One embodiment is directed to a safety syringe system, comprising a syringe body; a plunger tip positioned within the syringe body; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that a medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein the needle assembly comprises a needle housing member removably coupled to the retractable needle and also removably coupled to a needle cover, the needle cover providing a relatively large geometric guiding surface for aligning a proximal end of the retractable needle as it is guided into fluidic contact with the fluid reservoir of the syringe body.

One embodiment is directed to a pre-filled safety syringe system, comprising a syringe body; a plunger tip positioned within the syringe body; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that a medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein upon insertion and release of the plunger tip, a retraction load coupled between the syringe body and the plunger tip causes the plunger tip to be proximally withdrawn, pulling the retractable needle proximally relative to the needle housing to a safe locked and retracted state.

One embodiment is directed to a safety syringe system, comprising a syringe body; a plunger tip positioned within the syringe body; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that a medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein upon insertion and release of the plunger tip, a retraction load coupled between the syringe body and the plunger tip causes the plunger tip to be proximally withdrawn, pulling the retractable needle proximally relative to the needle housing to a safe locked and retracted state.

A needle guard (10) for use with a needle assembly (12) having a needle (16) extending from a forward end of a needle block (18), the guard (10) comprises a hollow sleeve portion (26) having a front end (20) with an aperture (24) therein through which the needle assembly (12) may be retracted to a retracted position, in which the free end of the needle lies within the hollow sleeve portion. The guard (10) has a retaining portion into which at least a part of the needle assembly may be withdrawn to a retracted position, at least one locking mechanism (36) to retain the needle assembly in the retaining portion and at least one deflector (36, 102) that engages the needle (16) and/or the needle block (18) to deflect the needle (16) away from the aperture (24) when in the retracted position.

A drug delivery device (1) comprising a delivery unit (2) receiving a drug cartridge (3) containing a drug to be administered to a patient in need thereof, the delivery unit comprising a subcutaneous delivery mechanism (7) including a needle (24), a needle support (8) to which the needle is mounted, and a needle actuation mechanism (9) configured to move the needle from a retracted position within a housing (5) of the delivery unit (2), to an extended delivery position where the needle projects through a base wall (14) of the housing. The needle actuation mechanism comprises a rotary actuator (10) configured to engage an engagement lever (11) coupled to the needle support (8) for translating the needle support between retracted and extended delivery positions.