A needle shield is provided for a medical device having a needle cannula. Theneedle shield includes a guard (40) that is slidably movable along the needlecannula from a proximal position where the tip of the needle cannula isexposed to a distal position where the tip of the needle cannula is shielded.A hinged arm (51) connects the guard to the proximal end of the needlecannula. The hinged arm can be collapsed upon itself, such that the guard isadjacent to the proximal end of the needle cannula. The hinged arm can beextended to cause the guard to move distally along the needle cannula and intoa position for shielding the tip of the needle cannula. Structure is providedto prevent excessive additional rotation of the hinged elements of the hingedguard after the tip of the needle cannula is shielded.
