PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
A needle tip protective device for use with percutaneous entry needles. In one embodiment, the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle, the latter having a needle tip located at the distal end thereof, and a change of profile formed medially there along. The needle guard is movable along the hypodermic needle and engageable with the change in profile formed thereon. The engagement with the change in profile is configured to correspond with the ability of the needle trap to entrap the needle tip once the needle trap has advanced the sufficient distance distally along the hypodermic needle. In further refinements, the needle trap may be biased toward the distal needle tip of the needle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to and claims the benefit of filing dates of the following U.S. Non-Provisional patent applications: (1) Ser. No. 60/012,343, entitled PROTECTED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE WITH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL COVERING MEANS, filed Feb. 27, 1996; (2) Ser. No. 60/025,273, entitled HYPODERMIC DEVICES WITH SAFETY FEATURES, filed Sep. 12, 1996; and (3) Ser. No. 60/031,399, entitled HYPODERMIC DEVICES WITH IMPROVED SAFETY FEATURES, filed Nov. 19, 1996; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 807,328 entitled NEEDLE TIP GUARD FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,337; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/172,185 entitled INTRAVENOUS CATHETER ASSEMBLY, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,080, filed on Oct. 13, 1998; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/144,398 entitled NEEDLE TIP GUARD FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, filed on Aug. 31, 1998, the teachings of which are expressly incorporated here and by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The advent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), combined with the increasing incidence of other bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), present healthcare workers with an occupational hazard unprecedented in modern medicine. The risk of contracting HIV from a needlestick injury is approximately 1 in 250, but for those who contract HIV infection as a result of a needlestick injury the risk becomes 1 in 1. The risk of contracting the more contagious HBV as a result of a needlestick injury ranges from 1 in 6 to 1 in 30.  
         [0003]     There are also over twenty more known bloodborne pathogens which are transmitted via blood and bodily fluids. The presence of any of these pathogens in patients poses a risk to healthcare workers when invasive procedures are performed. Infectious diseases are now the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, signifying a growing need for safer hypodermic equipment. Ten years ago, infectious diseases were classified as the fifth leading cause of death, they are now ranked third. This increase of infectious disease is attributed mainly to the over-use of antibiotics and the growing availability of re-usable, hollow-bore hypodermic equipment.  
         [0004]     As the population of infected individuals increases, more people will be treated by healthcare workers, further increasing the odds of disease transmission from patient to healthcare worker. Also, the use of disposable hypodermic equipment is increasing at approximately 7% per annum. Additionally, a meaningful number of clusters of patient to patient transmission in the healthcare setting has been identified throughout the world. Early data suggests improper infection control techniques contribute directly to this increase: including improper use of hypodermic equipment, multiple-dose medicine vials; and failure to change protective gloves and gear for each new patient.  
         [0005]     Recent studies also cite the discovery of significant blood contamination on re-usable blood collection vacuum tube holders which are routinely used to collect blood from different patients. Common practice is to ship one vacuum tube holder with 100 blood collection needles. It is likely that new routes of disease transmission will also be found in the future. Healthcare workers are increasingly at risk to disease transmission and nurses perform the majority of invasive hypodermic procedures, such as injecting medicine, collecting blood and inserting indwelling intravenous (I.V.) catheters. Nurses and other healthcare personnel are routinely injured by the exposed, sharp lancet of the needle after use on a patient. The critical time where a percutaneous injury can occur is from the moment the needle is withdrawn from the patient, or I.V. port, to the time the contaminated needle is safety discarded.  
         [0006]     There are approximately 5.6 million workers in the United States (U.S.) whose jobs place them at risk for sustaining an accidental needlestick injury. Medical literature cites approximately one million reported needlestick accidents occur in the U.S. each year, with an additional two-thirds believed to be unreported. One million injuries per year translates to a needlestick injury, on average, every thirty-two seconds. Prior to the proliferation of HIV and serum hepatitis, a needlestick injury was considered a routine part of providing patient care. A needlestick injury now carries a life-threatening consequence and healthcare workers must live with this terror on a daily basis.  
         [0007]     Hypodermic needles are used in a wide variety of invasive medical procedures with approximately 12 billion units being consumed on an annual basis. Basically, the great majority of hypodermic needles are intended for a single-use on an individual patient and are provided sterile in a variety of lengths and gauges. Hypodermic needles are normally discarded after a single use into a specially designed, puncture-proof biohazard container.  
         [0008]     Hypodermic needles are used in medicine, science, veterinary medicine, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and also in the chemical industry. Medical and veterinary uses range from injecting medication or diluent into a patient or I.V. port, collecting blood, bodily fluids or specimens from patients and, preparing medication. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications mainly involve research where substances, liquids, gases or compounds are injected, mixed or withdrawn through a membrane or barrier into a specimen or controlled field. Chemical industry applications involve injecting or removing substances, liquids, gases or compounds to or from a specimen or controlled field. In each and every instance, whether medical or industrial, exposed needles pose a danger of injuring the user.  
         [0009]     In medicine, in addition to the danger of contacting contaminated blood or bodily fluids, highly reactive or toxic substances are used for chemotherapy or therapeutic purposes. In the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, toxic, highly reactive, corrosive materials or substances are combined or withdrawn from a variety of experiments or projects.  
         [0010]     Despite all the obvious dangers associated with the use of exposed hypodermics, and the availability of manually activated safety hypodermic devices, unguarded, exposed hypodermic needles still dominate the marketplace. This is due to the common practice in the industry where exposed hypodermic needles are sold at discounted prices and usually come packaged with other medical equipment and supplies. Medical institutions continue to purchase exposed hypodermics in this fashion simply for economic reasons.  
         [0011]     The basic problem with many of the present day safety hypodermic devices is that they are meant to be manually activated, or in the language of the medical device industry, they are considered “active” devices. They may have safety shields, retractable needles, moveable sheaths or the like; but they generally require the user to complete another procedure to facilitate engagement of the safety mechanism. Although there are a number of retractable needle into syringe devices available, the manufacturing costs associated with these devices are prohibitively high.  
         [0012]     What is needed is a low-cost safety hypodermic apparatus with a universal application.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a needle point guard that effectively shields the sharpened distal tip of the needle after use.  
         [0014]     It is another object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which is automatic and/or semi-automatic covering, fail-safe and single-use in nature.  
         [0015]     It is another object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which looks similar to a standard, exposed, disposable hypodermic needled device (i.e., the needle and needle tip are exposed prior to performing the hypodermic procedure).  
         [0016]     It is another object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which conforms to existing procedures for aspirating medication into a syringe, administering injections, and allowing unrestricted access for vascular access or catheter insertion.  
         [0017]     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which provides an exposed sharpened tip for bevel-up needle viewing.  
         [0018]     It is still another object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which automatically and/or manually entraps or captures the sharpened tip of the needle after use.  
         [0019]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which allows medication or diluent to be aspirated into a syringe without prematurely activating the automatic and/or manually covering safety mechanism.  
         [0020]     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which can be used with a double lancet needle for piercing a cartridge in a pre-filled syringe, or a stopper in a blood collection vacuum tube.  
         [0021]     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus which lends itself to automated manufacturing.  
         [0022]     It is another object of this invention to minimize any mechanical resistance or component fatigue inherent to the stored energy components of the invention when the hypodermic needle is stored.  
         [0023]     It is yet another object of the invention to leave the delicate, sharpened needle tip untouched during assembly procedures, ensuring the sharpest needle tip possible to minimize any patient discomfort during use of the hypodermic device.  
         [0024]     It is a further object of the invention to reduce the number of components to the lowest possible number needed to accomplish the intended task of providing acceptable, low cost, fail-safe, single-use hypodermic devices for the healthcare industry.  
         [0025]     It is yet another object of the invention to prevent catheter separation from the catheter carrying device until the needle tip is safely contained in a protective cover.  
         [0026]     It is another object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that allows a protective cover to be used with long needles, such as epidural needles, spinal needles, or percutaneous entry needles for placing guidewires.  
         [0027]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that allows a protective cover to be used with needles that include a change in axis at the distal tip, such as implanted port needles, or needles with a “Huber” tip.  
         [0028]     It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that allows a protective cover to be used with straight needle shafts, or bent needle shafts that include a change in axis at the distal tip, such as implanted port, needles or needles with a “Huber” tip.  
         [0029]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that includes a deformable retaining means for retaining and selectively releasing a protective member or cover.  
         [0030]     It is another object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that includes a deformable retaining means that may be an integral part of a needle hub.  
         [0031]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that includes a deformable retaining means that may be retrofitted to an existing needle hub.  
         [0032]     It is another object of the invention to provide a safety hypodermic apparatus that includes a deformable retaining means that may include a gripping means.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment the needle guard assembly of the present invention includes a needle guard that is slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle having a needle tip located at the distal end of the needle. The needle guard contains a movable needle trap that is biased against or toward the hypodermic needle. The needle trap advances over the tip of the needle, entrapping the needle tip as the needle guard is urged forward near the sharpened distal end of the hypodermic needle. A tether, or other limiting means, limits the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle. In one embodiment, the needle guard is manually urged forward along the shaft of the needle by the user. In yet another embodiment, a spring, or other biasing means, is used to move the needle guard along the shaft of the needle.  
         [0034]     In another embodiment, a hypodermic needle is attached to a housing or hub. A coil spring is positioned between the hub, or housing, and the needle guard assembly. The spring provides the biasing force for advancing the needle guard assembly forward along the shaft of the needle. Prior to use, the needle guard assembly is releasably retained near the proximal end of the needle by a latching arm that is attached to the hub or housing. In one embodiment, the latching arm is automatically disengaged from the needle guard when a longitudinal compressive force is exerted on the retained needle guard. In yet another embodiment, the latching arm may be disengaged manually by the user.  
         [0035]     In another embodiment, a hypodermic needle is attached to a housing or hub. A coil spring is positioned between the hub, or housing, and the needle guard assembly. The spring provides the biasing force for advancing the needle guard assembly forward along the shaft of the needle. Prior to use, the needle guard assembly is releasably retained near the proximal end of the needle by at least one protrusion that is selectively inserted into at least one aperture on a deformable member or housing. The needle guard is selectively released by squeezing the housing and expanding the housing diameter at the retaining interface to allow the protrusion to disengage from the aperture on the housing.  
         [0036]     In another embodiment, a side-loadable needle guard assembly is provided that permits the needle tip protective device to be assembled without disturbing the delicate sharpened needle tip. In one embodiment the side-loadable needle guard assembly includes a slotted configuration. In yet another embodiment, the side-loadable needle guard assembly includes a “clam-shell” configuration.  
         [0037]     In yet another embodiment, the needle guard assembly includes a coupling mechanism that prevents a mechanical separation from the catheter until the needle tip is safely contained within the needle trap. In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism includes an arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the arm is attached to the movable needle trap. The distal end of the arm includes a projection that is releasably retained within a recess of a catheter hub. Hence, as the needle trap moves inward to entrap the needle tip, the arm also moves inward. The inward movement of the arm causes the arm&#39;s distal projection to be released from the catheter hub recess, thereby permitting a separation between the needle guard assembly and the catheter hub.  
         [0038]     Other objects and benefits of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows hereinafter when read in conjunction with the figures that accompany it. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]      FIG. 1  illustrates a full side view of a prior art hypodermic needle attached to a hub.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the hypodermic needle hub shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3A  is a full side view of the hypodermic needle hub shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3B  is a full top view of the hypodermic needle hub shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the hypodermic needle hub shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a full side view of a hub in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the hub shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the hub shown in  FIG. 5  having a flange section for retaining a removable cover.  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a full side view of the hub shown in  FIG. 7  with the addition of a protrusion for engaging a removable cover.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a full rear view of the needle hub shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a full front view of the hub shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 11  is a full front view of a needle guard assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0051]      FIG. 12  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 13  is a full outside view of a needle guard assembly and tether in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIG. 14  is a full side view of one embodiment of the present invention comprising a unitary construction.  
         [0054]      FIG. 15  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in a ready-to-use state.  
         [0055]      FIGS. 16-18  illustrate the needle guard assembly being activated to cover the tip of a hypodermic needle.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 19-22  illustrate other embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0057]      FIG. 23  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0058]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show the present invention attached to a blood collection device.  
         [0059]      FIG. 26  shows the present invention included in a catheter device.  
         [0060]      FIG. 27  shows the present invention unitarily attached to a syringe.  
         [0061]      FIGS. 28 and 29  show a needle guard in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0062]      FIG. 30  shows a needle trap that is biased against or towards the hypodermic needle.  
         [0063]      FIG. 31  shows a needle entrapped within a needle guard assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0064]      FIG. 32  illustrates a tether in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0065]      FIG. 33  illustrates a needle trap in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0066]      FIG. 34  is a full open view of a needle guard assembly in one embodiment of the present invention  
         [0067]      FIG. 35  is a exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0068]      FIG. 36  is an isometric open view of the needle guard shown in  FIG. 34 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 37A  shows the needle tip guard assembly of  FIG. 35  in a ready to use state.  
         [0070]      FIG. 37B  shows the needle tip guard assembly of  FIG. 37A  after it has been activated.  
         [0071]      FIGS. 38A and 38B  show a needle tip protective device attached to a fillable syringe in a ready-to-use and shielded position, respectively.  
         [0072]      FIGS. 39A and 39B  show a needle tip protective device attached to a prefilled syringe in a ready-to-use and shielded position, respectively.  
         [0073]      FIGS. 40A and 40B  show a needle protective device attached to a prefilled cartridge.  
         [0074]      FIGS. 41A and 41B  show a needle protective device attached to a blood collection apparatus in a ready to use and shielded position, respectively.  
         [0075]      FIGS. 42A and 42B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0076]      FIG. 42C  illustrates a needle guard assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0077]      FIGS. 43A and 43B  show separate embodiments of the needle guard assembly of the present invention.  
         [0078]      FIG. 44A  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0079]      FIG. 44B  illustrates an enlarged cross-section view of the needle guard shown in  FIG. 44A .  
         [0080]     FIGS.  45 A-C,  46  and  47  illustrate a needle hub in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0081]      FIG. 48A -C illustrate several retrofit hub configurations in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0082]      FIG. 49A  shows a full side view of the present invention attached to a prior art needle hub.  
         [0083]      FIG. 49B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 49A .  
         [0084]      FIG. 50  is cross-sectional side view of the present invention attached to a prefilled syringe.  
         [0085]      FIG. 51  is cross-sectional side view of the present invention attached to a prefilled cartridge syringe hub.  
         [0086]      FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional side view of the present inventions intergrally molded to a prefilled cartridge syringe hub.  
         [0087]      FIG. 53  is cross sectional side view of a prior art I.V. catheter adapter.  
         [0088]      FIG. 54  shows the present invention retrofitted to an I.V. catheter adapter.  
         [0089]      FIG. 55  shows the present invention integrally molded to an I.V. catheter adapter.  
         [0090]      FIG. 56  illustrates the present invention attachable to a blood collection device.  
         [0091]      FIG. 57  illustrates a full front view of a needle guard assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0092]      FIG. 58  is a cross sectional side view of a prior art prefilled syringe cartridge hub.  
         [0093]      FIG. 59  is a cross sectional side view of the present invention being threadedly attached to a glass cartridge hub.  
         [0094]      FIG. 60  is a cross sectional side view of the present invention fixedly attached to a glass cartridge.  
         [0095]      FIGS. 61-63  illustrate a catheter in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0096]      FIG. 64-67  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0097]      FIG. 68  illustrates a full side view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0098]      FIGS. 69-77  illustrate a needle guard assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0099]      FIG. 78  is a cross sectional side view of the present invention for use on a male luer syringe in a ready-to-use state.  
