Patent ID: 6932803

Claim:
A needle assembly, comprising: a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip; a hub member supporting the proximal end of the needle cannula; a shield member extending co-axially about the needle cannula, said hub member and said shield member adapted for relative axial movement with respect to each other between a first position in which said needle assembly is in a sampling state with said puncture tip of said needle cannula exposed from said shield member, and a second position in which said needle assembly is in a shielded state with said puncture tip of said needle cannula contained within said shield member; and a gauze member extending from and connected to said shield member through a connecting member, said connecting member extendable to a taut position when said gauze member is adjacent said puncture tip and said hub member and said shield member are in said first position, wherein movement of said hub member away from said gauze member when said connecting member is extended to said taut position causes said relative axial movement of said shield member and said hub member between said first position and said second position, thereby shielding said needle cannula.