Electric heating – Metal heating – Cutting or disintegrating
Utility Patent
1997-04-07
2001-01-02
Evans, Geoffrey S. (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
Cutting or disintegrating
Utility Patent
active
06169259
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to improved apparatus for safely and efficiently destroying used hypodermic needles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Used hypodermic needles often contain residues of potentially dangerous materials, such as blood carrying HIV, hepatitis B or other infectious diseases. Because the sharp tips of the needles may prick the skin of persons attempting to dispose of them, many devices are available for destroying the needles. Some of such devices utilize incineration apparatus that generate electric currents that destroy the needle, crushing apparatus that grinds and crushes the needle and the syringe housing, or apparatus using a combination of both incineration and crushing.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,178 to Kohl, et al. discloses a needle incineration device. Insertion of the needle to be destroyed pushes a carriage unit that couples to an electrical power source for sending a high voltage electric current through the carriage unit and into the needle. However, “carriage movement is limited to insure that an operator does not attempt to incinerate the entire length of an extraordinarily long needle in a single operation and thereby exceed power capacity limits.” Like the device disclosed by Kohl, et al., other devices such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,169 to Ch'ing-L'ung exist that require the user carefully to feed the needle into the apparatus to ensure destruction of the needle. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,934 to Spinello disclose a device that is “self-powered” through an optional rechargeable battery and that also requires the user to feed progressively shorter lengths of a needle into the device in order for incinerating currents to destroy the needle. Thus, using the Spinello or Ch'ing-L'ung devices, it is likely that a hurried or careless user could destroy only part of the needle, leaving a dangerous “stub.”
Such careful feeding is further complicated by the fact that needles come in a variety of sizes. If too large a needle is being destroyed, the destruction device may not develop sufficient current to destroy the needle completely or destruction may take a long time. Similarly, if too small a needle is being destroyed, the electrodes of an incinerator-type destruction device may be too far apart to allow the needle to close the circuit between the electrodes. Furthermore, constant use of the device may wear down the electrodes, further separating them, or may leave the electrodes coated with the “slag” created during destruction of a needle. Thus, current will either not flow or flow only intermittently from the electrodes into the needle, thereby leaving all or parts of the needle intact.
Moreover, even if the needle is adequately destroyed, there may be some residue of material from the needle or the syringe left inside the destruction device. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,541 to Hashimoto indicates that “a disinfectant may be sprayed onto the syringe during the collapsing operation.” However, spraying each syringe is time consuming and easily forgotten in the press of other duties. Also, there is no provision for eliminating airborne emissions during destruction of the needle. Without proper precautions and/or a sufficiently fast destruction process, airborne pathogens may leave the hollow needle before, during or after the destruction process.
Additionally, for each of the above-described devices, the user apparently must carry the needle to the device for destruction. This activity increases the risk that medical personnel or others inadvertently may prick themselves with a needle before it is destroyed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,669 to Wallace, et al. recognizes that collecting used hypodermic needles for destruction entails significant problems. Wallace, et al. thus provides a collection unit and a centrally located processing unit that both breaks the needle into fragments and melts the plastic syringe housing.
It would also, however, be desirable to have a compact, portable device that can, for instance, be moved to locations where blood is being taken or vaccinations given, remote from health care facilities or that can be transported within a larger medical facility by a nurse or orderly making rounds. Other than the “self-powered” Spinello device that only incrementally destroys needles and does not appear to foreclose airborne emissions, no truly portable, compact and inexpensive destruction devices are available, however. Instead, many of the destruction devices are outfitted with numerous “bells and whistles,” such as bulky transformers for coupling the device to a main power supply or infrared sensors for activating the device, that add complexity and cost. Such complexity is entirely unnecessary for many users, who simply desire to completely destroy their needles before disposal. Exemplary of such users are diabetics and dentists, both of which groups make use of very small and fine needles. While these persons desire to dispose of used needles properly, the high cost of the overly complex destruction devices dissuades such proper disposal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above problems by providing a portable device that can be used in a variety of locations, may have a self-contained power source, fully destroys needles of various lengths and gauges in one step, and sterilizes and/or prevents escape of pathogens and potential contaminants. Additionally, one embodiment of the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive needle destruction device that is capable of destroying instantly and completely small needles such as those used by dentists or diabetics.
Briefly, the present invention is a portable needle destroying device provided with a power supply such as a replaceable or rechargeable battery, perhaps provided with a transformer for converting A.C. to D.C., an adjustable dial that is used to set the gap between two electrodes in order to allow needles of varying gauge to be used with the device, and a filter infused with disinfectant that prevents particulate or airborne pathogens from escaping from the device. The battery may be rechargeable. Instead, however, of connecting directly to one of the electrodes, the battery may couple to an energy storing device such as an inductor, capacitor or thyristor circuit. The storage device is charged by the battery and holds a charge for release when a needle is inserted and creates a short circuit across the gap between the electrodes. The released charge, or arc, is powerful enough to destroy small needles completely without requiring the user to insert successively smaller lengths of the needle into the device in order to ensure the needle's destruction. Alternatively, even for large needles, the released charge significantly speeds the destruction of the needle and the battery may also supply power to the electrodes so that complete destruction of larger needles is quickly completed following initial insertion and release of the stored charge.
The device accommodates needles of all lengths and gauges by providing a means for adjusting the gap between the electrodes. The adjusting means is controlled by a dial that the user turns to move an adjustable electrode. Turning the dial in one direction decreases the bias of a spring to allow the adjustable electrode to move away from a second electrode and thereby more efficiently accept a larger needle. Turning the dial in the other direction increases the spring bias and forces the adjustable and second electrodes closer together to accept a smaller needle. Absent such adjustment it is exceedingly difficult for the user completely to destroy all of the needle. If the gap were too large for a small needle, likely the user would be forced to rock the needle back and forth to ensure complete contact between the needle and electrodes. Such rocking possibly would be insufficient and leave a dangerous, sharp “nub” of needle. Alternatively, if the gap were too small, use of larger needles would more quickly wear down the electrodes, ultimately possibly causing electro
Clark Elton
Hall Robert M.
Evans Geoffrey S.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
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