JPH06197930A - Method and apparatus for treating used syringe needle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sterilize safely and easily the apex part of a used syringe needle by fusing the apex part of the syringe needle by using a plasma arc when the used syringe needle is treated. CONSTITUTION:A used syringe needle 15 is inserted from an inserting hole 2 for the syringe needle and the syringe needle 15 is pushed on a syringe needle fixing stage 4 by means of a syringe needle pushing cylinder 5. Then, a high frequency voltage is applied between an electrode 31 and an insert chip 32 from a plasma electric source 11 to generate a pilot arc by breaking insulation. This pilot arc is transferred into a space between the electrode 31 in a plasma torch 12 and the syringe needle 15 pushed by the fixing stage 4 and a plasma arc is generated. In this instance, the apex part of the syringe needle 15 is redly heated and fused to turned into a sphere caused by its surface tension. Then, when the electric source is shutted down, the temp. of the syringe needle 15 is lowered and the apex is solidified while the spherical shape is kept and the whole body is sterilized and the apex part is fused and closed. Safety is improved thereby.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a used injection needle processing method and processing apparatus used in the medical field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a used injection needle has a sharp tip, so that not only medical personnel who handle the injection needle but also a third party or the like injured the skin or accidentally injured the hands or fingers. It is a social problem because it can be stabbed in your hands and get infected with bacteria. Therefore, it is desired to safely handle the used injection needle without directly touching it.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-204671, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-204671 energizes only a part of an injection needle with an injection cylinder having an injection needle set at a predetermined position, and instantly causes the energization portion to soften the needle material It has been proposed to generate heat up to this point and press the injection needle against the hemispherical mold surface to transform it into a safe shape.

However, in this method, since the temperature rises up to the softening point, the shape of the injection needle after treatment may not always be uniform depending on the length and angle, and the tip may remain sharp. It is hard to say that it is completely safe.

Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-152948 proposes a processing method in which a used injection needle is inserted into a container and a melted material or clothing is attached to the tip of the injection needle for processing. .

However, in these methods, since the tip is sharp, there is a possibility that the melted material or the clothing may be easily removed. Moreover, since the tip is sharp, there is a risk of penetrating them.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-126146 proposes a device for generating a high temperature plasma discharge by irradiating an electromagnetic microwave and inserting the injection needle into a region where the plasma discharge is generated to process the injection needle. Has been done.

However, in this method, the microwave oscillator is always operating during the plasma discharge and electromagnetic high frequency noise is constantly generated, so that the measuring device for handling a minute voltage in other devices, particularly medical devices, for example, an electrocardiogram. It is possible that it will affect equipment such as. In addition, since the tungsten wire is exposed to the outside air, it is quickly consumed by oxidation and has poor maintainability. Furthermore, since the tungsten wire is long and supported by one support plate, it is considered that plasma discharge is not generated under stable conditions. Therefore, adjustment between electrodes is always required.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a method and apparatus for safely and easily melting and sterilizing the tip of a used injection needle. The purpose is.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first aspect of the present invention has as its gist the method of melting a used injection needle by melting the tip of the injection needle with a plasma arc.

A second aspect of the present invention comprises a positioning and fixing base for a used injection needle, a device for pressing the used injection needle against the fixing base, a plasma torch for generating a plasma arc, and a plasma power supply device. And

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0013]

1 to 3 show an example of the method and apparatus of the present invention.

The used injection needle 15 is inserted from the injection needle insertion opening 2 of the casing 1, and the cylinder pressing start button 21 is pressed to press the used needle to the injection needle fixing base 4 by the injection needle pressing cylinder 5. . The used injection needle pressed against the injection needle fixing base 4 is
It has the same potential as the anode potential. Then, by pushing the plasma arc start button 22, a high frequency voltage is applied from the plasma power source 11 between the electrode 31 and the insert tip 32 to break the insulation, thereby igniting a pilot arc. Since the high-frequency voltage applied at this time is stopped by detecting that a pilot current has flowed, the high-frequency current flows only when it is extremely short. Further, since the pilot arc has an extremely small capacity, it is not necessary to extinguish it if it is ignited once.
It may be turned on all day long.

