Patent ID: 8096973

Claim:
A medical needle shield apparatus comprising: a needle hub having a needle cannula extending therefrom to a distal end; and at least one shield being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle, the shield including a binding member disposed within the shield and defining binding surfaces that form an aperture configured for slidable receipt of the needle between the retracted position and the extended position, the binding member including at least one drag inducing member such that the at least one drag inducing member engages the needle during slidable receipt of the needle to create a drag force with the needle, the drag force providing all of the energy for rotation of the binding member relative to a longitudinal axis of the needle such that the binding surfaces engage the needle to prevent slidable movement of the needle in the extended position of the shield, the binding member further including a needle communicating surface extending therefrom such that the needle communicating surface is engageable with the needle to prevent rotation of the binding member, a retainer for releasable engagement with the needle hub, and the binding member further including a binding member reset surface selectably alignable with a reset surface, wherein the reset surface is configured to deflect the binding member reset surface when contact is made and to cause the binding surfaces to disengage the needle and allow slidable movement of the needle.