Patent ID: 8419687

Claim:
A method of shielding a sharp tip of a cannula at least partially defining an interior passage, the cannula including proximal and distal ends, wherein the sharp tip is formed on the distal end of the cannula, the method comprising: collecting a sample of at least one of tissue and a bodily fluid from a patient in the passage of the cannula; inserting a shaft into the passage through the distal end thereof to push the sample out of the proximal end of the passage to collect the sample, the step of inserting including: retracting a catch mounted on the shaft as the catch contacts the distal end of the cannula so that the catch is nearer to the shaft for movement of the shaft through the passage of the cannula; and shielding the sharp tip of the cannula with a shield when the shaft is inserted a predetermined distance into the cannula; and retaining the shaft relative to the cannula against movement out of the passage through the distal end so as to hold the shield over the sharp tip.