Safety device for hypodermic needles

A safety device for a hypodermic needle includes a hollow cylindrical portion, having an annular groove therein, disposed around the neck of a hypodermic syringe; a truncated conical surface disposed on the shoulder of the syringe; and a flexible projection abutting the neck. When a sheathed hypodermic needle engages the syringe, the safety device, via the groove therein, engages the sheath and is subsequently removed therewith. Upon recapping the needle, the conical surface shields the user from accidental puncture. Upon disengaging the sheathed needle from the syringe, the flexible projection closes behind the needle, retaining it in the sheath. Other embodiments of the invention include shields for precluding accidental needle puncture, and flexible projections for securing the needle in the sheath.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to medical devices. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to devices for use in 
connection with hypodermic needles and syringes. Still more particularly, 
the present invention relates to safety devices for preventing accidental 
puncture by hypodermic needles, and for safely retaining these needles in 
their sheaths. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Accidental needle stick injuries continue to represent a significant 
percentage of the injuries which occur in the medical field. Such injuries 
generally occur when an individual such as a physician or nurse attempts 
to insert a hypodermic needle into its sheath after use. The opening in 
these conventional elongated needle sheaths is relatively small, and in 
maneuvering the needle for insertion thereinto, unless an extreme degree 
of care is employed, the point of the needle can miss the opening and 
puncture the fingers of the individual who is holding the sheath. Further 
injuries from hypodermic needles occur when housekeeping personnel in a 
hospital or other medical facility remove the used hypodermic needles from 
waste containers in order to dispose of them. In these waste containers, 
the needles may have separated from their sheaths, leaving them exposed, 
and accordingly, subjecting the housekeepers to accidental puncture 
therefrom. 
Accidental puncture by a hypodermic needle therefore represents a common 
and serious risk to all medical personnel. According to an article in the 
"American Journal of Medicine" dated April, 1981, needle stick injuries 
accounted for one-third of all work-related accidents, with 60% of all 
such injuries occurring with nursing personnel. Such injuries pose a 
serious health hazard to the affected individual. According to this same 
article, accidental puncture by a hypodermic needle can engender serious 
disease, including potentially fatal viral hepatitis. Further, blood or 
other bodily fluids infected with the deadly AIDS virus may be introduced 
into such a puncture wound via contaminated needles. Accordingly, 
inadvertent needle sticks subject medical personnel to the risk of 
contracting highly contagious diseases, including potentially fatal viral 
hepatitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). 
Because of the serious nature of this problem, there have been many 
attempts to protect medical personnel from the risks of such needle 
punctures. These attempts have taken the form of a relatively large number 
of devices which are intended to be used instead of or in conjuction with 
the conventional syringes. One such prior art device for preventing 
inadvertent needle punctures entails a cylindrical plastic guard that 
slides up and covers the end of the needle after it has been used. Once 
the guard locks into place, it cannot be retracted. However, this safety 
device of the prior art entails several disadvantages. The cylindrical 
guard, which is disposed on the shaft of then needle, is a substantial 
portion of a length of the needle itself. Accordingly, a relatively small 
portion of the needle projects from the cylindrical guard. This renders 
the needle more difficult to manipulate and to position owing to the 
encumbrance of the guard on the shaft of the needle, and the obstruction 
of the view of the needle tip by the lengthy cylindrical guard. Further, 
hypodermic needles comprising such cylindrical guards are highly priced 
compared to conventional needles. 
Pedicano et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,667, discloses one form of known safety 
device. In this case, there is provided a disposable needle sheath which 
includes an elongated sleeve with a closed end and a funnel-shaped 
receiving guide at its open end. This device also includes a cap for 
sealing the open end after the needle has been inserted into the sleeve. 
In a preferred form of this device, as shown in FIGS. 6-12 thereof, means 
are provided within the sleeve 12 for grasping the needle hub therein. 
