Needle shield assembly having hinged needle shield

Abstract

A needle shield assembly including a hinged needle shield is provided. A ramp is provided in proximity to a hinge that connects the needle shield to base assembly. The ramp is preferably flexible, and, if compressed, resliently urges the needle shield to a preferred angular position where it is canted at an angle with respect to the syringe and a closed position in which it envelops the needle. One or more locking elements are preferably provided on the needle shield for maintaining it in a locked, needle protection position.

1 . A needle shield assembly comprising: 
 a base assembly including a hub and a base member connected to said hub;    a needle cannula having a proximal portion secured to said hub and a distal portion extending from said hub, said needle cannula having a longitudinal axis;    a coupling on said base assembly, said coupling including a channel transverse to said longitudinal axis of said needle cannula and a channel opening;    a projection on said base assembly having a distal end proximal to said channel and a top surface, said top surface being inclined outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis in the distal direction; and    a needle shield having a cavity therein hingedly connected to said coupling at said channel, said needle shield capable of rotating from an open position wherein said needle cannula is exposed, to a closed needle protecting position wherein at least the distal position of said needle cannula is in said cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 1  including a pin on said needle shield, said pin being positioned for rotational movement in said channel.  
   
   
       3 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 1  including means for locking said needle shield in said closed needle protecting position.  
   
   
       4 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 1  wherein said needle shield includes a proximal end portion having a top surface, said top surface of said needle shield being able to contact said projection when said needle shield is rotated to said open position.  
   
   
       5 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 1  wherein said projection is flexibly mounted to said base assembly, said needle shield being able to contact said projection when said needle shield is in said open position.  
   
   
       6 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 5  wherein said projection includes a proximal end coupled to said base assembly and a distally extending tab.  
   
   
       7 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 6  wherein said tab is flexible and able to contact said base member.  
   
   
       8 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 7  wherein said tab is coupled to said base assembly by a living hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 8  including a pin on said needle shield, said pin being positioned for rotational movement in said channel.  
   
   
       10 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 9  wherein said needle shield includes a locking member for locking said needle shield in said closed needle protecting position.  
   
   
       11 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 1  wherein said hub, said base member and said coupling are integrally formed of one-piece construction of plastic material.  
   
   
       12 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 11  wherein said plastic material comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       13 . A needle shield assembly comprising: 
 a base assembly including a hub, a base member connected to said hub, and a coupling on said base member,    a needle cannula having a proximal portion secured to said hub and a distal portion extending from said hub, said needle cannula having a longitudinal axis;    said coupling including a channel transverse to said longitudinal axis of said needle cannula;    a flexible projection on said base assembly, said projection being positioned proximally with respect to said coupling, and    a needle shield having a cavity therein hingedly connected to said base assembly at said channel, said needle shield capable of rotating from an open position wherein said needle cannula is exposed to closed needle protecting position, said needle shield able to contact said flexible projection when said needle shield is in said open position.    
   
   
       14 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 13  wherein said projection includes a proximal end pivotably coupled to said base assembly and a distally extending tab, said channel includes a proximally facing opening, and said tab includes a surface in opposing relation to said channel opening.  
   
   
       15 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 14  wherein said tab includes a top surface that is inclined outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis in the distal direction.  
   
   
       16 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 15  wherein said tab is able to contact said base assembly when said needle shield is contacting said tab.  
   
   
       17 . The needle shield assembly of in  claim 13  including a pin on said needle shield, said pin being positioned for rotational movement in said channel.  
   
   
       18 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 13  further including an elongate hollow needle cover having an open proximal end releasably engaged to said base member so that said needle cannula is in said needle cover.  
   
   
       19 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 18  wherein said base member includes a substantially cylindrical body joined to said hub and surrounding a distal end portion of said hub, and said open proximal end of said needle cover releasably engages said cylindrical body.  
   
   
       20 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 13  wherein said base assembly is integrally formed of one-piece construction of plastic material.  
   
   
       21 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 20  wherein said plastic material comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       22 . A needle shield assembly comprising: 
 a base assembly including a hub, a base member connected to said hub, and a coupling on said base member;    a needle cannula having a proximal portion secured to said hub and a distal portion extending from said hub, said needle cannula having a longitudinal axis;    a projection on said base assembly, said projection being positioned proximally with respect to said coupling, said projection having a top surface being inclined outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis in a distal direction; and    a needle shield having a cavity therein hingedly connected to said coupling, said needle shield capable of rotating from an open position wherein said needle cannula is exposed, to a closed needle protecting position wherein at least the distal portion of said needle cannula is in said cavity, said needle shield being able to contact said projection when said needle shield is rotated to said open position.    
   
   
       23 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 22  wherein said projection is flexibly mounted to said base assembly.  
   
   
       24 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 23  wherein said projection includes a proximal end coupled to said base assembly and a distally extending tab.  
   
   
       25 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 24  wherein said tab is able to contact said base member and said needle shield when said needle shield is in said open position.  
   
   
       26 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 22  wherein said coupling includes a channel transverse to said longitudinal axis of said needle cannula and a channel opening.  
   
   
       27 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 26  wherein said needle shield includes a pin positioned for rotational movement in said channel.  
   
   
       28 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 22  wherein said base assembly is integrally formed of one-piece construction of plastic material.  
   
   
       29 . The needle shield assembly of  claim 28  wherein the plastic material comprises polypropylene.