Syringe disposal system

Solid material comminution or disintegration – Apparatus – With automatic control

Patent

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Details

241100, 241235, 241242, 241606, B02C 1806, B02C 1912

Patent

active

058878076

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a disposal system for needles and syringes, and more particularly to a needle/syringe disposal system which incorporates a cutting device for cutting the needle/syringe into small pieces which may be separated for recycling, and a self-contained sterilization and decontamination system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices for destroying and disposing of used syringes are well known in the art. In one type of syringe disposal system, a container is provided for disposing of used syringes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,929 discloses a syringe disposal system which comprises numerous elongated aligned receptacles for receiving sharp instruments. Each container contains a curable liquid in which the used syringe is inserted. The liquid then cures, sealing the syringe in the hardened material. Other examples of such containers are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,280,687 and 5,172,808.
In another type of syringe disposal device, an apparatus is provided for breaking off or rendering useless the needle of the syringe. U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,750 discloses an apparatus which incorporates a pair of coaxially movable shearing blades. A syringe is inserted in the device, and the blades moved relative to each other for shearing the needle from the cannula, and the cannula from the syringe body. Another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,628 which includes lever driven blades which sever the needle and cannula from the syringe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,824 discloses an elongated receptacle for receiving the cannula and needle of a syringe. A lever is provided for severing the needle, which falls into a receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,323 discloses a device for bending the needle of a syringe thereby rendering it useless. U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,362 discloses a further apparatus for rendering useless the needle of a syringe. This device includes electrical means for killing infectious agents which may be present on the needle.
In order to improve upon the manually operated devices for destroying syringes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,311 discloses an electrically driven apparatus for destroying used syringes. A pair of blades is provided which are moved by a motor driven linear actuator to cut the syringe into three pieces.
Other motor driven disposal devices are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,926,379; 5,054,696; 4,619,409; and 4,269,364.
Each of these devices include shortcomings that are overcome by the needle/syringe disposal system of the present invention.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a needle/syringe disposal system for cutting a needle/syringe into small pieces (preferably 1-2 mm or less) for disposal or recycling. The system is contained in an enclosed hollow housing which has an inlet for inserting a needle/syringe to be destroyed. The inlet extends between the exterior of the housing and one or more rotating cutting blades inside the housing. The cutting blades are rotated by a motor and are adapted for cutting a needle/syringe inserted through the inlet into small pieces by continuous rotation of the cutting blade.
A disposal tray is located below the rotating cutting blade(s) for receiving the ground up needle/syringe pieces. The system preferably includes one or more rotating blades which cut the needle/syringe into small pieces.
A pump is provided for pumping a disinfecting solution, preferably a mixture of chlorine bleach and water, from a disinfecting solution supply to the inlet area. The disinfecting solution is sprayed into the inlet and flows through the cutting area. Thus, the inlet, the needle/syringe pieces, the cutting blade and the disposal tray are continuously disinfected. In a preferred embodiment, the disinfecting solution is pumped from the disposal tray. In this embodiment, the solution serves the added function of separating the parts of the needle/syringe in the disposal tray, since the plastic pieces of the syringe will float, and the metal parts of the

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