Patent ID: 6936036

Claim:
A shieldable needle device comprising: a needle cannula having opposed proximal and distal ends; a tip guard axially movable along said needle cannula from a proximal position substantially adjacent said proximal end of said needle cannula to a distal position where said tip guard protectively surrounds said distal end of said needle cannula; and a drive mechanism connected to said tip guard for moving said tip guard from said proximal position to said distal position, said drive mechanism comprising a unitary structure including a plurality of folds with at least two of said folds defining intersecting hinges at a common juncture to form a trigger, said drive mechanism capable of maintaining a first self-supporting shape for maintaining said tip guard in said proximal position and which is deflectable from said first self-supporting shape to a second extended shape in which said tip guard is moved to said distal position when a force is applied to said trigger, thereby causing said intersecting hinges defined by the folds to at least partially unfold from said common juncture.