Patent ID: 6280420
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: A61J,A61M

Abstract:
A safety apparatus for reaccessibly shielding a medical needle, said apparatus comprising:a hollow bore cannula securely affixed in a hub and having at least one sharpened tip to form the medical needle;a part hingedly joined to said hub, said part comprising an elongated shield which comprises a plurality of serially interconnected substantially rigid segments each of which is interconnected to at least one adjacent segment by an intersegment hinge, at least one segment comprising an open orifice, through which said cannula passes to form an axis of intersection about the cannula, and a channel along which the cannula is disposed when the shield is linearly extended, said shield and said hinges being disposed to permit usable access to said sharpened tip in a medical procedure and extending of the shield to a substantially planar disposition along said cannula whereat the cannula is disposed along the channel without said sharpened tip coming in contact with any portion of said shield, said shield further comprising at least one releasible latching member which affixes the shield relative to the cannula, said shield and cannula, in combination, thereby forming a substantially rigid body which protectively encloses and denies access to said sharpened tip unless and until said releasible latching member is selectively actuated to permit refolding said shield and allowing reaccess to said needle and sharpened tip.