Head projections on shielded butterfly needle assemblies

A head-like projection for finger placement facing upward on the leading dorsal end of a puncture-resistant sleeve which slides over the body of a hollow needle to entrap and safely shield its sharp bevel and shank after use in a winged "butterfly" intravenous infusion assembly comprising the hollow needle with a trailing hub permanently attached to trailing tubing, in turn, attachable to an infusion source, and a body enclosed by concentric tubing to which paired wings for finger grasping are attached, said head-like projection comprising in a first preferred embodiment:

• (a) an upward projecting head-like part located on the leading dorsal surface of a four-sided puncture-resistant plastic sleeve substantially longer than the total length of the hollow needle and having:
• i. an essentially flat solid ventral surface;
• ii. a closed leading end portion with a first aperture sized to transmit and initially leave exposed the sharp bevel and shank of the hollow needle without overlying sleeve parts other than an initially supplied disposable protective tube;
• a quadrangular body portion enclosing the body of the hollow needle along with the concentric tubing enclosing this body, and having lateral slots and slits on each side allowing the attached paired wings to protrude through;
• and a trailing end portion enabling mechanical closure of said four-sided puncture resistant sleeve leaving a second aperture sized to allow unrestricted passage of the trailing tubing therethrough;
• iii. said quadrangular body portion having an elongated cavity of dimensions permitting the concentric tubing covering the body of the needle to slide through, and having on each lateral side leading slots and slits leading to trailing slots for guiding and trapping the paired wings attached to the concentric tubing enclosing the body of the hollow needle, such that traction on the hollow needle by means of the trailing tubing permanently attached to the hub of the hollow needle will cause said exposed sharp bevel and shank of the hollow needle to retract and become safely shielded within said elongated cavity in said body portion of said four-sided puncture-resistant plastic sleeve;
• iv. said trailing end portion having no dorsal or lateral projecting parts modified for finger placement or grasping;
• and
• (b) whereon said upward projecting head-like part located dorsally on said leading portion of said four-sided puncture-resistant plastic sleeve slidingly attached over a winged intravenous infusion assembly does not encumber insertion of the sharp bevel and shank of the hollow needle into the vein of a patient when the paired wings are grasped together upright;
• but provides means in said elongated cavity for safely shielding the sharp bevel and shank of the hollow needle upon venous withdrawal when the user places a finger of one hand to exert enough downward pressure on said head-like projection to simultaneously occlude the underlying vein at the hollow needle insertion site and anchor said closed leading end portion of said four-sided puncture-resistant plastic sleeve, such that venous bleeding will be satisfactorily prevented and the sharp bevel and shank of the hollow needle will not be exposed during or after exerting sufficient traction on the trailing tubing with the opposite hand to safely entrap the paired wings into said trailing slots in said quadrangular body portion of said four-sided puncture-resistant plastic sleeve.