Apparatus for destroying sharp objects and method of use

An apparatus for destroying needles and sharp objects comprising:

• an incineration port, said incineration port comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are operable to receive a needle or a sharp object;
• a power source in communication with said incineration port, wherein the power source is operable to provide electrical power to the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a plurality of sensors comprising a current sensor;
• a microcontroller unit comprising a processor, wherein the microcontroller unit is in communication with the plurality of sensors, and wherein the processor is operable to interface with the power source, the first electrode, and the second electrode;
• and
• a transistor,
• wherein the current sensor is in communication with the microcontroller unit, and the current sensor is operable to detect current being delivered to the first electrode and the second electrode by the power source, and
• wherein the microcontroller unit is operable to:
• infer a size of the needle or the sharp object inserted into the incineration port based on an output of the current sensor, to drive the transistor using a pulse-width modulated signal, and to modify the pulse-width modulated signal based on the inferred size of the needle or the sharp object, thereby controlling a flow of power from the power source to the first electrode and the second electrode in a manner that minimizes sparking.

An apparatus for destroying needles and sharp objects comprising:

• an incineration port comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are operable to receive a needle or a sharp object;
• a power source in communication with the incineration port and operable to provide electrical power to the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a current sensor operable to detect current being delivered from the power source to the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a variable resistance element operable to regulate an amount of current being delivered to the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• a microcontroller unit comprising a processor that is in communication with the current sensor and the variable resistance element,
• wherein the processor is operable to interface with the power source, the first electrode, and the second electrode,
• wherein both the current sensor and the variable resistance element are in communication with the microcontroller unit,
• wherein the processor of the microcontroller unit is configured to receive data from the current sensor and determine if a current adjustment is required, and
• wherein, based on determining that the current adjustment is required, the processor is configured to compute the required current adjustment and send a signal to the variable resistance element which will result in a modification of the amount of current passing to the first electrode and the second electrode.

An apparatus for destroying needles and sharp objects comprising:

• an incineration port, the incineration port comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are operable to receive a needle or other sharp object;
• a power source, wherein the power source is in communication with the incineration port and wherein the power source is operable to provide electrical power to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
• a plurality of sensors comprising a current sensor;
• a processor, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the plurality of sensors, and wherein the processor is operable to interface with the power source and the plurality of electrodes;
• and
• a variable resistance element,
• wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises a flat portion and an angled portion, each angled portion comprises a contact and a base, and each contact and each base comprise a terminal end,
• wherein each angled portion of each electrode is bent downward at an offset angle from a horizontal plane of the flat portion of the electrode,
• wherein, for each angled portion, a portion of the contact of the angled portion extends beyond the terminal end of the base of the angled portion and defines an overhang length,
• wherein the processor is a microcontroller,
• wherein the current sensor is operable to detect current being delivered to the plurality of electrodes by the power source, and the variable resistance element is operable to regulate an amount of current being delivered to the plurality of electrodes,
• wherein the current sensor and the variable resistance element are in communication with the processor, and
• wherein the microcontroller is operable to:
• receive data from the current sensor;
• determine whether an adjustment in the amount of current delivered to the plurality of electrodes is required;
• when it is determined that an adjustment in the amount of current delivered to the plurality of electrodes is required, compute the required adjustment;
• and provide a signal to the variable resistance element wherein the signal results in a modification of the amount of current passing to the plurality of electrodes.