These can take the form of the needle locking threads 50 of FIGS. 6 and 7 
and the gripping arms 58 of FIGS. 9 and 10. In each case, however, the 
needle remains accessible for removal from the open end of the sleeve. 
Furthermore, these devices are not usable with the conventional needle 
sheaths presently being utilized, but are intended to replace same. 
There are also a large number of protective devices and packages which are 
intended to substantially encase a needle or a needle contained in a 
needle sheath. These include Hamilton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,442; Danish 
Pat. No. 133,797; German Pat. No. 1,240,228; Hamilton, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,367,488; and Sampson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,120. 
Mayer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,918, discloses apparatus for disposing of 
needles, including a funnel-like sheath 16 therein. The resheathed needle 
can then be disposed of in a container 40 having a slit aperture 43 for 
stripping the sheathed needle from the syringe spigot 20. 
Additional patents include disclosures of protective sheaths which can be 
mounted on a syringe. For example, Nitshke, U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,669, 
discloses a sheath 16 having a separate cap 68 for maintaining on syringe 
14 by functionally engaging syringe hub 26. Also, Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,677,247, discloses a syringe package 10 which includes a barrel cap 30 
and a needle sheath 36. A frangible sheath is shown in Stevens, U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,073,307, and a separate sheath element is shown in Smith, U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,434,473. 
Jagger et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,744, discloses a self-resheathing needle 
assembly in which the syringe is removed from case 10 after use, and the 
needle assembly 30 is severed therefrom by contact with projections 52. 
Cooper, U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,453, discloses a protective cap 10 which 
includes a radially extending flange 2 to protect against misallignment of 
the needle, and Frist et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,975, discloses a 
protective shield 14 which can be folded as in FIG. 3 thereof, and which 
is intended to protect the user's hand upon entry of the needle. 
With all of these prior art devices, and in fact many more, none have been 
made available which can simply and easily be incorporated into 
conventional syringes and needle sheaths so as to effectively protect the 
users thereof. Furthermore, none of these devices can be mounted directly 
onto the forward end of a conventional syringe and also assist in the 
application of a conventional needle and needle sheath onto the syringe, 
insure proper needle application, and/or later act as a protective guard 
for the user when applying the used needle to the needle sheath. 
Furthermore, none of these devices can be used to help insure that the 
needle itself is properly applied to the syringe. Finally, none of these 
prior art devices can be used to capture the needle hub therein so as to 
block extraction of the used needle from a needle sheath so as to 
facilitate disposal thereof. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, these and other deficiencies of 
the prior art have been overcome by the invention of a safety device for 
use with a needle which comprises a tubular body portion, an enlarged 
annular shield projecting outwardly from the tubular body portion to 
provide a protective guard during insertion of a needle through the safety 
device, and occluding means for partially occluding the interior of the 
tubular body portion proximally of the proximal end of a needle when the 
needle is disposed within the safety device, in which the occluding means 
permits insertion of the needle into the tubular body portion from a first 
end thereof but blocks removal of the needle from the tubular body portion 
through that first end. 
In accordance with one embodiment of the safety device of the present 
invention, the occluding means comprises an inwardly projecting flange, 
and most preferbly an inwardly projecting extension of the annular shield. 
In another embodiment the second end of the tubular body portion includes 
an elongated extension for accepting and enclosing the distal end of the 
needle therein. 
In accordance with another embdiment of the safety device of the present 
invention which is intended to be used in connection with a needle sheath 
in which the needle is to be disposed, and in which the needle sheath 
includes an annular rim, the tubular body portion includes groove means at 
the second end of the tubular body portion for engaging the annular rim of 
the needle sheath upon insertion of the needle and the needle sheath into 
the second end of the tubular body portion. 
In accordance with another embodiment of the safety device of the present 
invention, the device includes a tubular body portion including a first 
end and a second end, mounting means for mounting the first end of the 
tubular body portion on the forward portion of a syringe, an engagement 
means for engaging the safety device to the needle sheath upon mounting of 
the needle on the forward portion of the syringe so that the safety device 
will be removed from the syringe and needle upon removal of the needle 
sheath from the needle. 
