Needle shield assembly

Abstract

A medical implement is provided with a hub and a piercing element that projects distally from the hub. The protective cap is removably engaged with the proximal end of the hub. An IV shield is threadedly engaged with the distal end of the hub and protectively covers the piercing element. A hinged shield is hingedly mounted to the hub and can be rotated from a first position substantially adjacent the IV shield to a second position where the hinged shield is spaced rotationally from the IV shield and finally to a third position where the hinged shield encloses the piercing element. The hinged shield must be rotated from the first position to the second position to threadedly disengage the IV shield and to expose the piercing element for use. After use, the hinged shield is rotated from the second position into the third position for protectively enclosing the piercing element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.