Patent ID: 7357784

Claim:
A medical needle shield apparatus comprising: a shield slidably movable along a medical needle from a proximal position where a distal end of the needle is exposed, to a distal position where the shield protects the distal end of the needle; said shield comprising: a binding member having an aperture through which the needle passes, said aperture having binding surfaces to bind against the needle so that the shield is secured to the needle, a retainer integral with the binding member and in communication with the needle for temporarily retaining the binding surfaces in a non-binding position relative to the needle, and a positioning member integral with the binding member and positioned to push against the needle such that, after a portion of the retainer in contact with the needle is advanced past the distal end of the needle, the binding member is inclined relative to an initial position to move the binding surfaces into a binding position relative to the needle so that the binding member is secured to the needle; and a housing configured to enclose the shield and to permit the needle to pass through a perimeter wall, the housing comprising a first blocking member positioned above the needle and a second blocking member positioned below the needle, wherein the binding member is positioned between the first blocking member and the second blocking member, and wherein the blocking members are positioned such that, after the binding member is inclined, contact of the binding member with either blocking member increases the force applied by the binding surfaces against the needle to assist in maintaining the binding surfaces in a binding position.