Patent ID: 9526845
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A needle shield system comprising a support body having an interior space; a needle cap; and a needle shield operatively connected to the support body such that the needle shield can move between an advanced position and a retracted position, the needle shield comprising a distal end wall and a lateral side, wherein the distal end wall comprises a peripheral part and an opening part, wherein the peripheral part is made from a relatively stiff plastics material, wherein the opening part is made from a relatively flexible plastics material compared to the relatively stiff plastics material, wherein the distal end wall is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support body, wherein the distal end wall comprises a central aperture of variable diameter, wherein the central aperture comprises a first diameter for retaining the needle cap therein, wherein, when the needle cap is retained in the central aperture, the opening part stretches around the needle cap and the peripheral part remains substantially unflexed, wherein the diameter of the central aperture changes upon removal of the needle cap from the first diameter to a second diameter by virtue of a memory effect of the material of the opening part, wherein, when the needle cap is removed from the central aperture, the opening part unbends by virtue of the memory effect and the peripheral part remains substantially unflexed, wherein the needle shield is made by an injection moulding process, wherein the needle shield is configured to slide into the interior space of the support body and is biased by a spring with respect to the support body in a distal direction.