Apparatus for disposing of hypodermic needles
US6148742A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S220/908
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A needle incineration apparatus for disposing of hypodermic needles comprises an insertion aperture (26) through which a needle to be destroyed may be introduced into the apparatus, two electrodes separated by a gap that is aligned with the insertion aperture (26), and a power supply for applying a voltage across the electrodes to destroy needles introduced through the insertion aperture (26) into the gap to contact the two electrodes. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus is formed of a main housing (10) and a disposable cartridge (20) separable from the main housing (10), the power supply being disposed within the main housing (10), the insertion aperture (26) being formed in a wall of the cartridge (20) and the electrodes being disposed in the cartridge (20) within a permanently closed compartment for storing debris resulting from the destruction of the needles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.