Patent ID: 8784375

Claim:
A safety carpule system with integral retractable needle, the safety carpule system comprising: a housing element being substantially cylindrical and including a first end, a second end and a main bore extending axially therebetween, the main bore having a radial wall; a needle hub assembly including a hub element and a needle element extending generally therethrough, the needle hub assembly being axially transportable within the main bore between an injection position and a retracted position, a forward portion of the needle element extending outward of the first end when the needle hub assembly is in the injection position, the forward portion being disposed entirely within the housing element when the needle hub assembly is in the retracted position; a plunger element in sealing engagement with the main bore and axially actuatable therewithin between a ready position, a capture position and a safety position; and a piston element including a diaphragm member and being disposed within the main bore generally between the needle hub assembly and the plunger element, a fluid chamber being generally defined by the volume within the main bore between the plunger element and the diaphragm member, the piston element being in sealing engagement with the radial wall and being axially movable from a fluid retaining position to a fluid release position by way of an increase in a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber resulting from the actuation of the plunger element from the ready position toward the capture position, the piston element preventing fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the needle element when in the fluid retaining position, the diaphragm member being punctured and allowing fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the needle element when the piston element is in the fluid release position, the piston element being simultaneously latchingly snap engageable by the needle hub assembly and the plunger element when the plunger element is in the capture position such that actuation of the plunger element from the capture position to the safety position results in the needle hub assembly being transported from the injection position to the retracted position.