Reusable syringe assembly including retractable protective shielding frame

A reusable syringe assembly for use with a disposable needle having a tip, and a disposable carpule, the assembly comprising:

• a housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end adapted to support the removal and replacement of the disposable needle tip thereon and defining a receptacle therein, the housing having an access opening suitably sized to permit the carpule to be inserted into and removed from the receptacle therethrough, the receptacle arranged to receive therein the carpule such that the carpule is cooperative with the disposable needle tip;
• a plunger supported for sliding movement relative to the first end of the housing so as to be arranged to operatively engage the carpule;
• and
• a protective shielding frame supported on the housing for longitudinal sliding between an extended position in which the protective shielding frame protrudes longitudinally beyond the second end of the housing and surrounds a free end of the disposable needle tip and a retracted position in which the protective shielding frame is retracted towards the first end of the housing relative to the extended position;
• wherein the protective shielding frame is arranged to provide access through the protective shielding frame for manual attachment to and removal from the second housing end of the disposable needle tip when the protective shielding frame is in the extended position.

A method of delivering liquid from a sterilizable syringe that is reusable, the method comprising:

• providing a reusable and sterilizable syringe comprising a housing and a protective shielding frame movably engaged with the housing;
• providing a first disposable needle tip having a first sharp free end;
• first moving the shielding frame to an extended position relative to the housing;
• first engaging with the housing a first disposable carpule containing a first liquid;
• first manually attaching to the housing the first disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the first carpule while the first sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• first expressing the first liquid from the first disposable carpule through the first disposable needle tip, further comprising:
• after the first expressing step third moving the shielding frame to the extended position relative to the housing;
• second engaging with the housing a second disposable carpule containing one of the first and a second liquid;
• third replacing the first disposable needle tip with a second disposable needle tip having a second sharp free end;
• after the third moving the shielding frame to the extended position manually second attaching to the housing the second disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the second carpule while the second sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• second expressing the one of the first and the second liquid from the second disposable carpule through the second disposable needle tip.

A method of delivering liquid from a sterilizable syringe that is reusable, the method comprising:

• providing a reusable and sterilizable syringe comprising a housing and a protective shielding frame movably engaged with the housing;
• providing a first disposable needle tip having a first sharp free end;
• first moving the shielding frame to an extended position relative to the housing;
• first engaging with the housing a first disposable carpule containing a first liquid;
• first manually attaching to the housing the first disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the first carpule while the first sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• first expressing the first liquid from the first disposable carpule through the first disposable needle tip, further comprising after expressing the first liquid and before removing the first disposable needle:
• with the shielding frame in the extended position removing the first disposable carpule from the housing and disposing within the housing a second disposable carpule containing a second liquid to place the second liquid in fluid communication with the needle;
• and
• expressing the second liquid through the first disposable needle.

A method of delivering liquid from a sterilizable syringe that is reusable, the method comprising:

• providing a reusable and sterilizable syringe comprising a housing and a protective shielding frame movably engaged with the housing;
• providing a first disposable needle tip having a first sharp free end;
• first moving the shielding frame to an extended position relative to the housing;
• first engaging with the housing a first disposable carpule containing a first liquid;
• first manually attaching to the housing the first disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the first carpule while the first sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• first expressing the first liquid from the first disposable carpule through the first disposable needle tip, wherein the first manually attaching step comprises:
• providing the first disposable needle protected by a needle sheath;
• mounting the first disposable needle on the needle mounting hub;
• and
• disengaging the needle sheath from the first disposable needle by accessing the needle sheath through the aperture with the protective shielding frame in the extended position.

A method of delivering liquid from a sterilizable syringe that is reusable, the method comprising:

• providing a reusable and sterilizable syringe comprising a housing and a protective shielding frame movably engaged with the housing;
• providing a first disposable needle tip having a first sharp free end;
• first moving the shielding frame to an extended position relative to the housing;
• first engaging with the housing a first disposable carpule containing a first liquid;
• first manually attaching to the housing the first disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the first carpule while the first sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• first expressing the first liquid from the first disposable carpule through the first disposable needle tip, wherein the mounting the first disposable needle comprises mounting the first disposable needle manually via the aperture.

A method of delivering liquid from a sterilizable syringe that is reusable, the method comprising:

• providing a reusable and sterilizable syringe comprising a housing and a protective shielding frame movably engaged with the housing;
• providing a first disposable needle tip having a first sharp free end;
• first moving the shielding frame to an extended position relative to the housing;
• first engaging with the housing a first disposable carpule containing a first liquid;
• first manually attaching to the housing the first disposable needle tip in fluid communication with an interior of the first carpule while the first sharp free end is substantially covered by the shielding frame in the extended position;
• and
• first expressing the first liquid from the first disposable carpule through the first disposable needle tip, further comprising:
• after the manually removing the first disposable needle from the needle mounting hub manually mounting on the needle hub through the aperture a second disposable needle while the shielding frame is in the extended position;
• and
• expressing the first liquid through the second disposable needle.

A method of operating syringe assembly for use with a disposable carpule containing a liquid and a disposable needle having a needle tip, the assembly having a syringe housing extending longitudinally between a first housing end and a second housing end, the housing having an access opening suitably sized to permit the carpule to be inserted into and removed from the housing therethrough, the housing having a needle mounting hub adapted to receive and replace thereon the disposable needle and defining a receptacle arranged to receive therein the carpule such that the carpule is in fluid communication with the disposable needle tip;

• and a protective shielding frame supported on the housing for longitudinal sliding between a first extended position in which the protective shielding frame protrudes longitudinally beyond the second housing end to surround the needle tip of the disposable needle tip and a second retracted position in which the protective shielding frame is retracted towards the first housing end relative to the extended position, the method comprising:
• sliding the protective shielding frame into the extended position subsequent to use of the carpule;
• and
• removing the disposable needle tip from the second end of the housing while the protective shielding frame remains in the extended position.