GB2211420A

GB2211420A - Improvements relating to the destruction of hypodermic needles

Info

Publication number: GB2211420A
Application number: GB8824838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antonio Talluri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-23
Filing date: 1988-10-24
Publication date: 1989-07-05
Also published as: GB8824838D0

Abstract

Used hypodermic needles are destroyed by the action of an electric current which melts the needle. A portable apparatus for safely and conveniently destroying hypodermic needles comprises a body 20 housing a battery 8. A stud 24 is mounted in the body 20 and is connected to a terminal of the battery. A removable head 28 attached to the body houses a pair of electrode rollers 34 below a bevelled access aperture 31. The rollers are biassed by a spring 38 or other suitable biassing means and are connected to the other terminal of the battery 8 via the body and the head. When a needle to be destroyed is inserted through the aperture 31 electrical contact is made so that current flows through the needle between the rollers 34 and the stud 24 causing the needle to melt. Thus the syringe and needle remains are sealed to prevent escape of any contaminated material from the syringe. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF HYPODERMIC NEEDLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns improvements relating to the destruction of hypodermic needles and has as its object the provision of an apparatus for safely and conveniently destroying hypodermic needles and hypodermic syringes incorporating the same so as to prevent them from being reused.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has always been a requirement that hypodermic needles should not be reused since reuse involves risk of infection, and in recent times the disease commonly known as Aids has made it imperative that hypodermic needles should be destroyed after once being used.

There have been numerous proposals for mechanical devices for destroying hypodermic needles and syringes by bending, breaking or cutting the needle, and reference may be made to the following patents for disclosures of such devices, namely: US 3469750 (Vanderbeck) US 4417460 (Moriconi) US 4391273 (Chiquiar-Arias) US 3683733 (Morner) US 3851555 (Eldridge et al) US 3893608 (Koenig) US 4040425 (Goodling et al) US 3914865 (Oakes) US 4255996 (Choksi et al) US 4375849 (Hanifl) US 3800644 (Garvis et al) US 4315448 (Ball) US 4275628 (Greenhouse) US 4404881 (Hanifl) W079/00239 (Konsinvenior) US 4445644 (Lemke) W082/00412 (Elisha) US 4634428 (Cuu) US 4531437 (Szablak et al) DE-A-3012646 (Holtsch) The problem, principally, with such mechanical devices is that the destruction of the needle by bending, breaking, cutting or whatever has no protective effect upon any infectious materials within or upon the needle and, to the contrary, tends to spray any such hazardous material around and liberate it into the atmosphere without consequent increased risk of infection. The mechanical destruction of hypodermic needles is thus not seen as an effective way of tackling the extreme hazard that is presented by such infected materials.

To our knowledge there has been only one proposal for an electrical syringe needle destroyer, and that is disclosed in US 4628169 (Chting-Lung) and in the corresponding European patent application EP-A0136392. The Ch'ing-Lung device as disclosed in the aforementioned patent specification is a table-top or bench-top device powered from the mains electrical supply. The device has in its upper surface a keyhole shaped needle-head detachment slot underlying the larger end of which there are provided a pair of electrodes arranged so that a needle inserted into the slot short-circuits the electrodes and is melted and deformed by the resulting short-circuit current passing between the electrodes by way of the needle.

Having thus melted and deformed the inserted needle, the device is arranged so that movement of the hypodermic syringe along the length of the key-hole slot will detach from the syringe its needle-head so that the needle-head falls into a removable drawerlike needle collector.