         [0100]      FIG. 79  is a cross sectional side view of the present invention for use on a prefilled syringe or a prefilled cartridge syringe in a ready-for-use state.  
         [0101]      FIG. 80  is cross sectional side view of the hub and cover shown in  FIG. 78 .  
         [0102]      FIG. 81  is a cross sectional view of the needle and cover shown in  FIG. 79 .  
         [0103]      FIGS. 82 and 83  illustrate a collar for use in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0104]      FIG. 84  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0105]      FIG. 85  illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0106]      FIG. 86  is a graph depicting the interaction of a resilient member and a sliding member without a needle guard notch.  
         [0107]      FIG. 87  is graph depicting the interaction of resilient member and a sliding member with a needle guard notch.  
         [0108]      FIGS. 88-94  illustrate a number of different embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0109]      FIGS. 95 and 96  illustrates a full side view of a needle hub in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0110]      FIGS. 97-102  show the embodiments of  FIGS. 50, 51 ,  52 ,  54  and  55  with a needle having a change in contour.  
         [0111]      FIGS. 103-105  illustrate a catheter in yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0112]      FIGS. 106-108  show a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0113]      FIGS. 109-113  illustrate a side-loadable needle guard in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0114]      FIGS. 114 and 115  show a needle guard assembly for use in a catheter.  
         [0115]      FIGS. 116 and 119  show a needle trap in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0116]      FIG. 117  is a full top view of a housing in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0117]      FIG. 118  illustrates a cross sectional and cut-away view of a catheter introducer in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0118]      FIGS. 120 and 121  illustrate catheter assemblies in yet other embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0119]      FIGS. 122A-122C  show an isometric view of a catheter in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0120]      FIGS. 123 and 124  show a needle trap assembly for use in a catheter.  
         [0121]      FIGS. 124-130  illustrate a needle guard in yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0122]      FIG. 131  illustrates a needle having an expanded change in profile near the sharpened tip.  
         [0123]      FIG. 132  illustrates a needle having a reduced change in profile near the sharpened tip.  
         [0124]      FIG. 133  illustrates a needle having an expanded change in profile near the sharpened tip limiting axial movement of a washer or bushing.  
         [0125]      FIG. 134  illustrates a cross sectional view of the needle and washer shown in  FIG. 133 .  
         [0126]      FIG. 135  illustrates a washer shown in  FIGS. 133 and 134 .  
         [0127]      FIG. 136  illustrates an entrapped needle having a change in profile limiting the axial movement of a needle guard assembly that includes a washer or bushing in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0128]      FIG. 137  illustrates an entrapped needle having a change in profile limiting the axial movement of a needle guard assembly that includes a protrusion to contain the needle within the needle guard.  
         [0129]      FIG. 138  is a cross sectional front view of the needle and needle guard assembly shown in  FIG. 137 .  
         [0130]      FIG. 139  is a full front view of a needle guard assembly having a split line that is off set.  
         [0131]      FIG. 140  is a full side view of a needle having a bend in the shaft, or change in axis, near the distal tip.  
         [0132]      FIG. 141  is a cross sectional side view of a needle shown in  FIG. 140  with a sliding cover being limited in movement by the change in axis of the needle shaft.  
         [0133]      FIG. 142  is a cross sectional side view of a needle shown in  FIG. 140  with a sliding bushing being limited in movement by the change in axis of the needle shaft.  
         [0134]      FIG. 143  is a cross sectional side view of a needle guard assembly having a needle trap that is biased against or towards the hypodermic needle having a change in axis.  
         [0135]      FIG. 144  shows a needle entrapped within a needle guard assembly shown in  FIG. 143 .  
         [0136]      FIG. 145  illustrates a full side view of a needle hub having a deformable member or housing.  
         [0137]      FIG. 146  illustrates a full front view of the needle hub shown in  FIG. 145 .  
         [0138]      FIG. 147  illustrates a full top view of a needle hub having a deformable member or housing shown in  FIG. 145 .  
         [0139]      FIG. 148  illustrates a full top view of a needle guard apparatus of the present invention shown in a ready to use state having a needle guard being releasably retained in a needle hub having a distal deformable member or housing shown in  FIG. 147 .  
         [0140]      FIG. 149  illustrates a full front view of a needle guard assembly with an off set split line shown in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0141]      FIG. 150  illustrates a full front view of the needle guard assembly of  FIG. 148  being retained in a deformable housing shown in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0142]      FIG. 151  illustrates a full front view of a needle guard assembly of  FIG. 150  being selectively released by compressing and deforming the housing.  
         [0143]      FIG. 152  illustrates an isometric view of a needle tip guard assembly being retained in a deformable member or housing in a ready to use state.  
         [0144]      FIG. 153  shows the needle tip guard assembly of  FIG. 152  after it has been activated. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0145]     A needle tip protective device is described. In this regard, to the extent applicable, this application is related to and claims the benefit of filing dates of the following U.S. Non-Provisional patent applications: (1) Ser. No. 60/012,343, entitled PROTECTED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE WITH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL COVERING MEANS, filed Feb. 27, 1996; (2) Ser. No. 60/025,273, entitled HYPODERMIC DEVICES WITH SAFETY FEATURES, filed Sep. 12, 1996; and (3) Ser. No. 60/031,399, entitled HYPODERMIC DEVICES WITH IMPROVED SAFETY FEATURES, filed Nov. 19, 1996; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 807,328 entitled NEEDLE TIP GUARD FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,337; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/172,185 entitled INTRAVENOUS CATHETER ASSEMBLY, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,080, filed on Oct. 13, 1998; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/144,398 entitled NEEDLE TIP GUARD FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, filed on Aug. 31, 1998, the teachings of which are expressly incorporated here and by reference. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and processing steps have not been shown in particular detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Additionally, it should be noted that throughout this discussion reference will be made to a variety of hypodermic needle devices such as fillable syringes, prefilled syringes, prefilled cartridge syringes, blood collection devices, percutaneous entry needles, implanted port needles and catheters. It is appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to these devices, and may be used in any application where it is desirable to provide a protective covering at the tip of a needle or other elongated object.  
         [0146]     Also keep in mind that the needle covering invention disclosed herein in regard to an I.V. catheter can easily be adapted to all types of other catheters where a needle may be used, including, but not limited to, neurological, urological, central venous, oximetry, thermodilution, PTCA, PTA, angiography, atherectomy, enlectrophysiology, suction and wound drainage, cardiovascular, pulmonary and spinal catheters. The needle covering invention described herein on a syringe can also be easily adapted to a blood collection needle, or any other needles used in invasive procedures, including, but not limited to, angiography, cardiovascular, ophthalmological, orthopedic, dentistry, veterinary, chemotherapy and arterial blood gas.  
         [0147]      FIG. 1  is a full side view drawing of a prior art standard, exposed hypodermic needle  10 , having a sharpened needle tip  11  at the distal end with the opposite, or proximal end of the needle  10  attached to a hub  12 , with at least one flange  1  at the very proximal end for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  at the distal end of the needle hub  12 , for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , and a plurality of fins  2  on the needle nest  4 .  
         [0148]      FIG. 2  is a full front view drawing of the prior art hypodermic needle hub  12  with an aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path to the hypodermic needle, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the hypodermic needle  10  therein, with the needle nest  4  surrounded by a plurality of fins  2  and a plurality of flanges  1 .  
         [0149]      FIG. 3A  is a full side view drawing of the prior art hypodermic needle hub  12  with at least one flange  1  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown here) and a plurality of fins  2 .  
         [0150]      FIG. 3B  is a full top view drawing of the prior art hypodermic needle hub  12  with at least one flange  1  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown here) and a plurality of fins  2 .  
         [0151]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the prior art hypodermic needle hub shown in  FIG. 2  along axis  4 - 4  comprising a hub portion  12  with a flange  1 , an aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path to the hypodermic needle (not shown here), a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a hypodermic needle (not shown here), and a plurality of fins  2 .  
         [0152]      FIG. 5  is a full side view drawing of the hub section of the disclosed invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  112  with at least one flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  112  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  104  (not shown here) for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown in this view), an inner aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path between the needle hub  112  and the needle (not shown here), a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of the needle hub  112 , the protrusion being connected to the extended sidewall section  15  at the distal end of the needle hub  112 , and a moveable latching arm  26  with a finger pad  27  attached to the needle hub  112  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the needle hub  112 , said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred molded position.  
         [0153]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 5 . Needle hub  112  includes an inner aperture that provides a fluid/gaseous path between the needle hub  112  and the needle (not shown here). Arrow “M” indicates the directional movement of latch  26 .  
         [0154]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 5  having a section  16  for removably holding a removable cover over the hypodermic needle.  
         [0155]      FIG. 8  is a full side view of the hub  112  shown in  FIG. 7 , with the addition of at least one protrusion  14  located adjacent to section  16 , said protrusion  14  being engagable with a removable cover. Protrusion  14 , in conjunction with a contacting member of removable cover, is positioned to facilitate attachment or removal of a hypodermic needle from a connecting device. Hub  112  also includes a protrusion or cleat  17  with a cap or holding means  18  to attach a tether.  
         [0156]      FIG. 9  is a full rear view of needle hub  112  shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0157]      FIG. 10  is a full front view drawing of the disclosed hub invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  112  with an extended wall section  15 , an aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path to the hypodermic needle (not shown), a needle nest  104  for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown), a protrusion  5  which can be used as a guide for aligning another component, a section  16  for removably holding a removable cover over the hypodermic needle (not shown here), a protrusion  14  located adjacent to section  16  for engaging a corresponding component of a removable cover (not shown), and a moveable latching arm  26  with a finger pad  27  attached to the needle hub  112  by a hinge section  23  (not shown).  
         [0158]      FIG. 11  is a full front view of a needle guard assembly  22  positioned on the front of the hub  112  comprising a guide aperture  47  with a hypodermic needle  10  therethrough, said aperture  47  being created by coupling the open-faced sections of the needle guard assembly  22  together at a split line  43 , a protrusion  5  which is used as a guide for aligning the needle guard assembly  22  on the hub  112  whereby an aperture is created on the needle guard assembly  22  when the open-faced sections of the needle guard assembly  22  are coupled together, a section  16  for removably holding a removable cover over the hypodermic needle  10 , a protrusion  14  located adjacent to section  16  for engaging a corresponding component of a removable cover (not shown). In one embodiment needle guard  22  also includes a moveable latching arm that is attached to needle hub  112  by a hinge section. A tether (not shown), is generally used to fixedly attach needle guard  22  to hub  112 .  
         [0159]      FIG. 12  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in  FIG. 1I  comprising a guide aperture  47  created by coupling the open-faced sections of the needle guard assembly  22  together at the split line  43 , a recess  25  with a protrusion  44  at the rear or inner end of the recess  25   i  a tether  24  connected to a hinge section  28  and an aperture adjacent to the hinge section.  
         [0160]      FIG. 13  is a full outside, top view of the needle guard assembly  22  and tether  24  as manufactured comprising an openfaced needle guard  22  with a hinge section  28 , with adjacent lands  39  which create an aperture when the needle guard assembly  22  is coupled together, a needle tip guard  41  with a hinge section  40  allowing the needle tip guard  41  to move, a recess  25  with a protrusion  44  and a tether  24  with a connector or loop  20 .  
         [0161]      FIG. 14  is a full side view of a unitary, one piece embodiment of the invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  112 , having at least one flange  101 , an extended wall section  15 , a protrusion  5 , a moveable latching arm  26  connected to said hub  112  by a hinge  23 , said latching arm having a finger pad  27  at the proximal end and a hooking protrusion  21  at the distal end, a protrusion  17  connecting a tether  24  to a slidable needle guard assembly  22 , with a moveable needle tip guard  41  and a hinge section  40 . In addition to serving as an alignment guide needle guard  22 , protrusion  5  may also serve as an aspiration stop when a needle is inserted into a medicine vial.  
         [0162]      FIG. 15  is a full side view of the invention shown in the ready to use configuration comprising a hypodermic needle  10  with a sharpened tip  11 , a needle hub  112 , with at least one flange  101 , an extended sidewall section  15 , a section  16  for removably attaching a cover, a protrusion  14  located adjacent to section  16 , said protrusion  14  being engagable with a removable cover, said protrusion  14  in conjunction with corresponding member of removable cover, being positioned to facilitate attachment or removal of a hypodermic needle from a connecting device, a moveable latching arm  26  connected to hub  112  by a hinge  23 , said latching arm having a finger pad  27  at the proximal end and a hooking protrusion  21  at the distal end, said latching arm  26  releasably holding said needle guard  22  and a compressed resilient member  19  in a retained position, said needle guard  22  having a moveable needle tip guard  41  which is biasly contacting the hypodermic needle, a protrusion  5  on the hub  112  for aligning a needle guard assembly  22  to the needle hub  112  so the moveable latching arm  26  properly enters the corresponding recess  25  on the needle guard assembly  22 , said needle guard assembly  22  being connected to said hub  112  by a tether  24 .  
         [0163]      FIG. 16  is a full side view  FIG. 15  with a compressive longitudinal force being exerted on the needle guard assembly  22 , whereby the needle guard assembly  22  and compressed resilient member  19  move enough to release the hold by the protrusion  21  of the moveable latching arm  26 .  
         [0164]      FIG. 17  is a full side view  FIG. 15  with the released needle guard assembly  22  being urged to the distal end of the hypodermic needle  10  by the extending force of the resilient member  19 , said needle tip guard  41  is biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the molded configuration of said needle tip guard  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 .  
         [0165]      FIG. 18  is a full side view  FIG. 15  with the resilient member  19  extended and still exerting force on the needle guard assembly  22 , said resilient member  19  assists inherently molded bias of needle tip guard  41  by urging said needle tip guard  41  inwardly and ahead of the sharpened needle tip, said needle guard assembly  22  is limited from advancing further by the extended tether  24 , with the sharpened hypodermic needle tip being entrapped within the needle guard assembly  22 , with the needle tip guard  41  now securely positioned ahead of the sharpened needle tip said needle tip guard  41  blocking the aperture guide of the needle guard assembly  22 , ensuring safe containment of the sharpened tip.  
         [0166]      FIG. 19  is a full bottom view of  FIG. 15  showing the elements of the invention and a rectangular finger pad configuration, although the finger pad configuration only needs to be suitable (round, square, triangular or the like) to facilitate a manual force to release the hold on retained needle guard assembly  22 , said needle guard assembly  22  having a recess  25  for engaging the distal end of the movable latching arm  26  to the corresponding section on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0167]      FIG. 20  is a full top view of  FIG. 15  showing the elements of the invention and having a tether  24  which can have a round, square, elliptical or ribbon-like cross section and hinge section  28 . It is important to note that the tether can comprise either rigid or flexible characteristics, and can be unitary molded with other components, or be a separate component. A rigid tether would have to be able to slide along the side of a syringe, prefilled syringe or cartridge, blood collection needle holder or I.V. catheter when the device is used, and said tether could slide through an aperture which would limit the axial forward movement of the tether and needle guard. This rigid tether would have to have a proximal end larger than the aperture, so the tether would be limited in its slidable movement.  
         [0168]     A flexible tether can be made more resilient or rigid by changing the molecular alignment of the molecules of the tether component by stretching, heating, radiation processing or the like. The tether can be manufactured separately, or connected to either the hub component, the needle guard assembly or the needle guard housing. The tether could be comprised from a single variety, or a combination of materials including, but not limited to: plastic resin, synthetic material, organic material, cloth, woven material, stranded material, metal, silk, or a composite material.  
         [0169]      FIG. 21  is a full side view of  FIG. 15  having an extended protrusion  105  for preventing premature release of the releasable needle guard assembly  22 . This embodiment can be used for blood collection purposes, indwelling catheter placement or preventing premature activation during medicine aspiration.  
