Patent ID: 6537259
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A passively shieldable needle device comprising:a needle cannula having opposed proximal and distal ends; a hub mounted to said proximal end of said needle cannula; a tip guard slidably movable along said needle cannula from a proximal position substantially adjacent said hub to a distal position where said tip guard protectively surrounds said distal end of said needle cannula; and a collapsible guard drive for propelling said tip guard into said distal position, said collapsible guard drive comprising a pair of resilient deformable leaves, each said leaf having a proximal end connected to said hub and a distal end connected to said tip guard, said leaves being foldable or collapsible onto said hub for retaining said tip guard in said proximal position, said leaves further being resiliently movable toward a non-collapsed condition for propelling said tip guard to said distal position on said needle cannula, wherein said leaves each comprise at least a proximal fold when in said collapsed condition, and wherein with said leaves in said collapsed condition, a plane intersecting said distal end and said proximal fold is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cannula.