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 include a hollow inner tube body and a telescoping outer shield. The outer surface of the inner tube has front and rear circumferential grooves, with a shoulder located forward of the front groove and a ramp located rearward of the front groove and decreasing in diameter as it extends away from the front groove. The shoulder has a larger diameter than the ramp diameter adjacent the front groove and permits the shield to be slided over the inner tube without locking into the inner tube during assembly. The outer shield has two inwardly extending circumferential protrusions in proximate location to each other, and at least one outwardly extending gripping flange. A first of the protrusions is located at the rear end of the shield and yieldingly engages the rear groove during use of the medical device, thereby permitting normal use of an exposed needle. After needle contamination, the shield is gripped by the thumb and forefinger of the practitioner and slid forward along the inner tube until the forwrd inwardly extending protrusion of the shield slides up the ramp and lockingly engages the front groove. The shield is then locked relative to the inner tube such that the needle is shielded. With properly arranged gripping flanges, the shielding action may be accomplished with one hand.

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First Claim