WO2025144049A1 - Injection needle protection - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a syringe, comprising a syringe body, an attachment to arrange a replaceable injection needle on the syringe body, and a protective sleeve, which is selectively retractable relative to the syringe body to expose an injection needle on the syringe body or extendable to shield the injection needle and comprises a coupling part, while an injection needle removal device comprises an injection needle removal mechanism behind a receptacle configured to selectively insert therein the protective sleeve of a syringe in an extended position and comprising a complementary coupling part. In a coupled state of the coupling part and the complementary coupling part the protective sleeve may be arrested from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal thereof by the injection needle removal mechanism. The syringe and device thus form a system. Also, an associated method is disclosed.

Description

INJECTION NEEDLE PROTECTION

FIELD

The present disclosure relates in general to the field of syringes and protecting users from inadvertent stinging or pricking accidents, involving injection needles that have been used for treatment of patients.

BACKGROUND

From the inventor’s own publication WO-2019/235917, also published inter alia as US- 2021/228816, a device for removing injection needles from syringe bodies is known. Therein is disclosed that stabbing accidents are prone to occur to people handling needles, for example when recapping a needle or when trying to remove a needle from a syringe. According to this prior art publication, a device is provided for safe and automatic removal of a needle from a syringe aimed to prevent stabbing accidents. The device is arranged to grab hold of and rotate the needle of a syringe. The needle is, after being rotated off the syringe, discarded into the device by releasing the grip on the needle. The device rotates two rotating gears relative to each other to move grippers towards the needle, and rotates the two gears together to rotate the needle relative to the syringe which may be held by the user. According to this publication, an exposed needled is - while being arranged on or attached to a syringe - introduced into the device to be removed

Further, CN107376061 is acknowledged here as prior art, which relates to medical instruments, in particular to a contaminated needle head storage device. The contaminated needle head storage device comprises a fixing box, a storage box, clamping devices, a release device, needle head protecting covers and needle heads. The fixing box and the storage box are connected in a clamped mode. The fixing box is provided with a plurality of fixing cavities, the fixing cavities are used for clamping the needle head protecting covers, the fixing cavities are further provided with the clamping devices, the release device is used for enabling the needle head protecting covers inside the fixing cavities into the storage box, and the needle head protecting covers and the needle heads are provided with meshed threads. The contaminated needle head storage device can avoid the phenomenon that people are punctured due to disengagement of the needle heads, and the contaminated needle head storage device can also avoid the phenomenon that a medical worker is punctured by the needle heads during operation.

According to this latter mentioned prior art publication, needle head protecting covers - herein below referred to as protective sleeves - may be screwed onto or from injection needles without a user or operator having to position a hand in close proximity of the free end tip of the injection needle during a manipulation process of screwing the sleeve onto or from the injection needle.

SUMMARY The present disclosure is aimed at improving protection of (a) syringe’s user(s) against pricking incidents.

The present disclosure provides improvements over the prior art, by providing a syringe, a device and a system to perform a method, all according to the present disclosure. The system may form a kit-of-parts, exhibiting effects of the invention when constituent components thereof are assembled, and also defining protection for the constituent components in isolation.

The present disclosure relates to a syringe, comprising a syringe body, an attachment to arrange a replaceable injection needle on the syringe body, and a protective sleeve, which is selectively retractable relative to the syringe body to expose an injection needle on the syringe body or extendable to shield the injection needle and comprises a coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with an external complementary coupling part of a receptacle of an injection needle manipulation device according to the present disclosure - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal or replacement thereof.

Further, the present disclosure relates to an injection needle manipulation device, comprising an injection needle manipulation mechanism behind a receptacle configured to selectively insert therein the protective sleeve of a syringe according to the present disclosure in an extended, needle shielding position and comprising the complementary coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with the coupling part of the protective sleeve - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal thereof by the injection needle manipulation mechanism.

