Abstract

A hollow needle projects from the forward end of a needle holder. The needle has a permanently attached ferrule, which is circumferentially grooved. The holder includes a handle to be grasped by a user, a frontal leaved structure for gripping the needle ferrule at its groove, and a rearward skirt for guarding the rear end of the needle. The rear of the needle is accessible within the skirt for attachment to vacuum vials, or to tubing for conducting liquid from the patient to a remote storage vessel. After use to withdraw liquid from a patient, the needle is released from the handle and retracted. The release and retraction are manually actuated by a simple unitary rectilinear motion. Preferably the mechanism for initiating release and retraction includes a separate safety container that is inserted into the rear skirt of the holder in the same manner as a vacuum vial, but that receives and encloses the entire needle for disposal. This separate safety container carries at its forward end a fitting for manipulating the frontal structure of the holder to spread the leaves, extracting them from the groove in the ferrule and thereby releasing the needle; and also a rearward-spring-biased retractor for engaging the needle and drawing it into the safety container.