Safety shield system for prefilled syringes

12) A medical device comprising:

• a holder comprising an elongate body, an elongate enclosure defined by said body, and said holder having proximal and distal open ends;
• a syringe including a barrel, a needle cannula secured to said barrel, a stopper slidably positioned within said barrel, and a plunger rod engaging said stopper, said syringe being coupled to said holder and positioned within said enclosure such that said needle cannula extends beyond said distal open end, said syringe being axially slidable within said enclosure;
• a shield coupled to said holder and axially movable relative to said holder between a retracted position, wherein said needle cannula is at least partially exposed, and an extended position wherein said shield encloses said needle cannula;
• a spring at least partially compressed and biased between said holder and said shield urging said shield towards the extended position;
• and
• a stop member mounted to said holder adjacent to said distal open end, said stop member being releasably engageable with said shield when said shield is in the retracted position, said syringe being operably coupled to said shield, such that axial movement of said syringe towards said distal end of said holder causes axial movement of said shield and disengagement of said shield and said stop member and said spring then driving said shield from said retracted to said extended position enclosing said needle cannula.

16) A shield system comprising:

• a holder comprising an elongate body, an elongate enclosure defined by said body, and said holder including proximal and distal open ends;
• an elongate tubular shield coupled to said holder and positioned at least partially within said holder enclosure, said shield including open proximal and distal ends and a passage extending therethrough, and said shield being slidable within said holder enclosure between a retracted position and an extended position wherein said shield extends beyond said distal open end of said holder;
• a spring at least partially compressed located within said enclosure operably biased between said holder and said shield and urging said shield towards said extended position;
• a stop member on said holder adjacent said distal open end and engageable with said shield, said stop member maintaining said shield in said retracted position against the compressive force of said spring and releasing said shield upon sufficient axial displacement of said shield;
• and
• a detent mounted to said holder and engageable with said shield when said shield is in said extended position preventing retraction of said shield from said extended position.