Needle removing device

An apparatus for removing a needle from a syringe body, the needle being attached to the syringe body with a threaded collar, the apparatus comprising:

• a base member, the base member having an axial center and including an inner wall, at least one helical slot disposed in the inner wall, the helical slot including an upper end and a lower end and a middle portion disposed therebetween, the upper end and lower end of the helical slot being deeper than middle portion disposed therebetween,
• a tube member disposed approximately along the axial center of the base member, means for moving the tube member upward and downward within the base member, the tube member having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the tube member including at least one peg disposed approximately perpendicular to and directed toward the axial center of the base member, the peg being spring biased in a radially outward direction, an outer end of the peg being accommodated in the helical slot, the tube member being spring biased upward, the outer end of the peg being disposed in the upper end of the helical slot when the upper end of the tube member is disposed within an upper end of the base member,
• the peg engaging the collar of the needle when the needle is pushed downward into the upper end of the tube member as the syringe engages the upper end of the tube member thereby forcing the outer end of the peg downward into the middle portion of the helical slot, the peg engaging the collar of the needle and twisting the needle as the peg and tube member follow the helical slot downward towards the lower end of the helical slot as the syringe and the needle are pushed downward,
• the peg twisting the collar of the needle, and the needle off the syringe body upon arrival of the peg at the lower end of the helical slot.

An apparatus for removing a needle from a syringe body, the needle being attached to the syringe body with a threaded collar, the apparatus comprising:

• a base member, the base member having an axial center and including an inner wall, at least two helical slots disposed in the inner wall, each helical slot including an upper end and a lower end and a portion disposed therebetween, the upper end and lower ends of the helical slots being deeper than the middle portions disposed therebetween, the upper ends of the helical slots being disposed on opposing sides of the inner wall of the base member and the lower ends of the helical slots being disposed on opposing sides of the inner wall of the base member,
• a tube member disposed approximately along the axial center of the base member, means for moving the tube member upward and downward within the base member, the tube member having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the tube member including at least two pegs disposed approximately perpendicular to and directed toward the axial center of the base member, each peg being spring biased in a radially outward direction, an outer end of each peg being accommodated in one of the helical slots, the tube member being spring biased upward so that the outer ends of the pegs are disposed in the upper ends of the helical slots when the upper end of the tube member is disposed within an upper end of the base member,
• each peg engaging opposing sides of the collar of the needle when the needle is pushed downward into the upper end of the tube member as the syringe forcefully engages the upper end of the tube member thereby forcing the pegs downward into the middle portions of the helical slots, the pegs engaging the collar and twisting the collar as the pegs and tube member follow the helical slots toward the lower ends of the helical slots as the syringe and needle are pushed downward,
• the pegs twisting the collar of the needle off the syringe body upon arrival of the pegs at the lower ends of the helical slots,
• each helical slot being disposed adjacent to a return lane, each return lane being deeper than the portion of the helical slot disposed between the upper and lower ends of the helical slot, each return lane being connected to the upper and lower ends of a helical slot, the pegs following the return lanes as the pegs return to the upper ends of the helical slots from the lower ends of the helical slots under the upward spring bias force imposed on the tube member.

A method of removing a needle from a syringe body, the needle being attached to the syringe body with a threaded collar, the method comprising:

• inserting the needle into an upper end of a tube member, the tube member being disposed within a base member,
• the base member having an axial center and including an inner wall, at least two helical slots disposed in the inner wall, each helical slot including an upper end and a lower end and a middle portion disposed therebetween, the upper end and lower ends of the helical slots being deeper than middle portions disposed therebetween, the upper ends of the helical slots being disposed on opposing sides of the inner wall of the base member and the lower ends of the helical slots being disposed on opposing sides of the inner wall of the base member,
• the tube member being disposed approximately along the axial center of the base member, the upper end of the tube member including at least two pegs disposed approximately perpendicular to and directed toward the axial center of the base member, each peg being spring biased in a radially outward direction, an outer end of each peg being accommodated in the helical slot, the tube member being spring biased upward so that the outer ends of the pegs are disposed in the upper ends of the helical slots when the upper end of the tube member is disposed within an upper end of the base member;
• pressing the syringe body against an upper surface of the tube member and forcing the tube member, the needle and syringe body downward into the base member,
• each peg engaging opposing sides of the collar of the needle when the needle is pushed downward into the upper end of the tube member as the syringe engages the upper end of the tube member thereby forcing the pegs downward into the middle portions of the helical slots, the pegs engaging and twisting the collar of the needle as the pegs and the tube member follow the helical slots towards the lower ends of the helical slots as the syringe and needle are pushed downward, the pegs twisting the collar of the needle off the syringe body upon arrival of the pegs at the lower ends of the helical slots;
• and removing the downward force from the syringe body after the needle is twisted off the syringe body.