Importance

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Abstract

Shielded winged needled 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 having a pair of circumferential grooves on the outside thereof, and a slightly larger hollow outer winged shield which is slidable relative to the inner tube. The inner tube has a shoulder of relatively large diameter forwardly adjacent the front groove, and a ramp of diameter smaller than the shoulder rearwardly adjacent the front groove. The outer shield has an inner surface with first and second ramps and a protrusion which terminates the second ramp. The protrusion is arranged such that it sits in the rear groove of the inner tube while the winged needle device is being used. Thereafter, the outer shield may be slid forward relative to the inner tube, overcoming resistance given by the engagement of the protrusion and a ramp forward the rear groove, until the protrusion slides up the ramp rearwardly adjacent the front groove and locks in the forward groove. In this forward position, the now-contaminated needle is shielded. The provided ramps and protrusion on inner surface of the outer shield, and the ramp, groove, and shoulder on the outer surface of the inner shield provide an absolute lock which may not be overcome by manual force.

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First Claim