A hypodermic injection system particularly for use in mass immunizations
having a handpiece with a grasping mechanism for holding ampules filled
with injectate, a plunger for driving into the ampule to discharge the
injectate in an injection process, an injection spring mechanism for
driving the plunger, a motor and/or manual mechanism for cocking the
injection spring mechanism, and an ampule ejection mechanism for ejecting
ampules after use under control of a release mechanism. Ampules can be
loaded, used and ejected without contact by the user of the system or the
patient being injected. Also disclosed are a filling station for filling
ampules through their injection orifices, and an arming device for
setting the injection spring. Ampules are disclosed having a piston which
is drivable towards an orifice to discharge injectate through the
orifice. Ampules are also disclosed having enlarged proximal portions for
easy grasping by the grasping mechanism of the injector. Ampules are
further disclosed with separators for mixing lyophilized medication and a
diluent. Further disclosed are magazines for holding ampules for
sequential use by the hypodermic injector. The disclosed system finds
particular use as a mass immunization kit for making numerous injections
in the field.