Patent ID: 7144388

Claim:
A safety needle assembly comprising: a hub having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway extending therebetween; a needle cannula having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therebetween, the needle cannula extending from the distal end of the hub; an elongated shield pivotably movable between a first position exposing said needle cannula and a second position encompassing said needle cannula, said shield maintained in said first position through a latch mechanism extending between said shield and said hub; a biasing element biasing the shield toward the second position; and a release arrangement comprising a movable member extending from the hub and movable with respect to said hub, such that movement of said movable member causes engagement of said movable member with said latch mechanism, thereby causing release of said latch mechanism and causing said biasing element to bias said shield toward said second position, wherein said moveable member of said release arrangement comprises a first finger tab including a camming surface, said camming surface adapted for engagement with said latch mechanism upon movement of said first finger tab so as to release said latch mechanism, thereby causing said biasing element to bias said shield toward said second position.