In accordance with this embodiment of the safety device of the present 
invention, there is also provided an enlarged annular shield projecting 
outwardly from the tubular body portion to provide a protective guard 
during insertion of the needle through the safety device. Preferbly, the 
mounting means includes occluding means for partially occluding the 
interior of the tubular body portion proximally of the proximal end of a 
needle when the needle is disposed within the safety device, the occluding 
means permitting insertion of the needle into the tubular body portion 
from that first end but blocking removal of the needle from the tubular 
body portion through that first end. In a preferred embodiment the 
occluding means comprises an inwardly projecting flange, preferably 
comprising an inwardly projecting extension of the annular shield. 
In accordance with another embodiment of this safety device, the proximal 
end of the needle sheath includes an annular rim and the engagement means 
comprises groove means at the second end of the tubular body portion for 
engaging the annular rim of the needle sheath upon insertion of the needle 
and needle sheath into the second end of the tubular body portion. In 
accordance with this embodiment it is preferred that the engagement means 
be spaced from the mounting means a predetermined distance, whereby when 
the needle and the needle sheath are inserted into the syringe with the 
safety device mounted thereon, the annular rim of the needle sheath only 
enters the groove means upon the mounting of the needle on the forward 
portion of the syringe. 
A safety device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention 
comprises a hollow cylindrical portion which is open at both ends and 
which includes a surface extending outwardly from one end thereof. 
Preferably, the surface is a truncated conical surface. An annular groove 
is disposed on the inside of the cylindrical portion at the end opposite 
the conical surface. A flexible projection extends inwardly from the 
cylindrical portion at the juncture of the surface and the cylindrical 
portion. This safety device can thus be disposed on the end of a 
conventional hypodermic syringe, with the conical surface situated on the 
shoulder of the syringe, the cylindrical portion surrounding the neck and 
outlet of the syringe, and the projection abutting the neck of the 
syringe. A hypodermic needle within a sheath can then be brought into 
engagement with the syringe by screwing the inlet of the needle into the 
neck of the syringe. In so doing, the groove at the end of the safety 
device engages the rim of the sheath. To utilize the needle and syringe, 
and the sheath, with the safety device hereof locked onto the rim thereof, 
are removed. After the needle has been employed, the combination of the 
sheath and the safety device is grasped behind the conical surface of the 
safety device, and the needle is inserted into the sheath. The conical 
surface functions as a shield to protect the user's hand from accidental 
puncture by the tip of the needle. To disengage the needle from the 
syringe, the sheath is twisted, unscrewing the needle from the neck of the 
syringe. The sheath, the needle, and the safety device coupled to the 
sheath, are then removed as a unit. In so doing, the projection on the 
safety device springs downwardly behind the end of the inlet of the 
needle, securing it within the sheath. The combination of the sheath, the 
needle therein, and the safety device are disposed of as a unit. Since 
separation of the needle from the sheath is prevented by the projection of 
the safety device, accidental punctures by the needle are precluded. 
