Patent ID: 6786875
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A medical device, comprising:a hollow housing; a needle having a sharpened tip projecting forwardly from the housing; a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly; a needle retainer releasably retaining the needle against the rearward bias of the biasing element; a flexible shield fixedly attached to the housing, projecting forwardly from the housing; the shield having a forward edge and being configured for insertion into a patient; the shield sheathing the needle such that in a projecting position, the sharpened tip of the needle projects beyond the forward edge of the shield, and in a retracted position the sharpened tip is enclosed within the shield; wherein upon actuation of the needle retainer, the biasing element displaces the needle rearwardly so that the sharpened tip of the needle is enclosed within the shield, wherein the shield is substantially puncture resistant wherein the axial force required to buckle the shield is less than the force necessary to puncture the shield with the needle to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.