Forward-shielding blood collection set

A shielding needle assembly, comprising:

• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip;
• a hub supporting the needle cannula, the hub including at least one release member;
• a safety shield movably associated with the hub from a retracted position disposed generally coaxially with the hub to an extended position shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula;
• and
• a drive member associated with the hub and adapted to move the safety shield from the retracted to the extended positions,
• wherein application of radial pressure to the at least one release member causes the at least one release member to engage the safety shield and maintain the safety shield in the retracted position, and wherein at least partial release of the radial pressure allows the drive member to disengage the at least one release member from the safety shield and move the safety shield from the retracted position to the extended position.

A shielding blood collection set, comprising:

• a flexible tube having opposed first and second ends, the first end of the tube adapted for connection to a receptacle;
• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip;
• a hub having a proximal end and a distal end, an interior portion of the hub proximal end supporting the needle cannula proximal end and the second end of the tube connected to an exterior portion of the hub proximal end, the hub including at least one release member;
• a safety shield movably associated with the hub from a retracted position disposed generally coaxially with the hub to an extended position shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula;
• and
• a drive member associated with the hub and adapted to move the safety shield from the retracted to the extended positions,
• wherein application of radial pressure to the at least one release member causes the at least one release member to engage the safety shield and maintain the safety shield in the retracted position, and wherein at least partial release of the radial pressure allows the drive member to disengage the at least one release member from the safety shield and move the safety shield from the retracted position to the extended position.

A shielding needle assembly, comprising:

• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip;
• a hub supporting the needle cannula, the hub including at least one release member;
• a safety shield movably associated with the hub from a retracted position disposed generally coaxially with the hub to an extended position shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula;
• a drive member associated with the hub and adapted to move the safety shield from the retracted position to the extended position;
• and
• a packaging shield disposed on a distal end of the hub and enclosing the puncture tip of the needle cannula in the retracted position of the safety shield,
• wherein the at least one release member is pivotally connected to the hub, and includes a locking tab engaging a locking groove in the packaging shield preventing removal of the packaging shield, and
• wherein application of radial pressure to the at least one release member causes the at least one release member to pivot radially inward and disengage the locking tab from the locking groove, thereby substantially releasing the packaging shield from the hub, and further causes the at least one release member to engage the safety shield and maintain the safety shield in the retracted position, and wherein at least partial release of the radial pressure allows the drive member to disengage the at least one release member from the safety shield and move the safety shield from the retracted position to the extended position.

A method of actuating a shielding needle assembly, comprising:

• providing the shielding needle assembly comprising a needle cannula having a puncture tip, a hub supporting the needle cannula, a safety shield movably associated with the hub and disposed generally coaxially with the hub, and a drive member associated with the hub for moving the safety shield relative to the hub, the hub including at least one release member;
• applying radial pressure to the at least one release member, such that the at least one release member engages the safety shield to maintain the safety shield in a retracted position disposed generally coaxially with the hub;
• and
• at least partially releasing the radial pressure, such that the drive member automatically disengages the at least one release member from the safety shield and moves the safety shield from the retracted position to an extended position shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula.

A shielding needle assembly, comprising:

• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip;
• a hub supporting the needle cannula, the hub including at least one release member;
• a safety shield movably associated with the hub from a retracted position disposed generally coaxially with the hub to an extended position shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula;
• a packaging shield removably engagable with the hub, the packaging shield covering the needle cannula proximal end;
• and
• a drive member associated with the hub and adapted to move the safety shield from the retracted to the extended positions,
• wherein application of radial pressure applied to the at least one release member is required for removal of the packaging shield from the hub, and sequential change in radial pressure applied to the at least one release member is required for allowing the drive member to disengage the at least one release member from the safety shield and move the safety shield from the retracted position to the extended position.