         [0170]      FIG. 22  is a full top view of  FIG. 15  having an extended protrusion  105  for preventing premature release of the releasable needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0171]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the invention ready for use having the elements described herein, with the resilient member  19  in a compressed position with the needle guard assembly releasably held by the protrusion  21  of the moveable latching arm  26 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  112 , and an aperture  47  with a hypodermic needle  10  therethrough, said latching arm  26  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said needle guard assembly  22  when said needle guard assembly is moved toward said hub portion  112 , said protrusion  49  manually moves said latching arm  26  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  26  moves outwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0172]      FIG. 24  is a full side view of the invention for blood collecting purposes showing the elements described and notated in the previous drawings in addition to a double-lancet hypodermic needle  110  having a sharpened tip  11  at the distal end and a sharpened tip  111  at the proximal end (see  FIG. 25 ), a hub  212  having a threaded section for removably attaching the hub into a needle holder  45  (see  FIG. 25 ) by means of threads  74 , and a piercable, collapsible cover  48  on the distal end of the needle  110  and a protrusion  105 .  
         [0173]      FIG. 25  is a full side view of the invention for blood collecting purposes showing the elements described and notated in the previous drawings in addition to the invention being removably attached to a needle holder  45 , said needle holder  45  having a larger opening at the proximal end for inserting a removable blood collection tube, and a smaller opening at the distal end for removably attaching a blood collection needle  110  and hub  212 . A manual releasing means is activated by pressing the finger pad  27  in a downward or inward manner, this is indicated by the arrow “F” pointing toward the finger pad  27 .  
         [0174]     It may be noted that the attachment means of connecting the invention to a blood collection needle holder  45  is not limited to the threaded means  74  shown throughout this application. Other attachment means, such as frictional engagement, snap fit, wedging or the like may also be used to accomplish the same function.  
         [0175]      FIG. 26  is a full side view of the invention with a removable, indwelling catheter, having a hub  312  attached to a hollow bore needle  210  with a distal stylet  211  and a removable, indwelling catheter  51  and catheter hub  50  slidably disposed on said needle  210 . All other elements notated are described in the previous drawings.  
         [0176]      FIG. 27  is a full side view of the invention in a ready to use state unitarily attached to a syringe  6  by the hub  112 . All other elements notated are described in the previous drawings.  
         [0177]      FIG. 28  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22  having a hinge section  28  joining each section, a split line  43  where the sections mate together, an aperture guide  47  on each section, a recess  25  on one section having a protrusion  44  for joining with the corresponding element  144  on the other section of said needle guard assembly  22 , a moveable needle tip guard  41  and a post  36  for joining the needle guard assembly  22  sections together.  
         [0178]      FIG. 29  is a full rear view of the needle guard assembly shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22  having a hinge section  28  joining each section, a split line  43  where the sections mate together, an aperture guide  47  on each section, a protrusion  44  for joining with the corresponding element  144  on the other needle guard assembly  22  section, a moveable needle tip guard  41 , at least one post or protrusion  36  on one needle guard assembly  22  section which enters at least one corresponding slot  37  on the other needle guard assembly  22  section for securing the sections together.  
         [0179]      FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view showing the interaction of the needle guard assembly  22  with the resilient member  19  and hypodermic needle  10  and sharpened needle tip  11 , comprising a moveable needle guard assembly  22  with a hypodermic needle  10  therethrough, with resilient member  19  urging the needle guard assembly  22  toward the distal end of the hypodermic needle  10 . The needle guard assembly  22  having a moveable needle tip guard  41  with a hinge section  40 , said needle tip guard  41  is molded in a manner whereby the needle tip guard  41  comprises an inherent biasing force toward the hypodermic needle  10 , another biasing force is exerted on the needle tip guard  41  by the extending force of the resilient member  19 , said needle tip guard  41  enters the corresponding recess  31  when said needle tip guard  41  advances beyond the sharpened needle tip  11 , said needle tip guard  41  slidably contacts said hypodermic needle  10 . The needle guard  22  is attached to a hub element  12  by means of a tether  24  as described and notated in the previous drawings.  
         [0180]      FIG. 31  is cross-sectional side view showing containment of the sharpened needle tip  11  within the needle guard assembly  22  comprising a needle guard assembly  22  with a hypodermic needle  10  therethrough, said needle guard assembly  22  being urged beyond the distal end of the hypodermic needle  10  and sharpened needle tip  11  by the extending force of a resilient member  19  whereby the moveable, self-biasing needle tip guard  41  of the needle guard assembly  22  moves in front of the sharpened needle tip  11 , containing the sharpened needle tip  11  within the needle guard assembly  22  and behind the substantially impenetrable needle tip guard  41  having a hinge section  40 . Additionally, the extending force of the resilient member  19  urges the needle tip guard  41  inwardly to a covering position, said resilient member  19  surrounds both the needle guard assembly  22  and the outer wall of the needle tip guard  41  holding the needle tip guard  41  in a closed, protective position by a radially confining force. In the protected, closed position, the needle tip guard  41  enters the corresponding recess  31  of the needle guard assembly  22 , preventing movement and ensuring safe containment of the sharpened needle tip  11  within the needle guard assembly  22 . The needle guard  22  is attached to a hub or housing by means of a tether as described and notated in the previous drawings.  
         [0181]      FIG. 32  is a full top view of a separate tether  24  with connecting loops  20  at the proximal and distal ends. This tether embodiment is used with a separate hub component and separate needle guard assembly component.  
         [0182]      FIG. 33  is a cross sectional side view of the needle guard assembly  22  comprising a needle tip guard  41  having a hinge section  40  connected to the needle guard assembly  22 . Said needle tip guard  41  is molded in a self-biasing manner as shown and is moveable to an open and closed position. Said needle tip guard may comprise a substantially impenetrable plastic resin and/or a substantially impenetrable metal.  
         [0183]      FIG. 34  is a full open view of the interior of the open-face needle guard assembly  22  as manufactured and before being joined together. Said needle guard assembly  22  comprising two joining sections which are connected by a hinge section  28  having a tether  24 , one needle guard assembly section having a moveable, self-biasing, substantially impenetrable needle tip guard  41  with a moveable hinge  40  connected to said needle guard assembly  22 , a post or protrusion  36 , a recess  25  with a protrusion  44  and a recess  38  for nesting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to the needle hub  112 ,  212  or  312  as shown in the previous drawings; with the corresponding needle guard assembly section having a corresponding slot  31  for said needle tip guard  41  to enter, a slot  37  for receiving the corresponding post  36 , a proximal inner guide section  35  and a distal inner guide section  47  for the hypodermic needle  10  (not shown), a corresponding receiving section  144  for recess  25  and protrusion  44 , and a recess  38  for nesting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to the needle hub  112 ,  212  or  312  as shown in other drawings herein.  
         [0184]      FIG. 35  is a full, exploded view of the invention having the elements described herein the other accompanying drawings comprising a slidable needle guard assembly  22  in the closed face configuration having a tether  24  and loop  20 ; a resilient member  19 ; and a hypodermic needle  10  fixedly attached the needle hub.  FIG. 36  shows needle guard assembly  22  in a full view, open-faced configuration. The open face, or “clam-shell” configuration of the needle guard make this embodiment feasible using standard injection molding techniques. The sharpened needle  10  is first attached to the hub portion  112 , then the needle  10  is coated with a friction-reducing lubricant, the resilient member  19  is concentrically disposed over the needle  10  and compressed, then the needle guard assembly  22  is assembled from the side of the needle  10  keeping the sharpened tip  11  from being contacted, the needle guard assembly  22  and tether  24  are then attached to the hub  122  by a connecting means  20 .  
         [0185]     The extended wall section  15  can be eliminated for the invention to work, but shields the resilient member  19 . The elements of the needle guard assembly  22 , in relation to each other, and in relation to the bevel of the sharpened needle tip  11 , can also be oriented as may be deemed necessary to suit a specific procedure or purpose.  
         [0186]      FIG. 37A  is an isometric drawing of a needle tip protective device  500  in one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 37A  shows protective device  500  in a ready-to use position.  FIG. 37B  shows the protective device  500  shielding the needle tip within the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0187]      FIGS. 38A and 38B  show a needle tip protective device  500  in one embodiment of the invention attached to a fillable syringe  501  in a ready-to-use position and a shielded position, respectively.  
         [0188]      FIGS. 39A and 39B  show a needle tip protective device  500  in one embodiment of the present invention attached to a prefilled syringe  502  in a ready-to-use position and a shielded position, respectively.  
         [0189]      FIGS. 40A and 40B  show a needle protective device  500  in one embodiment of the invention attached to a prefilled cartridge  503 .  FIG. 40A  shows the prefilled cartridge  503  before use.  FIG. 40B  shows the prefilled cartridge  503  after the protective device  500  is activated.  
         [0190]      FIGS. 41A and 41B  shows a needle protective device  500  in one embodiment of the invention attached to a blood collection device  504  in a ready-to-use position and a shielded position, respectively.  
         [0191]      FIG. 42A  illustrates a needle tip guard assembly in yet another embodiment of the present invention for protecting the distal tip  11  of a standard hypodermic needle  10 . The assembly  20  includes a needle guard  22  that is slidably mounted on needle  10 . Needle guard  22  contains a movable needle trap  41  that is biased against or toward the shaft of needle  10 . Needle trap  41  advances over the tip  11  of the needle  10 , entrapping the needle tip  11 , when needle guard  22  is positioned near the distal tip of needle  10 .  FIG. 42B  shows distal needle tip  11  captured within needle guard  22 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 42A , needle guard  22  is moved forward along the shaft of needle  10  by the user. In  FIG. 42A , needle trap  41  is shown as a detachable element of needle guard  22  that is insertable into a slot  80  located adjacent the proximal end of needle guard  22 . Needle trap  41  generally comprises a flexible metal member. Other impregnable materials that are not susceptible to fatigue may also be used. For example, some plastics or other resin based materials may be used. In such instances, needle trap  41  may be integrally molded with needle guard  22 . A recess  31  may be included within needle guard  22  for receiving needle trap  41 . A flexible tether  24  limits the forward movement of the needle guard  22  along the needle  10 . Other limiting means, such as, for example, a change in contour in needle  10  or the use of a rigid tether assembly may be used in lieu of the flexible tether. These limiting devices will be described in greater detail later in this description.  
         [0192]      FIG. 42C  shows needle guard  22   a  that is another embodiment of the needle guard  22  shown in  FIGS. 42A and 42B . The needle guard  22   a  of  FIG. 42C  includes an integrally molded needle trap  41   a , a notch  61   a , a recess  61   b  in trap  41   a , and needle guard  22 , respectively. A resilient member  102  is held within notch  61   a  and recess  61   b . The stored energy of resilient member  102  urges needle trap  41   a  toward or against needle  10 . Resilient member  102  may comprise a “v” shape or may simply comprise a member that has been curved to create a stored energy.  
         [0193]      FIG. 43A  is a full side view one embodiment of the present invention with the resilient member  119  extended and still exerting force on the needle guard assembly  22 , said resilient member  119  assists inherently molded bias of needle guard trap  41  by urging said needle guard trap  41  inwardly and in front of the sharpened needle tip  11  (see  FIG. 33 ), said needle guard assembly  22  is limited from advancing further by the limiting tether  24 , with the sharpened hypodermic needle tip being entrapped within the needle guard assembly  22 , with the needle guard trap  41  now securely positioned in front of the sharpened needle tip  11  said needle guard trap  41  blocking the aperture guide opening  47  of the needle guard assembly  22 , ensuring safe containment of said sharpened tip  11  within the needle guard assembly  22 . The needle guard trap  41  is attached to the needle guard assembly  22  by a hinge section  40 . A hollow bore hypodermic needle  10  is fixedly attached to a hub  112 , said hub  112  having at least one proximal flange  101  for attaching said hub  112  to a male luer fitting, said hub  112  also having a flange  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover (not shown), said flange  16  having at least one shoulder or projection  14  for interfacing with a corresponding portion of a storage cover to allow twisted attachment and/or removal of said hub  112  to or from a medical device, said hub also having a body portion  15 , a protrusion  5 , and a movable latching arm  26 , said latching arm  26  being fixedly attached to said hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , said latching arm also having a hook  21 , a protrusion, cam, or ramp  49  and a finger pad or button  27 .  
         [0194]      FIG. 43B  shows the protective needle guard assembly of  FIG. 43A  attached to a syringe  6 . The protective needle guard assembly may be integral to syringe  6 , or may be attached as an add-on component.  
         [0195]      FIG. 44A  is a full side view of the disclosed invention with the resilient member  119  extended and still exerting an extending force on the needle guard assembly  22 , said resilient member  119  assists inherently molded bias of needle guard trap  41  by urging said needle guard trap  41  inwardly and in front of the sharpened needle tip  11  said needle guard assembly  22  is limited from advancing further by the limiting tether  24 , with the sharpened hypodermic needle tip  11  being trapped within the needle guard assembly  22 , with the needle guard trap  41  now securely positioned in front of the sharpened needle tip  11 . Said needle guard  22  having an extended slot section  44   a  for releasably holding said needle guard assembly  22  in a retained position. Said extended slot section  44   a  places the interface between the latching arm hook  21  and the needle guard assembly  22  away from any potential binding which may occur during needle insertion. If the retaining means interface is too close to the insertion surface, the latching arm  26  may be prevented from releasably holding the needle guard assembly  22 . A flexible projection  107  is included within the needle guard assembly for retaining the end coil of spring  119  in a locked position after the needle tip protection device has been activated.  FIG. 44B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of flexible projection  107 . The needle guard trap  41  is attached to the needle guard assembly  22  at a hinge section  40 . The needle  10  is fixedly attached to a hub  112 , said hub  112  having at least one proximal flange  101  for attaching said hub  112  to a male luer fitting, said hub also having a body portion  15 , a protrusion  5 , and a movable latching arm  26 , said latching arm  26  being fixedly attached to said hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , said latching arm also having a hook  21  and protrusion  49 .  
         [0196]      FIG. 45A  is a full side view drawing of the needle hub  412 , in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  412  with a flange  401  for attaching the needle hub  412  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  404  for fixedly attaching the needle, a plurality of fins  402 , and a land  75  for attaching another component to the hub  412 .  
         [0197]      FIG. 45B  is a full top view of the needle hub  412  shown in  FIG. 45B  having a flange  401  for attaching the needle hub  412  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  404  for fixedly attaching a needle, a plurality of fins  402 , and a land  75  for attaching another component to the hub  412 .  
         [0198]      FIG. 45C  is a cross sectional side view of  FIG. 45A  comprising a hypodermic needle hub  412  with a flange  401  for attaching the needle hub  412  to a male luer fitting a needle nest  404  for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , an aperture therethrough creating a fluid/gaseous path from the said hub  412  to said needle  10 , a plurality of fins  402 , and a land  75  for attaching another component to the hub  412 .  
         [0199]      FIG. 46  is a full side view drawing of the disclosed invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  412  with a flange  401  for attaching the needle hub  412  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  404  for fixedly attaching the needle, at least one, or a plurality of shortened fins  403 , and a land  75  for attaching another component to the hub  412 .  
         [0200]      FIG. 47  is a full front view drawing of  FIGS. 45A and 46  comprising a hypodermic needle hub  412  with an aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path to the hypodermic needle  10 , a needle nest  404  having adjacent at least one, or a plurality of fins  402  or  403 , at least one, or a plurality of flanges  401  and a land  75 .  
