Patent ID: 8002746

Claim:
A medical needle assembly comprising: a needle comprising a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a sharp distal end and an outer surface; a housing with a pair of radially outwardly extending wings lying opposite one another defining a plane; an actuator member concentrically mounted on the housing, and extending substantially radially outwardly from the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the needle, wherein the actuator member is freely circumferentially rotatable relative to the housing, the pair of radially outwardly extending wings, and the longitudinal axis of the needle between the pair of radially outwardly extending wings, from a first, non-shielding perpendicular to the plane position to a second, shielding position substantially parallel to the plane, wherein the actuator member remains substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the needle; a needle shield assembly mounted relative to the housing, such that the needle shield assembly is slidable longitudinally along the needle relative to the housing, the pair of radially outwardly extending wings, and the actuator member; and a release mechanism associated with the actuator member and the needle shield assembly such that when the actuator member is circumferentially rotated relative to the housing, the pair of radially outwardly extending wings, and the longitudinal axis of the needle, from the first, non-shielding position to the second, shielding position, the needle shield assembly is unlocked and permitted to slide relative to the housing, the pair of radially outwardly extending wings, and the longitudinal axis of the needle, along the needle shaft, thereby shielding the needle.