Another embodiment of the present invention entails a modified sheath for 
containing a hypodermic needle which includes a safety device permanently 
fixed to the end of the sheath surrounding the inlet of the needle. The 
safety device thus comprises an elongated sheath coupled to a first hollow 
cylindrical portion, and a larger, second hollow cylindrical portion 
coupled thereto. An enlarged annular surface extends outwardly from the 
end of the second cylindrical portion. Preferably, the surface is a 
truncated conical surface. A flexible projection extends inwardly from the 
second cylindrical portion, disposed behind the rim of the inlet of the 
needle. The needle is brought into engagement with a hypodermic syringe by 
twisting the sheath to screw the inlet of the needle into the neck of the 
syringe. In so doing, the conical surface of the safety device is disposed 
against the shoulder of the syringe, and the flexible projection abuts the 
neck of the syringe. To utilize the needle and the syringe, the 
combination of the sheath and the safety device thereon is removed from 
the needle. After the needle has been employed, the combination sheath and 
safety device is grasped behind the conical surface of the safety device, 
and the needle is inserted into the sheath. The conical surface functions 
as a shield, preventing accidental puncture of the user's hand. With the 
sheath and safety device fully applied to the needle so that the conical 
surface is disposed on the shoulder of the syringe, and the flexible 
projection abuts the neck thereof, the needle is disengaged by twisting 
the sheath to unscrew the inlet of the needle from the neck of the 
syringe. The sheath, the needle therein, and the safety device are then 
removed as a unit from the syringe. In so doing, the flexible projection 
springs downwardly behind the rim of the inlet of the syringe, securing 
the needle within the sheath. The combination of the sheath, the needle 
therein, and the safety device are discarded as a unit. Owing to the 
projection disposed behind the end of the needle, the needle is prevented 
from separating from the sheath. In this fashion, accidental punctures by 
the needle are prevented. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, a safety device is 
slidingly coupled to the end of a conventional hypodermic needle sheath. 
The safety device thus comprises a hollow cylindrical portion spaced from 
the exterior of the sheath. An annular projection extends inwardly from 
one end of the cylindrical portion, in contact with the exterior surface 
of the sheath. A surface extends outwardly from the other end of the 
cylindrical portion. Preferably, the surface is a truncated conical 
surface. A flexible annular projection extends inwardly from the juncture 
of the cylindrical portion and the conical surface, disposed behind the 
rim of the sheath. To apply the combination of the sheath and the safety 
device slidingly coupled thereon to a needle and syringe, the combination 
is held behind the conical surface and the needle is inserted thereinto. 
The conical surface serves as a shield, preventing accidental puncture of 
the user's hand by the tip of the needle. When the combination has been 
applied to the needle such that the end of the sheath engages the inlet of 
the needle, the safety device is pushed towards the syringe until the 
conical surface is situated on the shoulder thereof. In so doing, the 
flexible projection disposed behind the rim of the sheath rides thereover, 
and abuts the neck of the syringe. The other projection moves behind the 
rim of the sheath. To disengage the needle from the syringe, the sheath is 
twisted to unscrew the inlet of the needle from the neck of the syringe. 
The combination of the sheath, the needle therein, and the safety device 
slidingly coupled to the sheath are removed as a unit from the syringe. In 
so doing, the flexible projection of the safety device moves from the neck 
of the syringe, flexing downwardly behind the inlet of the needle. In this 
fashion, the needle is securely retained within the sheath by this 
projection of the safety device. Since the needle cannot separate from the 
sheath, accidental punctures by the needle are thereby prevented. 
The present invention permits hypodermic needles to be safely inserted into 
their sheaths without risk of accidental needle punctures. Also, by firmly 
retaining the needles within their sheaths, the present invention further 
prevents accidental punctures, particularly those occurring during 
disposal of the needles by housekeeping personnel. Owing to its simple 
design, the present invention may be readily and very inexpensively 
manufactured. 
Accordingly, the present invention entails a facile, inexpensive, and 
efficacious means for eliminating extremely dangerous, accidental 
hypodermic needle punctures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to Figures in which like numerals refer to like portions thereof, 
FIG. 1 shows a conventional hypodermic syringe generally designated 10 
including a neck 12 disposed on a shoulder 11 at the forward end thereof. 
