U.S. patent application number 10/495319 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for needle shield assembly having hinged needle shield.
Invention is credited to Hwang, Charles G., Newby, C. Mark, Wilkinson, Bradley M..
Application Number | 20050004531 10/495319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26967492 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050004531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang, Charles G. ; et
al. |
January 6, 2005 |
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.
Inventors: |
Hwang, Charles G.;
(Ridgewood, NJ) ; Wilkinson, Bradley M.; (North
Haledon, NJ) ; Newby, C. Mark; (Tuxedo, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David W Highet
Becton Dickinson & Company
1 Becton Drive
Franklin Lakes
NJ
07417-1880
US
|
Family ID: |
26967492 |
Appl. No.: |
10/495319 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 30, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US02/13581 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60292680 |
May 22, 2001 |
|
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|
60355907 |
Feb 11, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2005/3217 20130101;
A61M 5/3216 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/263 |
International
Class: |
A61M 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/292,680 filed May 22, 2001 and 60/355,907 filed
Feb. 11, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention relates to needle shield
assemblies for medical devices such as hypodermic needles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Accidental needle sticks from used hypodermic needles can
transmit disease. Various types of needle shields have been
designed to reduce the possibility of accidental sticks.
[0004] A needle shield that is hinged near the base of the needle
has the advantage of allowing one handed needle reshielding.
Accordingly, a number of prior art needle shield assemblies have
been developed that include such needle shields.
[0005] Various means have been provided for locking a hinged needle
shield in the closed, needle protecting, position. Deflectable
members have been provided in the needle shield for engaging the
needle upon shielding and preventing subsequent unshielding of the
needle. Such members trap the needle within the needle shield.
Locking has also been accomplished by locking engagement of the
needle shield with the needle support structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A needle shield assembly in accordance with the present
invention includes a base assembly having a hub and a base member
connected to the hub. A needle cannula having a proximal portion
secured to the hub and a distal portion extending from the hub
defining a longitudinal axis is provided. A coupling on the base
assembly includes a channel transverse to the longitudinal axis of
the needle cannula and having an opening therein. A projection on
the base assembly has a distal end proximal to the channel and a
top surface inclined outwardly with respect to the longitudinal
axis in a distal direction. A needle shield having a cavity therein
is connected to the coupling at the channel. The needle shield is
capable of rotating from an open position wherein the needle
cannula is exposed for use, to a closed needle protecting position
wherein at least the distal portion of the needle cannula is in the
cavity. The needle shield preferably includes a proximal end
portion having a top surface wherein the top surface is able to
contact the projection on the base assembly when the needle shield
is rotated to the open position. The needle shield assembly may
include a projection that is flexibly mounted to the base assembly
and able to be contacted by the needle shield when the needle
shield is in the open position. The needle shield assembly may
include structure for locking the needle shield in the closed
needle protecting position.
[0007] Another embodiment of the needle shield assembly of the
present invention includes a base assembly having a hub, a base
member connected to the hub and a coupling on the base member. A
needle cannula having a proximal portion secured to the hub and a
distal portion extending from the hub defining a longitudinal axis
is provided. The coupling includes a channel transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the needle cannula. A flexible projection is
provided on the base assembly. The projection is positioned
proximally with respect to the coupling. A needle shield having a
cavity therein is hingedly connected to the base assembly at the
channel. The needle shield is capable of rotating from an open
position wherein the needle cannula is exposed to a closed needle
protecting position. The projection of this embodiment preferably
includes a proximal end pivotably coupled to the base assembly in a
distally extending tab. The channel includes a proximally facing
opening and the tab includes a surface in opposed relation to the
channel opening. The tab includes a top surface that is inclined
outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis in a distal
direction.
