Patent ID: 6165157
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
A needle guard for use with a needle assembly including a needle mount having a first and a second end, a needle extending from the first end of the needle mount and a flexible trailing tube extending from the second end of the needle mount, the guard comprising:a sleeve member adapted for slidable mounting on the trailing tube of a needle assembly for movement both toward and away from the needle mount of the assembly whereby the sleeve member can be located in a first position in which said member is clear of the needle mount so that the needle mount can be grasped by a user while both the needle mount and the needle are fully unshielded by the sleeve member; the sleeve member being slidable along the trailing tube from said first position to a second position in which the sleeve member engages the needle mount, such that in said second position the needle mount is at least partially shielded by the sleeve member, the needle is unshielded by the sleeve member and the needle mount is held against rotation relative to the sleeve member; and the sleeve member being movable from said second position to a third position in which the sleeve member engages the needle mount, such that in said third position the needle mount and the needle are fully shielded by the sleeve member; andwherein the sleeve member includes means for restraining the sleeve member from being moved from the second position to the first position and for preventing the sleeve member from being moved from the third position to the second position.