Importance

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Abstract

Improved shielded medical devices which minimize accidental needlesticks of the skin by an exposed contaminated needle are provided. The medical devices includes a hollow inner tube body having a pair of circumferential grooves on the outside thereof, and a slightly larger diameter hollow shield which is slidable relative to the inner tube. Lugs circumferentially spaced about the rearward end of the shield yieldingly engage the rearward grooves during use of the medical device and thereby permit normal use of an exposed needle. Thereafter the shield may be moved along the axis of the inner tube to a second position wherein the shield covers the now-contaminated needle. A plurality of axial slits in the rearward end of the shield in conjunction with a shoulder on the inner tube body forwardly adjacent a forward circumferential groove permit the medical devices to be assembled. The slits also permit the shield to move along the ramped outer wall of the inner tube during movement of the shield into its shielding position. In the unshielded position of the medical devices, a plurality of teeth on the forward end of the inner tube engage notches in the forward end of the outer shield to prevent rotational movement there-between during use of the medical devices.

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First Claim