[0008] Another embodiment of the needle shield assembly of the
present invention includes a base assembly having a hub, a base
member connected to the hub, and a coupling on the base member. A
needle cannula having a proximal portion secured to the hub and a
distal portion extending from the hub defining a longitudinal axis
is provided. A projection on the base assembly is positioned
proximally with respect to the coupling and includes a top
finger-guiding surface inclined outwardly with respect to the
longitudinal axis in a distal direction. A needle shield having a
cavity therein is hingedly connected to the coupling. The needle
shield is capable of rotating from an open position wherein the
needle cannula is exposed, to a closed needle protecting position
wherein at least the distal portion of the needle cannula is in the
cavity. The needle shield is able to contact the projection when
the needle shield is rotated to the open position. The needle
shield assembly can also have a projection which is flexibly
mounted to the base assembly. The projection on the base may be
deflectable and can include a proximal end coupled to the base and
a distally extending tab, wherein the tab is able to contact both
the base member and the needle shield when the needle shield is in
the open position. One way of hingedly connecting the needle shield
to the coupling is by providing a channel in the coupling which is
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the needle cannula. The
channel has a channel opening for engaging a pin on the proximal
end of the needle shield so that the needle shield may rotate
around the channel from the open position to the closed needle
protecting position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a needle shield assembly
according to the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view showing a medical
device including a syringe barrel, a needle hub and base member,
and a needle shield;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the medical
device of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a medical device showing
the needle shield in the open position;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the medical device of
FIG. 4 showing the needle shield in the closed position;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the medical device of
FIG. 4 showing the needle shield in the fully open position;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the medical device of
FIG. 4 showing the needle shield rotated partially towards the
closed position;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the medical device of
FIG. 4 showing the needle shield in the closed position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the medical device of
FIG. 8 taken along line 6-6;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view showing the base member,
hub and needle of the needle shield assembly of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 11 is another top perspective view showing the base
member, hub and needle of the needle shield assembly of FIG. 10
from a different angle;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the needle hub and
base member as an integral assembly;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a needle hub and base
member according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0022] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a needle shield
assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention with
the needle shield thereof being forced to a fully open
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] While this invention is satisfied by embodiments in many
different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be herein
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered
exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to
limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments illustrated.
The scope of the invention will be measured by the appended claims
and their equivalents.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a needle shield assembly 20 includes a
hub 22, a base member 23, a needle shield 26 and an elongate hollow
needle cover 28. A needle cannula 30 is attached to the needle hub.
As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the needle cannula 30 includes a proximal
end 31 and a distal end 32. In this embodiment, the distal end of
the needle cannula preferably includes a sharpened tip. Blunt
cannula are, however, known to the art and are often used to inject
liquid into the injection site of an IV set. The principles of the
invention are applicable to assemblies including blunt cannulas as
well as needle cannulas having sharpened tips and various other
known needle tip shapes.
[0025] The hub 22 includes a proximal end 24 and a distal end 25
that is connected to the proximal end of the needle cannula. The
base member may be and is preferably integral with the hub, as
shown, or joined thereto by an interference fit, adhesives,
ultrasonic welding and the like. All such hub/base member
assemblies are within the purview of the present invention. The
proximal end of the hub defines a connector for connecting the
needle shield assembly to a medical device such as a syringe 33. In
this embodiment the proximal end of the hub includes a
frusto-conically shaped cavity 51 which frictionally engages a
frusto-conically shaped elongate tip 56 on syringe 33. Various
assemblies for connecting needle assemblies to syringes are known
and are considered within the purview of the present invention.
[0026] Base member 23 comprises a coupling, which in this
embodiment includes a hook shaped projection 34 and a channel 36
having an arcuate surface as defined by the projection 34 and the
body of the base member 23. The channel includes an opening that
preferably faces proximally. A finger guiding projection 37 is
located proximal to the channel 36 and the channel opening, and
includes a top surface 38 that is inclined outwardly in the distal
direction. The top surface is inclined outwardly in the views shown
in FIGS. 6-8. The projection 37 also includes a curved distal end
face 39 that is in substantially opposing relation to the channel
opening, as shown in FIG. 12. Top surface 38 is shown as a
relatively flat surface, however, it is within the purview of the
present invention to include top surfaces of various shapes such as
convex or concave or combinations thereof. The base member 23
further includes a projection 40 including a pair of inclined
surfaces 41. The proximal end of the projection 40 includes a pair
of notches 42. FIG. 3 shows these elements.
[0027] Elongate hollow needle cover 28 is provided to protect the
needle cannula before the needle shield assembly of the present
invention is used for its intended purpose. Elongate hollow needle
cover 28 includes an open proximal end 29 which is releasably
engaged to the base so that the needle cannula is in the hollow
needle cover. The base member is preferably generally cylindrical,
and preferably includes a distal opening 45 for receiving open
proximal end 29 of hollow needle cover 28 in a preferably snap-fit
engaging manner. The snap fit engaging structure can comprise one
or more projections or recesses on the needle shield and on the
base member.