         [0201]      FIG. 48A  is a is a full side view of the invention having a retrofitted hub portion  215  being fixedly attached to a hub portion  412  by a heatstake connection. Said hub portion  215  having an annular flange  16  for connecting a protective storage cover, a protrusion  17  for attaching a tether, said protrusion  17  having an aperture for insertably attaching or bonding the tether, said protrusion  17  having an angled proximal end to eliminate any possibility of the tether catching on the protrusion  17  when the needle guard  22  is activated. A hub portion  215  also includes a well or pocket  18  for removably inserting a tether in an out of the way fashion, and a retaining means  77  for releasably holding said needle guard  22  in a retained position adjacent to said hub portion  215 .  
         [0202]      FIG. 48B  is a full front view of the hub  215  described in  FIG. 48A  comprising a hypodermic needle hub  215  having an aperture with a plurality of slots which correspondingly fits onto the distal end of a hypodermic needle hub shown throughout this application, said slots accept the fin or fins  402  from said hub  412 , an annular flange  16 , a protrusion  17  for attaching a tether or the like, a well or pocket  18  for removably inserting a tether or the like, and a retaining means  77  having an aperture  78  for releasably holding said needle guard  22  in a retained position adjacent to said hub portion  215 .  
         [0203]      FIG. 48C  is a full front view of  FIG. 48A  comprising a hypodermic needle hub portion  215 , an aperture which correspondingly fits onto the distal end of a hypodermic needle hub shown throughout this application, an annular flange  16 . There is one slot shown with the aperture, and at least one slot is needed to secure the needle hub  412  and hub portion  215  together to keep the hub portion  215  and needle hub  412  aligned when a circumferential force is exerted on the adjacent components.  
         [0204]      FIG. 49A  is a full side view of the disclosed invention being fixedly attached to a prior art needle hub  12  having at least one flange  1  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a section  16  for removably holding a protective storage cover  54  over the hypodermic needle  10  (shown in other drawings in this application), a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15  at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said section  16  having a shoulder  14  for twistedly attaching said invention to said storage cover, and a moveable latching arm  26  with a finger pad  27 , attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , said finger pad  27  having at least one protrusion for creating a more positive grip or contact with said finger pad  27 . Finger pad  27  also comprising a different, or bright color, which serves as a visual indicator for the user to easily locate the finger pad for manual release of said needle guard assembly  22  or the like, with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred molded position.  
         [0205]      FIG. 49B  is a cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 49A  showing the disclosed invention attached to a prior art needle hub  12  said needle hub  12  comprising a hypodermic at least one flange  1  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, on one side a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown) said needle nest  4  having at least one, or a plurality of fins  2  and an inner aperture creating a fluid/gaseous path between the needle hub  12  and the needle. The invention is shown being retrofitted to said prior art hub  12 , said attachment means comprising a spin weld, sonic weld, heat weld, or mechanical attachment means as shown by the protrusion  64  being attached by means of a snap fit or friction fit, said needle nest  4  having a recess or slot manufactured to accept said protrusion  64  of hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage covers (not shown) said section  16  also having a means for creating a tortuous path preventing contamination from entering the sterile field created by enclosing the needle  10 , needle guard  22  and hub portion  15  within a protective storage cover. Hub portion  15  includes a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having finger pad or button  27 , a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably held position adjacent to the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for biasing the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22  with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hypodermic needle hub  12 .  
         [0206]      FIG. 50  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention attached to a prior art glass pre-filled syringe  6  having a nest bead  7  and a hypodermic needle  10  showing the disclosed invention attached to said glass pre-filled syringe  6 . Hub body  15  is fixedly attached to syringe  6  at the nest bead  7  by the attaching section  65 ; said hub body  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said hub body  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , said lever  26  having a touch pad  27 , a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion  15 .  
         [0207]      FIG. 51  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention attached to a prior art pre-filled cartridge syringe hub  8   a  having a fixedly attached needle  10  with a sharpened proximal end  111  and a sharpened distal end, said sharpened proximal end  111  for piercing the stopper of a medicine or fluid cartridge. Hub portion  15  is fixedly attached to said syringe hub  8   a  at the needle nest  4  said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located on said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  having an attachment section  17  with an aperture for inserting a tether (not shown), said attachment section  17  having an chamfered face on the proximal side to eliminate any possibility of the tether catching and hanging up on said attachment section  17  when said needle guard is released from a retained position, said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover and a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably held position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub body  15 .  
         [0208]      FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention integrally molded to a pre-filled cartridge syringe hub  8   b  having a fixedly attached needle  10  with a sharpened proximal end  111  and a sharpened distal end (not shown) said sharpened proximal end  111  is for piercing the stopper of a medicine or fluid cartridge. Integral hub portion  15  having a needle nest  4 , protrusion  5  located on said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  having an attachment section  17  with an slot for inserting a tether (not shown) said attachment section  17  having an chamfered face on the proximal side to eliminate any possibility of the tether  24  catching and hanging up on said attachment section  17 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position adjacent to the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard  22  (shown in other drawings in this application), with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion  15 .  
         [0209]      FIG. 53  is a cross-sectional side view drawing of a prior art indwelling intravenous (I.V.) catheter  29  having a catheter mounting section  9  with a section  18  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a fixedly attached hypodermic needle  10 , and a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 .  
         [0210]      FIG. 54  is a cross-sectional side view an I.V. catheter having a mounting section  9 , a section  18  for removably attaching a protective storage cover a hypodermic needle  10  being fixedly attached to a needle nest  4 ; said catheter mounting section  9  being retrofitted with the present invention. The invention comprises a hub portion  15  being fixedly attached to said catheter mounting section  9  at the nest  4  by the attaching section  66 , said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard (not shown), with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion  15 .  
         [0211]      FIG. 55  is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention integrally molded to an I.V. catheter mounting section  9 .  
         [0212]      FIG. 56  illustrates a hub portion  15  of the present invention that may be attached to a blood collection device similar to that showing  FIG. 25 .  
         [0213]      FIG. 57  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly  22  of  FIG. 11  further comprising at least one fin  63  protecting the movement of said latching arm  26 , allowing said latching arm  26  to freely disengage when the needle guard  22  is moved towards the hub  12  when said needle guard  22  contacts the protrusion  49 .  
         [0214]      FIG. 58 . is a cross-sectional side view of a prior art pre-filled syringe cartridge comprising a glass cartridge  6 , a glass cartridge hub  68  having a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  said hub  68  also having a threaded section  67 .  
         [0215]      FIG. 59  is a cross sectional side view of the invention being threadedly attached to a glass cartridge hub  68 , said glass cartridge  25  hub  68  being fixedly attached to a glass cartridge  6 , said hub  68  having a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end (not shown) said hub  68  also having a threaded section  67 . Hub body  15  is fixedly attached to said glass cartridge hub  68  by the threaded section  67 , said hub  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a fixedly attached tether  24 . Hub body  15  also includes a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover ( FIGS. 78 and 79 ), a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub body  15 .  
         [0216]      FIG. 60  is a cross sectional side view of the invention being fixedly attached to a glass cartridge  6 , comprising a hub  69  having a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a needle  10 , a hub portion  15  being integrally molded to said hub  69 ; said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said tether  24  could also be fixedly attached to section  16 , said hub  69  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard  22 , with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on hub  69 .  
         [0217]      FIG. 61  is a cross sectional top view of the invention shown on an indwelling catheter  29  embodiment, having a movable needle guard  22   a  and a separable indwelling I.V. catheter  29 , said catheter  29  being fixedly attached to a catheter hub  13 , an I.V. catheter mounting section  9  having a fixedly attached hollow bore hypodermic needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11 ; a hub portion  15  having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover  54 , a slidable needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to said hub portion  15  by means of a limiting tether, said needle guard  22   a  having a projection or finger post  80  for advancing said separable catheter  29  and said needle guard  22   a  along said hypodermic needle  10  so said catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel, said hypodermic needle  10  being slidable through a guide aperture  47  in said movable needle guard  22   a , said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  with a corresponding slot  31  for receiving the needle trap  41  when said trap  41  moves beyond the needle tip  11 , said needle guard  22   a  having an open collar or washer  30  for retaining the resilient member  19  on the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a , said resilient member  19  being slidably held on said needle guard  22   a  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having a notch or indentation  61  for retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , with the distal end of said needle guard  22   a  having a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 , with a section of said male section  78  having a movable arm  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub  13  from said male section  78  during initial insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said catheter hub  13  having an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  42 . Said movable arm  42  could also comprise a metal component which is inserted during or after said male section  78  is manufactured.  
         [0218]     Said hub portion  15  could also comprise the latching arm  26  shown in other drawings in this application, otherwise said needle guard  22   a  would be releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15  prior to use by a frictional or wedged means.  FIG. 62  is a cross sectional top view of the movable needle guard  22   a  shown in  FIG. 61  on an indwelling catheter embodiment, containing the elements shown and described in the movable needle guard  22   a , whereby the catheter  29  has been inserted in a blood vessel and the needle  10  is being retracted into said needle guard  22   a  as the needle  10  is being pulled away from said catheter insertion site, whereby the movable arm  42  on the male section  78  is free to move where the needle has been residing within the distal male section  78  of the needle guard  22   a , allowing the catheter hub  13  to remain in the blood vessel and freely separate from the needle guard  22   a , with the needle trap  41  sliding on said needle  10 . The needle guard  22   a  is attached to the hub portion  15  shown in  FIG. 61  whereby a fixedly attached tether (not shown) limits the forward movement of the needle guard  22   a , safely trapping the needle tip  11 .  
         [0219]     Said catheter hub  13  having an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  42 .  
         [0220]      FIG. 63  is a cross sectional top view of the movable needle guard  22   a  shown in  FIGS. 61 and 62  on an indwelling catheter  29  embodiment, containing the elements shown and described in  FIGS. 61 and 62 , including the movable needle guard  22   a , a tether (not shown) and catheter  29 , whereby the catheter  29  has been inserted in a blood vessel and the needle  10  is safely retracted within said needle guard  22   a  where by the movable arm  42  has moved inwardly releasing the hold on the catheter hub  13 , with the needle trap  41  now safely trapping the needle tip  11 . Movable arm  42  includes a corresponding receiving slot  166  for receiving said movable arm  42 . Said needle guard  22   a  having said movable needle trap  41  located within the corresponding slot  31  after said trap  41  has moved beyond the needle tip  11 . Said needle guard  22   a  is attached to the hub portion  15  as shown in  FIGS. 61 and 62  whereby a tether limits the forward movement of the needle guard  22   a , safely trapping the needle tip  11 . Said catheter hub  13  having an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  42 .  
         [0221]     The movable arm protrusion  42  can comprise a “v” shaped configuration which allows the catheter hub  13  to separate even in the event the movable arm  42  has taken a set during storage. A set during storage could inhibit the separation of said catheter hub  13  from said mounting section  78 .  
         [0222]      FIG. 64  is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention ready for use on a male luer syringe.  FIG. 64  shows a full view of the hypodermic needle  10  comprising: a hub  12  with a fixedly attached needle  10 , a means for retaining a separate, movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having an aperture therethrough for said hypodermic needle  10 , whereby the needle guard  22  is retained in a ready to use position on said hub  12 , with said retained needle guard  22  being urged away from said needle hub  12  by a compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being located between, among or amid said hub  12  and said needle guard  22 , said resilient member  19  also being located in an annular fashion surrounding a portion of said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  is fixedly attached to said needle hub portion  15  by means of a limiting tether  24 .  
         [0223]     Said hub  12  having an aperture therethrough creating a fluid/gas path to said hypodermic needle  10 , at least one flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12  and an integral hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub body  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably retained position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for biasing the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22 ; and a movable needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , an internal guide section  35 , with a recess or void  38  residing between said proximal guide section  34  and said internal guide section  35 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41  (not shown), a retaining area  44   a  with an aperture  48  to receive said protrusion  21 , said needle guard  22  having a compressed resilient member  19  positioned at the proximal end of said needle guard  22  said with the resilient member  19  exerting an extending force on said needle guard  22 ; with said needle guard  22  being releasable held in a compressed position by the protrusion  21  of the moveable latching arm  26  on said hub portion  15 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  12 , said aperture having the hub protrusion  5  positioned therethrough, said latching arm  26  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said needle guard assembly  22  when said needle guard  22  is urged toward said hub portion  12 , said needle guard  22  engages protrusion  49  and manually moves said latching arm  26  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  26  moves outwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0224]      FIG. 65  is a cross sectional top view of  FIG. 64  containing the elements shown and described in  FIG. 64  with the releasably held needle guard assembly  22  being releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said guard assembly  22  being movable by the stored energy present in the compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , said needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the molded configuration of said needle trap  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a fixedly attached tether  24  (not shown), said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 .  
         [0225]      FIG. 66  is a cross sectional top view of  FIGS. 64 and 65  containing the elements described in  FIGS. 64 and 65  with the releasably held needle guard assembly  22  being urged toward the distal end of the hypodermic needle  10  by the extending force of the resilient member  19 , having a needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the molded configuration of said needle tip guard  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a fixedly attached tether (not shown). Said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having an integral metal guard  75  and a distal needle guide aperture  47 . Said needle guard  41  also having a tapered or reducing proximal section  304  for non-binding access by the movable resilient member  19 . Said resilient member  19  being movably positioned in an annular manner about or around the proximal section of said needle guard  22 .  
         [0226]      FIG. 67  is a cross sectional top view  FIGS. 64, 65  and  66  showing the needle tip  11  being trapped within the needle guard  22  by the movable needle guard  41 , comprising a hypodermic needle  10  having a sharpened tip  11 , said needle guard  22  being movably attached to said hub portion by means of a limiting tether (not shown), with the resilient member  19  extended and maintaining an extending force on the needle guard assembly  22 , said needle guard is prevented from advancing further by the limiting feature of said limiting tether, said needle guard  22  having only one notch  60  for maintaining an extending force of said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  maintaining alignment on said hypodermic needle  10  by means of the guide sections shown throughout this application. Said proximal guide  34  is shown here maintaining the needle guard  22  in a substantially concentric manner on said hypodermic needle  10 . Said needle guard  41  also having a tapered or reducing proximal section  304  for non-binding access by the movable resilient member  19 .  
         [0227]      FIG. 68  is a full side view of the invention without the needle  10 , comprising a hub  12  that is attachable to a male luer fitting, said hub  12  having at least one flange  101  at the proximal end a hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5 , a protrusion  17  having an aperture for attaching a tether  24 , a movable latching arm  26  having a hook  21  and a protrusion  49 , said latching arm  26  being hingedly attached to said hub portion  15  by a hinge  23 , with said tether  24  being fixedly attached to a movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by the hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having at least one notch or multi-level landing  61  for proper positioning of a resilient member  19  (not shown), said needle trap  41  having a lead in section  33  also for locating said resilient member  19  in a compressed and/or extendible position, said needle guard  22  having a protrusion  44   a  for maintaining a releasable hold on said needle guard  22  when said needle guard  22  is retained adjacent to said hub portion  15  by said latching arm  26  and hook  21 , said needle trap having a different, or brightly colored indicator  64  which is visible only when the resilient member is retained in a compressed positioned on said needle guard  22  before the needle guard  22  is activated. The resilient member covers said indicator  64  shielding said indicator  64  from view when the needle guard  22  is activated and said resilient member  19  is extended around said needle guard  22  and the movable needle trap  41 . Said resilient member  19  maintains said needle trap  41  in a protective position on said needle guard  22 . Said indicator  64  could easily be located anywhere on said needle guard  22  where the advancing resilient member  19  hides the indicator  64  from view alerting the user that the device is safely shielding the sharpened needle tip  11  thus preventing an unintentional percutaneous needlestick injury.  
