Removal of needle shields from syringes and automatic injection devices

An automatic injection device, comprising:

• a syringe;
• a needle shield coupled to a distal end of the syringe;
• a distal cap for covering the needle shield;
• and
• a needle shield remover disposed between the needle shield and the distal cap, the needle shield comprising:
• a tubular member for enclosing the needle shield coupled to the syringe,
• one or more cap engagement mechanisms provided at a distal end of the tubular member and engaged with the distal cap,
• two shield engagement mechanisms provided at a proximal end of the tubular member and engaged with the needle shield, the two shield engagement mechanisms configured such that,
• when the needle shield remover is pulled away from the syringe, the two shield engagement mechanisms exert force against the needle shield to remove the needle shield from the syringe,
• two apertures disposed in a sidewall of the tubular member, wherein each of the two shield engagement mechanisms is provided in a respective one of the two apertures, and
• two cutout portions formed in the sidewall of the tubular member and circumferentially disposed in an alternating manner with the two apertures about the tubular member.

An apparatus for removing a needle shield from a syringe, comprising:

• a tubular member for enclosing the needle shield coupled to the syringe;
• one or more cap engagement mechanisms provided at a distal end of the tubular member and configured for engagement with a distal cap provided for covering a distal end of the syringe;
• two shield engagement mechanisms provided at a proximal end of the tubular member and configured for engagement with the needle shield, the two shield engagement mechanisms configured such that, when the apparatus is pulled away from the syringe, the two shield engagement mechanisms exert force against the needle shield to remove the needle shield from the syringe;
• and
• two cutout portions formed in the sidewall of the tubular member and circumferentially disposed in an alternating manner with the two shield engagement mechanisms about the tubular member.