Patent ID: 8376994

Claim:
A needle assembly comprising: a needle having a needle shaft and a needle tip attached to a needle holder at a proximal end of the needle shaft; a protective element movably positioned on the needle shaft for protecting the needle tip, said protective element comprising a proximal wall having an outer dimension and an opening and two arms; a grip part provided between the protective element and the needle holder for containing and moving the protective element from a proximal position on the needle shaft to a distal position on the needle shaft, the grip part comprising a wall located proximally of the protective element and having an opening for sliding about the needle shaft, and wherein the opening comprises a diameter of a first dimension, which is smaller than the outer dimension on the proximal wall of the protective element; and wherein the two arms cross the needle shaft when viewed from a side of the needle shaft in a ready position; the protective element further comprising a distal end portion that lies to the side of the needle shaft and, on reaching the needle tip, is movable by spring action over the needle tip into a protection position, and wherein the ready position is characterized by the needle tip being exposed for an injection or an infusion.