Patent ID: 6179812
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A medical device comprising:a barrel having a forward end;a needle assembly comprising:a needle operable between a projecting position wherein the needle projects forwardly from the barrel and a retracted position wherein the needle is enclosed within the barrel; anda block attached to the needle;a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly;a needle retainer having a rearwardly facing shoulder, the needle retainer releasably maintaining the needle in the projecting position; anda plunger slidably positioned in the barrel, the plunger having a forward end with an opening sized to receive the needle and a cavity for containing the needle in the retracted position, the plunger comprising:a forward end having an opening sized to receive the needle;an actuation surface cooperable with the shoulder of the needle retainer to effectuate retraction; anda disassociable plug disposed forwardly of the actuation surface, and sealing the opening;wherein upon forward displacement of the plunger, the plug engages the needle assembly, dislodging the plug from the opening, and the actuation surface of the plunger engages the needle retainer displacing the needle retainer so that the needle retainer releases the needle and the biasing element propels the needle assembly rearwardly into the plunger cavity.