Shieldable needle assembly

摘要

A shieldable needle assembly includes an elongate needle (12) with proximal and distal ends and a bore (20), a hub (22) fixedly attached at the proximal needle end for attaching to a fluid handling device (24) so that the needle bore is in fluid communication with the fluid handling device, and a guard (26) slidably movable on the needle between a proximal position wherein the distal needle end is exposed and a distal position wherein the distal needle end is protected. The guard has a passageway forming a fluid tight seal about the needle surface, and an attachment fitting (32) so that when the guard is in the distal position, if a device with a conjugate fitting is releasably attached to the guard, the fitting is in fluid communication with the fluid handling device. The assembly also has a hinged arm (38) articulated to the hub and the guard for movement between the proximal and distal positions. <IMAGE>