Needle Assemblies

A method of assembling a needle assembly compr end portion thereof, with the handle having a central bore and an engagement portion;

• providing a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, the guide tube comprising an inwardly-extending ising:
• providing a needle having a handle at a proximal projection adjacent a proximal end thereof, inserting the proximal end portion of the needle into the central bore of the handle;
• and
• inserting the needle and handle combination into the guide tube, wherein the handle is positioned such that the engagement portion of the handle engages the inwardly-extending projection of the guide tube for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and the handle at the proximal end portion extends from the proximal end of the guide tube;
• and
• wherein the engagement is releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.

A needle assembly comprising:

• a needle having a handle secured at a proximal end portion of the needle;
• and
• a guide tube formed from a translucent polymer and sized to house the needle and handle, the guide tube comprising an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof,
• wherein the inwardly-extending projection is configured to engage an engagement portion of the handle for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and a proximal end portion of the handle extends from the proximal end of the guide tube;
• wherein the engagement being releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube, and wherein the engagement portion of the handle comprises a textured anti-slip surface etched into the handle;
• and
• wherein the engagement portion of the handle is located intermediate distal and proximal end portions of the handle.