Patent ID: 7959613

Claim:
An assembly to prevent accidental needle sticks comprising: a needle assembly comprising an elongated hollow tubular needle having a proximal end attached to a needle hub, a sharp distal end extending therefrom, and a lumen running therebetween, the outer surface of the needle including a portion that is flat; a hollow tubular protector having distal and proximal ends, the protector being coaxially slidably disposed around the needle for movement between a first position with the sharp distal end of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the protector and a second position with the sharp distal end inside the protector between the distal and proximal ends, the inner surface of the protector including a portion that is flat, the flat portion of the protector confronting the flat portion of the needle in the first position such that the protector and needle cannot rotate with respect to each other.