US2655160A - Apparatus for cleaning hypodermic needles - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 P. MQCASADY ETAL I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES 4 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1949 k k i PHIL/P E/c mmvrozas. 114. 645.40%

ATTOENE Oct. 13, 1953 P. M. CASADY ET AL 2,655,160 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HYPODEIRMIQ, NEEDLES Filed July 25, 1949 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Pym/P 114. Chsaox Bel/42012621540);

Oct. 13, 1953 I P. M. CASADY ET AL 2,655,160

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed July 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. Pym/p114. 645408 fi/cwngok. 634.940);

Oct. 13, 1953 P. M. CASADY ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed July 25, 1949 4 $heets-Sheet 4 Emil E. E1; Am d. 2 5 v T A. I 1P1 v w mm; m mg m w m 0.! p Wm a M m 2 OHM m Patented Oct. 13, 1953 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING HYPODERMIQ NEEDLES.

Philip M. Casady and Richard R. Casady, Los' Angeles, Calif.

ApplicationtJulyZS', 1949; Serial N0. 106,598.

( Cli- 134-99) 18: Claims; 1 This invention relates to an improved apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of open-ended tubular elements such as hypodermic needles.

Present methods of medical care and treatment require injection of various fluid solutions beneath the skin of a patient by use of hypodermic needles. These needles are attachable to a nipple for connection to a syringe, tube etc. and include an open-ended tubular element having a sharp endfor easy penetration of the skin and a suitable: shoulder at the other end of the needle for attachment to a nipple. Each needle is preferably cleaned after each injection is made and before it is re-used again. It is importantthat cleaning o1 the needle be effective and complete so that no trace of the fluid solution used in the prior injection remains in the needle when it is used for another injection.

since hypodermic needles are delicate and the points must be kept sharp, the usual method of cleaning. such hypodennic needles is to clean each needle separately by hand. Normally the cleaning operation comprises the flushing of each needle with a plurality of cleaning fluids "such as a soap solution, alcohol, ether, and compressed air for quickly drying the needle. Obviously when each needle must be cleaned separately by hand, considerable time is consumed. In some large hospitals, where perhaps several thousand injections are made daily; cleanin of needles used requires full time services of several persons. Such individual cleaning of each hypodermic needle is very costly and expensive and requires maintenance of a large supply of needles.

The primary object of this invention is to de- Sign and provide an improved apparatus for cleaning a plurality of needles or 'openended tabular elements quickly, efficiently, simultaneously-,and in a minimum oftime.

An object of "this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus for hypodermic needles wherein different cleaning fluids are selectively and sequentially passed through the needles without handling or the needles preparatory to intrc'duchig a different cleaning fluid through the needle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cleaning apparatus for hypodermic needles wherein a plurality of needles is carried in spaced relation on a movable rack which may used not only connection with the apparatus iar cleaning the needles but may also be used 'ror storage of needles awaiting cleaning ambled/lied needles. Y

Still another object oi this invention is to. de sign and provide a cleaning apparatus for hypodermic needles: wherein needles carried in spaced relation on a carrier rack are movable into fluid-4 tight communication with cleaning fluid discharge ports.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus for hypodermic needles wherein the cleaning operation. may be readily observed.

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a cleaning apparatus for open-ended tubular elements wherein means for supplying cleaning fluid through one end of such tubular ele ments, such as a duct, is provided with spaced discharge ports including fluid-sealing seating means and a carrier rack supporting elements to be cleaned in spaced relation is, adapted to be moved for bringing the elements into fluidatight communication with said ports including fluids sealing seating means. The duct is selectively and sequentially connected to control means for supplying a plurality of different cleaning fluids under pressure for passing said fluid through the duct, the ports and the open-ended elements.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken in a vertical transverse plane passing through the apparatus an apparatus shown in Fig. 1, adjacent one end.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line III-II]; of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of the manifold and-valve arrangement as viewed from a position beneath thewindow in the top inclined wall of the housing.

. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detailed views of a needle-v carrying rack used with the apparatus. shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 being a side elevation of the rack; Fig. 6 being a, top View of the rack shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 being a sectional view-taken in the plane indicated by line V'JI-V II of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the control valve used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken in the plane indicated by line vnI .vIn of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 9 is a sectional .view of the valve shown in Fig. 8, thesection being taken ina transverse plane indicated by line IXI X of 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the valve taken in the plane indicated by line X-X of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the valve taken I in a plane indicated byline XIXI of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line XIIX1I of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View taken in the plane indicated by line XIII-XIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is a view of the valve selector disk taken in the plane indicated by line XlV-X[V of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken in a vertical transverse plane passing through the axis of the valve as indicated by the line XVXV of Fig. 8, and showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical transverse plane as indicated by line XVIXVI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional View taken in the same plane as Fig. 16, but showing the needle carrier guide means in normally released position.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional View taken longitudinally of the manifold as indicated by the plane XVIIL-XVIII of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally of the manifold as indicated by line XIX-XIX of Fig. 16.

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 show detailed views of a seal or gasket having a discharge port formed of a resilient yieldable sealing material; Fig. 20 being a front view of said seal; Fig. 21 being a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line XXI- XXI of Fig. 20, and Fig. 22 being a rear view of the seal shown in Fig. 20.

In general, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, cmbodying this invention includes a base I, a hollow housing 2 mounted on a portion of said base, and a plurality of cleaning fluid supply sources indicated by the receptacles 3. 4 and 5, carried adjacent the housing. If desired a small container of compressed air may be also mounted on the base together with the supply receptacles 3, 4' and 5. Such a compressed air container is not illustrated here because, normally, hospitals, laboratories, and doctors offices are provided with a central source of compressed air suitably piped to points of use. It is contemplated that in the illustration shown compressed air will be piped to the apparatus as indicated by the compressed air line 6.

The means for supplying fluid, such as 3, 4 and 5 and conduits leading therefrom are operably connected to means for controllably passing the fluid to needles to be cleaned. Supported within the housing is a cleaning fluid conducting manifold generally indicated at 1 for conducting the different cleaning fluids to spaced fluid-conducting elements or discharge ports including fluidsealing seating means. A needle carrier rack 8 carrying a plurality of needles to be cleaned in spaced relation is movable and positionable within the housing for bringing the needles into proper axial alignment with the discharge ports. Spring-biased means supporting the needlecarrying rack in such alignment with the ports is operable by lever handle 9 for bringing one end of each needle into fluid-tight communication with the margins of the respective discharge port.

A control valve generally indicated at 10 selectively connects the different cleaning fluids with the manifold and is operable to sequentially pass different cleaning fluids through all of the needles for completely cleaning and removing all traces of medicinal solutions which may have been retained within the needle.

Obviously any other type of open-ended tubular element capable, of being supported in spaced 4 relation with other elements may be cleaned by apparatus embodying this invention.

The base I comprises a rectangular flat member of any suitable material of sufficient area upon which to mount housing 2 and the desired number of cleaning fluid supply receptacles such as 3, 4, and 5. The housing 2 includes front and rear walls I! and [2 respectively, end walls [3 and M, and a top wall 15 having a diagonally arranged portion 15 provided with a relatively large rectangular opening I? for mounting a transparent window glass l8 therein by any suitable means. such as an enlarged grommet 19.

End wall I4 may be provided with an elongated triangularly shaped aperture 29 permitting insertion and removal of the movable needle carrier rack 8 in the housing. The elongated aperture 20 serves to permit needles of various length carried. on the rack to be inserted within the housing for cleaning.

The manifold I may be supported horizontally and inclined about its axis within the housing adjacent to the upper edge of window 18 by suitably spaced supporting brackets 21 of polygonal shape. A manifold securing screw or bolt 22 (Fig. 16) extends through each bracket 2| for threaded engagement with a. back plate 23 of the manifold. Each bracket 2! may be secured in any suitable manner to a mounting plate 24 as by screws 25. The mounting plate is fixedly attached to the rear wall [2 of the housing by a plurality of spaced screws or bolts 26.

The manifold 1 may be of laminated construction and comprises in addition to the back plate 23 an intermediate plate 21 and a front plate 28, said plate being held in assembled relation by spaced top and bottom screw bolts 29 extending through said back plate and intermediate plate for threaded engagement with the front plate 28.

The intermediate plate 21 is provided with a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending ducts 30, 3|, 32 and 33 for conducting through said manifold a plurality of different cleaning fluids, each duct affording a passage for flow of a separate cleaning fluid. Between the rear plate 23 and the intermediate duct-carrying plate 27 may be a flat gasket 34 affording a continuous seal throughout the length of the manifold for said ducts.