         [0228]      FIG. 69  is a full, outside, top view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in its molded configuration comprising a foldable, open-faced needle guard  22  having a hinge section  28 , with adjacent lands  39  which create an aperture when said needle guard assembly  22  is coupled together, a front section  62 , at least one fin  63  for allowing adequate clearance for a latching arm to freely be urged from a releasably holding position on said needle guard  22  when the invention is activated during use. A slot or void  25  is created when the needle guard  22  sections are joined together. A retaining protrusion  44   b  is located adjacent to said slot  25 , said retaining protrusion  44   b  interfaces with the hook of a latching arm (not shown), a notch  60  for positioning and maintaining the extending force of a resilient member on said needle guard  22  when said guard  22  is in a retained and extending mode, a tapered or reduced proximal end  45  for eliminating any binding effect caused when the resilient member moves around or about the proximal end of said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard by the hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having at least one notch or multi-level landing  61  for proper positioning of a resilient member said needle trap  41  having a lead in section  33  also for locating said resilient member in a compressed and/or extendible position. Said needle trap  22  being fixedly attached to a tether  24 , said tether having at least one protrusion  20  for fixedly attaching said tether  24  to said hub portion  15  or hub  12 , or flange  16 .  
         [0229]      FIG. 70  is a view of the proximal end of the tether  24  having a plurality of protrusions  20   a  for fixedly attaching said tether  24  to said hub portion  15  or hub  12 , or flange  16 .  
         [0230]      FIG. 71  is a is a full, inside face view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in its molded configuration comprising a foldable, open-faced needle guard  22  having a hinge section  28 , with adjacent lands  39  which create an aperture when said needle guard assembly  22  is coupled together, a slot or void  25  is created when the needle guard  22  sections are joined together, a distal guide section  47  is also created when the needle guard  22  sections are joined together, a retaining protrusion ramp  44   c  is located adjacent to said slot  25 , said retaining protrusion interfaces with the hook  21  of the latching arm  26  (both shown in other drawings in this application), said needle guard  22  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard by the hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having at least one skirt or fin  46  for entrapping said sharpened needle tip  11  (see  FIG. 75 ), said needle guard having a corresponding slot or opening  31  for receiving said needle trap  41 , said needle guard  22  having at least one pin  36  and a corresponding opening  37  for frictionally engaging said needle guard  22  sections together about a hypodermic needle, said pin  36  and slot  37  can be positioned on either side of needle guard  22  sections, said needle guard  22  having an internal guide section  35  and a proximal guide section  34  with a void or space  38  between said guides  34  and  35 , said needle trap having an internal landing  52  located between said internal guide  35 , with said landing  52  having an adjacent landing  53  which serves to guide the hypodermic needle during assembly, storage and use, said landing  53  also houses said sharpened needle tip within said needle guard  22 . Said needle guard  22  being fixedly attached to a tether  24 . Said tether  24  having at least one protrusion  20  for fixedly attaching said tether  24  to said hub portion  15  or hub  12 , or flange  16 .  
         [0231]      FIG. 72  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22  having an internal guide section  35 , a hinge section  28  with a plurality of needle guard  22  sections connected adjacent to said hinge section  28 , said hinge section  28  having an adequate area for insert molding a separate tether or fixedly attaching a separate tether, said hinge section  28  also could have an aperture therethrough for fixedly inserting a separate tether, said needle guard  22  having a split line  43  where the needle guard  22  sections mate or join together, an aperture guide  47  on each section at the distal end, a recess  25  on one section having a protrusion  98   a  for joining with the corresponding element  98   b  on the other section of said needle guard assembly  22 , and a post  36  for joining the needle, guard assembly  22  sections together. Said post  36  is received by a corresponding slot or opening  37  (shown as a dotted line).  
         [0232]      FIG. 73  is a full rear view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22  having a hinge section  28  joining each section, said hinge section  28  having a slot or recess for inserting a fixedly attached, separate tether (not shown), said hinge section  28  also having a fin  79  being hingedly attached to said hinge section  28 , said fin  79  being bendable over said hinge section  28  for fixedly attaching a separate tether by a heat weld or press means, said needle guard  22  having a split line  43  where the needle guard  22  sections mate or join together, an aperture guide  34  on each needle guard  22  section, a protrusion  98   b  for joining with the corresponding element  98   b  on the alternate needle guard assembly  22  section, a moveable needle trap  41 , at least one post or protrusion  36  on one needle guard assembly  22  section which enters at least one corresponding slot  37  on the other needle guard assembly  22  section for securing the sections together. Said post  36  is received by a corresponding slot or opening  37  (shown as a dotted line).  
         [0233]      FIG. 74  is a full, inside face view of one half of the needle guard assembly  22  containing the elements shown and described in  FIG. 71  showing said needle guard  22  in its molded configuration comprising a foldable, open-faced needle guard  22  having a hinge section  28  for attaching a separate tether with adjacent lands  39  which create an aperture when said needle guard assembly  22  is coupled together, a slot or void  25  is created when the needle guard  22  sections are joined together, a distal guide section  47  is also created when the needle guard  22  sections are joined together, said needle guard  22  having a corresponding slot or opening  31  for receiving said needle trap  41  (see  FIG. 71 ), said needle trap having at least one pin  36  (see  FIG. 71 ) and a corresponding opening  37  for frictionally engaging said needle guard  22  sections together about the hypodermic needle, said pin  36  and slot  37  (see  FIG. 71 ) can be positioned on either side of needle guard  22  sections, said needle guard  22  having an internal guide section  35  and a proximal guide section  34  with a void or space  38  between said guides  34  and  35 , said needle trap having an internal landing  52  located between said internal guide  35 , with said landing  52  having an adjacent landing  53  which serves to guide said hypodermic needle during assembly, storage and use, said landing  53  also houses said sharpened needle tip within said needle guard  22 . Said needle guard  22  being fixedly attached to a separate tether (not shown) at hinge section  28 .  
         [0234]      FIG. 75  is a cross sectional view of the needle guard  22  in  FIG. 71  shown in axis  75 - 75  comprising a needle guard  22 , a movable needle trap  41  and fins or skirts  46 . Said skirts  46  maintain alignment of the trapped sharpened needle tip within said needle trap  41 .  
         [0235]      FIG. 76  is a cross sectional view of the needle guard  22  in  FIG. 71  shown in axis  76 - 76  comprising a needle guard  22 , a split line  43 , a slot  37  and a landing  53 .  
         [0236]      FIG. 77  is a cross sectional view of the needle guard  22  in  FIG. 74  shown in axis  77 - 77  comprising a needle guard  22 , a split line  43 , a guide section  35 , said guide section  35  having chamfered or angled ends for aligning a hypodermic needle within said guide section  35  on said needle guard  22  during the assembly procedure, said hypodermic needle  10  (shown in other drawings in this application) resides adjacent to the landing  52 .  
         [0237]      FIG. 78  is a cross sectional side view of a hypodermic needle for use on a male luer syringe in a ready for use state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The needle assembly is contained within a protective storage cover  54  and end cap  68 , whereby needle  10 , needle guard  22 , resilient member  19 , tether  24 , hub  12  and flange  16  are held within said cover  54  by a wedging action of said flange  16  with the cover  54 .  FIG. 78  further illustrates a hub  12 , a fixedly attached needle  10 , a means for retaining a separate, movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having an aperture therethrough for said hypodermic needle  10 , whereby the needle guard  22  is retained in a ready to use position on said hub  12 , with said retained needle guard  22  being urged away from said needle hub  12  by a compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being located between, among or amid said hub  12  and said needle guard  22 , said resilient member  19  also being located in an annular fashion about or surrounding a portion of said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  is fixedly attached to said needle hub portion  15  by means of a limiting tether  24 .  
         [0238]     Said hub  12  having an aperture therethrough creating a fluid/gas path to said hypodermic needle  10 , at least one flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said needle nest  4 , and an integral hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching said protective storage cover  54 , a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably held position adjacent or on said hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for biasing the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to said releasably held needle guard  22 , said movable needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , an internal guide section  35 , with a recess or void  38  residing between said proximal guide section  34  and said internal guide section  35 , a distal needle guard guide aperture  47 , a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41  (not shown) a retaining area  44   a  with an aperture  48  to receive said protrusion  21 , said needle guard  22  having a compressed resilient member  19  positioned at the proximal end of said needle guard  22  said with the resilient member  19  exerting an extending force on said needle guard  22 ; with said needle guard  22  being releasable held in a compressed position by the hook  21  of the moveable latching arm  26  on said hub portion  15 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  12 , said aperture having the hub protrusion  5  positioned therethrough, said latching arm  26  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said needle guard assembly  22  when said needle guard  22  is urged toward said hub portion  12 , said needle guard  22  engages protrusion  49  and mechanically urges said latching arm  26  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  26  moves outwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0239]     Said cover  54  having at least one internal projection  56 , said projection holding said needle guard  22  and resilient member  19  in a retracted state during storage and prior to use, said cover  54  having a projection  55  for biasly holding or wedging said latching arm  26  in a retaining manner, said latching arm  26  releasably holding said needle guard  22  and said resilient member  19  in a retained position prior to use. The diameter of said cover  54  could also be sized to biasly hold said latching arm  26  in a retaining manner, therefore, eliminating the need for said projection  55 .  
         [0240]     A cap  68  is removably placed into or on said cover  54  to contain said needle assembly within said cover  54  and said cap  68 , said cap  68  having a plurality of square shoulders  69 , and a wall section  70  removably sealing said cover  54  and said cap  68  together at the tortuous path interface  71  maintaining a sterile field within said cover  54  and cap  68 . Said projection  56  relieves the extending force of said resilient member  19  on said releasably held needle guard  22 , said retaining latching arm  26  and said hinge  23  of said latching arm  26 , by slightly compressing said resilient member  19 , while said projection  55  holds said latching arm  26  in a wedged or confined position whereby said needle guard  22  is releasably held by said latching arm  26  when said cover  54  is removed from said needle assembly.  
         [0241]      FIG. 79  is a cross sectional side view of the invention comprising a hypodermic needle for use on a pre-filled syringe or pre-filled cartridge syringe in a ready for use state having a needle guard  22  and hypodermic needle  10  being stored and retained in a protective storage cover  54 , showing a full view of said hypodermic needle  10 , said cover  54  having a means for retaining a separate, movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having an aperture therethrough for said hypodermic needle  10 , said needle  10  having a distal sharpened end  11 , whereby the needle guard  22  is retained in a ready to use position, with said retained needle guard  22  being urged away from said prefilled syringe by a compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being located between, among or amid said prefilled syringe and said needle guard  22 , said resilient member also being located in an annular fashion about or surrounding a portion of said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  is fixedly attached to said needle hub portion  15  by means of a limiting tether  24 .  
         [0242]     Said integral hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably held position adjacent to or on said hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to said releasably held needle guard  22 , said movable needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , an internal guide section  35 , a space or recess  38  between said proximal guide  34  and internal guide  35 , a distal needle guard guide aperture  47 , a receiving slot  31  to receive a needle trap  41  (not shown), a retaining area  44   a  with an aperture  48  to receive said protrusion  21 , said needle guard  22  having a compressed resilient member  19  positioned at the proximal end of said needle guard  22  said with the resilient member  19  exerting an extending force on said needle guard  22 ; with said needle guard  22  being releasable held in a compressed position by the hook  21  of said moveable latching arm  26  on said hub portion  15 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  12 , said aperture having the hub protrusion  5  positioned therethrough, said latching arm  26  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said needle guard assembly  22  when said needle guard  22  is urged toward said pre-filled syringe, said needle guard  22  engages protrusion  49  and mechanically urges said latching arm  26  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  26  moves outwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0243]     Said cover  54  having a soft elastomeric or rubber seal  72  inside or within the closed end of said cover  54  which sealingly engages said sharpened tip  11  and said needle  10  of a pre-filled syringe or pre-filled cartridge against leakage.  
         [0244]      FIG. 80  is a cross sectional view of the hub  12  contained within a storage cover  54  in axis  80 - 80  of  FIG. 78  and comprising a hub section  12 , a storage cover  54  having at least one vane  57  for gripping a flange shoulder of said hub  12  so the needle  10 , said hub  12  and said needle guard  22  can be safely turned or twistedly attached with the cover  54  on or off a medical device.  
         [0245]      FIG. 81  is a cross sectional view of the needle  10  contained within a cover  54  in axis  81 - 81  of  FIG. 79 . Cover  54  includes at least one, or a plurality of internal projections  73 , said projections  73  relieve the extending force of said resilient member  19  on said releasably held needle guard  22 , said retaining latching arm  26  and said hinge  23  of said latching arm  26 , by slightly compressing said resilient member  19  during storage.  
         [0246]      FIG. 82  is a full front view of an open collar or washer  30  used with the indwelling I.V. catheter embodiment of the invention, said washer  30  retaining the resilient member  19  on the proximal end of the needle guard  22   a  on said catheter assembly shown in  FIGS. 62, 63 , and  64 . Said washer having an angled entrance  63  for engaging said washer onto said needle guard  22   a . Said washer  30  could comprise a flat configuration and be inserted into a corresponding slot on said needle guard  22   a  to hold said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a.    
         [0247]      FIG. 83  is a cross sectional view of the washer  30  shown in along axis  83 - 83  in  FIG. 82 .  
         [0248]      FIG. 84  is a cross sectional top view of the invention containing the elements shown and described in  FIG. 64  having a movable metal needle trap  41  used to trap the sharpened needle tip  11  within said needle guard  22 , comprising a hub  12  at least one proximal flange  101 , a hub portion  15  and a flange  16  for wedgedly and removably attaching a protective cover, a releasably held needle guard assembly  22  being releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said guard assembly  22  being movable by the stored energy present in the compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said metal needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , said needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a metal needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the metal configuration of said needle trap  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a fixedly attached tether (not shown), said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly inserted to said needle guard  22  at a hinge slot  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , said needle trap  41  having skirts  46  (shown in  FIG. 75 ) to retain said sharpened needle end  11  within said metal needle trap  41 .  
         [0249]     Said needle trap  41  being insertable onto said needle guard  22  from the outside of said needle guard, allowing said needle trap  41  to be inserted onto said needle guard  22  either before or after said needle guard  22  is clasped around said hypodermic needle  10  from the side during assembly procedures.  
         [0250]      FIG. 85  is a cross sectional top view of the invention containing the elements shown and described in  FIGS. 64 and 84  having a movable metal needle trap  41  used to trap the sharpened needle tip  11  within said needle guard  22 , comprising a hub  12  at least one proximal flange  101 , a hub portion  15  and a flange  16  for wedgedly and removably attaching a protective cover, a releasably held needle guard assembly  22  being releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said guard assembly  22  being movable by the stored energy present in the compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said metal needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , said needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a metal needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the metal configuration of said needle trap  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a fixedly attached tether (not shown), said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly inserted to said needle guard  22  at a hinge slot  40   d , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a receiving slot  31  to receive the metal needle trap  41 , said needle trap  41  having skirts  46  (shown in  FIG. 75 ) to retain said sharpened needle end  11  within said metal needle trap  41 .  
         [0251]     Said needle trap  41  being insertable onto said needle guard  22  from the inside of said needle guard, allowing said needle trap  41  to be inserted onto said needle guard  22  before said needle guard  22  is clasped around said hypodermic needle  10  from the side during assembly procedures.  
         [0252]      FIG. 86  is a graph depicting the interaction of a resilient member and a sliding member, said sliding member being on an elongated shaft, said sliding member having a movable arm being urged away from said resilient member by an extending force, said moveable arm being movably wedged between the diameter of said resilient member and said shaft, said arm slidably contacting said shaft, and where another area of said resilient member is positioned around said sliding member, said resilient member being releasably retained by said movable arm on said sliding member, said resilient member having a portion of said sliding member within said resilient member&#39;s inside diameter, whereby the binding force of said resilient member on said sliding member and said movable arm eventually exceeds the extending force of said resilient member as said resilient member extends. Said extending force of said resilient member is greatest when said resilient member is completely compressed, and conversely, said extending force of said resilient member is weakest when said resilient member is completely elongated. The binding force of said resilient member on said movable arm is greatest when said resilient member is compressed.  
