Patent ID: 7357783

Claim:
A protective device for a needle which comprises: a substantially tubular shaped holder defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner surface surrounding a lumen; a distal abutment formed on the inner surface of the holder; a proximal abutment formed on the inner surface of the holder; an adapter with the needle mounted thereon, the adapter being affixed to the inner surface of the holder to align the needle along the axis; a substantially tubular shaped guard, wherein the guard is formed with a lumen for receiving the needle therein and is positioned in the lumen of the holder for reciprocal axial movement over the needle in a distal direction and in a proximal direction with an outer surface of the guard facing the inner surface of the holder; a cantilevered tab formed on the guard, wherein the tab is deflectable from the outer surface of the guard and into a stressed configuration for engagement with the distal abutment to prevent movement of the guard in a distal direction, and further wherein, in response to a proximal movement of the guard, the tab is released from its stressed configuration for movement into an unstressed configuration wherein the cantilevered tab is flush with the outer surface of the guard and clear of any interaction with the holder; a spring positioned in the lumen of the guard between the guard and the adapter to urge the guard in a distal direction along the axis to cover the needle when the cantilevered tab is in its unstressed configuration; and an extension limiter formed on the guard and engageable with the proximal abutment to prevent an uncovering of the needle by movement of the guard in a proximal direction.