Patent ID: 6926697

Claim:
A safety syringe, comprising a shield having a bore which extends from a distal end of said shield to a proximal end of said shield, said shield including an interior wall; a barrel having a distal end located in said shield and a proximal end located externally of said shield, said barrel being mounted for reciprocating movement within said shield such that said barrel is movable between a retracted position, in which said distal end of said barrel is located proximate said proximal end of said shield, and an extended position, in which said distal end of said barrel is located proximate said distal end of said shield; a needle assembly attached to said barrel at said distal end thereof, said needle assembly having a needle which extends in a direction away from said distal end of said barrel; a hub sized and shaped so as to be attached to said distal end of said barrel; urging means for automatically urging said barrel into its said retracted position from its said extended position; and a ring rotatably mounted on said hub such that said ring is rotatable relative to said shield, said interior wall of said shield including means for locking said barrel in its said retracted position, said ring including at least one tab sized and shaped so as to engage said locking means of said shield when said barrel is in its said retracted position, whereby said barrel is prevented from being moved back to its said extended position.