Patent ID: 8231583
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A shieldable needle assembly comprising: a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a hub mounted to the needle cannula at a location spaced from the distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end in pivotal engagement with the needle cannula and moveable about a pivot axis between a retracted position in which the distal end of the shield is pivotally spaced from the needle cannula, and a shielded position in which the distal end of the shield encompasses the distal end of the needle cannula; a biasing member having stored energy when the shield is in the retracted position capable of biasing the pivoting shield towards the shielded position; a lock for releasably maintaining the pivoting shield in the retracted position; and a linearly movable actuator for releasing the lock, the actuator adapted to passively activate upon contact with a container during a standard sequence of operation of a medical procedure, wherein the actuator is configured to convert the linear movement thereof to pivotal movement of the shield to the shielded position.