Threads 13 are disposed on the interior surface of the neck 12, which is 
also referred to as a Luer tip mechanism. An outlet 14, having an 
aperature therein, is disposed within the neck 12, and is firmly attached 
to the shoulder 11 of the syringe 10. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional hypodermic needle 22 is shown therein, 
including a hollow inlet or hub 23 for frictionally surrounding and 
engaging the outlet 14 of the syringe 10. A rim 24 is disposed on the end 
of the hub 23. A needle sheath 20 is designed to hold the hypodermic 
needle 22. The interior surface of the proximal end portion 25 of the 
sheath 20 is generally grooved to engage projections 26 on the hub 23, so 
as to prevent relative rotation of the needle 22 and the sheath 20 when 
the needle 22 is fully inserted into the sheath 20. A rim 21 is disposed 
on the end of the sheath 20. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a safety device 50 for a hypodermic needle in 
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The 
safety device 50 includes a hollow tubular section 51 which in this case 
is cylindrical, and which includes a surface 52 extending outwardly 
therefrom. Preferably, surface 52 comprises a truncated conical surface, 
which comprises the enlarged annular shield of this invention. A bevelled 
surface 53 is disposed on the end of the safety device 50 opposite the 
surface 52. A groove 54 is disposed adjacent the bevelled surface 53, and 
is defined between an inner annular wall member 53a and the bevelled 
surface 53. Preferably, both the bevelled surface 53 and the groove 54 are 
annular. An occluding means such as a flexible projection or projections 
55 extends inwardly from the end of the cylindrical portion 51. 
Preferably, the projection 55 is inclined towards the end of the device 50 
containing the groove 54. The occluding means or projection 55 is 
preferably a continuous annulus, but may comprise a plurality of discrete 
segments. 
Referring next to FIG. 3, intravenous tubing 40 having a side port 41, also 
known as a Y-connection, is depicted. A safety device 44, similar to that 
depicted in FIG. 3, includes a hollow cylindrical portion 45 disposed on 
the exterior surface of the intravenous tubing 40, and a surface 46 
extending outwardly from the tubing 40. Preferably, the surface 46 
comprises a truncated conical surface. The safety device 44 is preferably 
disposed proximate the end of the side port 41. To insert a hypodermic 
needle into the side port 41, the safety device 44 is held behind the 
surface 46 so that should the needle miss the aperature of the side port 
41, the user's fingers are shielded therefrom by the surface 46. The 
safety device 44 may be permanently affixed to the intravenous tubing 40 
at the side port 41, or detachably coupled thereto. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the safety device 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is disposed on 
the shoulder 11 of hypodermic syringe 10. The occluding means 55 of the 
safety device 50 abuts the exterior of the neck 12 of the syringe 10. In 
this fashion, the safety device 50 is secured on the end of the syringe 
10. The cylindrical portion 51 of the safety device 50 surrounds and 
extends beyond the neck 12 and the inlet 14 of the syringe 10. Owing to 
the conformity of the device 50 with the syringe 10, the device 50 and the 
syringe 10 may thus be easily packaged as a unit. 
Referring to FIG. 7, with continuing reference to FIG. 6, the hypodermic 
needle 22 is next brought into engagement with the syringe 10 by moving 
the sheath 20 with the needle 22 therein towards the forward end of the 
syringe 10. The inlet 23 of the needle 22 is then fit into the neck 12 of 
the syringe 10 with the outlet 14 disposed within the inlet 23. The sheath 
20 is rotated, thereby screwing the inlet 23 into the neck 12 of the 
syringe 10. As the needle 22 is brought into engagement with the syringe 
10, the rim 21 of the sheath 20 contacts the bevelled surface 53 of the 
safety device 50, forcing the surface 53 outwardly. As the rim 21 
continues to move forward, the cylindrical portion 51 resiliently closes, 
engaging the rim 21 in the groove 54. In this fashion, as the needle 22 is 
brought into engagement with the syringe 10, the safety device 50 is 
securely affixed to the rim 21 of the sheath 20. Furthermore, if the 
distance between the groove 54 and the shoulder 11 of the syringe 10 is 
appropriately selected, then the rim 21 will not enter the groove 54 until 
the needle 22 has been securely and perfectly mated with the syringe 10. 
