Abstract: A protective cover is provided which is effective in covering the needle tip, but which also can be retracted along the needle shaft to uncover and reopen the needle without interference with the cover or causing contact damage between the cover and the needle tip. The cover has a sheath section with a through channel into which the shaft is slideably received. The cover's sheath section travels substantially along the shaft. This movement is controlled by an actuator control knob connected to a biased locking spring clip or leaf spring located within the sheath section. The locking spring has dual openings through which the shaft travels. When the cover is secured in position on the needle shaft, e.g. when the needle is to be used or when the needle tip is enclosed, the openings are slightly misaligned. This causes locking of the resilient shaft within the protective cover. Pressing the control knob aligns the openings, which unlocks the needle tip and allows the cover to be slid along the shaft.

Abstract: A protective cover for arterial or a similar needle is effective for covering the needle tip and also can be retracted along the needle shaft to uncover and reopen the needle. The cover has a sheath section, whose movement along the shaft is controlled by an actuator section. The sheath section has two through channels and the actuator section has an actuator element with a corresponding channel opening. In the open position, that is when the needle tip is exposed, the channels within the sheath section and the channel opening of the actuator element are aligned and the needle shaft extends through the channels and the opening. To enclose the needle tip, the cover is slid along the needle shaft to the tip, so that the actuator section is slid off the shaft. At this point, a spring within the actuator section compels the actuator element upward, effectively locking the tip within the cover.