Whilst the device of US 4628169 (Ch'ing Lung) above-mentioned is considered to be preferable to the mechanical needle destroying device aforementioned, principally on account of the fact that the heat developed by the short-circuit current between the electrodes and through the needle will destroy and sterilize any harmful or infectious contaminants on the heated part of the needle, nonetheless it is perceived to have significant disadvantages. Firstly, it is not designed as a portable device and therefore cannot conveniently be carried about and is convenient for use only in hospitals, clinics, or in the home where mains electrical supply is available; the need exists for a readily portable device.Secondly, whilst some of the infectious material carried on a needle may be destroyed and sterilized by the heating effect of the short-circuit current, there is no guarantee that in use of the Ch'ing-Lung device all such material will be destroyed and sterilized, and the removal of the needle-head from the hypodermic syringe body is considered to be especially disadvantageous on account of enabling infectious and hazardous material present in the upper part of the needle-head and in the adjacent parts of the syringe body to escape. Thirdly, the needle-head remains which fall into the needle-head disposal drawer in the Ch'ing-Lung device represent a significant and substantial unprotected health risk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As will be appreciated from the following, the present invention provides an electrical syringe needle destroyer which is capable of being manufactured in readily portable form and does not require any mains electrical supply, does not detach the destroyed needle from the syringe body part but rather leaves the two parts sealed together so as to prevent escape of any contaminated material within the syringe body, and ensures that the needle is sealed by the means utilized for electrical discharge therethrough#.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical needle destroyer in which, when a needle to be destroyed is inserted into the destroyer, mechanically biassed contacts are urged into contact with the needle thereby making an electrical connection with part of the needle and a fixed contact provides an electrical connection to the end of the needle so that the portion of the needle extending between the biassed contacts and the fixed contact is heated by electrical current passing therethrough thereby causing said portion to melt.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a portable electrical needle destroyer, comprising: a casing housing an energisation source and a first electrode means connected to one terminal of the energisation source; and a removable head defining an access aperture through which an end of a needle to be destroyed can be inserted and housing a second electrode means connected to the other terminal of the energisation source; and wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to contact points on a needle when a needle is presented through the access aperture.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical needle destroyer, comprising: a body portion housing an electrical source; a stud member mounted in, and electrically isolated from, said body portion and in electrical contact with said electrical source; a head portion removably attachable to the body portion and defining an access aperture through which a needle to be destroyed can be inserted; mechanically biassed electrode means in electrical contact with said electrical source and mounted in said head portion at a position below said access aperture such that a needle to be destroyed inserted into said access aperture will be urged into electrical contact with said electrode means.

In another aspect the invention provides a portable needle destroyer for destroying surgical needles connected to syringes, in which destroyer the needle, upon presentation to the destroyer, is connected electrically across terminals of an electrical current source and current flows therefrom to heat said needle until said needle melts, whereby any needle portion remaining with the syringe is sealed with the syringe to prevent escape of any contaminated material from the syringe.

Further inventive features are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention may be better understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows, in a schematic side elevation view, the operating principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a section view of the assembled apparatus of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a schematic showing an external view of another exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention that the needle 1 which is to be destroyed (so as to be unfit for use) is introduced into an opening 2 in the top 3 of the apparatus and is received between a pair of electrical contacts 4 which are spring loaded towards each other. The electrical contacts 4 may be constituted by spring fingers, or by rollers biassed towards each other, or by a movable roller biassed towards a fixed roller, or by any other means designed to contact the inserted needle generally on two sides thereof and make good electrical contact therewith, and in the arrangement illustrated comprise fixed and sliding bars 5 and 6 respectively.The contacts 4 are located above a plate 7 so that their distance from the plate is adjustable within predetermined limits, and an electrical supply 8, preferably a rechargeable battery, is arranged to be connected between the contacts 4 and the plate 7.

In operation of the arrangement thus described, the introduction of a needle 1 to be destroyed between the contacts 4 and into contact with the plate 7 will cause an electrical current to flow through the needle part which is between the contacts 4 and the plate 7 thereby heating and melting the needle. As the portion of the needle between the contacts 4 and the plate 7 melts, so the syringe with the needle attached is pushed gently downwardly towards the top of the apparatus so as to advance the needle progressively into the zone defined between the contacts 4 and the plate 7. The needle is thus progressively melted, with the molten material being deposited onto the plate 7, until such time as the needle can be advanced no further whereupon the syringe with its attached needle stub is simply withdrawn.By virtue of the pooling of needle material on the plate 7, the withdrawal of the needle stub from the plate results in the needle aperture being sealed by cooled molten needle material. The withdrawn syringe is thus automatically sealed so that any hazardous material contained therein cannot escape, the needle and syringe cannot be reused, and the sealed syringe can be disposed of in a safe manner.

