Pivotable guard for shielding a needle

摘要

A needle guard assembly is provided for mounting to the hub of a needle assembly. The needle guard assembly includes a guide that is engageable on the hub. An elongate U-shaped cover is hingedly mounted to the guide and can be rotated from a first position where the needle cannula is substantially surrounded by the U-shaped walls of the cover into a second position where the needle cannula is exposed for use. The needle guard assembly further includes a slide that is slidably engaged in the guide and movable from a first position where the slide cooperatively engages the cover for completely surrounding the needle cannula to a second position where the slide is spaced proximally from the cover, thereby permitting the cover to rotate into its second position.