A needle guard (12) having a housing (14) defining an interior cavity, and a transitionalmember (16) disposed within the interior cavity is disclosed. The transitionalmember includes a pivoting arm (36) having a first end and a second end, the firstend adjacent an interior portion of the housing. The transitional member alsoincludes a needle tip sensing element (38), and a transverse barrier (40), suchthat the needle tip sensing element and the transverse barrier are oriented onopposing sides of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end. The needle guard maybe adapted for transition from a restrained position when the needle tip is exteriorto the interior cavity, to an activated position when the needle tip is withinthe interior cavity. The transitional member may also have a needle tip sensingelement for contacting a needle in the restrained position, and a binding edgefor engaging the needle in the activated position.
