A medical puncturing device, comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient; a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier, wherein the carrier is maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier; an actuating member comprised in the housing and extending internally therein and having a distal end defining a first camming surface engaging an opposing camming surface on the shield proximal end, wherein the engagement of the opposing camming surfaces (78, 80) is adapted to radially deform the shield-proximal end of the shield body upon axial displacement of the shield into the housing, such that the at least one retaining tab is released of engagement with the carrier permitting the drive spring to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position characterized in that a retraction spring is adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position, the retraction spring being disposed within the movable shield so as to be compressed between the carrier and the shield, and in that the first camming surface is a tapered surface and the opposing camming surface on the shield proximal end is tapered oppositely to the first camming surface. a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, and the shield axially movable relative to the housing; a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient; a drive spring disposed within the housing, the drive spring adapted to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier, wherein the carrier is maintained in the retracted position by engagement of the at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier; an actuating member comprised in the housing and extending internally therein and having a distal end defining a first camming surface engaging an opposing camming surface on the shield proximal end, wherein the engagement of the opposing camming surfaces (78, 80) is adapted to radially deform the shield-proximal end of the shield body upon axial displacement of the shield into the housing, such that the at least one retaining tab is released of engagement with the carrier permitting the drive spring to move the carrier from the retracted position to the puncturing position characterized in that a retraction spring is adapted to return the carrier to a position within the housing wherein the shield encompasses the skin puncturing element after the carrier reaches the puncturing position, the retraction spring being disposed within the movable shield so as to be compressed between the carrier and the shield, and in that the first camming surface is a tapered surface and the opposing camming surface on the shield proximal end is tapered oppositely to the first camming surface.