| abstract |
Retractable needle/syringe devices for blood collection, catheterization, and medicinal injection procedures adapted to fixedly project the needle from a device housing to perform the procedure, and, after the procedure is completed, retract the needle back into the housing for disposal, substantially without risk of persons handling these devices coming into contaminating contact with a used needle or syringe. One embodiment of the device including a needle/syringe assembly spring biased in a first position within a housing. A push button locking mechanism disposed through the top of the housing in abutting alignment with the syringe barrel is operated to forwardly translate the syringe to a second position and lock it in place so as to fixedly project the needle from the housing. A plunger arm perpendicularly connected to the syringe plunger and projecting out of the housing through cooperating apertures formed on the syringe barrel and housing is operated to draw fluid (blood or medicament) into and discharge fluid from the syringe barrel. Thereafter, the push button is operated again to release the locking mechanism and retract the needle back into the housing. For use in medicinal injection procedures, an ampule filled with an injectant and formed with a front seal and a movable rear seal is frictionally enclosed by the barrel. A plunger mechanism connected to the rear seal of the ampule is operated to translate the ampule forward until the portion of the needle disposed within the barrel penetrates the front seal of the ampule and establishes fluid communication with the injectant. The front of the barrel provides a stop against further forward movement of the ampule pursuant to which further pressure applied to the knob will cause the rear seal to move forward so as to discharge the injectant from the ampule. |