[0028] Needle shield 26 includes a cavity 43 for enveloping needle
30. At least one projection 44 extends from a side wall of the
needle shield into the cavity 43. The projection is deflectable
towards the side wall of the needle shield 26 when engaged by the
needle 30. Once the needle is far enough within the cavity 43 to be
positioned beyond free end 55 of the projection 44, as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, the projection springs back to its original
position. The projection is preferably long enough so that any
attempt to move the needle cannula out of the cavity will cause
free end 55 of projection 44 to contact the interior surface of the
cavity to resist re-exposure of the needle cannula. The projection
is preferably integral with the sidewall of the needle shield and
coupled thereto near the opening of the cavity 43. The projection
may include a living hinge at or near the point where it extends
from the side wall.
[0029] A pin 46 is coupled to the proximal end of the needle shield
as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8. Pin 46 is of such dimensions that
it can be snapped into channel 36 in the base member 23 and
retained therein by the channel walls. With pin 46 in channel 36,
the needle shield is capable of rotating from an open position
wherein the needle cannula is exposed to a closed needle protecting
position wherein at least the distal end of the needle cannula is
in the cavity of the needle shield. Preferably most or all of the
exposed needle cannula should be within in the cavity when the
needle shield is in the closed position. While needle shield 26 is
readily coupled to base member 24 during manufacture of needle
shield assembly 20, these components are configured to make it very
difficult to dislodge the hinge pin 46 from the channel 36 as the
shield is rotated in either direction. There are many structures to
hingedly connect the needle shield to the base member such as a
living hinge, a flexible connection, and various structures which
function in the hinge-like manner and all of these structures are
within the purview of the present invention. The pin and channel
structure described herein is representative of these many
possibilities. It is preferred that the base member and the hub be
integrally formed of a plastic material. A wide variety of plastic
materials can be used to form the base and the hub. Polypropylene
is preferred and especially useful for forming structure of the
channel opening and the pin on the needle shield to make a
hingeable assembly with enough friction to keep the needle shield
from moving freely under its own weight and requiring some force to
change position of the needle shield when it is not locked in the
closed needle protecting position.
[0030] The needle shield 26 further includes a top surface 48
defining a finger guide area near pin 46. The top surface of the
needle shield is preferably curved between its proximal and distal
ends, and preferably includes projections 50 or similar features to
facilitate rotating the needle shield with a finger. The needle
shield includes a pair of opposing projections 52 that extend from
the sidewalls of the needle shield near the proximal end of the
needle shield. Each of the projections 52 includes an inclined
proximal surface and a distal surface that is substantially
perpendicular to the side walls of the needle shield. The
projections are spaced such that the proximal surfaces thereof are
engageable with the inclined surfaces 41 of the base member
projection 40 as the needle shield is rotated about the pin 46. As
the side walls near the proximal end of the needle shield are
flexible, continued rotation of the needle shield causes the side
walls to flex outwardly until the projections 52 snap into the
notches 42 in the base member projection 40. While two locking
projections and notches are provided for locking the needle shield
in the closed needle protecting position, it will be appreciated
that one or more locking mechanism may be used. Also it is not
necessary to lock the shield to both the needle and the base
member, and the shield may be locked to one of the base member or
the needle to provide locking means for the present invention.
[0031] The needle shield assembly may be integral with the medical
device or removably coupled thereto. The assembly 20 may be
provided to the end user in a sterile package (not shown). Once
removed from the package, it is in the form shown in FIG. 1. and
may be coupled to a medical device such as syringe 33. The needle
shield 26 is then rotated in the proximal direction about the hinge
pin 46 and the needle cover 28 is removed. The medical device is
then ready for use when the needle shield 26 extends generally
proximally at an acute angle with respect to the medical device, as
shown in FIG. 6. In the preferred embodiment, this acute angle is
about forty-five degrees as measured between the longitudinal axis
of the syringe/needle and the longitudinal axis of needle shield
26. Projection 37 limits the rotation of the needle shield in a
proximal direction, and allows it to be positioned where the
medical device can be easily used and the shield can be readily
utilized. Inclined top surface 38 of projection 37 functions as a
finger-guiding ramp in that it directs the users finger outwardly
to facilitate rotating the shield from the open position shown in
FIG. 6 to the closed needle protecting position shown in FIG. 8.
Projection 37 is a very important feature of the present invention.