The spacing between the contacts 4 and the plate 7 will generally be of the order of 1.0 mm or less to ensure effective meltdown of the needle tip as it is inserted, and is desirably adjustable to compensate for build-up of deposits upon the plate 7. The plate 7 may additionally be adjustable so that different regions of its surface can be utilized. Both the contacts 4 and the plate 7 will desirably be made of relatively high melting-point corrosion resistant materials such as, for example, stainless steel.

The electrical supply 8 to the contacts 4 and to the plate 7 preferably comprises a rechargeable battery and the device according to the invention may also incorporate charging circuitry, known per se, for charging the battery from the mains. The device may furthermore incorporate means to provide a low charge indication and other indicating means as may be necessary or appropriate. The battery may be arranged to apply a DC voltage between the contacts 4 and the plate 7, or may alternatively power a solid state inverter/transformer designed to apply a higher AC voltage between the contacts 4 and the plate 7.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a needle destroyer embodying the invention. The needle destroyer comprises a body 20 including a removable cap 21 which provides access to a battery compartment housing a battery (not shown) which may for example be a rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium battery. A substantially conical support member 22, made of for example a high density plastics material, is secured in the body 20 by the use of grub screws (not shown) or any other suitable securing means. The support member 22 divides the interior of the body into two distinct areas: a battery compartment behind the support member 22 and a needle destroyer compartment at the portion of the body indicated at 23. A stud 24 extends through and is secured at a hole 25 in the support member 22. The stud 24 is arranged such that its base is connected electrically to one terminal of the battery.The other terminal of the battery is connected via the cap 21 and the body 20 to rollers yet to be described. The top 27 of the stud will in use serve the same purpose as the plate 7 described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 and 2. That is to say, as the end of the needle to be destroyed is brought into contact with the top 27 electrical current will flow through the needle heating it and causing the end to melt.

The head to the apparatus is indicated at 28 and houses the rollers etc. past which the needle to be destroyed is pushed in use. The head 28 includes a threaded portion 29 which engages with a similar threaded portion (not shown) at the open end of the needle destroyer compartment 23. An annular recess 30 is defined in the head 28 along with a bevelled insertion hole 31 through which the needle to be destroyed can be inserted. The bevel at the top of the insertion hole 31 facilitates the insertion of needles to be destroyed into the destroyer.

Furthermore, the insertion hole 31 is positioned such that when a needle to be destroyed is introduced through the hole, the needle will be guided between the rollers to be described.

An annular roller support member 32 is secured within the head 28 by any suitable means such as screws 33 which extend through holes 33a into engagement with the head to hold the support member securely therein. The support member 32 provides support for rollers 34 and axles 35 immediately behind the insertion hole 31. In order to facilitate support of the rollers 34 and axles 35, a groove is cut across one face of the support member as shown so that the ends of the axles 35 can extend into said groove to be supported therein and the rollers can be positioned over the central hole 37 in the support member to move freely about the respective axles. The stud 26 and the rollers 34 can, of course, be made from any suitable hardwearing electrically conductive material.

However, the choice of material is governed by the requirements of the rollers 34 and stud 26 being able to withstand mechanical wear from needles and the like being inserted into the destroyer and the heat generated whilst a needle is being destroyed. It has been found in this respect that tungsten carbide is a particularly suitable material from which to make the stud 26 and rollers 34.

Prior to assembly of the support member 32 into the head 28, a biassing spring 38 is inserted into a suitably positioned biassing hole 39 to provide a bias force to the nearest roller thereto once assembled.

The interaction and co-operation between the parts shown in Figure 3 can be seen in Figure 4. The battery 8 can be held in place by the cap 21 in much the same way that a battery is held in position in a torch. The cap 21 thus makes electrical contact with one terminal of the battery thereby providing an electrical connection to the rollers 34 in the head.

The other terminal is connected directly to the back of stud 24 which is insulated from the body 20 by the conical support member 22.

An external electrical connector (not shown) can optionally be provided to provide a connection to a battery charger for charging the rechargeable battery.

The electrical connector can also be used to connect the apparatus to an external power supply to supply power to the apparatus independent of the battery.