         [0253]      FIG. 87  is a graph depicting the interaction of a resilient member and a sliding member, said sliding member being on an elongated shaft, said sliding member having a movable arm being urged away from said resilient member by an extending force, said moveable arm being movably wedged between the diameter of said resilient member and said shaft, said arm slidably contacting said shaft, and where another area of said resilient member is positioned in a notch or recess on said sliding member, said resilient member being releasably retained by said movable arm and said notch on said sliding member, said resilient member having a portion of said sliding member within said resilient member&#39;s inside diameter, whereby the binding force of said resilient member on said sliding member and said movable arm is always less than the extending force of said resilient member as said resilient member extends. Said extending force of said resilient member is exerted in the land created by said notch, maintaining a greater extending force on said sliding member and said movable arm than said binding force of said resilient member. Said movable arm is urged inwardly from a retaining position when said sliding member advances beyond the end of said shaft, thereby releasing the hold on said resilient member.  
         [0254]      FIG. 88  is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention ready for use on a male luer syringe showing a full view of the hypodermic needle  10 , and a cross sectional view of the releasing means shown and described in  FIG. 48A  comprising a hub  412  with a fixedly attached needle  10 , a means for retaining a separate, movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having an aperture therethrough for said hypodermic needle  10 , whereby the needle guard  22  is retained in a ready to use position on said hub  412 , with said retained needle guard  22  being urged away from said needle hub  412  by a compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being located between, among or amid said hub  412  and said needle guard  22 , said resilient member  19  also being located in an annular fashion surrounding a portion of said needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  is fixedly attached to said needle hub portion  215  by means of a limiting tether  24 .  
         [0255]     Said needle guard  22  having a retaining means  77 , said retaining means having an aperture  78  for releasably holding said needle guard  22  in a retained position adjacent to said hub portion  215 , said needle guard  22  having a latching arm  81  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  at a hinge section  23 , a protrusion  49  for urging said arm  81  from a releasably held position adjacent to said hub portion  215  when a compressive force is applied to said needle guard  22  and said protrusion  49  engages said retaining means  77  and mechanically releases said hold on said needle guard  22 , said arm  81  having a protrusion  21  for releasably holding said arm  81  in said aperture  78  of said retaining means  77 , said arm  81  having a finger pad  27  with projections which do not impede the movement of said pad  27  and said protrusion  21  through said aperture  78  as said needle guard  22  is urged away from said hub portion  215 .  
         [0256]     Said hub  412  having an aperture therethrough creating a fluid/gas path to said hypodermic needle  10 , at least one flange  101  for attaching the hub  412  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , said needle  10  a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  412  and an integral hub portion  215  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  215 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  215 , said protrusion  5  having a fixedly attached tether  24 , said hub portion  215  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover said movable needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , an internal guide section  35 , with a recess or void  38  residing between said proximal guide section  34  and said internal guide section  35 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41  said needle guard  22  having a compressed resilient member  19  positioned at the proximal end of said needle guard  22  said with the resilient member  19  exerting an extending force on said needle guard  22 ; with said needle guard  22  being releasably held in a compressed position by the hook  21  of the moveable latching arm  81  on said needle guard  22 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  215 , said aperture having the hub protrusion  5  positioned therethrough, said latching arm  81  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said retaining means  77  when said needle guard  22  is urged toward said hub portion  215 , said needle guard  22  engages protrusion  49  and manually moves said latching arm  81  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  81  moves inwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0257]      FIGS. 89, 90  and  91  show a cross-section view of the invention described in  FIGS. 84, 85  and  88 , respectively, wherein hub  212  includes a threaded section  74  for attaching the hub to a blood collection device. (See  FIG. 25 .)  
         [0258]      FIGS. 92, 93  and  94  show a cross-section view of the invention described in  FIGS. 84, 85  and  88 , respectively, being fixedly attached to a prefilled syringe.  
         [0259]      FIG. 95  is a full side view drawing of the disclosed invention hub component  12 , comprising a hypodermic needle hub  12  with a flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4 , a section  16  for removably holding a protective storage cover over a hypodermic needle (not shown) a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having at least one aperture  89  for inserting a glue carrying fixture or the like to apply glue to the needle during assembly, said aperture  89  also being a venting means to allow pneumatic pressure to escape during insertion of needle  10  with glue into said needle nest  4 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15  at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said section  16  having a shoulder  14  for twistedly attaching said invention to a storage cover, and a moveable latching arm  26  with a finger pad  27 , attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , said finger pad  27  having at least one protrusion for creating a more positive grip or contact with said finger pad  27 , said finger pad  27  also comprising a different, or bright color, which serves as a visual indicator for the user to easily locate the finger pad  27  for manual release of a needle guard assembly or the like, with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred molded position.  
         [0260]      FIG. 96  is a full side view drawing of the disclosed invention hub component  12 , comprising a hypodermic needle hub  12  with a flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4 , a section  16  for removably holding a protective storage cover over the hypodermic needle (not shown), a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having at least one aperture  89  for inserting a glue carrying fixture or the like to apply glue to said needle  10  during assembly, said aperture  89  also being a vent to allow pneumatic pressure to escape during insertion of needle  10  into said needle nest  4 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15  at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said section  16  having a shoulder  14  for twistedly attaching said invention to a storage cover, and a moveable latching arm  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred molded position.  
         [0261]      FIG. 97  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention attached to a prior art glass pre-filled syringe  6  having a nest bead  7  and a hypodermic needle  10  with a distal sharpened end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard  22  relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning the needle guard at the distal end of the needle  10 .  FIG. 97  further shows a hub body  15  being fixedly attached to said syringe  6  at the nest bead  7  by the attaching section  65 ; said hub body  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub body  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , said lever  26  having a touch pad  27 , a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22  (shown in other drawings in this application), with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion  15 .  
         [0262]      FIG. 98  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention integrally molded to a pre-filled cartridge syringe hub  8   b  having a fixedly attached needle  10  with a sharpened proximal end  111  and a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard at the distal end of the needle  10 , said sharpened proximal end  111  is for piercing the stopper of a medicine or fluid cartridge. The invention includes an integral hub portion  15 , having a needle nest  4 ; said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located on said hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22  with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion.  
         [0263]      FIG. 99  is a cross-sectional side view of the invention attached to a prior art pre-filled cartridge syringe hub  8   a  having a fixedly attached needle  10  with a sharpened proximal end  111  and a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard (not shown) relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning a needle guard at the distal end of the needle  10 , said sharpened proximal end  111  for piercing the stopper of a medicine or fluid cartridge. The invention includes a hub portion  15  being fixedly attached to said syringe hub  8   a  at the needle nest  4 ; said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located on said hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably held position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to a releasably held needle guard, with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub body  15 .  
         [0264]      FIG. 100A  is a cross-sectional side view an I.V. catheter introducer having a hub section  9 , having a fixedly attached needle  10  with a sharpened distal end, said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard (not shown) relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard  22  at the distal end of the needle  10 , a section  18  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a hypodermic needle  10  being fixedly attached to a needle nest  4 ; said catheter mounting section  9  being retrofitted with the present invention, wherein hub portion  15  is fixedly attached to said catheter mounting section  9  at the nest  4  by the attaching section  66 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover.  
         [0265]      FIG. 100B  is a cross-sectional side view of the present invention integrally molded to an I.V. catheter introducer comprising a hub  9 , a hypodermic needle  10  being fixedly attached to a needle nest  4  said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard (not shown) relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard  22  at the distal end of the needle  10 , a hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located on said hub portion  15 , said hub body  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard with said moveable latching arm shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub portion  15 .  
         [0266]      FIG. 101  is a cross sectional side view of the invention being threadedly attached to a glass cartridge hub  68 , said glass cartridge hub  68  being fixedly attached to a glass cartridge  6 , said hub  68  having a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard  22  at the distal end of the needle  10 , said hub  68  also having a threaded section  67  fixedly attaching hub body is to said glass cartridge hub  68  by the threaded section  67 ; said hub body  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub body  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub body  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22  (shown in other drawings in this application), with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub body  15 .  
         [0267]      FIG. 102  is a cross sectional side view of the invention being fixedly attached to a glass cartridge  6 , comprising a hub  68  having a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching a needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axial movement of a slidable needle guard relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard  22  at the distal end of the needle  10 , a hub portion  15  being integrally molded to said glass cartridge hub  69 ; said hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub portion  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected at the distal end of the hub portion  15 , said hub body  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasable position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for urging said latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22  (shown in other drawings in this application), with said moveable latching arm  26  shown in the preferred position for retaining at least one component in a retained position on the hub body  15 .  
         [0268]      FIG. 103  is a cross sectional top view of the invention shown on an indwelling catheter  29  embodiment, having a movable needle guard  22   a  and a separable indwelling I.V. catheter  29 , said catheter  29  being fixedly attached to a catheter hub  13 ; a hub  9  having a fixedly attached hollow bore hypodermic needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  being fixedly attached to a hub portion  15  having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a slidable needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to said hub portion  15  by means of a limiting tether  24 , said tether  24  being slidably disposed through an aperture on said hub  9 , said needle guard  22   a  having a projection or finger post  80  for advancing said separable catheter  29  and said needle guard  22   a  along said hypodermic needle  10  so said catheter  29  may be inserted into a blood vessel, said hypodermic needle  10  being slidable through a guide aperture in said movable needle guard  22   a , said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  with a corresponding slot  31  for receiving the needle trap  41  when said trap  41  moves beyond the needle tip  11 , said needle guard  22   a  having an open collar or washer  30  for retaining the resilient member  19  on the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a , said resilient member  19  being slidably held on said needle guard  22   a  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having a notch or indentation  61  for retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , with the distal end of said needle guard  22   a  having a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 , said needle trap  41  having a movable arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub  13  from said male section  78  after insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said catheter hub  13  having at least one flange  301  and an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  42 . Said movable arm  42  could also comprise a metal component which is inserted during or after said male section  78  is manufactured. Said channel  32  can comprise an annular, or segmented configuration.  
         [0269]     Said hub portion  15  could also comprise the latching arm  26  shown in other drawings in this application, otherwise said needle guard  22   a  would be releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15  prior to use by a frictional or wedged means. The disclosed invention is shown in a ready to use state in  FIG. 103 .  
         [0270]      FIG. 104  is a cross sectional top view of the invention shown showing the catheter introducer needle tip  11  being withdrawn into the needle guard  22   a . The catheter  29  and catheter hub  13  remain releasably held adjacent to said needle guard  22   a  as the needle  10  is being withdrawn from the catheter insertion site through the distal guide  47  of said needle guard  22   a . This drawing shows said needle guard  22   a  being held within a housing or shroud  85 . Said housing  85  having an inner chamber for receiving a resilient member  19  and a slidable needle guard  22   a , said housing  85  also having exterior projections  86  serving as a non-slip gripping means, said projections  86  can be longitudinal, radial or the like, and may comprise any surface or contour which improves the hold by the user on said housing  85 . Said housing  85  may also have an internal projection  88  for fixedly attaching said needle guard  22   a  within said housing  85 , and internal fins  97  to concentrically locate said resilient member  19  within said housing  85 . Said needle guard  22   a  being held within said housing  85  by a snap-fit means created by the wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b  at the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a . Said housing  85  having a corresponding aperture to receive said wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b , said aperture having a “lead-in”  96  for easy assembly of said guard  22   a  into said housing  85 . Said housing also may have an internal ring or at least one projection  88  which correspondingly is received by a slot  89  in said needle guard  22   a . Said slot  89  and projection  88  may be placed either on the guard  22   a  or housing  85 .  
         [0271]     Said slidable needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to a hub portion by means of a limiting tether  24 , said hypodermic needle  10  being slidable through a proximal guide aperture  34  in said movable needle guard  22   a , said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  with a corresponding slot  31  for receiving the needle trap  41  when said trap  41  moves beyond the needle tip  11 , said needle guard  22   a  having a notch or indentation  60  for releasably holding said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having a notch or indentation  61  for retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , with the distal end of said needle guard  22   a  having a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 , said needle trap  41  having a movable arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub  13  from said male section  78  after insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said catheter hub  13  having at least one flange  301  and an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  45  and said projection  42 . Said movable arm  45  could also comprise a metal component which is inserted during or after said male section  78  is manufactured.  
         [0272]     Said hub portion  15  could also comprise the latching arm  26  shown in other drawings in this application, otherwise said needle guard  22   a  would be releasably held adjacent to said hub portion prior to use by a frictional or wedged means.  
         [0273]      FIG. 105  is a cross sectional and cut away top view of the movable needle guard  22   a  on an indwelling catheter  29  embodiment containing the elements shown and described in  FIG. 104 , showing the needle tip  11  being safely contained within the needle guard  22   a  with the arm  45  and projection  42  correspondingly moved inwardly and activated with the needle trap  41 , including a few different versions of the components: said tether  24  being fixedly attached to the housing  85 , said housing  85  having at least one longitudinal nonslip projection  86 , said housing having a distal projection  90  which may snap over said needle guard  22   a  when said needle guard  22   a  is contained within said housing  85 , said needle guard  22   a  having a split line  43 , said projection  42  having a “v” shape. The shape of the projection  42  is not limited to a singular or double faced surface, but might be oval, round, radial, smooth or rough or a combination of any surfaces described herein.  
         [0274]      FIG. 106  is a cross-sectional and cut away side view of the present invention ready for use on a male luer syringe shows a full view of the hypodermic needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end for limiting axially movement of a slidable needle guard  22  relative to the needle tip  11  after positioning said needle guard  22  at the distal end of the needle  10  comprising: a hub  12  with a fixedly attached needle  10 , a means for retaining a separate, movable needle guard  22 , said needle guard  22  having an aperture therethrough for said hypodermic needle  10 , whereby the needle guard  22  is retained in a ready to use position on said hub  12 , with said retained needle guard  22  being urged away from said needle hub  12  by a compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being located between, among or amid said hub  12  and said needle guard  22 , said resilient member  19  also being located in an annular fashion surrounding a portion of said needle guard  22 .  
         [0275]     Said hub  12  having an aperture therethrough creating a fluid/gas path to said hypodermic needle  10 , at least one flange  101  for attaching the needle hub  12  to a male luer fitting, a needle nest  4  for fixedly attaching the needle  10 , said needle  10  a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12  and an integral hub portion  15  having a protrusion  5  located at the distal end of said hub body  15 , said protrusion  5  being connected to the hub portion  15 , said hub portion  15  also having a section  16  for removably attaching a protective storage cover, a moveable latching arm or lever  26  with a touch pad  27  attached to the hub portion  15  by a hinge section  23 , with the moveable latching arm  26  having a protrusion  21  for retaining a component in a releasably retained position on the hub portion  15 , said latching arm  26  also having a protrusion  49  for biasing the latching arm  26  in an outward manner when a compressive force is applied to the releasably held needle guard  22 ; and a movable needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide section  47  and a movable needle trap  41  (not shown in this view), a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap, a retaining area  44   a  with an aperture  48  to receive said protrusion  21 , said needle guard  22  having a compressed resilient member  19  positioned at the proximal end of said needle guard  22  said with the resilient member  19  exerting an extending force on said needle guard  22 ; with said needle guard  22  being releasably held in a compressed position by the hook  21  of the moveable latching arm  26  on said hub portion  15 , an aperture for orienting said needle guard assembly  22  adjacent to said hub portion  12 , said aperture having the hub protrusion  5  positioned therethrough, said latching arm  26  having a protrusion  49  for engaging said needle guard  22  when said needle guard  22  is urged toward said hub portion  12 , said needle guard  22  engages protrusion  49  and manually moves said latching arm  26  in an outward manner ensuring said latching arm  26  moves outwardly releasing the hold on the needle guard  22 .  