Yet further, the present disclosure relates to a system, comprising the above syringe and the above device, wherein the protective sleeve and the receptacle define a coupling comprising respectively the coupling part and the complementary coupling part, and wherein the coupling is configured to arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while further inserting the injection needle through the receptacle to expose the injection needle.

In an embodiment, the coupling may comprise a coupling cam on one of the protective sleeve and the receptacle and a coupling slot on the other.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, the protective sleeve may comprise a releasable latch configured to maintain the extended position thereof. Then, the latch may comprise a bayonet coupling.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, a base may be provided to be arranged on the syringe body with the protective sleeve arranged around the base. The base may be formed by the syringe body, in as far as elements or components interacting with the protective sleeve are manufactured in or as part of the syringe body

In an embodiment with the base and the latch, the protective sleeve and the base may together comprise the latch. In an embodiment comprising at least the base, it may be configured to clamp onto the syringe body.

In an embodiment comprising at least the base, the base and the protective sleeve may comprise a guide for movement of the protective sleeve between the extended and the retracted positions over the base.

In an embodiment comprising at least the releasable latch and the guide, the releasable latch may be arranged at an end of the guide, corresponding with the extended position of the protective sleeve.

In an embodiment comprising at least the guide, it may comprise a guide cam on one of the protective sleeves and the base and a guide slot on the other. Then, the protective sleeve may comprise at least one axial cut-out for a portion thereof to deflect during assembly of the protective sleeve onto the base.

In an embodiment comprising at least the bayonet coupling and the guide cam and guide slot, the bayonet coupling may comprise a radially widened end or side branch of the guide slot, defining a shoulder for abutment of the guide cam there against. Then, the radially widened end or side branch of the guide slot may comprise a notch to define the latch and thus maintain the protective sleeve in the extended position thereof.

In an embodiment comprising at least the base, it may comprises a see-through opening.

Additionally or alternatively, the receptacle may be trumpet shaped with an interior dimensioned to insert the protective sleeve.

In an embodiment with the coupling cam and coupling slot and the trumpet shaped flaring receptable that is big enough to insert the protective sleeve, the coupling slot may be arranged on the interior of the trumpet shaped receptacle over a limited distance therein, and the coupling cam may then be arranged on an outer surface of the protective sleeve.

Additionally or alternatively, the receptacle may form an entry of a device configured to remove the injection needle from the syringe body, and/or may form part of a device or tool for remote manual operation of the protective sleeve.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of protection against an injection needle arranged on a syringe body, by

- inserting an extended protective sleeve relative to a syringe body to shield an injection needle into a receptacle,

- coupling the protective sleeve and the receptacle to arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position exposing the injection needle.

Based on the above reference to features of the present disclosure in term and expressions of the appended claims, a detailed and practical embodiment is disclosed herein below with reference to the appended drawing and the figures thereof. In this respect it is however noted that the scope of the present disclosure is defined in the appended claims, and more in particular in the appended independent claim(s), while no element or component in any portion of the below embodiment description may serve to

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the appended drawing, embodiments of components are shown in non-limiting embodiments, wherein the same or similar elements, components and functional aspects may be designated throughout the drawing with the same or similar reference signs and wherein:

FIG. 1 exhibits a device for removal of an injection needle from a syringe body;

FIG. 2 exhibits an interior of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 exhibits a receptacle of the device in FIG.’s 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 exhibits a protective sleeve on a syringe body;

FIG. 5 exhibits view of the receptacle in the direction of arrow V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 exhibits a clamping base for the protective sleeve; and