In addition to facilitating the rotation of the needle shield to
the closed needle protecting position, it redirects the digital
force being supplied by the user's fingertip from a distally
directed axial force to distally outwardly directed force. This
redirection of the digital force reduces the potential for the
digital force to overcome the frictional engagement of the hub
cavity and the syringe tip and cause the needle assembly to become
disengaged from the syringe while the needle shield is being
rotated into the closed needle protecting position. The shield 26
is locked to the needle by the projection 44 and to the base member
by engagement of the projections 52 with the base member projection
40. It is then substantially non-reusable, and can be discarded in
accordance with procedures used for discarding sharps.
[0032] Needle shield 26 preferably includes parallel sidewalls 27.
In applications with very long needle cannula it may be desirable
to have the parallel sidewalls at the distal end of the needle
shield be longer to define a deeper cavity than at the proximal end
of the needle shield. The needle shield can still get close to the
longitudinal axis of the needle, as illustrated in FIG. 1, while
further isolating the distal end of the needle cannula after the
needle is in the closed needle protecting position.
[0033] FIG. 13 shows a needle hub 122 in accordance with a second
and preferred embodiment of the invention. Needle hub 122 includes
a proximal end 124 and a distal end 125. The distal end 125 is
adapted to receive the proximal end of a needle cannula. The
proximal end 124 thereof defines a connector for connecting the hub
to a medical device such as a syringe.
[0034] A base member 123 is integral with the hub 122, though
alternatively it could be joined thereto by an interference fit,
adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or the like. The base member
includes a hook-shaped projection 134 and a channel 136 having an
arcuate surface defined by the projection 134 on the body of the
base member. A ridge 158 extends radially outwardly from the base
member 123 and extends towards the free end of the projection 134.
The base member 123 preferably but not necessarily includes an
opening 145 for receiving the proximal end of a needle cover (not
shown).
[0035] A resilient projection 137 extends from the base member. The
projection 137 comprises a hinged or cantilevered area represented
by a hinge 160 that is integral with the base member and a tab 162
that extends generally in the direction of the hook-shaped
projection 134. Hinge 160 can be a living hinge or a portion
configured to facilitate bending. The tab, in this embodiment, is
in opposing relation to the opening to the channel 136 when the
projection is unflexed, as shown in FIG. 13. A shoulder 164 is
defined by the base member 123. The projection 137 is configured
such that the tab 162 preferably contacts the shoulder of the base
member 123 when projection 137 is urged towards the longitudinal
axis of the hub.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 14, a needle shield 26 as described above
is pivotably attached to the base member 123. The shield is shown
rotated back towards the syringe 33 by application of force A. The
top surface of the needle shield engages the tab 162 and displaces
projection 137 since it is not a rigid structure. This flexibility
is an important feature of the present embodiment since it reduces
the possibility of dislodging the hinge pin 46 from the channel 136
if the needle shield is urged against projection 137. A projection
such as ridge 158 also helps prevent displacement or dislodging of
the hinge pin from the channel during normal use. As the tab 162
tends to assume its resting position shown in FIG. 13, it will urge
the needle shield 26 about the hinge pin 46 from the position shown
in FIG. 14 to the preferred position, where projection 137 is
unstressed, which is about a forty-five degree angle from the
longitudinal axis of the needle and syringe 33. While in this
position, which corresponds to that shown in FIG. 6 of the
first-described embodiment, the user is easily able to rotate the
needle shield 26 into the needle-protecting position while
employing only one hand. There is sufficient space between the
finger guide area 48 of the needle shield and the inclined surface
of the tab 162 to allow the insertion of finger tip by most users,
thereby initiating shield rotation. The shield is appropriately
contoured elsewhere to protect the user while facilitating use of
the shield.
[0037] Resilient projection 137 is an important feature of the
present invention. It provides guidance to the user's finger tip to
guide it radially distally outwardly into a smooth transition onto
the needle shield. Also, it is intended that the user should not
apply excessive force, such as Force A in FIG. 14, to the needle
shield. Excessive and unnecessary force applied to the needle
shield will force the needle shield against projection 137 which,
if not resilient, could act as a fulcrum to magnify forces on hinge
pin 46 which could possibly break it or dislodge it from channel
136. However, because projection 137 is resilient, it pivots
inwardly to reduce forces being applied to hinge pin 46. When the
excessive and unnecessary force is discontinued, the resilient
projection pivots outwardly moving the needle shield with it to the
desired needle shield position for shielding the needle after
use.
* * * * *