Patent ID: 8062265

Claim:
A device for selectively protecting a needle which comprises: an adapter for holding the needle, wherein the needle defines an axis and the adapter is formed with a boss extending in a radial direction therefrom and wherein the boss is formed with an inclined engagement face; a guard formed with an orifice for passing the needle therethrough and having a cylindrical wall dimensioned to engage said adapter for relative axial movement therebetween, wherein the wall is formed with a “V” shaped slot having a first leg and a second leg with an apex therebetween, with the boss of said adapter inserted into the slot of said guard; a spring positioned between the guard and the adapter with the guard surrounding the spring for biasing the guard away from the adapter during an axial movement of the guard from a first position wherein the boss is in the first leg of the slot and the needle partially extends through the orifice of the guard, to a second position wherein the needle fully extends through the orifice of the guard and the boss is held at the apex of the slot in response to a force opposing said biasing means, and thereafter to a third position as the inclined engagement face of the boss interacts with the slot to move the boss into the second leg of the slot for retraction of the needle into the guard to protect the needle and; a removable shield for preventing contact with the needle before an injection, said shield forming a hollow portion for receiving the needle, said shield being selectively positioned in the orifice of the guard to prevent axial movement of said guard from the first position to the second position, wherein said removable shield comprises at least a rib positioned between said guard and said adapter to prevent axial movement of said guard from the first position to the second position.