Claims
- 1. A shieldable needle device comprising:
a needle cannula having opposed distal and proximal ends; a hub mounted to the needle cannula; a shield assembly comprising a guard drive, the guard drive having a stored energy, wherein upon release of the stored energy the guard drive moves a guard over the needle cannula; and a packaging cover covering at least a portion of the needle cannula and removably secured on the needle device, wherein the packaging cover inhibits physical movement of the guard drive such that release of the stored energy is prevented.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the packaging cover is removably secured over at least a portion of the guard drive.
- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the packaging cover is removably secured over only a portion of the guard drive.
- 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the exposed portion of the guard drive can be gripped by a user.
- 5. The device of claim 4, wherein if the user grips the exposed portion of the guard drive, and subsequently removes the packaging cover, maintenance of the gripping by the user will inhibit physical movement of the guard drive such that release of the stored energy is prevented.
- 6. The device of claim 5, wherein release of the gripping after removal of the packaging cover will allow the guard drive to release the stored energy and thereby move the guard over the needle cannula.
- 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the guard drive comprises at least one resiliently deflectable leaf.
- 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the packaging cover retains the at least one resiliently deflectable leaf in a folded configuration.
- 9. The device of claim 6, wherein the guard drive comprises two resiliently deflectable leaves.
- 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the packaging cover retains the two resiliently deflectable leaves in a folded configuration.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/370,924, which is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/521,078, filed on Mar. 7, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,259.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10370924 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Child |
10792622 |
Mar 2004 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09521078 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10370924 |
Feb 2003 |
US |