Patent ID: 8128613

Claim:
A method of administering lyophilized drugs, the method comprising displacing a diluent from a syringe system into a medication vial comprising a medication, wherein the syringe system includes a syringe having a cylindrical barrel configured to receive a plunger, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to receive a needle, a needle guard coupled to the syringe, the needle guard comprising a body being configured to receive the syringe and a shield slidable between a retracted position and an extended position, the shield comprising one or more trigger fingers that are releasable when a radial element of the plunger contacts the one or more trigger fingers; and a clip removably coupled to a proximal portion of the body of the needle guard, wherein the clip is configured with respect to the needle guard such that the interaction of the clip and the needle guard prevents the shield from transitioning to the extended position when the one or more trigger fingers are contacted by the radial element; wherein the step of displacing comprises moving the plunger in a distal direction such that the radial element of the plunger contacts the one or more trigger fingers of the needle guard and the clip prevents transitioning of the shield to the extended position; and withdrawing the therapeutic agent from the medication vial.