Safety shield for medical needles

A needle safety apparatus comprising:

• an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
• an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in the first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis;
• a needle disposed in said second interior space and movable along said longitudinal axis;
• a wedging portion having a plurality of binding surfaces, said wedging portion pivotably mounted to said interior bearing and movable with said inner bearing to secure a distal portion of the needle within said second interior space, said needle having a proximal end mounted to a hub, said hub being connected to said inner bearing by a tether;
• wherein said inner bearing moves telescopically in said first interior space in response to distal movement along said longitudinal axis such that said inner bearing and said outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of said inner bearing relative to said outer bearing;
• wherein said wedging portion includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface on said outer bearing sidewall to pivot said wedging portion when said inner portion is moved along said longitudinal axis;
• wherein said inner bearing includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position;
• wherein said outer bearing includes a distal end having a planar surface substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein said needle includes a proximal end and a bend of about 90 degrees between said proximal and distal ends and a tube attached to said proximal end, said hub includes a winged portion extending therefrom, said winged portion providing a surface area for gripping.

A needle safety apparatus comprising:

• an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
• an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in the first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis;
• a needle disposed in said second interior space and movable along said longitudinal axis;
• a wedging portion having a plurality of binding surfaces, said wedging portion pivotably mounted to said interior bearing and movable with said inner bearing, said needle having a distal end including a needle tip and a distal end mounted to a hub, said hub being connected to said inner bearing by extendable linkage segments;
• wherein said inner bearing moves telescopically in said first interior space in response to proximal movement of said hub and extension of said extendable linkage segments such that said inner bearing and said outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of said inner bearing relative to said outer bearing;
• wherein said wedging portion includes a cam surface which engages a cam surface on said outer bearing sidewall to pivot said wedging portion when said inner portion is moved along said longitudinal axis to limit proximal movement of said inner bearing;
• and
• wherein said inner bearing includes one or more latching arms extending onto a corresponding latching surface disposed on said outer bearing to latch the inner bearing in a proximal position when the inner bearing is moved proximally along the longitudinal axis beyond said one or more latching arms and wherein said wedging portion is thereby retained in a pivoted position.

A medical needle shield apparatus comprising:

• a needle having a distal end, the distal end having a distal portion angled with respect to a more proximal portion such that the distal portion and the proximal portion have different longitudinal axes,
• a shield being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the needle, said needle including a proximal end mounted to a hub and said shield comprising:
• an outer bearing having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis;
• an inner bearing having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis;
• said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis, wherein said inner bearing and said outer bearing each has an axis which remain parallel to the inner bearing moves;
• a means for securing the distal end of said needle wherein the second interior space in the extended position by wedging aginst said distal portion of the needle;
• and
• means for prevention separation of the shield from the needle in the extended position.