Single-handedly actuatable safety shield for needles

A shieldable needle assembly comprising:

• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a sharply pointed distal tip,
• a guard having a proximal end, an opposed distal end and a side wall extending therebetween, said guard being slidably movable along said needle cannula from a first position substantially adjacent said proximal end of said needle cannula to a second position where said distal tip of said needle cannula is intermediate said opposed proximal and distal ends of said guard, said guard including a clip retained between said side wall and said needle cannula, said clip being configured to cover said tip when said guard is in said second position on said needle cannula;
• and
• a hinged arm having proximal and distal segments articulated to one another for movement between a first position where said segments are substantially collapsed onto one another and a second position where said segments are extended from one another, said proximal segment of said hinged arm being articulated to a portion of said needle assembly adjacent said proximal end of said needle cannula, said distal segment of said hinged arm being articulated to said guard, said proximal and distal segments of said hinged arm having respective lengths for permitting said guard to move from said first position to said second position on said needle cannula, and for preventing said guard from moving distally beyond said second position.

A shieldable needle assembly comprising:

• a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal tip;
• mounting means securely engaging said proximal end of said needle cannula for providing communication between said needle cannula and a hypodermic syringe barrel;
• a guard having a proximal end, an opposed distal end and a side wall extending therebetween, said guard being slidably movable along said needle cannula from a first position substantially adjacent said mounting means to a second position where said distal tip of said needle cannula is intermediate said opposed proximal and distal ends of said guard;
• and
• a hinged arm having proximal and distal segments articulated to one another for movement between a first position where said segments are substantially collapsed onto one another and second position where said segments are extended from one another, said proximal segment of said hinged arm being articulated to said mounting means, said distal segment of said hinged arm being articulated to said guard, said proximal and distal segments of said hinged arm having respective lengths for permitting said guard to move from said first position to said second position on said needle cannula and for preventing said guard from moving distally beyond said second position;
• and spring means extending between said mounting means and said hinged arm for urging said guard toward said second position.