Hypodermic needle grinder

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing hypodermic needle having a needle shaft with a pointed end and a hub end and having a needle hub joined to the hub end for safe disposal of the hypodermic needle includes a metal grinder assembly including a grinding member having a grinding surface and a mechanism for moving the grinding member, and a needle guide structure for holding the needle shaft adjacent to the grinding member and the pointed end oriented substantially toward the grinding surface, for guiding the needle shaft toward and against the grinding surface to progressively grind the needle shaft into very fine particles. The mechanism for moving the grinding member preferably includes an electric motor. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a housing enclosing the grinding member, having a housing wall. The needle guide structure preferably includes a needle opening in the housing wall adjacent to the grinding member into which the needle shaft is inserted to make contact with the grinding member, the needle opening retaining the needle against substantial lateral movement resulting from friction with the grinding member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.