Patent ID: 7513887

Claim:
A medical device operable in connection with a fluid container, the medical device comprising: a housing having a rearward opening forming a socket configured to receive the fluid container, wherein a forward end of the housing has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface tapering inwardly at a greater angle relative to a central axis of the housing than the top surface, the housing at least partially defining a first track that includes a first portion extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing and a second portion extending transversely relative to the central axis; a needle having a forward sharpened tip, the needle operable between a projecting position in which the forward sharpened tip projects forwardly from the housing and a retracted position in which the forward sharpened tip is within the housing; a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly toward the retracted position; and a needle holder operable to releasably retain the needle in the projecting position, wherein the needle holder is configured to move the needle from the projecting position to the retracted position under the influence of the biasing element, and wherein the needle holder is configured to cooperate with the first track to move a forward end of the needle from an orientation substantially parallel to the central axis of the housing when the needle is in the projecting position to an orientation tilted away from the bottom surface of the forward end of the housing when the needle is in the retracted position.