A retractable centesis needle comprises a hollow, sharp tipped outer cannula extending from a housing. The outer cannula is generally tube-like and open at both ends to form a channel into a cavity in the housing. A blunt tipped inner cannula is disposed within the channel and capable of sliding away from the housing to an extended state and toward the housing to a refracted state. The inner cannula is biased toward the extended state by a first spring disposed in the housing. A second spring also disposed in the housing acts in the same direction as the first spring when the inner cannula is in a fully retracted state. However, the second spring does not bias the inner cannula in any direction when the inner cannula is in a fully extended state.