Next, the pilot arc is transferred to the inner electrode (anode) 31 of the plasma torch 12 and the used injection needle pressed by the injection needle fixing base 4, and a plasma arc is generated between the electrode 31 and the injection needle. At this time, the used injection needle is red-heated and melted, and becomes spherical due to its own surface tension. Further, when a part of the tip is melted down, it falls into the melted material receiving box 25. If the voltage and current from the plasma arc power source 8 are cut off, the temperature of the used injection needle will drop. The used injection needle has a spherical tip and solidifies, and is sterilized by high heat due to plasma arc, which is safe from the aspect of shape and hygiene. Further, since the tip is melted and closed, internal residual liquid or blood does not leak from the tip, and the safety is further enhanced.

Although the above example shows one example manually,
When the used injection needle 15 is inserted through the injection needle insertion port 2, a limit switch may be activated to generate a plasma arc by a timer for a predetermined time and perform processing. Further, the insertion of the used injection needle 15 can be automated by continuously inserting and processing with an endless belt or the like.

Although the plasma torch has been described as a transfer type, the plasma torch may be a non-transfer type plasma torch as described below.

4 and 5 are schematic views of the plasma torch used in the non-transfer type, the tungsten electrode (cathode) 3
1, centering stone 32, insert tip 3
3 and an anode. First, between the electrode 31 and the insert tip 33, the insulation between the electrodes 31 and the insert tip 33 is broken by a high frequency voltage, and a pilot arc is ignited to generate a plasma jet. The central temperature of the plasma jet has a temperature of about 20,000 ° C., and the used injection needle easily melts red hot and becomes spherical due to its own surface tension.

[0019]

EXAMPLE A diameter of 0.70 mm, a length of 32 mm and a diameter of 0.63 m from an injection needle insertion port 2 of a casing 1 shown in FIG.
m, 25 mm long used needle is inserted and pressed against the needle support 4 by the needle pressing cylinder 5,
A pilot arc was ignited from the plasma power supply 11. The pilot arc current at this time was 0.8 A, and the pilot gas flow rate was 1.0 L (liter) / min with Ar gas. Next, Ar gas of plasma gas was flowed at 1.0 L / min to generate a main plasma arc of 11 A, and 0.5
After the second heating, the main plasma arc and the pilot arc were stopped. When it was taken out after waiting for cooling, the tip of the used injection needle had a diameter of 0.
It was confirmed that it had a spherical shape of 7 mm to 1.0 mm, the tip did not damage the skin, and there was no fear of puncturing a hand, finger or the like. By this treatment, the temperature of the needle is heated up to about 500 ° C., and the entire injection needle is sterilized to improve safety.

[0020]

As described above, according to the method and apparatus for treating an injection needle of the present invention, the tip of the used injection needle can be melted by plasma arc to sterilize, and the used needle can be safely and simply used. The present invention is extremely valuable as it can be processed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the outline of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the casing 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG.

4 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a non-transfer type torch which is a modified example of the plasma torch 12 shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a power supply circuit of the non-migration type torch shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a used injection needle heat-treated by the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Casing 2: Injection needle insertion port 3: Injection needle processing chamber 4: Injection needle fixing base 5: Injection needle pressing cylinder 6: Insulation material 7: Heat resistant material 8: Plasma arc power supply 9: Pilot arc power supply 10: High frequency generator 11: Plasma arc power supply 12: Plasma torch 13: Control device 15: Injection needle 16: Syringe 21: Injection cylinder pressing button 22: Plasma arc activation button 23: Energizing lamp 24: Plasma activation confirmation lamp 25: Melt receiving box 31: Tungsten electrode (cathode) 32: Centering stone 33: Insert tip

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method for treating a used injection needle, characterized in that the tip of the injection needle is melt-treated by using a plasma arc. 2. A fixed base for positioning a used injection needle, a device for pressing the used injection needle of the fixed base, a plasma torch for generating a plasma arc, and a plasma power supply device. Used injection needle processing device.