A medical needle shield apparatus (100; 200) comprising: a first housing (52; 236) and a second housing (54; 268), the first housing having a needle cannula (4; 206) disposed therewith, the needle cannula being disposed for slidable movement with the second housing such that the second housing is extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle cannula; a binding member (40; 256), disposed within the second housing and comprising binding surfaces , that define an aperture configured for slidable receipt of the needle cannula between the retracted position and the extended position, a retainer extending therefrom, such that the retainer is engageable with the needle cannula to prevent inclination of the binding member while the retainer is engaged with the needle cannula, and one or more drag inducing members that engage the needle cannula during slidable receipt of the needle to create a drag force with the needle, the drag force and second housing facilitating inclination of the binding member relative to a longitudinal axis of the needle cannula once the retainer extends beyond the distal end of the needle such that the binding surfaces engage the needle cannula to prevent slidable movement of the needle cannula in the extended position of the second housing, characterized in that the first housing is configured to actuate the needle cannula, the needle cannula includes an inner needle disposed for slidable movement with the needle cannula and the first housing includes an actuating mechanism that actuates the needle cannula; and in that the second housing is releasably engageable with the first housing by means of an operable release (30,31, 32, 38, 114; 17, 33, 41, 43, 55; 274, 276, 278), such that activation of the operable release selectively locks movement between the needle cannula and the inner needle. a first housing (52; 236) and a second housing (54; 268), the first housing having a needle cannula (4; 206) disposed therewith, the needle cannula being disposed for slidable movement with the second housing such that the second housing is extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle cannula; a binding member (40; 256), disposed within the second housing and comprising binding surfaces , that define an aperture configured for slidable receipt of the needle cannula between the retracted position and the extended position, a retainer extending therefrom, such that the retainer is engageable with the needle cannula to prevent inclination of the binding member while the retainer is engaged with the needle cannula, and one or more drag inducing members that engage the needle cannula during slidable receipt of the needle to create a drag force with the needle, the drag force and second housing facilitating inclination of the binding member relative to a longitudinal axis of the needle cannula once the retainer extends beyond the distal end of the needle such that the binding surfaces engage the needle cannula to prevent slidable movement of the needle cannula in the extended position of the second housing, characterized in that the first housing is configured to actuate the needle cannula, the needle cannula includes an inner needle disposed for slidable movement with the needle cannula and the first housing includes an actuating mechanism that actuates the needle cannula; and in that the second housing is releasably engageable with the first housing by means of an operable release (30,31, 32, 38, 114; 17, 33, 41, 43, 55; 274, 276, 278), such that activation of the operable release selectively locks movement between the needle cannula and the inner needle. <EOS>