The spring 38 urges the rollers 34 into contact with each other so that good electrical contact will be made between the rollers and the needle to be destroyed. As has already been explained hereinabove, when the needle is introduced through the bevelled hole 31, past the rollers 34 and into contact with the top 27 of the stud, an electrical circuit is made between the two terminals of the battery via the portion of the needle between the rollers and the top of the stud and said portion of the needle heats up and melts. Bits of melted needle collect at the bottom of the needle destroyer compartment 23 on the conical support member 22. At suitable intervals the head can be removed and the bits of melted needle removed from the compartment for disposal.

The Figure 5 schematic shows externally another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the apparatus as shown has a replaceable head portion 40 which incorporates both the contacts 4 and the plate 7 of Figures 1 and 2 underlying a recessed portion 40a of the head portion 40, a power supply portion 41 to which the head portion 40 is adapted to be detachably attached, and a container portion 42 for destroyed syringe parts, the container portion 42 desirably being detachably secured to the power supply portion 41 and being a disposable module designed to be incinerated.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides a convenient and portable device for destroying hypodermic needles and rendering them unreusable, which furthermore seals the destroyed needle stub by electric heating and melting of the needle, and which further leaves the destroyed syringe in a sealed condition so that it can be disposed of safely. It will be clear to those possessed of the relevant skills that many changes and modifications can be made to the described arrangements without departure from the essential scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical needle destroyer in which, when a needle to be destroyed is inserted into the destroyer, mechanically biassed contacts are urged into contact with the needle thereby making an electrical connection with part of the needle and a fixed contact provides an electrical connection to the end of the needle so that the portion of the needle extending between the biassed contacts and the fixed contact is heated by electrical current passing therethrough thereby causing said portion to melt.

2. An electrical needle destroyer according to claim 1, wherein the needle to be destroyed is guided between the biassed contacts by way of a guiding hole positioned above the biassed contacts.

3. An electrical needle destroyer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biassed contacts comprise electrically conductive roller members biassed into contact with each other by way of a resilient member.

4. An electrical needle destroyer according to any preceding claim, wherein portions of melted needle are collected below the fixed contact for subsequent disposal thereof.

5. An electrical needle destroyer according to any precdding claim, wherein the biassed contacts are energised from one terminal of a rechargeable battery means and the fixed contact. is energised from the other terminal of the rechargeable battery means.

6. A portable electrical needle destroyer, comprising: a casing housing an energisation source and a first electrode means connected to one terminal of the energisation source; and a removable head defining an access aperture through which an end of a needle to be destroyed can be inserted and housing a second electrode means connected to the other terminal of the energisation source; and wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to contact points on a needle when a needle is presented through the access aperture.

7. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to claim 6, further comprising a third electrode means in the removable head, which third electrode means is also connected to said other terminal and is mechanically biassed towards said second electrode means such that the needle to be destroyed will be urged between said second and third electrode means when inserted through said access aperture by a user.

8. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to claim 7 wherein the second and third electrode means comprise electrically conductive rollers.

9. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the third electrode means is mechanically biassed by way of a resilient member.

10. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to claim 9 wherein the resilient member comprises a compression spring.

11. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to any of claims 6 to 10 further comprising destroyed needle debris collection means which supports the first electrode means and collects debris from destroyed needles.

12. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to any of claims 6 to 11 wherein said energisation source comprises a DC electrical current source.

13. A portable electrical needle destroyer according to claim 12 wherein said DC electrical current source comprises a rechargeable battery.

14. An electrical needle destroyer, comprising: a body portion housing an electrical source; a stud member mounted in, and electrically isolated from, said body portion and in electrical contact with said electrical source; a head portion removably attachable to the body portion and defining an access aperture through which a needle to be destroyed can be inserted; mechanically biassed electrode means in electrical contact with said electrical source and mounted in said head portion at a position below said access aperture such that a needle to be destroyed inserted into said access aperture will be urged into electrical contact with said electrode means.

15. An electrical needle destroyer according to claim 14, further comprising a disposable needle debris collecting means associated with the body portion for collecting needle debris from destroyed needles for subsequent disposal.

16. A portable needle destroyer for destroying surgical needles connected to syringes, in which destroyer the needle, upon presentation to the destroyer, is connected electrically across terminals of an electrical current source and current flows therefrom to heat said needle until said needle melts, whereby any needle portion remaining with the syringe is sealed with the syringe to prevent escape of any contaminated material from the syringe.

17. An electrical needle destroying apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings.