Medical instrument package

A package for a medical instrument comprising;

• a hollow shield having an open end surrounded by a flange for insertion and removal of at least a portion of a medical instrument and means to support and protect the instrument when it is contained therein, a separate cap adapted to be mounted on the shield with an opening therein aligned with the opening in the shield to permit insertion and removal of the instrument with respect to the shield and cap, said cap being shiftable between a first position to cooperate with the shield in protecting the instrument and a second position exposing and positioning a portion of the instrument exteriorly of the package to facilitate grasping and removal thereof, wherein the cap is open at both ends, and has a shoulder on its inner surface intermediate the ends of the cap, the shield adapted to be extended through the opening in one end of the cap and to remain engaged with inner surfaces on the cap, the cap being in a first position and restricted from further movement in an upward direction by the underlying engagement of the lateral shoulder on the inner surface of the cap and the undersurface of the flange on the shield, the cap surrounding the portion of the hub extending from the shield when the cap is in the first portion, the cap being slidably shiftable to a second position with the shoulder on the cap being moved away from the flange on the shield and the cap in the second position exposing a portion of the hub extending from the shield to facilitate grasping of the hub and removal of the medical instrument from the shield, and removable closure means covering the opening in the cap and shield and, when removed, exposing the opening in the cap and shield to permit insertion of removal of a medical instrument.