Pre-filled safety vial injector

A medical device, comprising:

• a vial containing a quantity of medicinal fluid, wherein the vial comprises a container having a fixed rearward wall and a fixed pierceable wall sealing the forward end;
• a holder configured to receive the vial;
• an injection needle for expelling the medicinal fluid from the device wherein the injection needle comprises a sharpened tip operable between an extended position in which the sharpened tip is exposed for use and a protected position in which the sharpened tip is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened tip;
• and
• a communication path adapted to establish fluid flow between the vial and the injection needle to allow the medicinal fluid to flow from the vial to the injection needle;
• wherein after use the needle is disposed in the protected position.

A method for injecting medicine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a container having a quantity of medicinal fluid;
• providing an injection device having a chamber and a needle;
• attaching the container to the injection device;
• transferring medicinal fluid from the container to the chamber;
• expelling the medicinal fluid from the chamber;
• and
• retracting the needle after expelling the medicinal fluid to shield the needle against contact.

A method for injecting medicine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a container having a first fixed piercable end, a second fixed end and a quantity of medicinal fluid;
• providing an injection device having a needle, wherein the injection device is adapted to mate with the container;
• mating the container with the injection device;
• expelling the medicinal fluid from the container through the needle;
• and
• retracting the needle after expelling the medicinal fluid to shield the needle against contact.

A medical device cooperable with a needle assembly having a retractable injection needle and a pre-filled container of medicinal fluid, comprising:

• a housing cooperable with the needle assembly;
• a socket for receiving the container;
• a pressurizing element within the housing to provide positive fluid pressure within the container when the container is disposed in the socket;
• a chamber in the housing for receiving the medicinal fluid from the container;
• wherein the housing has an activation surface cooperable with the needle assembly and adapted to activate retraction of the needle after use.