Patent ID: 7794432

Claim:
An auto-injector comprising: a housing having a retention step formed on an inner surface of the housing, the housing having no surface operative to contact an injection site during a medicament dispensing operation; a cartridge having an opening therein and containing a medicament, the medicament rearwardly confined by a plunger received through the opening, the cartridge including a needle assembly operative to dispense the medicament there through during a medicament dispensing operation, the needle assembly including a needle; a cartridge container disposed within the housing and operative to receive the cartridge therein, the cartridge container having a ledge that abuts the retention step of the housing to limit movement of the cartridge container within the housing, the cartridge container having a closed front end except for an opening therein sized to receive the needle there through during a medicament dispensing operation, the closed front end operative to engage the cartridge and oppose continued movement of the cartridge after the needle passes through the front end opening; an actuation assembly providing a stored energy source capable of driving the plunger within the cartridge to dispense the medicament through the needle assembly, the actuation assembly secured to the housing; and a needle cover at least partially received within the housing and positioned between the housing and the cartridge container, the needle cover having an opening formed therein sized to receive the needle there through during a medicament dispensing operation, the needle cover having a first locked retracted position and a second locked extended position, the needle cover extending beyond the housing in the first locked retracted position; whereby: energy released from the stored energy source to drive the needle and cartridge during the medicament dispensing operation is not transmitted to the needle cover.