Needle safety device

A device, comprising:

• a needle having a needle tip;
• a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough;
• and
• a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity, adapted for transition from a restrained position when the needle tip is disposed exterior to the interior cavity to an activated position when the needle tip is housed within the interior cavity, the transitional member comprising:
• a pivoting arm disposable at least partially adjacent an interior portion of the housing,
• a needle tip sensing element contacting at least a portion of the needle in the restrained position, and
• a transverse barrier, wherein the needle tip sensing element and the transverse barrier are oriented on opposing sides of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end.

A device, comprising:

• a needle having a needle tip;
• a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough;
• and
• a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position, the transitional member comprising:
• a pivoting arm having a needle tip sensing element for contacting the needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted.

A method of actuating a needle guard, comprising the steps of:

• providing a needle guard disposed about at least a portion of a needle, the needle guard comprising:
• a housing defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle having a needle tip therethrough, and
• a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position, the transitional member comprising:
• a pivoting arm having a needle tip sensing element for contacting the needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted;
• and
• the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position by interrupting contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle.

A device, comprising:

• a needle having a needle tip;
• a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough;
• and
• a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position, the transitional member comprising a pivoting housing, a needle tip sensing element for contacting the needle in the restrained position, and a transverse barrier;
• and
• a spring arm disposed within the interior cavity biasing the transitional member, the spring arm comprising a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position,
• wherein the spring arm and the transitional member are separate elements, and wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted.

A device, comprising:

• a needle having a needle tip;
• a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough;
• and
• a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position, the transitional member comprising:
• a first binding edge for restricting movement of the needle in a proximal direction in the activated position,
• a second binding edge for restricting movement of the needle in a distal direction in the activated position, and
• a needle tip sensing element, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted.