Patent ID: 7226434

Claim:
A safety shield comprising: a housing; a piercing member having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; and a clip disposed within the housing, the clip defining a first cavity dimensioned to slidably receive the piercing member, the first cavity being movable in response to movement of the clip from a first position to a second position between a movable orientation in which the piercing member can slide through the first cavity and a binding orientation in which a portion of the clip defining the first cavity engages the piercing member to prevent movement of the piercing member through the first cavity; the clip including a first leg that defines a second cavity dimensioned to slidably receive the piercing member therethrough and a distal part being configured to engage a medical device externally of the housing when the clip is in the first position to secure the medical device to the housing, the clip further including a second leg having a bearing surface that engages the piercing member; wherein the first leg and the second leg are biased for convergent movement such that, in the second position, the first cavity is disposed in the binding orientation and the distal part of the first leg disengages the medical device, and wherein the clip is movable from the first position to the second position in response to withdrawal of the piercing member from the second cavity.