FIG.’s 7 and 8 exhibit different perspective views of one embodiment of the protective sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates to a syringe, comprising a syringe body, an attachment 26 to arrange a replaceable injection needle 22 on the syringe body 20, and a protective sleeve, which is selectively retractable relative to the syringe body to expose an injection needle on the syringe body or extendable to shield the injection needle and comprises a coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with an external complementary coupling part of a receptacle of an injection needle removal device - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal or replacement thereof. An injection needle removal device, comprising an injection needle removal mechanism 6 behind a receptacle configured to selectively insert therein the protective sleeve of a syringe according to the present disclosure in an extended position and comprising the complementary coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with the coupling part of the protective sleeve - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal thereof by the injection needle removal mechanism 6. In a coupled state of the coupling part of the protective sleeve of the syringe and the complementary coupling part in or of the receptacle, a system is thus formed, wherein the protective sleeve can may be arrested from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, i.e. during the inserting movement of a user manipulating the syringe body, to retract the protective sleeve and thereby expose the injection needle for removal thereof by the injection needle removal mechanism. It may even be possible to augment the device to replace an injection needle, after removal of a used injection needle. FIG.’s 1 and 2 show a non-limiting embodiment of a device 1 for unscrewing an injection needle from a syringe body, comprising a receptacle 2 provided in a housing 4. The receptacle 2 is configured for receiving at least part of the injection needle that is to be unscrewed from the syringe body.

The device 1 comprises a controller 8 arranged to operate the device 1 to engage the injection needle that is to be unscrewed from the syringe body, unscrew the injection needle, and disengage the needle, as set out in WO-2019/235917. For details on the manner of removing (in more detail: unscrewing) the injection needle from the syringe body, reference is made to the disclosure in WO- 2019/35917, which is wholly incorporated herein through reference thereto.

The present disclosure is by no means directed at or limited to unscrewing the injection needle 22 from the syringe body 20, and any removal method may be practiced by the device 1, in the interior thereof, but in some types of syringes, screwing the injection needle onto or from the syringe body is standard, such as dentist’s anaesthesia syringes.

In an interior view of the device 1, inside the housing 4 and aligned with the receptacle 2, a rotation mechanism 6 is arranged for engaging and rotating and unscrewing the injection needle 22 from the syringe body 20, after it has been inserted into the receptacle 2. At least part of the receptacle 2 is tapered towards the inside of the housing 4 in a trumpet shape, thus providing a wide opening which enhances ease of inserting and aligning the injection needle 22 to be unscrewed, while still arranged on the syringe body 20. The user handling the assembled syringe can hold the syringe by the syringe body 20, walk over to the device 1, point the injection needle 22 to the receptacle 2 and insert the injection needle 22 into receptacle 2 to be removed.

The device 1 comprises a drive 10 and a gear 12 passing on rotational movement of the drive 10 to the rotation mechanism 6. Operation of the drive 10 is controlled by the controller 8.

The injection needle 22 to be unscrewed from the syringe body 20 may be screwed on or into the syringe body 20. The device 1 rotates the injection needle 22 relative to the syringe body 20 in a direction which removes the injection needle 22 from the syringe body 20. When the injection needle 22 is freed from the syringe body 20, this is detected by a sensor 14 as the injection needle 22 falls downward to a funnel 16, which leads to a storage container 18 arranged for storing one or more needles. When an injection needle 22 has been removed from the syringe body 20 and has fallen past sensor 14, this is an indication that the drive 10 can stop.

The device 1 may have the sensor 14 additionally or alternatively to detect whether an injection needle has been inserted into the device 1 through the receptacle 2. The sensor 14 may be an optical sensor provided with a light source and a light detector (not shown). The sensor 14 may provide a signal to the controller 8, which indicates that an object has been inserted in to the device 1 and may be rotated (or otherwise removed from a syringe body 20). In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 14 is arranged as a mechanical switch, which responds to insertion of the injection needle 22 into the receptacle 2, but this seems less appropriate for detecting a falling injection needle in view of the low weight thereof.

However, until the injection needle 22 is safely inserted into the receptacle 2 in the direction of Arrow A between FIG.’s 3 and 4, even though the user doesn’t need to manually unscrew the injection needle from the syringe body him- or herself, there’s still a risk of stinging or pricking accidents, prior to or during insertion of the injection needle 22 into the receptacle 2.

