| abstract |
A safety shield is provided for an elongate needle cannula having a proximal end and a sharply pointed distal tip. The safety shield includes an anchor fixedly disposed near the proximal end of the needle cannula. The safety shield further includes a tip guard that is slidably movable along the needle cannula from a proximal position near the anchor to a distal position where the tip guard protectively surrounds the distal tip of the needle cannula. An elongate spring tether formed from a resiliently deflectable material has a proximal end connected to the anchor and a distal end connected to the tip guard. The spring tether is deflected into a loop about an axis extending orthogonal to the needle cannula when the tip guard is in the proximal position. The spring tether has a length which permits the tip guard to slide into its distal position without sliding completely of the distal end of the needle cannula. Resiliency of the spring tether keeps the tip guard in its proximal position. However, after sufficient manually generated movement of the tip guard in a distal direction, the resiliency of the spring tether will propel the tip guard into its distal position for safely shielding the tip of the needle cannula. |