avoids direct exposure of the clinician 39 s hand to x ray during the puncturing procedure application_number US 201113390143 A description reference is now made to fig1 which illustrates a needle holder 10 constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention needle holder 10 is an elongate stiff member 13 that includes a needle connector 14 such as but not limited to a male luer connector at a distal end 15 thereof connector 14 connects to a needle 11 such as by means of connecting with a female luer connector affixed to the proximal end of the needle 11 needle holder 10 may be supplied without the needle 11 and the user connects the holder to the needle alternatively needle holder 10 may be supplied with needle 11 already assembled therewith without limitation needle holder 10 preferably has a length of at least 12 cm most preferably in the range of 20 25 cm holder 10 is preferably longer than the needle 11 the elongate stiff member 13 may be a hollow tube with a lumen 16 which may be made without limitation from a stiff clear polymeric material e g polycarbonate lumen 16 is big enough for easy blood flow therethrough preferably but not necessarily having a diameter of equal to or more than 1 0 mm the long and stiff holder 10 reduces the clinician 39 s hand exposure to x rays during insertion of needle 11 and provides better control of the needle orientation trajectory and puncture needle holder 10 includes a vent 12 at a proximal end thereof for blood flow to verify.