Blood collection assembly

A needle assembly comprising:

• a hub having opposite proximal and distal ends, inner and outer tubes extending from the proximal end and to the distal end, a substantially cylindrical space being defined between the inner and outer tubes and being open at the distal end of the hub, the inner and outer tubes being connected to one another at the proximal end of the hub, a passage extending through the inner tube from the proximal end to the distal end;
• a needle cannula having a proximal end rigidly connected to said distal end of said inner tube of said hub, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, said lumen providing fluid communication with said passage through said inner tube of said hub;
• a shield telescoped within said outer tube of said hub and telescoped over said inner tube of said hub and said needle cannula and movable from a proximal position where said needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where said needle cannula is shielded;
• a spring captured between portions of said hub and said shield and being operative for propelling said shield into said distal position relative to said hub and said needle cannula;
• a retainer for releasably retaining the shield in the proximal position;
• and
• an actuator for selectively releasing said retainer,
• wherein said actuator comprises at least one resiliently deflectable wing extending outwardly from portions of said outer tube adjacent said distal end of said hub, said wing being rotationally deflectable about said outer tube, said retainer being joined to said wing and being movable in response to deflection of said wing from a first position where said retainer blocks said shield and a second position where said retainer permits movement of said shield into said distal position,
• wherein in the initial state of the assembly prior to use, said cannula is exposed, said shield is located in said proximal position, and said assembly further comprises a safety cap disposed over at least a portion of the exposed needle cannula.