel is supported by the housing and has an interior for holding a liquid medicament for being dispensed. A piston is slidably disposed within the interior of the syringe barrel for injecting the medicament from the barrel, the piston being movable between retracting and dispensing positions. A cam member supported by the housing for operating the piston to move between retractive and dispensing positions, the cam being movable between loaded and dispensing positions. The housing includes an upper transversely extending section with an external surface and a cocking mechanism that includes an externally positioned handle that slides on the outer surface of the upper portion of the housing.

Abstract: An injector is provided for automatic placement of a subcutaneous insertion set such as an infusion set or the like used for delivering a selected medication to a patient. The injector comprises a spring-loaded plunger having a head for receiving and supporting the insertion set in a position for placement of a medical insertion needle through the skin of a patient at a selected insertion site. The plunger head includes a safety lock mechanism for engaging and retaining the insertion set during spring-loaded advancement with a controlled force and speed toward the patient's skin to transcutaneously place the insertion needle. When the plunger head reaches a fully advanced position, with the insertion set placed on the patient, the insertion set is releasible from the safety lock mechanism with minimal force to permit quick and easy separation of the injector.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device (V) for the output of a liquid (2) in partitioned amounts (2') from a store room (3), preferably in form of a cartridge (K), over an output mouth piece (4), preferably in form of an injection needle (5), and has the object the application of exactly reproducible amounts from a reserve amount and its safe application. This is obtained by an intermediate reservoir (17) taking up the partitioned amount (2') from the store room (3), whereby for the intermediate reservoir (17) an output piston (19) is provided with a penetration canal (18) to fill the intermediate reservoir (17).

Abstract: A pen shaped syringe with automatic needle insertion has an injection system integrally displaceable in a housing and comprising a basic part carrying a medicine reservoir with a hypodermic needle at its distal end, and a dosing mechanism with a carrier engaging a cogged piston rod, the carrier being coupled to a dose spindle in a rotatable but not displaceable way. The dose spindle is provided with a thread engaging a thread in a sequence part having protrusions engaging slots in the basic part to allow a limited axial movement of the parts in relation to each other, the extent of the movement being defined by the rotational position of the dose spindle. A spring is compressed between the basic part and the housing when the basic part is moved in the proximal direction by exerting a cocking force on the sequence part which part after having performed the set limited axial movement in relation to the basic part carries this basic part against the force of the spring.

Abstract: An automatic needle insertion device for a pen shaped syringe comprising a cartridge holder (2) wherein a cartridge with a drug can be accommodated, and a dose setting and injection part (1) by which a wanted dose may be set an subsequently pressed out from the cartridge by pressing a button (12) projecting from the dose setting and injection part (1). The device comprises a mainly tubular housing (31) in which a tubular pen holder (22) in which a pen can be mounted can be axially displaced in a proximal direction to cock a spring (30) which can thereafter be released to drive the pen holder (22) with the pen a set distance in a distal direction.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided with a housing, a lancet assembly, a lancet holder disposed in the housing for supporting the lancet assembly, the lancet holder being movable in a lancing direction between a cocked position and a puncture position, a drive spring for forcing the lancet holder from the cocked position to the puncture position, and a mechanism for damping movement of the lancet holder during travel of the lancet holder from the puncture position to an intermediate position between the puncture position and the cocked position. The damping mechanism may be provided in the form of a non-planar surface, such as a corrugated surface, disposed on the lancet holder and a damping member which makes contact with the non-planar surface during movement of the lancet holder.

Abstract: A blood analysis apparatus for obtaining blood for analysis from the skin of a patient with a controlled degree of lancing. The apparatus including a cartridge and a driver. The cartridge includes a cartridge case and a lancet. The lancet has a tip and is housed in the cartridge case. The lancet can be driven to extend the tip outside the cartridge case through an opening for lancing the skin of the patient to yield blood. The driver drives the lancet to move the tip distally to lance the skin. The driver is triggerable by the skin which is to be lanced exerting a force exceeding a preset amount against the triggering mechanism of the apparatus, to drive the lancet toward the skin.

Abstract: A syringe apparatus includes a housing having upper and lower end portions and a hollow interior. A rotary cam position inside the hollow interior has a projecting portion for operating a cartridge when the apparatus is used. The housing has a rotary bearing for supporting the cam. A syringe cartridge (single chamber or dual chamber) removably fits the housing interior, the cartridge including a barrel with at least one chamber for containing medicine to be dispensed and a dispensing orifice. The cartridge includes a piston having an upper plunger that engages the cam. The piston slides within the barrel chamber forcing contained medicine through the dispensing orifice (e.g., needle) during use. The upper plunger end of the piston engages the rotary cam during dispensing. The cam is movable between first and second positions, the second position being a dispensing position that positions the projecting portion of the cam at the piston. A spring urges the cam to rotate from the first to the second position.

Abstract: An injector is provided for automatic placement of a subcutaneous infusion set or the like used for delivering a selected medication to a patient. The injector comprises a spring-loaded plunger having a head for receiving and supporting an infusion set in a position for placement of an insertion needle and related cannula through the skin of a patient at a selected insertion site. The plunger head includes a safety lock mechanism for engaging and retaining the infusion set during spring-loaded advancement with a controlled force and speed toward the patient's skin to transcutaneously place the insertion needle and cannula. When the plunger head reaches a fully advanced position, with the infusion set placed on the patient, the infusion set is releasible from the safety lock mechanism with minimal force to permit quick and easy separation of the injector.

