Patent ID: 8052653

Claim:
A needle guard device for use with an injection device, the needle guard device comprising: a) an injection needle comprising a needle injection portion extending to a distal end of the injection needle and a needle connecting portion extending to a proximal end of the injection needle; b) a needle holder comprising a retaining region through which a portion of the injection needle extends, a first end face from which the needle injection portion extends in a distal direction, and a second end face opposite from the first end face from which the needle connecting portion extends in a proximal direction; c) a distal needle guard movably coupled to the needle holder, such that it can be moved from a releasing position in the distal direction into a guard position, the distal needle guard arranged behind the needle injection portion to expose the injection portion from the distal needle guard in the releasing position and overlaps the needle injection portion including the distal end of the injection needle in the guard position; d) a proximal needle guard movably coupled to the needle holder, such that it can be moved from a releasing position in the proximal direction into a guard position, the proximal needle guard arranged behind the needle connecting portion to expose the needle connecting portion from the proximal needle guard in the releasing position and overlaps the needle connecting portion including the proximal end of the injection needle in the guard position; and e) a lock mechanism comprising a portion of the proximal needle guard and a portion of the needle holder for blocking a movement of the proximal needle guard out of its guard position into its releasing position; f) wherein the needle guard device comprises a fixing sleeve configured to releasably attach the needle guard device to the injection device; g) wherein the fixing sleeve forms an exterior of the portion of the needle guard device and said needle holder is fixedly arranged within the fixing sleeve; and h) wherein as the needle guard device is disconnected from the injection device, the proximal needle guard moves from the releasing position to the guard position, and the lock mechanism blocks the movement of the proximal needle guard out of its guard position.