Apparatus and method for removing a needle from a syringe

Apparatus for removing the needle portion of a syringe, comprising:

• a housing;
• a needle cartridge removably associated with the housing and selectably movable relative to the housing between a loading position and a cutoff position;
• means operatively associated with the needle cartridge and the housing to urge the cartridge to the loading position and responsive to force exerted on the cartridge in opposition to the urging to allow the cartridge to move to the cutoff position;
• the needle cartridge having a port for receiving a needle portion of a syringe along a predetermined path of entry while preventing entry of a barrel portion from which the needle portion extends;
• a pair of contact elements associated with the needle cartridge at one side of the port;
• the contact elements being in mutually opposed relation to each other and in predetermined alignment alongside the entry path as the cartridge is in the loading position;
• a source of electric current connected in circuit with the contact elements;
• and
• means operative in response to movement of the needle cartridge to the cut-off position to urge at least one contact element into contact with a needle occupying the entry path, whereupon the needle contacts both contact elements so that the contact elements establish a flow of current through a needle portion sufficient to melt the needle portion,
• whereupon the contact elements separate the needle from the barrel of the syringe.

A needle cartridge for removable association with apparatus for removing the needle portion of a syringe, the needle cartridge comprising:

• a first portion receivable in stationary relation with the housing, and a second portion selectably movable between a loading position and a cutoff position relative to the first portion and to the housing;
• a port associated with the second portion for receiving a needle portion of a syringe along a predetermined path of entry while preventing entry of a barrel portion from which the needle portion extends;
• a pair of contact elements associated with the needle cartridge at one side of the port;
• the contact elements being in mutually opposed relation to each other and in predetermined alignment alongside the entry path as the cartridge is in the loading position;
• means operative in response to movement of the needle cartridge to the cut-off position to urge at least one contact element into contact with a needle occupying the entry path;
• and
• electrical conductors extending from the contact elements to a connection operative to establish electrical contact with a power source associated with the housing within which the needle cartridge is received, so that the contact elements establish a flow of current through a needle portion sufficient to melt the needle portion;
• whereupon the contact elements separate the needle from the barrel of the syringe.

A method for removing the needle portion of a syringe, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a needle into a needle cartridge in a loading position, the needle cartridge being movably associated with a housing;
• moving the needle cartridge from the loading position to a cut-off position;
• causing a first contact surface and a second contact surface of the needle cartridge to move into contact with the needle when the needle cartridge is in the cut-off position;
• causing an electrical current to pass through the first contact surface and the second contact surface sufficient to melt a portion of the needle contacted by the surface;
• and
• severing the needle at the melted portion with the first and second contact surfaces.