Syringe needle destruction method and apparatus
AssigneeBrad A. Kohl
InventorsBrad A. Kohl, Douglas L. Armstrong, Byron L. Boylston, Keith G. Savas, Mark G. Deveau, Scott Sadow
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for destroying syringe needles. The apparatus has an incinerator unit (16) into which a syringe needle may be inserted, crimped by a crimper (30), the needle measured between its tip and the sealing crimp, burned by passing an electric current corresponding to its measured length between the needle tip and the sealing crimp, and the burned needle severed by a cutting blade (36).
Claims19
A syringe needle destruction apparatus comprising a housing having an orifice through which a syringe needle may be inserted, a needle tip electric contact element mounted for movement along a needle path of travel within said housing in engagement with the needle tip between a position adjacent said orifice and a position distal from said orifice, electric contact means mounted within said housing adjacent said orifice for establishing an electrical contact on the needle distally from the needle tip, measuring means for measuring a displacement of said needle tip electric contact element along the needle path of travel from a position adjacent said orifice and a position distal from said orifice, means for establishing a voltage across said needle tip electric contact element and said electric contact means, and means for controlling and varying the voltage established by said voltage establishing means as a function of needle tip electric contact element displacement measured by said measuring means.
A syringe needle destruction apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving and containing a needle portion of a syringe;
- means for measuring the length of the needle portion;
- means for establishing a voltage across said needle portion;
- and
- means for controlling and varying said means for establishing a voltage as a function of needle length measured by said measuring means.
A method of destroying at least a portion of a needle that extends outwardly from the barrel and hub of a syringe to a needle tip, and with the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting a portion of the needle into an incinerator while leaving the barrel outside of the incinerator;
- (b) measuring the length of the inserted portion of the needle within the incinerator;
- and
- (c) burning the needle by passing an electric current through the portion of the needle, the magnitude of the electric current being in relation to the measured length of the needle portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.