Patent attributes
A safety needle assembly comprises a cannula holding member, a cannula fixed to the cannula holding member, and a safety device mounted on the cannula holding member. The cannula holding member includes one or more outwardly directed fins extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the cannula holding member. The safety device includes a collar adapted to be mounted on the cannula holding member and a sheath. The sheath possesses an interior bounded by a back wall and a pair of oppositely positioned side walls, and also includes an opening positioned opposite the back wall. The sheath is also provided with at least one fin engaging member connected to the back wall and extending from the back wall in a direction toward the opening. The fin engaging member is spaced from the side walls of the sheath. The sheath is pivotally connected to the collar to pivot in a closing direction toward the cannula so that during pivoting of the sheath in the closing direction the cannula passes through the opening in the sheath and is positioned in the interior of the sheath to be covered by the sheath, with the distal end portion of the at least one fin engaging member automatically engaging at least one of the fins on the cannula holding member when the cannula is positioned within the interior of the sheath to lock the sheath relative to the cannula holding member to prevent the sheath from being pivoted away from the cannula.
