Hinged Needle Shield And Needle Assemblies

A needle shield assembly for use with a needle assembly comprising:

• a shield portion comprising two longitudinal walls extending from a base of the shield portion, the two longitudinal walls being separated by a needle assembly receiving cavity, the needle assembly receiving cavity being defined by the base, the two longitudinal walls and an open end opposite the base, the two longitudinal walls and needle assembly receiving cavity are configured to receive a needle assembly, wherein a proximal portion of the needle assembly receiving cavity is wider than a distal portion of the needle assembly receiving cavity, the proximal portion of the needle assembly receiving cavity receives a hub of the needle assembly and the distal portion of the needle assembly receiving cavity receives a needle cannula of the needle assembly;
• a hub connection portion comprising a partially circular receiving ring defining an arc having a length that is greater than a length of an arc of a semicircle of a same radius as the arc, wherein the partially circular receiving ring deflects or elastically deforms outwardly upon advancement of a receiving flange of the needle assembly, the partially circular receiving ring locks the receiving flange of the needle assembly within;
• and,
• a bridge portion, the bridge portion connecting the shield portion and the hub connection portion, the bridge portion comprising a hub connection portion and a bridge portion and a living hinge, the bridge portion joining the hub connection portion and the shield portion.