         [0276]      FIG. 107  is a cross sectional and cut away top view of  FIG. 106  containing the elements shown and described in  FIG. 106  with the releasably held needle guard assembly  22  (shown in a partial cut away view) being releasably held adjacent to said hub portion  15 , said guard assembly  22  being movable by the stored energy present in the compressed resilient member  19 , said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , said needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the molded configuration of said needle trap  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a change in profile  3  of said needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12 .  
         [0277]     Said needle  10  being fixedly attached to hub  12  in a needle nest  4 , said hub  12  having a flange  16  for removably attaching a protective cover, and at least one flange  101 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41 .  
         [0278]      FIG. 108  is a cross sectional and cut away top view  FIGS. 106 and 107  showing the needle tip  11  being trapped within the needle guard  22  by the movable needle guard  41 , comprising a hypodermic needle  10  having a sharpened tip  11 , said needle guard  22  being limited in its axial movement by means of a change in profile  3  near the distal end of said needle  10 , with the resilient member  19  extended and maintaining an extending force on the needle guard assembly  22 , said needle guard  22  is prevented from advancing further by the limiting feature of said change in profile  3 , said resilient member  19  being slidably retained on said needle guard  22  by the notch or indentation  60 , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or indentation  61  for releasably retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , said needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a distal needle guide aperture  47 , a needle trap  41  biasly contacting said hypodermic needle  10  by the inherent memory of the molded configuration of said needle trap  41  and/or the extending force of the surrounding resilient member  19 , whereby the advancing movement of said needle guard  22  is limited by a change in profile  3  of said needle  10 , said needle  10  having a sharpened distal end  11  and an unsharpened proximal end being fixedly attached to said hub  12 . Said needle  10  being fixedly attached to hub  12  in a needle nest  4 , said hub  12  having a flange  16  for removably attaching a protective cover, and at least one flange  101 . Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot  31  to receive the needle trap  41 .  
         [0279]     Said proximal guide  34  is shown here maintaining the needle guard  22  in a substantially concentric manner on said hypodermic needle  10 . Said needle guard  41  also having a tapered or reducing proximal section  304  for non-binding access by the movable resilient member  19 .  
         [0280]      FIG. 109  is a full top view of a needle guard  22  having a proximal guide section  34 , a reducing section  304 , a longitudinally shaped chamber  94 , a projection  63  to allow free movement of a movable latch, and a distal guide section  47 . This embodiment utilizes a separate needle guard component.  
         [0281]      FIG. 110  is a full front view of a needle guard  22  shown in  FIG. 109 , having a longitudinal chamber  94 , a slot  25  to accept a latching means, a distal guide section  47 , and an aperture.  
         [0282]      FIG. 111  is a cross sectional view of the needle guard  22  shown in  FIG. 109  along axis  111 - 111  showing the slotted configuration, of chamber  94 .  
         [0283]      FIG. 112  is a full bottom view of a needle guard  22  shown in  FIG. 109  having a notch  60 , a reducing section  304  and a projection  63  to allow free movement of a movable latch.  
         [0284]      FIG. 113  is a full rear view of the movable needle guard  22  shown in  FIG. 112  having a chamber  94 , an aperture, a notch  60  and a proximal guide section  34 .  
         [0285]      FIG. 114  is a full top view of the needle guard  220  for a catheter introducer having an inner chamber  94 , a proximal guide section  34 , a recess  31  to receive a movable needle trap, a middle guide section  93  for locating a needle  10  during assembly procedures, a slot  80  for receiving the proximal end of a separate needle trap  41 , a slotted catheter adapter  78 , a distal guide section  92 , and a projection  91  for releasably holding a catheter hub  13  in a specific orientation on said needle guard  220 .  
         [0286]      FIG. 115  is a full front view of the needle guard  220  for a catheter introducer shown in  FIG. 114  having a middle guide section  93  for locating a needle  10  during assembly procedures, a slotted catheter adapter  78 , a distal guide section  92 , and a projection  91  for releasably holding a catheter hub  13  in a specific orientation on said needle guard  220 . Said needle guard  220  having a needle  10  therethrough, said needle being contained through said needle guard  220  by the separately attached needle trap  41 . Said needle  10  being concentrically located through said needle guard  220  located by the needle trap  41 .  
         [0287]      FIG. 116  is a cross sectional and cut away side view of a separate needle trap  41  having a proximal side  82  which inserts into a slot within a slidable needle guard. Needle trap  41  includes a least one projection  83  for fixedly attaching said needle trap in a needle guard, a lead in side  33  for locating a resilient member during assembly procedures, a notch  61  for maintaining an extending force of said resilient member on said trap  41 , and a plurality of sides or skirts  46  to contain a sharpened tip  11  of a needle  10  within said trap  41 . Said needle trap  41  can comprise plastic, metal, or any other substantially impenetrable material.  
         [0288]      FIG. 117  is a full top view of the housing  85  having a lip  90  and internal fins  97 . Said fins  97  can be eliminated by shaping the cross section of said housing  85  to match the housing shape shown in  FIG. 120 .  
         [0289]      FIG. 118  is a cross sectional and cut away top view of a catheter introducer comprising the components shown and described in  FIG. 114 , having a needle  10  with one sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  having a change in profile  3  near the distal end of said needle  10 , said needle  10  being fixedly attached to a hub  9  by a needle nest  4 , said hub  9  having a flange or plurality of projections  16  to accept a removable storage cover, said needle  10  having a needle guard  220  being slidably disposed about said needle  10  and initially positioned adjacent to the proximal end of said needle  10 . Said needle guard  220  having a receiving slot  31  for a movable needle trap  41 , a slot  80  for fixedly attaching a separate needle trap  41 , a catheter adapter  78 , and a proximal guide section  34 . Said needle trap  41  having a proximal side  82  which is received in said slot  80 , a plurality of sharp projections  83  for fixedly attaching said needle trap  41  on said needle guard  220  into slot  80 , an extending arm  45  and a projection  42  for releasably holding a catheter hub  13  adjacent to said needle guard  220 , said side  82  having a guide section  84  for locating said needle centrally through said guard  220 . Said separable catheter  29  having a hub  13  and an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  42 . This embodiment still side loads onto a needle, leaving the delicate tip untouched and sharp.  
         [0290]      FIG. 119  is a full top view of the separate needle trap  41  for a syringe or blood collecting assembly, comprising a needle trap  41 , a plurality of skirts  46 , each created by a fold, a notch  61 , a lead in section  33 , a proximal side  82 , created by a fold, having a plurality of sharp projections  83  and a guide section  84 . Notch  61  and lead in section  33  are optional.  
         [0291]      FIG. 120  is a cross sectional and cut away top view of a catheter introducer ready for use comprising the components shown and described throughout this application, having a needle  10  with one sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  being fixedly attached to a hub  9  by a needle nest, said hub  9  having a lead in area  38  for concentrically locating a movable housing  85  onto said needle  10 , a flange or plurality of projections  16  to accept a removable storage cover, said needle  10  having a needle guard  22   a  being slidably disposed about said needle  10  and initially positioned adjacent to the proximal end of said needle  10 . Said hub  9  also having a distal hub section  15  and a flashback chamber located at the distal end of said hub  9 . Said flashback chamber being closed by means of a removable plug  100 .  
         [0292]     This drawing shows said needle guard  22   a  being held within a housing or shroud  85 , said housing having a tapered configuration, allowing for concentric placement of said resilient member within said housing and an improved gripping means by the user. Said housing  85  having an inner chamber for receiving a resilient member  19  and a slidable needle guard  22   a , said housing  85  may also have exterior serrations or channels serving as a non-slip gripping means. Said needle guard  22   a  being held within said housing  85  by a snap-fit means created by the wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b  at the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a . Said housing  85  having a curb  90  serving as a gripping means, and a corresponding, proximal aperture to receive said wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b , said aperture having a “lead-in”  96  for easy assembly of said guard  22   a  into said housing  85 .  
         [0293]     Said housing  85  and resilient member  19  are assembled onto the needle  10  by an over the needle  10  procedure. The proximal aperture of said housing  85  is substantially larger than the needle  10  diameter, allowing the housing  85  to easily be assembled onto the needle  10  without touching the delicate tip  11 . A means to automatically and concentrically locate the housing  85  on the needle  10  is described in this application. The proximal guide section  34  of the needle guard  22   a  is only slightly larger than the needle  10  diameter, allowing a close, concentric fit necessary for the invention to function properly. The needle guard  22   a  is loaded onto the needle  10  from the side and once the clam shell guard  22   a  is closed, the concentrically located needle guard  22   a  slides down the needle  10  shaft and snap fits into the concentrically located housing  85  and resilient member  19 . The side load guard  22   a  also works in the same concentric manner once the separate needle trap  41  is fixedly attached to the needle guard  22   a  once the guard  22   a  and trap  41  are concentrically located on the needle  10  shaft.  
         [0294]     Said needle guard  22   a  comprising a clam-shell design having a split line  43 , a receiving slot  31  for a movable needle trap  41 , a distal catheter adapter  78 , and a proximal guide section  34  (shown in other drawings in this application). Said needle trap  41  having an extending arm  45  and a projection  42  for releasably holding a catheter hub  13  adjacent to said needle guard  22   a . Said separable catheter  29  having a hub  13 , an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  45  and projection  42 , and a plurality of flanges  301  to twistedly attach said hub  13  to a luer fitting.  
         [0295]     Said slidable needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to a hub portion  9  by means of a limiting tether  24 , said tether  24  being fixedly attached to said needle guard  22   a  by means of an extension  28 . Said needle guard  22   a  having a notch or indentation  60  for releasably holding said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having a notch or indentation  61  for retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , with the distal end of said needle guard  22   a  having a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 , said needle trap  41  having a movable arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub  13  from said adapter section  78  after insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said catheter hub  13  having at least one flange  301  and an inner channel, recess, slot or undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  45  and said projection  42 .  
         [0296]     Said needle guard lead in  33  section on said needle trap  41  could also comprise longitudinal channels to reduce the contact surface area of said resilient member, reducing frictional contact and reducing the amount of material used to manufacture the component.  
         [0297]      FIG. 121  is a cross sectional and cut away top view of a catheter introducer safely trapping the needle tip  11  after the catheter  29  has been inserted into a patient, comprising a needle  10  with one sharpened distal end  11 , said needle  10  being fixedly attached to a hub  9  by a needle nest  4 , a flange of plurality of projections  16  to accept a removable storage cover, said needle  10  having a needle guard  22   a  being slidably disposed about said needle  10  and said needle tip  11  being safely positioned within said needle guard  22   a . Said hub  9  also having a distal hub section  15  and a flashback chamber located at the distal end of said hub  9 . Said flashback chamber being closed by means of a removable plug  100 . Said hub  15  having a lead in area  38  for concentrically locating a movable housing  85  onto said needle  10 .  
         [0298]      FIG. 121  shows needle guard  22   a  being held within a housing or shroud  85  having an integral resilient member  19 . Said housing  85  having an inner diameter which locates the compressed resilient member  19  on the notches  60  and/or  61  on said needle guard  22   a , said housing  85  may also have exterior serrations or exterior channels serving as a non-slip gripping means, and a proximal skirt  99  which contacts said hub  15  during assembly, allowing said needle guard  22   a  to be pressed into said housing  85 .  
         [0299]     Said needle guard  22   a  being held within said housing  85  by a snapfit means created by the wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b  at the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a . Said wedges  66   a  may have a longitudinal opening  81  at the split line  43  to allow said wedges  66   a  to compress as said needle guard  22   a  is snap fit into said housing  85 . Said housing  85  may also have a distal curb  90 , described in  FIG. 105 , serving as a gripping means, and a corresponding proximal aperture to receive said wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b , said proximal aperture having a “lead-in”  96  for easy assembly of said guard  22   a  into said housing  85 . Said housing  85  is centrally located onto said needle  10  by an over the needle procedure. Said housing  85  having a proximal skirt  99  with an internal annular chamfer for concentrically locating said housing  85  onto said needle  10  and hub  9  by means of chambered configuration of said needle nest  4 . Said skirt  99  is not necessarily needed to implement the present invention.  
         [0300]     Said needle guard  22   a  comprising a clam-shell configuration having a split line  43 , a receiving slot  31  for a movable needle trap  41 , a distal catheter adapter  78 , and a proximal guide section  34  (shown in other drawings in this application). Said needle trap  41  having an extending arm  45  and a projection  42  for releasably holding a catheter hub  13  adjacent to said needle guard  22   a . Said separable catheter  29  having a hub  13 , undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  45  and projection  42 , and a plurality of flanges  301  to attach said hub  13  to a luer fitting.  
         [0301]     Said undercut  32  can be annular or segmented and still provide a holding means to keep said catheter hub  13  adjacent to said needle guard  22   a  until said needle tip  11  is fully contained within said needle guard  22   a.    
         [0302]     Said slidable needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to a hub portion  9  by means of a limiting tether  24 , said tether  24  being fixedly attached to said needle guard  22   a  by means of a extension  28  or the like. Said needle guard  22   a  having a notch or indentation  60  for releasably holding said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a , said movable needle trap  41  having a lead-in area  33  for locating said resilient member  19  on said needle guard  22   a  into notches  60  and/or  61 , said needle trap  41  also having a notch or indentation  61  for retaining said end coils of said resilient member  19 , with the distal end of said needle guard  22   a  having a male section  78  for removably attaching an indwelling I.V. catheter hub  13 , said needle trap  41  having a movable arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub  13  from said adapter section  78  after insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said catheter hub  13  having at least one flange  301  and an undercut  32  for being releasably held by said movable arm  45  and said projection  42 .  
         [0303]      FIGS. 122A, 122B  and  122 C show an isometric view of the catheter described in  FIGS. 120 and 121  as the catheter adapter  9  is separated from catheter  29 .  
         [0304]      FIG. 123  is a full top view of the separate needle trap  41  for the indwelling catheter invention, comprising a needle trap  41 , a plurality of skirts  46 , each created by a fold or bend, a notch  61 , a lead in section  33 , a proximal side  82 , created by a fold or bend, having a plurality of sharp projections  83  and a guide section  84 , a ledge, or retainer  27  created by at least one fold or bend, an extending arm  45 , created by a fold or bend, and a projection  42 , created by a fold or bend.  
         [0305]      FIG. 124  is a full and cut away view of  FIG. 123  comprising a separate needle trap  41  for the indwelling catheter invention, comprising a needle trap  41 , a plurality of skirts  46 , each created by a fold or bend, a notch  61 , a lead in section  33 , a proximal side  82 , created by a fold or bend, having a plurality of sharp projections  83 , a ledge, or retainer  27  created by a fold or bend, an extending arm  45 , created by a fold or bend, and a projection  42 , created by a fold or bend.  
         [0306]      FIG. 125  is a is a full, outside, top view of the needle guard assembly  22   a  for an indwelling catheter shown in its molded configuration comprising a foldable, open-faced needle guard  22   a  having an extended mounting section  28 , a catheter adapter  78 , a notch  60  for positioning and maintaining the extending force of a resilient member  19  (not shown) on said needle guard  22   a  when said guard  22   a  is in a retained and extending mode, and a wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b  at the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a . Said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22   a  by a hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having an extended arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub from said adapter  78  after insertion of the catheter  29  into a patient. Said needle trap  41  also having at least one notch or multi-level landing  61  for proper positioning of a resilient member  19  (shown in other drawings in this application), said needle trap  41  having a lead in area  33  also for locating said resilient member  19  in a compressed and/or extendible position. Said needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to a tether  24 , said tether  24  having at least one protrusion  20  for fixedly attaching said tether  24  to said hub portion  15  or hub  12 , or flange  16 .  
         [0307]      FIG. 126  is a is a full, inside face view of the needle guard assembly  22   a  for an indwelling catheter shown in its molded configuration comprising a foldable, open-faced needle guard  22   a  having an extended hinge section  28 , a wedge  66   a  and slot  66   b  located at the proximal end of said needle guard  22   a , said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22   a  by a hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having an extended arm  45  and projection  42  for releasably retaining a catheter hub from said adapter  78  after insertion of the catheter into a patient. Said needle guard  22   a  also having a proximal guide section  34  and a distal guide section  47 , which are created when the needle guard  22   a  sections are joined together, said needle guard  22   a  also having a middle guide section  93 . Said needle guard  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41  being hingedly attached by the hinge  40 , said needle trap  41  having at least one skirt or fin  46  for entrapping said sharpened needle tip  11  (shown in other drawings in this application), said needle guard  22   a  having a corresponding slot or opening  31  for receiving said needle trap  41 , said needle guard  22   a  having at least one pin  36  and a corresponding opening  37  for frictionally engaging or snap fitting said needle guard  22   a  sections together about the hypodermic needle  10  (as shown in previous drawings) said pin  36  and slot  37  can be positioned on either side of needle guard  22   a  sections, said needle guard  22   a  having an internal guide section  35  and a proximal guide section  34 , said needle guard  22   a  having an internal landing  52  located between said internal guide  35 , with said landing  52  having an adjacent landing  53  which serves to guide said hypodermic needle  10  (shown in other drawings in this application) during assembly, storage and use, said landing  53  also houses said sharpened needle tip  11  (shown in other drawings in this application) within said needle guard  22   a.    
         [0308]     Said needle guard  22   a  being fixedly attached to an integral, or separate, tether  24 . Said tether  24  connects to a hub  15  (not shown).  
         [0309]      FIG. 127  is a full front view of the clam shell needle guard assembly  22   a  for an indwelling catheter shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22   a  having a movable needle trap  41 , said needle trap  41  having an extended arm  45  and a projection  42 , an internal guide section  35 , a distal catheter adapter  78 , an extended hinge section  28 , with a plurality of needle guard  22   a  sections connected adjacent to said hinge section  28 , said hinge section  28  having an adequate area for insert molding a separate tether or fixedly attaching said separate tether  24 , said hinge section  28  also could have an aperture therethrough for fixedly inserting a separate tether  24 . Said needle guard  22   a  having a split line  43  where the needle guard  22   a  sections mate or join together, an aperture guide  47  on each section at the distal end, and a post  36  for joining the needle guard assembly  22   a  sections together. Said post  36  is received by a corresponding slot or opening  37  on the adjacent half of said needle guard  22   a.    
         [0310]      FIG. 128  is a full rear view of the needle guard assembly  22   a  for an indwelling catheter shown in an open-faced configuration comprising a needle guard assembly  22   a  having an extended hinge  28  for joining each needle guard  22   a  section together, said extended hinge section  28  having a slot or recess for inserting a fixedly attached, or separate tether (not shown). Said needle guard  22   a  also having an internal guide section  35 , a split line  43  where the needle guard  22   a  sections mate or join together, a proximal guide  34  and proximal wedge projection  66   a  located on each needle guard  22   a  section, a moveable needle trap  41 , at least one post or protrusion  36  on one needle guard assembly  22   a  section which enters at least one corresponding slot  37  on the other needle guard assembly  22   a  section for securing the sections together. Said post  36  is received by a corresponding slot or opening  37 .  
         [0311]      FIG. 129  is a cross sectional view of the needle guard  22   a  in  FIG. 126  shown along axis  129 - 129  and comprising a needle guard section  22   a , an internal guide section  35  having an angled face to concentrically locate said hypodermic needle through said needle guard  22   a , a landing  52  and a split line  43 .  
         [0312]      FIG. 130  is a cross sectional view of the disclosed needle guard  22   a  in  FIG. 126  shown along axis  130 - 130  and comprising a needle guard section  22   a , and a needle trap  41  having a plurality of skirts or wall sections  46 .  
         [0313]      FIG. 131  is a full side view of the hollow bore needle  10  of the present invention having an expanded change in profile  3  and a sharpened, distal tip  11 .  
         [0314]      FIG. 132  is a full top view of the disclosed hollow bore needle  10  having a reduced change in profile  3   a  and a sharpened, distal tip  11 .  
         [0315]      FIG. 133  is a full side view of the disclosed hollow bore needle  10  in  FIG. 131  having an expanded change in profile  3  and a sharpened, distal tip  11  and a slidable washer or bushing  130  adjacent to said expanded change in profile  3 . Washer  130  is limited in axial movement by larger size of expanded change in profile  3 .  
         [0316]      FIG. 134  is a cross sectional side view of  FIG. 133  comprising a hollow bore needle  10  having an expanded change in profile  3  and a sharpened, distal tip  11  with a slidable washer or bushing  130  having an aperture  131  sized to allow washer  130  to slide axially on needle  10 , but axial movement of washer  130  on needle  10  is limited by the expanded change in profile  3  because the aperture  131  is smaller than the change in profile  3 .  
         [0317]      FIG. 135  is s full front view of washer or bushing  130  having an aperture  131 .  
         [0318]      FIG. 136  is a cross sectional and cut away side view of the needle guard assembly of the present invention showing the needle tip  11  being trapped within the needle guard  22  by the movable needle guard  41 , comprising a hypodermic needle  10  having an expanded change in profile  3  and sharpened tip  11 , said needle guard  22  being limited in its axial movement by engagement of bushing or washer  130  with expanded change in profile  3  near the distal end of said needle  10 , said washer being retained by slot  132  in needle guard  22 , with the resilient member  19  extended over movable needle trap  41  and maintaining said needle trap  41  in a locked position. Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot or nest  31  to receive the needle trap  41 .  
         [0319]     Said proximal guide  34  and washer  130  are shown here maintaining the needle guard  22  in a substantially concentric manner on said hypodermic needle  10 . Said needle guard  41  also having a tapered or reducing proximal section  304  for non-binding access by the movable resilient member  19 .  
         [0320]      FIG. 137  is a cross sectional and cut away side view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in  FIG. 136  showing the needle tip  11  being trapped within the needle guard  22  by the movable needle trap  41 , said needle trap having a rib or protrusion  133  to closely contain said needle  10  within needle guard assembly  22 , comprising a hypodermic needle  10  having an expanded change in profile  3  and sharpened tip  11 , said needle guard  22  being limited in its axial movement by engagement of bushing or washer  130  with expanded change in profile  3  near the distal end of said needle  10 , said washer being retained by slot  132  in needle guard  22 , with the resilient member  19  extended over movable needle trap  41  and maintaining said needle trap  41  in a locked position. Said needle trap  41  being hingedly attached to said needle guard  22  by a hinge section  40 , said needle guard  22  having a receiving slot or nest  31  to receive the needle trap  41 .  
         [0321]      FIG. 138  is a cross sectional front view of the needle guard assembly  22  shown in axis  138 - 138  of  FIG. 137  showing the needle  10  being trapped within the needle guard  22  by the movable needle trap  41 , said needle trap having a rib or protrusion  133  to closely contain said needle  10  within needle guard assembly  22 .  
         [0322]      FIG. 139  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly  222  comprising an off set split line  143  creating aperture  147  that needle  10  can slide through, and a corresponding needle guard section  223 .  
         [0323]      FIG. 140  is a full side view of a prior art needle  310  having an anti-coring tip  311  and a bend, or change in axis,  303  on needle shaft  310 .  
         [0324]      FIG. 141  is a cross sectional side view of needle  310  being covered with slidable housing  322 , said needle  310  having an anti-coring tip  311  and a bend, or change in axis,  303  at a position on the needle shaft  310  that limits axial movement of housing  322  on shaft  310 , said housing  322  having a distal opening  347 , a proximal guide shaft  334  that is sized to slide on shaft  310 , said housing  322  is limited in axial movement on shaft  310  by proximal guide  334  engaging bend  303 . Said proximal guide  334  being sufficient to limit axial movement of housing  322  on needle  310 .  
         [0325]      FIG. 142  is a cross sectional side view of needle  310  having an anti-coring tip  311  and a bend, or change in axis,  303  in the needle shaft  310  that limits axial movement of bushing  313  on shaft  310 . A needle guard assembly as shown in  FIGS. 136 and 137  may include bushing  313  to limit axial movement of a needle guard assembly on shaft  310 .  
         [0326]      FIG. 143  is a cross-sectional side view of the needle guard assembly of the present invention showing the interaction of the needle guard assembly  322  and resilient member  319 , said hypodermic needle  310  having an anti-coring sharpened needle tip  311  and a change in axis  303 , comprising a slidable needle guard assembly  322  with a hypodermic needle  310  therethrough, with resilient member  319  urging the needle guard assembly  322  toward the distal end of the hypodermic needle  310 . The needle guard assembly  322  having proximal guide section  334 , a movable needle tip guard  341  with a hinge section  340 , said needle tip guard  341  is molded in a manner whereby the needle tip guard  341  comprises an inherent biasing force toward the hypodermic needle  310 , another biasing force is exerted on the needle tip guard  341  by the extending force of the resilient member  319 , said needle tip guard  341  enters the corresponding recess  331  when said needle tip guard  341  advances beyond the sharpened needle tip  311 , said needle tip guard  341  slidably contacts said hypodermic needle  310 .  
         [0327]      FIG. 144  is cross-sectional side view of the needle guard assembly shown in  FIG. 143  showing containment of the sharpened needle tip  311  within the needle guard assembly  322  comprising a needle guard assembly  322  with a hypodermic needle  310  therethrough, said needle guard assembly  322  being urged beyond the distal end of the hypodermic needle  310  and sharpened needle tip  311  by the extending force of a resilient member  319  whereby the moveable, self-biasing needle tip guard  341  of the needle guard assembly  322  moves in front of the sharpened needle tip  311 , containing the sharpened needle tip  311  within the needle guard assembly  322  and behind the substantially impenetrable needle tip guard  341  having a hinge section  340 . The needle guard assembly  322  having proximal guide section  334  that engages bend in needle  303  to limit axial movement of needle guard  322  on needle  310 .  
         [0328]     Additionally, the extending force of the resilient member  319  urges the needle tip guard  341  inwardly to a covering position, said resilient member  319  surrounds both the needle guard assembly  322  and the outer wall of the needle tip guard  341  holding the needle tip guard  341  in a closed, protective position by a radially confining force. In the protected, closed position, the needle tip guard  341  enters the corresponding recess  331  of the needle guard assembly  322 , preventing movement and ensuring safe containment of the sharpened needle tip  311  within the needle guard assembly  322 .  
         [0329]      FIG. 145  is a full side view and cut away drawing of the needle hub of the present invention comprising a hypodermic needle hub  612  with at least one flange  601  for attaching the needle hub  612  to a luer fitting, a needle nest  604  (not shown in this view) for fixedly attaching the needle (not shown in this view), an inner aperture  616  (not shown in this view) creating a fluid/gaseous path between needle hub  612  and needle  610  (not shown in this view), at least one aperture  644  located at the distal end of a deformable housing  615  for receiving a protrusion for releasably retaining a member on needle hub  612 , said housing  615  having an inner cavity or chamber  617  and deformable wall section  650 .  
         [0330]      FIG. 146  is a full front view drawing of the needle hub of  FIG. 145  comprising a deformable housing  615  having an inner aperture  616  for creating a fluid/gaseous path between hub  612  (not shown in this view) and a hypodermic needle  610  (not shown in this view), said housing  615  having an inner cavity or chamber  617  and deformable wall section  650 .  
         [0331]      FIG. 147  is a full top view drawing of the needle hub of  FIG. 145  comprising a hypodermic needle hub  612  with at least one flange  601  for attaching the needle hub  612  to a luer fitting, at least one aperture  644  located at the distal end of a deformable housing  615  for receiving a protrusion for releasably retaining a member on needle hub  612 .  
         [0332]      FIG. 148  is a full top view drawing of a ready to use needle apparatus of the present invention showing needle guard  622  being releasably retained in deformable housing  615  by engagement of protrusion  645  of needle guard  622  into aperture  644  of deformable member or housing  615 , comprising a hypodermic needle hub  612  with at least one flange  601  for attaching the needle hub  612  to a luer fitting. Said needle guard  622  may include a resilient member (not shown in this view) to propel needle guard  622  to the distal end of needle  610 .  
         [0333]      FIG. 149  is a full front view of the needle guard assembly  622  of  FIG. 148  comprising at least one protrusion  645 , an off set split line  643  creating aperture  647  and a corresponding needle guard section  623 .  
         [0334]      FIG. 150  is a full front view of the needle guard apparatus of the present invention comprising needle guard assembly  622  being releasably retained within deformable member or housing  615 , said housing having a cavity or chamber  617  for accepting a member or guard, said needle guard assembly  622  comprising a passageway for needle  610 , at least one protrusion  645 , an off set split line  643  creating aperture  647  and a corresponding needle guard section  623 , said deformable housing  615  having at least one aperture  644  located at the distal end for receiving and releasably retaining protrusion  645  of needle guard assembly  623  within cavity  617  of housing  615 .  
         [0335]      FIG. 151  is a full front view of the needle apparatus of  FIG. 150  showing the needle guard assembly  622  being selectively released when a compressive force “F” is exerted on deformable housing  615 , said needle guard assembly  622  comprising a passageway for needle  610 , at least one protrusion  645  that is released from aperture  644  (not shown in this view) when deformable housing  615  is squeezed. Said needle guard assembly having an off set split line  643  creating aperture  647  creating a passageway for needle  610 , and a corresponding needle guard section  623 , said deformable housing  615  having at least one aperture  644  located at the distal end for releasably retaining protrusion  645  of needle guard assembly  623  within cavity  617  of housing  615 .  
         [0336]      FIG. 152  is an isometric view of the needle guard assembly  622  ready to usereleasably being retained within deformable housing  615  having a deformable wall section  650 , said housing  615  being selectively attachable to hub  602  having a luer end  601 , said needle guard assembly  622  comprising a movable trap  641 , a passageway for needle  610  with a sharpened tip  611  and a change in profile  603 , at least one protrusion  645  (shown retained within aperture  644  of housing) on section  623 , an off set split line  643  creating aperture  647  and corresponding needle guard section  623 , said deformable housing  615  having at least one aperture  644  located at the distal end for receiving said protrusion  645  of corresponding needle guard assembly  623 . Said housing  615  having an inner guide or rib  651  to properly position needle guard  622  within hub  615 , said housing  615  being selectively attached to hub  602  by a retaining means or hook  613  and may include at least one rib  625  for gripping said housing  615 . Needle guard  622  is released from a retained position by squeezing deformable housing  615  and guard  622  is propelled along the needle  610  by resilient member  619 .  
         [0337]      FIG. 153  is an isometric view of the needle guard assembly of  FIG. 152  showing containment of the sharpened needle tip  611  within the needle guard assembly  622 , said needle guard assembly  622  comprising a movable trap  641  that is locked in a protective position on needle tip  611 , needle guard  622  is limited in axial movement by engagement of needle guard  622  with change in profile  603  of needle  610 .  
         [0338]     A number of embodiments have been disclosed herein as they relate to the needle protective device of the present invention. It is important to understand that many of the elements described herein may be interchangeable. It is also important to note that the invention can comprise a variety of embodiments, ranging from a single piece, injection molded part, where the components are manufactured unitarily, to a plurality of components, all which achieve the desired result of safely capturing the sharpened needle tip.