摘要 |
A combination retractable needle cannula and cannula lock which is to be interfaced with a prefilled medication carpule at the interior of a hypodermic syringe. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws which are normally separated from one another so that the needle cannula can be releasably retained therebetween. In the preinjection state, the clamp is axially spaced from the carpule, and the jaws of the clamp are rotated towards one another to retain the cannula in an axially extended position for administering an injection. In the post-injection state, after the contents of the carpule have been expulsed via the cannula, the clamp is engaged and displaced by the carpule, whereby the jaws of the clamp rotate away from one another to release the cannula. The cannula may then be retracted within and completely surrounded by the empty carpule so that the cannula can be safely discarded after use while avoiding an accidental needle stick and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening, disease.
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