Syringe assembly

A syringe assembly comprising:

• an elongated tubular syringe barrel;
• a tubular needle mounted to said syringe barrel with the interior of said tubular needle being in fluid communication with the interior or said syringe barrel;
• plunger means movably positioned within said syringe barrel for aspirating or injecting fluid from said syringe;
• a hollow casing mounted to said syringe barrel with said casing and said syringe barrel defining an interior space therebetween;
• needle shielding means comprising a tubular sleeve movably positioned within said interior space and surrounding said syringe barrel with said sleeve being movable between an extended position surrounding and shielding said needle and a retracted position in which said needle is exposed for use;
• said syringe barrel, said casing and said sleeve being substantially cylindrical and coaxial and said sleeve being telescopically disposed within said interior space;
• said casing being formed with a longitudinally extending slot and said sleeve including a radially extending projection slidably disposed within said slot, whereby said sleeve can be moved between its extended and retracted positions by sliding said projection within said slot.