In FIG. 4 a syringe is shown, comprising a syringe body 20 with an injection needle 22 screwed onto or into syringe body 20, which is hidden from view by an extended protective sleeve 24, and consequently shown in a schematic manner in dashed lines. The injection needle 22 is arranged on the syringe body 20 at an attachment 26, which is also hidden from view by extended protective sleeve 24, and is schematically shown as a circle. The attachment 26 could comprise a screw connection, in which case the device 1 of FIG.’s 1 and 2 may be employed to remove injection needle 22 from syringe body 20 at attachment 26 by unscrewing the injection needle 22. According to the present disclosure the protective sleeve 24 shields the injection needle 22, when it is not being used for administering injections.

It’s acknowledged here that protective sleeves are known in the art, for example from US- 2012/071826 and GB-2202748. However, such protective sleeves as known from the prior art still require manual retraction thereof to enable removal of injection needles, again opening up the risk of stinging or pricking accidents with needles previously used for treatment of patients.

The present disclosure focusses on interaction between the protective sleeve 24 and the receptacle 2 of the device 1 or any other device for automated removal of injection needles 22 from syringe bodies 20, to ensure that the protective sleeve 24 is retracted to expose the injection needle 22 only in the process of inserting the injection needle 22 into the receptacle 2, as a consequence of which the user need not manually draw back the protective sleeve 24 as would be the case with the protective sleeves in the above mentioned prior art disclosures.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the protective sleeve 24 is selectively retractable relative to the syringe body 20 to expose the injection needle 22 on the syringe body 20. Preferably, the protective sleeve remains extended for as much as possible of the time to shield the injection needle 22, until it is time to remove the injection needle 22.

To this end, the trumpet-shaped receptacle 2 has been adapted relative to the disclosure of WO-2019/235917 and is now configured to selectively insert therein the protective sleeve 24 in an extended position relative to the syringe body 20, and thus while shielding the injection needle 22. The receptacle 2 still forms an entry of the device 1 to remove the injection needle 22 from the syringe body 20, which may be the device of FIG.’s 1 and 2 or any other device. Alternatively, the receptacle 2 may form part of a tool for manipulating the protective sleeve 24 with more safety, i.e. without the intention of removing the needle 22, for instance for sterilisation thereof. The protective sleeve 24 and the receptacle 2 comprise a coupling to arrest the protective sleeve 24. More in particular, as the syringe body 20 is pushed by the user in the direction of a central axis of the receptacle 2, the protective sleeve is stopped and the needle 22 can then pass into a space behind the receptacle 2 in the device 1, in a single fluent linear and manually generated movement of the syringe as a whole. Thereby, the protective sleeve 24 is moved from the extended position into a retracted position relative to the syringe body 20, while the injection needle 22 is pushed further through the receptacle 2 to expose the injection needle 22 for removal thereof by the device 1 in the space behind receptacle 2.

The coupling between the receptacle 2 and the protective sleeve 24 comprises a coupling cam 28 on the outside of the protective sleeve 24. In the interior of the receptacle 2, a coupling slot 30 is provided, as shown in FIG.’s 3 and 5, in which the coupling slot 30 has a restricted depth or length to engage the coupling cam there and arrest or stop the protective sleeve 24 from being inserted through the receptacle 2. As an alternative, coupling cam 28 may be provided in receptacle 2 and coupling slot 30 may be provided in or on protective sleeve 24. In an embodiment, two or more coupling slots 30 may be provided for ease of inserting the protective sleeve 24 into the receptacle 2 with the coupling cam 28 aligned with one of the plural coupling slots 30. Then, the protective sleeve may have one coupling cam 28 or as many as there are coupling slots 30 (but not more, or the protective sleeve will not be able to enter the receptacle 2). The coupling slot 30 may have a flaring shape in the direction towards the exterior of the device 1, for ease of inserting the protective sleeve 24 into the receptacle 2, with the coupling cam 28 aligned with the coupling slot 30. The coupling slot 30 may have a helix shape to rotate the protective sleeve 24 in the inserting movement around the syringe body 20, which could contribute to or replace an operation to release the protective sleeve 24 from the extended position relative to the syringe body 20 thereof.

