# US 8,541,718 B2 · Hypodermic needle destruction

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- Number: US 8,541,718 B2
- Document ID: US8541718B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/146,718
- Filed: 2010-01-29
- Published: 2011-11-17
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-29
- Assignees: Needlesmart Holdings Limited
- Applicants: Clifford Ian Kirby; Norman Trevor Douce
- Inventors: Clifford Ian Kirby; Norman Trevor Douce
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541718B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/3278: {Apparatus for destroying used needles or syringes (needle resheathing means destroying the needle A61M5/321)}
- 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)}

## Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for processing a hypodermic needle (2), comprising: means for softening the needle; and means (120) for providing a compressive force to the needle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for processing a hypodermic needle, comprising:
a containment cylinder for receiving the needle;
a first electrode for contacting the needle near a first end;
a second electrode, arranged as a piston, movable within the containment cylinder, for contacting the needle at its sharp end; and
a control system, operable to cause a current to flow in the needle between said first and second electrodes, whereby said current causes the needle to soften and wherein the second electrode is arranged to move within the containment cylinder and to provide a compressive force to the needle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the containment cylinder is arranged such that as the second electrode provides the compressive force, the mass of the needle is contained within the cylinder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system causes a current to flow in the needle by applying a voltage directly to the needle or by inducing a current in the needle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrode comprises a piston.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the piston comprises an indentation in which, in use, rests the sharp tip of the needle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising locking means to grip the needle at a hub and secure it in place for subsequent processing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises a pair of slidable clamps mounted on a common shaft, each clamp being driven by a relatively opposite-threaded screw thread.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a pair of guide blocks, each forming one half of a conical channel such that when the guide blocks are mated together, the conical channel is operable to guide the needle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the compressive force is provided by one of a stepper motor, a solenoid, a spring, or manual force.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are provided to select one of a plurality of operational programs.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for selecting one of a plurality of operational programs comprises means for determining at least one of a set of physical properties of possible needles.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the set of physical properties includes one or more of: length, thickness and electrical resistance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the voltage is applied or the current is induced intermittently.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein in the case where voltage is applied directly to the needle, a first relatively smaller current is applied in order to deform the tip of the needle to create a larger contact area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for removing residue from the apparatus.