# US 5,710,404 A · Portable hand-held device for incinerating needles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,710,404 A - Document ID: US5710404A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/688,817 - Filed: 1996-07-26 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1996-07-26 - Assignees: Biotronix 2000, Inc. - Inventors: Serge Jacques Descent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710404A ## CPC - A61M 5/3278: {Apparatus for destroying used needles or syringes (needle resheathing means destroying the needle A61M5/321)} - A61L 11/00: Methods specially adapted for refuse {(disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00)} - A61M 2005/3283: {using electric current between electrodes} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A portable hand-held device facilitates incineration of needles such as those used in hypodermic syringes. Incineration of such needles precludes the spread of diseases and the possibility of contamination of personnel handling such needles. The device includes two electrodes that are interconnected to complete the circuit when a needle is inserted into a recess in the device. A groove in the guide for the hand-held device allows full insertion of the a syringe to facilitate complete incineration of the needle, leaving little or no residue behind. An ambient temperature sensor senses the temperature adjacent the electrodes and cuts off power when the temperature exceeds a pre-set level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable hand-held device for incinerating needles comprising: a) a compact housing sized to be hand-held; b) a chamber within said housing containing two adjacent electrodes one fixed in position and the other flexible, such electrodes connected into an electric circuit therewithin; c) a generally cylindrical guideway leading from said chamber to an opening accessible external to said housing, the guideway receiving a portion of the flexible electrode; d) a power supply connectable to said electrodes; and e) an ambient temperature sensor within said chamber, said sensor sensing temperature in said chamber and, responsive to sensing of temperature above a pre-set threshold, said sensor causing opening of a switch in said circuit to disconnect said power supply from said electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further wherein the fixed in position electrode is relatively rigid and the flexible electrode moves in response to pressure from a body of a syringe inserted into the guideway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said guideway has a tapered enlarged area adjacent said opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein said guideway has an internal groove adjacent said chamber permitting deep insertion of a syringe body into said chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said housing further including a cover which, when removed, permits lateral access to said chamber via a side port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein said cover includes an electrically conductive plate that engages two spaced contacts of said circuit when said cover is mounted on said housing, whereby when said cover is removed, said contacts are disconnected opening said circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein said cover includes a heat resistant pad overlying said side port when said cover is mounted on said housing to isolate said cover and housing from heat in said chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises a battery within said housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes a receptacle on said housing connectable to an external power supply. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible electrode extends from the guideway to a position spaced apart from an end tip of the fixed electrode. ### Claim 11 A portable hand-held device for incinerating a needle comprising: (a) a compact housing sized to be hand-held; (b) a chamber within said housing containing two adjacent electrodes, one fixed in position and the other flexible, such electrodes connected into an electric circuit therewithin; (c) a generally cylindrical guideway leading from the chamber to an opening accessible external to said housing for receiving a needle, a needle hub and a syringe body, the guideway receiving through a side opening a first end of the flexible electrode with a second end outside the guideway spaced apart from an end of the fixed electrode, the second end of the flexible electrode moving in response to engagement with the needle hub to complete a burn of the entire needle; and (d) a power supply connectable to said electrodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the power supply is provided by five 1.2 volt batteries. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein a switch within the compact housing turns off the power supply when the temperature within the housing exceeds 92 degrees Centigrade.