Namely, the protective sleeve 24 comprises a releasable latch configured to maintain it in the extended position thereof, and such a latch may comprise a bayonet coupling.

In the shown embodiments, the system further comprises a base 32 for the protective sleeve 24 to move relative to. An embodiment of such a base 32 is visible in FIG. 4, and shown in more detail in FIG. 6. The base 32 is designed to be arranged on the syringe body 20 with the protective sleeve 24 arranged around the base 32, as in FIG. 4. In more detail, the base 32 is essentially tubular, with a gap 34 and an internal size closely corresponding with the external size of many syringe bodies 20, or slightly smaller, to allow the base 32 to be clamped snugly and firmly on the syringe body 20. To this end the material portions of the base 32 next to the gap 34 are designed to be able to deflect, when arranging the base 32 onto the syringe body 20, as in FIG. 4.

The base 32 may be formed by the syringe body 20 itself, in as far as elements or components of the base 32 that interact with the protective sleeve 24 described herein below are manufactured in or as part of the syringe body 20, as a result of which there would be no need to include the base 32 in the system. In contrast, embodiments that include the base 32 may be used to retrofit a protective sleeve 24 an existing syringe body 20. Moreover, when base 32 is used in an embodiment of the present disclosure, that allows the base 32 to be employed as an adapter, tailored on the one hand to varying types of syringes and on the other hand for cooperation with a standardised protective sleeve.

In the embodiment with the base 32, the protective sleeve 24 and the base 32 comprise the latch there between. Without a base, a latch may be provided between the syringe body 20 and the protective sleeve 24.

The latch is formed, in the shown embodiment, as part of a guide between the base 32 and the protective sleeve 24 for movement of the protective sleeve 24 between the extended and the retracted positions over the base 32. The guide comprises a guide cam 36 on the base 32 as shown in FIG. 6 and a guide slot 38 in the interior of the protective sleeve 24, as shown in FIG. 8.

This may be reversed in another embodiment, in which the cam is on the protective sleeve 24 and the slot is part of the base. For assembling the syringe, the base 32 clamping on the syringe body 20, and the protective sleeve 24 onto the base 32 over the guide cam 36, the protective sleeve 24 is provided with one or more than one cut-out 46 or slit. Preferably and in the shown embodiment, two or more cut-outs 46 are provided. The cut-out 46 extends axially from a bore to the proximal end of the protective sleeve 24. Thus, opposing flanges 48 are formed, which are designed to be able to deflect to a sufficient degree to pass over guide cam 36 and thereafter return to an original shape and form to accommodate guide cam 36 in slot 38 or a side branch 40.

At the proximal end of the protective sleeve 24, relative to the syringe body 20, the slot 38 comprises the side branch 40, with a notch 42 between the main part of the slot 38 and the side branch 42. The side branch 40 forms a shoulder against which the guide cam 36 abuts when positioned in the side branch. The notch 42 prevents the protective sleeve 24 from rotating around the syringe body 20, after which protective sleeve 24 would be freed to slide backward with guide cam 36 out of side branch 40 and in the main part of slot 38 to be retracted and expose the injection needle 22. Thus it is ensured that the protective sleeve 24 is maintained in protecting, shielding and extended position. Before administering an injection, the dentist or other operator of the syringe is to manipulate the protective sleeve 24 and turn, rotate or twist it to align the guide cam 36 out of side branch 40 over notch 42 and into the main part of the guide slot 38 and then retract the protective sleeve 24 relative to the syringe body 20. For this, the dentist or other operator may use the device 1 in the same manner as described herein below for removal of the injection needle 22, but with the device set in an inactive operation mode in which the above described sensor 14 is switched off, or the controller 8 has received an input not to remove the injection needle 22, when detected in the receptacle 2.

