US Patent 7361159 Passive safety shield

A safety apparatus is provided which includes a needle hub having an arm extending therefrom and an extensible frame connected to the needle hub. The extensible frame includes a proximal segment that is hingedly connected to a distal segment. The extensible frame is resiliently biased from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the arm releasably enages the promixmal segment to fix the extensible frame in a position between the retracted position and the extended position. In an alternate embodiment, the safety apparatus includes an extensible frame including a proximal segment which is hingedly connected to a distal segment. A resilient member is coupled to the proximal segment and the distal segment. The resilient member is configured to bias the extensible frame from a retracted position to an extended position. A method for infusing fluids to a subject is disclosed.