Needle incinerator
US6326575A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2005/3283
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides an incinerator adapted for disintegrating metal needles and lancets such as are used in the medical profession. An incinerator is provided that includes first and second electrodes, each having a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to one another. The second electrode is rotated relative to the first electrode so as to define a tapered gap between the contact edges. A controlled power source is selectively interconnected to the first and second electrodes, with both being supported by a housing. The housing defines an opening adjacent to the electrodes for receiving metal, such as hypodermic needles, interveinous needles, lancets, etc., to be incinerated by the electrodes. In another embodiment of the invention, a residue collection drawer is slidably mounted within the housing adjacent to the electrodes so as to capture residue from the incineration. An electrode broom is movably mounted within the housing or the drawer, adjacent to the gap between the electrodes, so as to be movable against the contact edges thereby to remove a build-up of debris resulting from incineration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.