The dentist or any other operator is able to inspect an amount of injection fluid in syringe body 20 at a see through opening 44 in base 32. This view may be obscured in the retracted position of the protective sleeve 24, or the sleeve may comprise a similar see-through opening or be made from a transparent material. In an embodiment wherein features of the base 32 are realised directly onto the syringe body, the protective sleeve 24 would not require a see through opening for the extended position, but it may have a see through opening or transparent material for inspection of fluid in the syringe body 20 with the protective sleeve 24 in the retracted position thereof.

After administering the injection, the dentist or other operator may forward the protective sleeve 24 over the syringe body 20 (or, if present, over the base 32) into the extended position thereof and rotate, twist or turn the protective sleeve 24 in order to force guide cam 36 over notch 42 into side branch 40 next to guide slot 38, and then the protective sleeve is latched into the extended position thereof. For this, the dentist or other operator may also use the device 1 or may perform this manually, or use a separate tool.

As it turns out, more accidents occurred during manual manipulation of protective sleeves according to the prior art to bring these into the needle exposing position, than to bring such protective sleeves into the needle shielding position. The same is expected to be the case for the protective sleeve according to the present disclosure, and the needle removal device 1 provides a solution in cooperation between the receptacle 2 and the protective sleeve 24.

The dentist or other operator may then walk with the syringe having the needle 22 thereon to the device 1, and insert the protective sleeve 24 in the extended position shielding the injection needle 22 into the receptacle 2 until the coupling formed in this embodiment by the coupling cam 28 and the coupling slot 30 engages to arrest the protective sleeve 24. Then the operator may rotate or turn the syringe body 20 or the base 32 around the longitudinal axis thereof (in line with the needle 22), while the protective sleeve 24 is arrested in the receptacle 2 with the coupling cam 28 in coupling slot 30. This will release guide cam 36 on the base 32 from the side branch 40 in the protective sleeve 24 , as guide cam 36 is forced over notch 42 to align with the main guide slot 38. By then pushing the syringe body 20 or base 32 further down into the receptacle 2, while the protective sleeve is arrested, the needle 22 is exposed. As noted above, if coupling slot 30 has a helix shape, the protective sleeve is rotated around the syringe body 20, as the syringe or at least the protective sleeve 24 is inserted into the receptacle 2 in a linear direction, and this rotation may replace the above manual rotation of the syringe body 20 to release the guide cam 36 from the latched position in side branch 40 behind notch 42. This exposes the injection needle 22 for the needle to be removed by any means necessary, such as unscrewing, from the syringe body 20 which is performed in the interior of the device 1.

Herein above, several times reference has been made to a tool comprising the receptacle 2 instead of the optional device 1 of FIG.’s 1 and 2. A benefit of such a tool is, that such a tool can be elongate to increase a distance between a hand of the dentist or other operator and the needle 22. For instance, the tool may comprise at least a portion of the coupling slot 30 of the receptacle 2 and an elongate handle that may extend radially away from the coupling slot 30. Such a tool may bear some resemblance with an open-end wrench, with the head adapted to resemble the receptacle 2.

Starting from the protective sleeve 24 in an extended position, with guide cam 36 in side branch 40 next to main guide slot 38 behind notch 42, so as to latch the protective sleeve 24 in the extended position, this tool may be used as follows. The dentist or any other operator may grasp the tool by the handle, remote from the portion of the coupling slot 30 of the receptacle 2 or the tool, and then arrange the portion of the coupling slot 30 of the receptacle 2 of the tool on or over the free end of the protective sleeve 24. This will insert the protective sleeve 24 into the receptacle 2 of the tool, until the coupling 28, 30 engages to arrest the protective sleeve 24. Then the operator may rotate or turn tool by the handle, i.e. with a hand remote from the needle 22, while the protective sleeve 24 is arrested in the receptacle 2. This will result in release of the guide cam 36 on the base 32 from the side branch 40, as guide cam 36 is forced over notch 42 to align with into the main guide slot 38. By then pushing the syringe body 20 or base 32 further down into the receptacle 2 or pushing the tool over the needle 22, while the protective sleeve is arrested, the needle 22 is exposed. This exposes the injection needle 22 for treatment of a patient by injection with less danger of a pricking accident during preparation for this treatment.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to any implementations in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended independent claims. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and some practical applications of the present disclosure, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. In the preceding embodiment description, a number of self-explanatory alternatives for specifically disclosed and / or shown features are referred to, strengthening the notion that no feature from the embodiments in the drawing or in the embodiment description can be interpreted as a limitation on the scope of protection if not defined in any of the appended independent claims, and then still more generic features defined in the independent claims may not be reduced to the more specific ones in the embodiment description or appended drawing, merely in view of any lack of any alternative within the scope of the generically claimed features.

