This invention relates to a holder for use in combination with a pre-filled cartridge-needle unit, the holder comprising a hollow body sized for housing the cartridge-needle unit therein, and means for permitting the body to move axially relative to the cartridge-needle unit. In one preferred embodiment, the distal end of the body is elliptical in cross section and the proximal end of the body is circular in cross section. In another preferred embodiment, the body comprises a pair of cam slots at the distal end and a pair or retaining slots at the proximal end, the slots being sized to accept a circumferential ring on the cartridge-needle unit and positioned to hold the cartridge-needle units in use and safe positions. The holder is easier to use and manufacture and reduces the susceptibility of health care workers to accidental needle strikes.

The present invention involves an integrated double-ended needle and blood collection device assembly which is convenient to use, safely contained and ready for disposal after use. The device allows the user to expose and resheath potentially infectious needles without bringing the user's fingers or hands into close proximity with sharp or broken needle tips. After removing the needle from the patient, the needle is safely resheathed by retracting the needle into the device, thereby reducing the risks of accidental needle wounds and infection. The device also serves as a holder for blood collection tubes which can be easily inserted and removed for multiple sampling.

This invention relates to a holder for use in combination with a pre-filled cartridge-needle unit, the holder comprising a hollow body sized for housing the cartridge-needle unit therein, and provision for allowing the body to move axially relative to the cartridge-needle unit. In one preferred embodiment, the distal end of the body is elliptical in cross section and the proximal end of the body is circular in cross section. In another preferred embodiment, the body comprises a pair of cam slots at the distal end and a pair or retaining slots at the proximal end, the slots being sized to accept a circumferential ring on the cartridge-needle unit and positioned to hold the cartridge-needle units in use and safe positions. The holder is easier to use and manufacture and reduces the susceptibility of health care workers to accidental needle strikes.

A cartridge syringe with a slideable protective sheath to prevent accidental needle sticks following administration of a an injection is described. The device comprises a syringe cartridge, comprising a constricted distal end region, a piston movably disposed within the barrel, a hub having an axial bore mounted to the constricted distal end region of the barrel, and a hollow needle, the proximal end of the hollow needle projecting through the axial bore of the hub and the distal end of the needle having a pointed tip; and a protective sheath having an inner diameter greater than the external diameter of the syringe cartridge, such that the protective sheath is slideably movable substantially coaxially along the external surface of the cartridge barrel from a first position in which the tip of the needle extends past both ends of the protective sheath, to a second position in which the distal end of the sheath extends past the tip of the needle.

The present invention relates to a protective device for use on a needle, for example hypodermic syringe. More particularly, the present invention is a capping assembly which can be used to cap or shield a needle immediately after it has been used. The capping assembly includes a generally tubular mounting member which has a tapered bore so that it can be easily slid upon, for example the barrel of a hypodermic syringe, but is difficult to remove due to the taper. Slideably mounted upon the mounting member is a sheathing member which is adapted to be slid down the mounting member to cover the needle after use. A locking member is provided between the sheathing member and the mounting member. In the preferred embodiment, the locking member included at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the mounting member and a capturing member extending inwardly from the sheathing member.