Abstract: A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity includes a cannula having a distal end for introduction in the anatomical cavity, a penetrating member disposed in the cannula and having a distal end for penetrating the anatomical cavity wall protection means for placing the safety penetrating instrument in a protected state where the penetrating member distal end is protected and not exposed and trigger means proximally movable during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall for triggering the protection means to place the safety penetrating instrument in the protected state upon the trigger means moving a predetermined proximal distance. Where the predetermined proximal distance corresponds to the thickness of the anatomical cavity wall, the safety penetrating instrument will be placed in the protected state upon introduction of the cannula distal end in the anatomical cavity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument 40 includes a handle 1 and a disposable biopsy needle set or needle cartridge 20. The needle set includes a cannula 9 with a cannula hub 8 and a stylet 7 with a stylet hub 6. The needle set 20 is positionable within the handle 1 and actuatable thereby for purposes of taking a biopsy tissue sample. The needle set 20 and in particular the hubs 6, 8, in combination with the handle 1, perform the actuation sequence which allows the needle to be projected into the tissue to be biopsied and the cannula to be subsequently urged over the needle to collect the tissue.

Abstract: An injectable medicament dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments such as insulin, antibiotics, oncolytics and the like from a prefilled container at a uniform rate. The dispenser includes a unique stored energy source in the form of a compressively deformable, polymeric elastomeric member that provides the force necessary to controllably discharge the medicament from the prefilled container which is housed within the body of the device. After having been deformed, the polymeric, elastomeric member will return to its starting configuration in a highly predictable manner.

Abstract: An automatic injector comprises a housing, a tubular cartridge disposed in the housing, the cartridge having a rearward portion thereof with a predetermined inner diameter and an inwardly extending shoulder connecting a forward portion of the cartridge with a smaller inner diameter than the predetermined diameter. A charge of liquid medicament is normally disposed in the cartridge, and a needle is disposed within the housing and adapted to communicate with the medicament through a forward end of the cartridge to dispense the medicament therethrough. A plunger disposed within the cartridge and rearwardly confines the medicament and has a rearward portion with a diameter sized to form a seal with the predetermined inner diameter of the rearward portion of the cartridge. The plunger is movable forwardly through the cartridge in slidingly sealed relation with respect thereto to displace the medicament through the needle.

Abstract: An assembly for automatically injecting a fluid into the body is provided. The assembly includes a drive assembly, which can be reused many times, and a disposable assembly including a sleeve which contains a syringe. The drive assembly includes a housing having an open end to which a collar is mounted. The collar includes a radially inwardly extending pawl. The sleeve includes a generally cylindrical body having a radially outwardly extending rib. The rib defines a notch which is engageable with the pawl when the disposable assembly is inserted within the drive assembly housing. Engagement of the pawl within the notch prevents the disposable assembly from being ejected from the drive assembly housing should the actuating button of the drive assembly be pushed prematurely. Ejection of the disposable assembly requires its rotation with respect to the drive assembly housing to first disengage the pawl from the notch.

Abstract: A syringe is provided for injecting multiple sequential dosages of a liquid medicine includes a single actuator for initiating a penetration and injection sequence. The syringe hereof is adjustable for different dosages while providing for physical selection of a desired, predetermined dosage. The syringe includes a retraction mechanism for withdrawing the needle into a protective collar after administration of the dosage. The syringe receives a vial for administering multiple dosages without the necessity of replacing the vial after each administration.

Abstract: A needle hiding shield to be coupled to a conventional dose metering syringe to hide a hypodermic needle from view of a patient (e.g. a child) to whom an injection is to be administered so as to minimize the anxiety that will be experienced by the patient. According to a first embodiment, the needle hiding shield includes an inner anchoring sleeve that surrounds a medication cartridge housing and an opaque outer sleeve guard that shields a hypodermic needle and is coaxially aligned with and coupled to the inner anchoring sleeve by a pair of springs. An injection is administered when the medication cartridge housing is advanced distally through the outer sleeve guard to cause the springs to be stretched and the needle to be moved outwardly of the outer sleeve guard to penetrate the targeted injection site.

Abstract: A retractable safety penetrating instrument for introducing a portal sleeve into a cavity in the body includes a portal sleeve and a penetrating member disposed within the portal sleeve and supported in a manner to automatically move proximally from an extended position wherein a sharp distal end of the penetrating member protrudes from the portal sleeve to a retracted position wherein the sharp distal end of the penetrating member is protected in response to distal movement of the retractable safety penetrating instrument upon penetration into a cavity in the body. A retracting mechanism moves the penetrating member proximally and is normally locked in a position preventing proximal movement of the penetrating member and is released by distal movement of an operating member to trigger retraction of the penetrating member.

Abstract: A retractable safety penetrating instrument for introducing a portal sleeve into a cavity in the body includes a portal sleeve and a penetrating member disposed within the portal sleeve and supported in a manner to automatically move proximally from an extended position wherein a sharp distal end of the penetrating member protrudes from the portal sleeve to a retracted position wherein the sharp distal end of the penetrating member is protected in response to distal movement of the retractable safety penetrating instrument upon penetration into a cavity in the body. A retracting mechanism moves the penetrating member proximally and is normally locked in a position preventing proximal movement of the penetrating member and is released by distal movement of an operating member to trigger reaction of the penetrating member.