Claims

1. A syringe, comprising a syringe body, an attachment (26) to arrange a replaceable injection needle (22) on the syringe body (20), and a protective sleeve, which is selectively retractable relative to the syringe body to expose an injection needle on the syringe body or extendable to shield the injection needle and comprises a coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with an external complementary coupling part of a receptacle of an injection needle manipulation device of claim 2 - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal or replacement thereof.

2. An injection needle manipulation device, comprising an injection needle manipulation mechanism (6) behind a receptacle configured to selectively insert therein the protective sleeve of a syringe as in claim 1 in an extended, needle shielding position and comprising the complementary coupling part configured to - in a coupled state with the coupling part of the protective sleeve - arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while the injection needle is inserted into the receptacle, to expose the injection needle for removal thereof by the injection needle manipulation mechanism (6).

3. A system , comprising the syringe as claimed in claim 1 and the device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective sleeve and the receptacle define a coupling comprising respectively the coupling part and the complementary coupling part, and wherein the coupling is configured to arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position, while further inserting the injection needle through the receptacle to expose the injection needle.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, where the coupling comprises a coupling cam on one of the protective sleeve and the receptacle and a coupling slot on the other.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, where the protective sleeve comprises a releasable latch configured to maintain the extended position thereof.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, where the latch comprises a bayonet coupling.

7. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 6, further comprising a base to be arranged on the syringe body with the protective sleeve arranged around the base.

8. The system as claimed in at least claims 5 and 7, where the protective sleeve and the base comprise the latch.

9. The system as claimed in at least claim 7 or 8, where the base is configured to clamp onto the syringe body.

10. The system as claimed in any one of claims 7 - 9, where the base and the protective sleeve comprise a guide for movement of the protective sleeve between the extended and the retracted positions over the base.

11. The system as claimed in claims 5 and 10, where the releasable latch is arranged at an end of the guide, corresponding with the extended position of the protective sleeve.

12. The system as claimed in claims 10 or 11, where the guide comprises a guide cam on one of the protective sleeve and the base and a guide slot on the other.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, where the protective sleeve comprises at least one axial cut-out for a portion thereof to deflect during assembly of the protective sleeve onto the base.

14. The system as claimed in at least claims 6 and 12, where the bayonet coupling comprises a radially widened end or side branch of the guide slot, defining a shoulder for abutment of the guide cam there against.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, where the radially widened end or side branch of the guide slot comprises a notch to define the latch and thus maintain the protective sleeve in the extended position thereof.

16. The system as claimed in at least claim 7, where the base comprises a see-through opening.

17. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 16, wherein the receptacle is trumpet shaped with an interior dimensioned to insert the protective sleeve.

18. The system as claimed in at least claims 4 and 17, where the coupling slot is arranged on the interior of the trumpet shaped receptacle over a limited distance therein, and the coupling cam is arranged on an outer surface of the protective sleeve.

19. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 18, where the receptacle forms an entry of a device configured to remove the injection needle from the syringe body.

20. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 18, where the receptacle forms part of a device or tool for remote manual operation of the protective sleeve.

21. A method of protection against an injection needle arranged on a syringe body, by

- inserting an extended protective sleeve relative to a syringe body to shield an injection needle into a receptacle,

- coupling the protective sleeve and the receptacle to arrest the protective sleeve from the extended position into a retracted position exposing the injection needle.