Safety shield for medical needles

A safety apparatus comprising:

• a barrel including a proximal portion defining a cavity and a distal portion including an elongated post, the elongated post defining a longitudinal bore and being configured to receive a needle cannula, wherein the distal portion of the barrel includes a cylindrical race positioned about the elongated post such that the cylindrical race and elongated post define a second annular cavity, the cylindrical race defining a longitudinal slot extending through the cylindrical race;
• a tubular shield being mounted within the second annular cavity and slidably movable relative thereto between a retracted position whereby a distal end of the needle is exposed and an extended position whereby the distal end of the needle is covered;
• and
• a tubular lock insert mounted on the elongated post of the barrel such that the shield is slidably movable along an outer surface of the tubular lock insert, the tubular lock insert including a tang that is in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the tubular lock insert during slidable movement of the shield, the tang being biased radially outward to fix the shield in the extended position,
• wherein the tang and a flange are separated on the tubular lock insert at a distance that provides a gap between a distal end of the tang and a proximal end of the tubular shield when the tubular shield is in the extended position such that the tubular shield is movable relative to the tubular lock insert at least a distance that is equal to the gap.

A safety apparatus comprising:

• a barrel including a proximal portion defining a cavity and a distal portion including an elongated post, the elongated post defining a longitudinal bore and being configured to receive a needle cannula, wherein a distal portion of the barrel further includes a cylindrical race positioned about the elongated post such that the cylindrical race and elongated post define a second annular cavity, the cylindrical race defining a longitudinal slot extending through the cylindrical race;
• a needle being mounted with the elongated post of the barrel and having a distal end;
• a tubular shield mounted for slidable movement within the second annular cavity of the barrel between a retracted position whereby the distal end of the needle is exposed and an extended position whereby the distal end of the needle is covered, the shield including a stability ring that is configured for adding structural integrity to the shield;
• and
• a tubular lock insert mounted on the elongated post such that the shield is slidably movable along an outer surface of the tubular lock insert, the tubular lock insert including a plurality of tangs disposed circumferentially thereabout, the tangs being in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the tubular lock insert during slidable movement of the shield, the tangs being biased radially outward to inhibit proximal movement of the shield in the extended position, the tubular lock insert further including a distal stop positioned on a distal end of the elongated post and configured to inhibit distal movement of the shield,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of tangs and the distal stop are separated on the tubular lock insert at a distance that provides a gap between a distal end of the at least one of the plurality of tangs and a proximal end of the tubular shield when the tubular shield is in the extended position such that the tubular shield is movable relative to the tubular lock insert at least a distance that is equal to the gap.

A safety needle apparatus comprising:

• a syringe including a syringe barrel having a proximal portion defining a cavity and a distal portion including an elongated post, the elongated post defining a longitudinal bore and being configured to receive a needle cannula, the needle cannula defining a lumen and including a sharpened distal tip configured to penetrate tissue, the syringe cavity being dimensioned to slidably receive a plunger, wherein the distal portion of the barrel further includes a cylindrical race positioned about the elongated post such that the cylindrical race and the elongated post define a second annular cavity;
• a shield slidably mounted about the elongated post of the barrel and movable within the second annular cavity from a retracted position whereby the needle cannula is exposed to an extended position whereby the needle cannula is covered;
• and
• a tubular lock insert fixedly mounted on the elongated post of the barrel and configured such that the shield is slidably movable along an outer surface of the tubular lock insert, the tubular lock insert including at least one resilient tang that is movable radially inwardly to allow the shield to pass over the at least one resilient tang, the tubular lock insert further including a stop member positioned on the distal end of the elongated post within the cylindrical race of the syringe barrel, the stop member being configured to abut the shield such that the shield is maintained in a substantially fixed configuration between the stop member and the at least one tang when the shield is in the extended position.