This device thus helps assure that the needle is properly and securely 
affixed to the syringe, since if this is not the case, the needle 22 will 
remain within the needle sheath 20 when it is subsequently withdrawn. 
Referring to FIG. 8, after the needle 22 has been properly and fully 
screwed into the neck 12 of the syringe 10, the sheath 20 is withdrawn 
from the needle 22. In so doing, the safety device 50, which is locked 
onto the rim 21 of the sheath 20, is removed from the syringe 10. The 
needle is now ready for use. 
Referring next to FIG. 9, after the needle 22 has been employed, the needle 
22 is inserted into the safety device 50 and the sheath 20. In so doing, 
the sheath 20 is held behind the safety device 50 so that the surface 52 
shields the user's hand from accidental puncture by the tip of the needle 
22. The needle 22 is inserted into the sheath 20 so that the flexible 
projection 55 of the safety device 50 abuts the neck 12 of the syringe 10. 
The used needle 22 has now been safely and easily secured in the needle 
sheath 20. 
Referring next to FIG. 10, to then dispose of the used needle 22, the 
sheath 20 is twisted to unscrew the inlet 23 from the neck 12 of the 
syringe 10. In withdrawing the sheath 20 with the needle 22 therein and 
the safety device 50 from the syringe 10, the flexible projection 55 
passes beyond the neck 12 and closes behind the inlet 23 and the rim 24, 
so as to partially occlude the interior of the tubular body 51, and to 
block the end of the needle therein. In this fashion, the needle 22 is 
securely retained within the sheath 20 and cannot be removed from the end 
of the needle sheath 20. The combination of the sheath 20, the safety 
device 50, and the needle 22 may now be discarded as a unit. Since the 
needle 22 is fixed within the sheath 20, it cannot separate from the 
sheath 20 to engender accidental punctures. 
A particular advantage of the safety device 50 shown in FIGS. 4-10 is that 
it constitutes an integral unit which is separate and apart from the 
needle sheath 20 itself. Thus, as compared to the many prior art devices 
which include an elongated needle sheath or the like as part of the device 
itself, such as the Pedicano et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,667, the safety 
device 50 can easily be distinguishable from the needle sheath, such as by 
being produced in a different color or the like. This, in turn, further 
assists in permitting identification of the device during replacement of 
the used needle into the device and the needle sheath, such as by 
assisting in directing the user's eye focus, etc. 
Referring next to FIG. 11, another embodiment of the present invention is 
depicted. In this case, a safety device 60 is disposed at the end of and 
as an integral unit within needle sheath 20. The safety device 60 in this 
case thus includes a first hollow tubular or cylindrical portion 61 
extending from the end of an elongated sheath 20. A second larger hollow 
cylindrical portion 62 then extends from the front hollow cylindrical 
portion 61. A surface 63 then extends outwardly from the second 
cylindrical portion 62. Preferably, the surface 63 comprises a truncated 
conical surface. A flexible projection or projections 64 extend inwardly 
from the end of the second cylindrical portion 62, initially being 
disposed behind the rim 24 of the inlet 23 of the needle contained within 
the safety device 60. Preferably, the projection 64 is a continuous 
annulus, but may comprise a plurality of discrete segments. 
Referring next to FIG. 12, the needle 22 is brought into engagement with 
the syringe 10 by moving the sheath 20 towards the syringe 10 and twisting 
it to screw the rim 24 of the inlet 23 into the neck 12 of the syringe 10. 
In so doing, the flexible projection 64 is displaced inwardly and upwardly 
in the second cylindrical portion 62 of the safety device 60, and it is 
therefore now possible to easily remove the safety device 60 and employ 
the sterile needle 22. 
Referring next to FIG. 12, when the inlet 23 has been fully screwed into 
the neck 12 of the syringe 10, the surface 63 abuts the shoulder 11 of the 
syringe 10, and the flexible projection 64 abuts the neck 12 thereof. 
