JPH06125945A - Needle disposal machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To treat used needles on the spot so as to safely perform subsequent handling by providing an inductance within an electric path so that as the end of a needle is fused by Joule heat an arc discharge occurs between the end of the needle and a main electrode. CONSTITUTION:A used needle 1 is inserted into a hole 5 from a hole and the end of the needle is pressed against a main electrode 11 and the root of the needle is brought into contact with an auxiliary electrode 7 and then a chuck (electrode) 9 grips and holds the root of the needle 1 in place. Thereby a current flows through the needle 1 via the chuck electrode 9. The area of contact between the end of the needle 1 and the main electrode 11 is so small that the end of the needle is melted by Joule heat generated, and that a gap soon forms and shuts off an electric path. Then an inductance generates a back electromotive force and an arc discharge occurs between the end of the needle and the main electrode 11; therefore, the end of the needle is further melted and the gap is soon enlarged and the discharge stops while the needle 1 is made spherical at its end and sterilized by heat.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for safely disposing of used injection needles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, used injection needles are collected and incinerated so that viruses and the like are not infected. But,
An accident could occur in the process of incineration.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to immediately treat a used injection needle on the spot so that the subsequent handling can be performed safely.

[0004]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems A DC power supply is supplied between the main electrode with which the tip of the injection needle comes into contact and the chuck electrode that holds the injection needle. An inductance is provided in the electric path for causing arc discharge between the needle tip and the main electrode when the tip of the injection needle is about to melt due to Joule heat.

When an electric current flows through the injection needle, the contact area between the tip of the injection needle and the carbon electrode is extremely small, so the needle tip melts due to Joule heat. Since the needle is chucked, there is a gap between the melted needle tip and the main electrode.
Then, the inductance tries to pass a current as before and a large counter electromotive force is generated, and an arc discharge occurs between the tip of the needle and the carbon electrode. The arc discharge further melts the needle tip, and eventually the gap becomes larger and the discharge stops.
In this way, the tip of the injection needle can be processed into a spherical shape, and the subsequent handling becomes safe.

The DC power supply preferably comprises a storage battery and a charger. In this way, a large current at the time of arc discharge can be supplied from the storage battery, and the AC line is not burdened.

An auxiliary electrode is provided at a position where the needle is easily touched when the tip of the injection needle is pressed against the main electrode, and this auxiliary electrode is connected to the chuck electrode via a resistor so that the injection needle serves as both the main electrode and the auxiliary electrode. When a current is applied to the resistance by touching, the voltage drop of the resistance can be detected and the chuck electrode can be automatically closed to grasp the needle.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hole 5 for receiving an injection needle 1 is provided on a front surface of a housing 3, and an auxiliary electrode 7, a chuck electrode 9 for gripping a needle, and a needle tip are provided in order at the back of the hole. Is provided with the main electrode 11.

The chuck electrode 9 can be opened and closed by the action of the solenoid drive unit 13, and when closed, it holds and fixes the needle 1. The main electrode 11 is composed of a carbon plate. The auxiliary electrode 7 is provided at a position where the needle easily touches when the tip of the injection needle 1 is pressed against the main electrode 11. A drawer 15 for receiving a processed injection needle is provided at the bottom of the housing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram. The + pole of the DC power supply 17 is connected to the main electrode 11 via the inductance 19.
The pole is directly connected to the chuck electrode 9. The negative electrode is connected to the auxiliary electrode 7 via the resistor 21. The DC power supply 17 includes a storage battery (nickel cadmium battery) and a charger 25.

To explain the operation of this device, the used injection needle 1 is inserted into the hole 5 through the hole, and the needle tip is moved to the main electrode 1.
It is pressed against 1, and the base of the needle is brought into contact with the auxiliary electrode 7. Then, a current flows through the injection needle 1 and a voltage drop occurs in the resistor 21. The control circuit 27 detects this and drives 1
3 is turned on, and the chuck (electrode) 9 grasps and fixes the base of the needle 1. When the syringe body 29 is pulled in this state, it is removed, and only the injection needle 1 remains in the hole.

When the chuck electrode 9 holds the injection needle 1 in this manner, a current flows through the chuck electrode to the injection needle. Since the contact area between the tip of the injection needle 1 and the main electrode 11 is extremely small, the needle tip is melted by the generated Joule heat, and a gap is eventually formed to interrupt the electric path. Then, the inductance 19 generates a counter electromotive force, and arc discharge occurs between the needle tip and the main electrode. The needle tip melts further due to the arc discharge,
Eventually, the gap becomes large and the discharge stops. During this period, the injection needle 1 has a spherical tip and is sterilized by heat.

The control circuit 27 functions as a timer to drive the drive unit 1.
3 is turned off and the chuck electrode 9 is opened. Then, the processed injection needle 1 falls into the drawer.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the tip of the injection needle is about to melt due to Joule heat, a counter electromotive force is generated in the inductance to cause arc discharge between the needle tip and the main electrode. Although the structure is extremely simple, it is possible to cause arc discharge at a low voltage and make the tip of the injection needle spherical.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the DC power source is composed of the storage battery and the charger, it can be used anywhere, and a large current during arc discharge is supplied from the storage battery.
It has an effect of not affecting the voltage fluctuation and noise disturbance on the C line.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the chuck electrode can be automatically closed and the injection needle can be grasped by simply touching the injection electrode with the main electrode and the auxiliary electrode, thereby improving the operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an injection needle disposal device.

FIG. 2 is likewise a sectional view of an essential part.

FIG. 3 is likewise a block diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Injection Needle 7 Auxiliary Electrode 9 Chuck Electrode 11 Main Electrode 17 DC Power Supply 19 Inductance 21 Resistance

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A DC power supply (17) is connected between a main electrode (11) with which the tip of the injection needle (1) contacts and a chuck electrode (9) for grasping the injection needle, and the tip of the injection needle is Joule heat. An injection needle discarding machine provided with an inductance (19) in the electric path so that arc discharge is generated between the needle tip and the main electrode when it is about to melt. 2. A direct current source is used as a storage battery (23) and a charger (2).
The disposal device for an injection needle according to claim 1, which is constituted by 5). 3. An auxiliary electrode (7) is provided at a position where the needle is easily touched when the tip of the injection needle is pressed against the main electrode, and this auxiliary electrode is connected to the chuck electrode via a resistor (21),
The disposal treatment of the injection needle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the injection needle touches both the main electrode and the auxiliary electrode and a current flows through the resistance, a voltage drop of the resistance is detected to close the chuck. Machine.