Patent ID: 7618395

Claim:
A method for shielding needles comprising: obtaining a medical needle shield apparatus comprising a needle extending through a shield within a housing, wherein the shield comprises a binding member, a retainer, and a positioning member and wherein the retainer has binding surfaces which temporarily permit the retainer to be in a non-binding position relative to the needle; and sliding the shield along the 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, and wherein the positioning member pushes against the needle as the shield is slid along the needle and when the shield is in a distal position, and wherein the binding member is inclined into a binding position from a substantially transverse position relative to an axial path defined by the needle at least primarily by the pushing of the positioning member against the needle which enables the binding surfaces to secure the shield to the needle.