Needle assemblies

A needle assembly for mounting on an injection device, comprising:

• a main body configured to be removably attached to an injection device in use;
• a needle secured in the main body and having a forward portion which projects forwardly from the main body, and
• a shield slideably coupled to the main body, the shield including a cavity for at least partially receiving the needle;
• and
• an actuator portion which extends outside the main body and configured for pushing the shield forward manually in use such that the shield is slideably moveable between a first position in which the forward portion of the needle projects forwardly of the shield cavity, and a second position in which said forward portion of the needle is located within the shield cavity;
• and
• wherein the shield and main body are provided with cooperating latching features comprising at least one latching element formed on one of the outer surface of the shield or the inner surface of the main body and at least one corresponding engagement feature, formed on the other of the outer surface of the shield and the inner surface of the main body, comprising a ramped surface, for resiliently deflecting the corresponding latching element as it moves in a forward direction and a stepped or barbed profile to prevent rearward movement of the corresponding latching element when the shield is in the second position;
• wherein the latching element rides over the engagement feature and snaps into a latched position as the shield moves into the second position to hold the shield in its second position, and
• wherein the actuator is radially spaced apart from the shield central portion and connected at forward end to extend over the outer wall of the main body in the first position.

A needle assembly for mounting on an injection device, comprising:

• a main body configured to be removably attached to an injection device in use;
• a needle secured in the main body and having a forward portion which projects forwardly from the main body, and
• a shield including:
• a central portion which is slideably coupled to the main body, the central portion including a cavity for at least partially receiving the needle;
• and
• an actuator portion which extends outside the main body and is configured for pushing the shield forward manually in use such that the shield is slideably moveable between
• a first position in which the forward portion of the needle projects forwardly of the shield cavity, and
• a second position in which said forward portion of the needle is located within the shield cavity;
• and
• wherein the shield and main body are provided with cooperating features comprising
• at least one latching element having a resiliently movable leg provided on one of the shield or the main body;
• at least one corresponding engagement feature provided on the other of the shield and the main body comprising a ramped surface on a forward end of the engagement feature, for resiliently deflecting the corresponding latching element as the shield moves in
• a forward direction and a stepped profile to prevent rearward movement of the shield relative to the main body when the shield is in the second position, and
• a cylindrical opening on the forward end of the shield,
• wherein the latching element rides over the engagement feature and snaps into a latched position as the shield moves into the second position to hold the shield in its second position, and
• wherein the actuator is radially spaced apart from the shield central portion and connected at a forward end to extend over the outer wall of the main body in the first position.