Patent ID: 7041092

Claim:
A method of shielding a needle cannula of a syringe with a shield system, said syringe including a tubular barrel, a needle cannula extending from a distal end of said barrel and a stopper within said barrel having a plunger rod extending through an open proximal end of said barrel, and said shield system including a body receiving and retaining said syringe, a tubular shield surrounding at least a portion of said syringe barrel releasably retained to said body in a retracted position, wherein said needle cannula is exposed and a spring urging said shield toward an extended position, wherein said needle cannula is enclosed, said method comprising the following steps performed in sequence: injecting a fluid through said needle cannula by driving said plunger rod and said stopper through said barrel; and then releasing said plunger rod so that the release of said plunger rod releases said shield from said body, and said spring then driving said shield distally relative to said body to said extended position enclosing said needle cannula.