Patent ID: 8425472

Claim:
A safety needle assembly comprising a needle hub having opposed proximal and distal ends; a needle cannula having a longitudinal length projecting distally from said distal end of said needle hub; a safety shield having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal portion extending along a single axis between the proximal end and the distal end, the safety shield hingedly connected to said needle hub for hinged movement such that a forward end of said safety shield pivots along a single arcuate path with respect to said needle hub and a longitudinal axis of said needle cannula from a first position where said needle cannula is exposed to a second position where said needle cannula is shielded by said longitudinal portion of the safety shield; a biasing element for biasing said safety shield to said second position; and at least one dorsal fin fixedly secured to the needle assembly such that it continuously and permanently projects in a transverse direction with respect to the needle assembly, said at least one dorsal fin configured for contacting the longitudinal portion of the shield and releasably retaining said shield in said first position wherein the dorsal fin is configured for grasping for manipulation of the needle assembly, said at least one dorsal fin being stationary with respect to the safety shield during movement of the shield from the first position to the second position.