Patent ID: 7413562

Claim:
A medical needle shield apparatus comprising: a needle hub; a needle disposed within said hub; at least one shield being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of said needle; and a binding member disposed within said shield, wherein said binding member comprises binding surfaces that form a round aperture configured for slidable receipt of said needle between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the needle remains in the round aperture while the shield is in the retracted position and the extended position, wherein said binding member is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of said needle between a non-binding orientation whereby said needle is slidable relative to said binding member and a binding orientation whereby said binding surfaces engage said needle to prevent slidable movement of said needle in an extended position of said shield; and at least one retention element engageable between said shield and said hub to releasably retain the hub and the shield together when the shield is in the retracted position.