To utilize the needle 22, the sheath 20 with the safety device 60 is 
removed therefrom. After use of the needle, the safety device 60 can then 
be replaced over the used needle in much the same manner as is discussed 
above. That is, the enlarged annular shield 63 will act as a guard to 
protect the user's fingers from any accidental puncture from the used 
needle. FIG. 12 depicts the status of the needle 22 with the sheath 20 and 
the safety device 60 fully applied thereto. 
Referring next to FIG. 14, to disengage the needle 22 from the syringe 10, 
the sheath 20 is twisted to unscrew the inlet 23 from the neck 12 of the 
syringe 10. The combination of the sheath 20 and the safety device 60 with 
the needle 22 therein are withdrawn from the syringe 10. In so doing, the 
flexible projection 64 passes along the outer surface of the neck 12 of 
the syringe 10, and springs downwardly behind the rim 24 of the inlet 23. 
Accordingly, the flexible projection 64 securely retains the needle 22 
within the sheath 20. The combination of the sheath 20, the safety device 
60, and the needle 22 therein can then be discarded as a unit. The 
projection 64 prevents the needle 22 from being dislodged from the sheath 
20, thereby preventing accidental punctures by the needle 22. 
Referring next to FIG. 15, another embodiment of the safety device of the 
present invention is depicted. In this case, safety device 70 is slidingly 
disposed on a conventional needle sheath 20. The safety device 70 
comprises a hollow cylindrical portion 71 spaced from the exterior surface 
of the sheath 20, and an inwardly projecting annular flange member 74 
extending inwardly from the cylindrical portion 71, abutting the external 
surface of the sheath 20. The flange member 74 is preferably a continuous 
annulus, but may comprise a plurality of discrete segments. A surface 72 
again comprising the enlarged annular shield hereof extends outwardly from 
the end of the cylindrical portion 71 of the device 70. Preferably, the 
surface 72 again comprises a truncated conical surface. A flexible 
projection 73 extends inwardly from the cylindrical portion 71, and is 
disposed behind the rim 21 of the sheath 20. The projection 73 is 
preferably a continuous annulus, but may comprise a plurality of discrete 
segments. Referring also to FIG. 16, after utilization of the needle 22, 
the combination of the sheath 20 and the safety device 70 coupled thereto 
is applied to the needle 22 by grasping the combination behind the surface 
72, which functions as the protective shield hereof. In this fashion, upon 
insertion of the needle 22 into the safety device 70 and the sheath 20, 
accidental puncture is precluded. 
Referring to FIG. 17, with the end of the sheath 20 in engagement with the 
inlet 23 of the needle 22, the safety device 70 is pushed along the sheath 
20 towards the syringe 10 until the surface 72 abuts the shoulder 11 of 
the syringe 10. In so doing, the flexible projection 73 moves over the rim 
21 to abut the neck 12 of the syringe 10. Also, the member 74 abuts the 
rim 21 of the sheath 20. 
Referring next to FIG. 18, to disengage the needle 22 from the syringe 10, 
the sheath 20 is twisted to unscrew the inlet 23 from the neck 12 of the 
syringe 10. The combination of the sheath 20, the safety device 70, and 
the needle 22 inserted therein are removed from the syringe 10. In so 
doing, the projection 73 passes off the neck 12 of the syringe 10, and 
resiliently springs behind the rim 24 of the inlet 23. In this fashion, 
the needle 22 is securely retained within the sheath 20. The combination 
of the sheath 20, the safety device 70, and the needle 22 therein are 
disposed of as a unit. Owing to the projection 73 which fixes the needle 
22 in the sheath 20, the needle 22 may not separate from the sheath 20. In 
this fashion, danger of accidental puncture by the needle 22 is 
eliminated. 
While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, it is 
to be understood that the words which have been used are words of 
description rather than limitation, and that changes within the purview of 
the appended claaims may be made without departing from the true scope and 
spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.