Phlebotomy set with safety retracting needle

A device for use in withdrawing liquid from a patient and for thereafter protecting people from contact with portions of the device that have been within the patient;

• said device being for use with a liquid-receiving unit;
• and said device comprising:
• a hollow needle for piercing such patient and for guiding and carrying such liquid into or out of the patient, said needle having a hollow shaft with at least one sharpened end, for receiving such liquid from the patient, and another end for discharging such liquid to such liquid-receiving unit;
• a needle holder that includes:
• a handle suited to be grasped by a user of the device,
• means, secured to the handle, for gripping the needle shaft and holding the needle in position with its sharpened end projecting forward from the handle for insertion into such patient to receive such liquid through the hollow shaft from such patient, and
• a skirt, projecting rearward from the handle, for generally shielding the other end of the needle shaft against inadvertent contact with the user's hands, while permitting access of such liquid-receiving unit to said other end of the needle shaft;
• manually actuable means for releasing the gripping means and for substantially permanently retracting the sharp end of the needle beyond reach of such people's fingers;
• wherein the releasing and retracting means are manually actuable, and comprise:
• means for preventing escape of the sharp end of the needle after actuation of the releasing and retracting means, and
• a spring disposed and attached to propel the sharp end of the needle into the releasing and retracting means, when the releasing and retracting means are manually actuated.