Method and system for controllably administering fluid to a patient and/or for controllably withdrawing fluid from the patient

A system for controllably administering fluid to a patient and/or for controllably withdrawing fluid from the patient, the system comprising:

• an infusion needle;
• a syringe for holding a quantity of fluid, the syringe being in fluid communication with the infusion needle, the syringe comprising a syringe body and a syringe plunger, the syringe plunger comprising a column portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the syringe plunger further comprising a handle disposed at the proximal end of the column portion, the distal end of the column portion being insertable into the syringe body, the column portion comprising a rack;
• a bi-directional pump adapted to be operably coupled to the infusion needle for creating fluid flow through the infusion needle, the bi-directional pump comprising a gear engageable with the rack for driving the rack so as to move the syringe plunger relative to the syringe body in order to alternately produce positive and negative fluid flow in the infusion needle;
• and
• a hands-free switch for activating and/or deactivating the bi-directional pump, the hands-free switch comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein actuation of the first switch causes the bi-directional pump to expel fluid from the syringe body, wherein actuation of the second switch causes the bi-directional pump to draw fluid into the syringe body, wherein the bi-directional pump is inactive when neither the first switch nor the second switch is actuated, and wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch comprises a resiliently-compressible tube and a pressure-sensitive switch disposed within a void of the resiliently-compressible tube.