The detail of the intermediate duct-carrying plate 2? is best seen in Fig. 19, wherein it will be readily apparent that the ducts 30, 3|, 32 and 33 are formed in parallel spaced relation by grooving one surface of the plate 21. Each duct terminates in end walls 35 adjacent opposite ends of the plate for providing a continuous peripheral marginal surface sealably engaging the gasket 34. Each duct 33, 3t, 32, and 33 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced communicating ports 36, 31, 38, 39 respectively, extending from the bottom surface of the duct through plate 21. The communicating ports 36, 31, 38 and 39 may be equally spaced and transversely aligned each aligned group of ports communicating with a common elongated channel 40 provided in the rear surface of the needle. sealing and discharge port defining means generally indicated at 4 l.

Th details of sealing means 4| are shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22 wherein it will be noted that each sealing means 41 is provided with an ovalshaped wall 42 having the channel Ml formed in its rear surface 43. The rear surface 43 of each sealing means sealably engages the marginal surface areas surrounding a group of communicatwarts .si en senate ,Qf intermed ate pla e 21 er ti ent n i ea saae @Qbfl ,d s em eurfaeen wai A3 is :saatedtaeaiaettherr sur aeeafiu mntipla e 218.

Eaehseal means h w d s' eQmmqniiluit .diseharge event :45 :fo enam =4 defin d hy a generally ic indriea A 6 i ieot s-putwardly tremwv il :42 aeeommadate ti --41 th :f-rentie t 2&- Ifhe A ma be circumferentially u dfirc ut as atJkB @diaeent 1 th al 42- Whe the lates $23, .21 and :28 {are secured as emb d m lan ma-in eaeh ho 4 .nrotrudes s gh l esso d the nnteralmmat of the gfront plateizii as :best seen in Big. L7.-

*'l?-he:ee ig mean 44 :is pr era l made hf i aei-1ie v ieldah1e ealin er sa ke ne'matema s tha he i penae d o d et h elee edr e ed m acefl a er elatmn eea' s edge margins or edge faces .49 d char e-19. 1121:

tpx wlm ca en to .0 2 an @Qi the med-1eh zi za in t e tzto tr e, .l u .l it tiles to e c an d. and nens itute fil -me l n seat n :mea wh ch ma readil seal -z=.fe. tent end struetu es o n edles ei-varmusmanu- :Ia r The def rmation of :t ele e mar ins around the discharge port 45 :is 'best seen-in Fig. 16 which illustrates {needle -,and;sea1in means flu d-t ht-contact.

[A separate sealing means .41 is provided f r ea h, align 3 1 111 not qq muniqatine ports :35, 31,738 and 139, the side edges ,of walls 541 :of the sealing means being in abutment as at -50 (Fig.

=18). desired, :the sealing mea s may *be bottom longitudinal edges of the manifold for 4, bringing needles harried on the needle carrier into fluid-tight relationship with the sealing means 4|. The-casing 5-I is providedatitsopen side with spaced inwardly directed needle carrier guide members 52. Phe guide members 52 are each provided with a longitudinally extending slot '53 opposed to th slot on the opposite member for slidably and igu-idably --recei;ving lo ngitudinal marginal edges of the ;need 1 e carrier rack 8. 'Theguidemember 52 may be-secured -'to the U-shaped easingin any suitable manner such as screw bolts 5 The inner ends ef-;the guide members 52 may be joined by a -*transversely-extending endbar-BB -'(-Ffigs. 3 and 4;) provided with 'a centrally disposed stop 56 fof defining the approximate proper position of the needle-carrying rack 8 -=w-he'n positioned on guide means 52. Adjacent the outer end of the guid members -5 2 may be a -transve1 sely extending bar 5-1 secured-as by serewstothe-guidememhers 52 for holding the guide members in proper spaced relationship. The -outer extremities of each member 52 may he .inwardly tapered as at 58.

Means :for moving the -casing 54 and bringing ,the needles carried c011 said rack into fluidv-ltight eommunieation with the discharg ports pro.-

vided :by a pair of longitudinally spaced nail s r n s 1 .9 .and a t asing actuator :means general indicate la he swin s 2& are

we sate seen an pvneiatnaem zties ads etneenlthare r platenandzt zeauahaned {ea-sins 1. .-Fis. --v e halts tat a zl ie a at d rat-zone enda ainfi --th ea aelatezfiiandthe eth riendw ea etl agains the inne snr a en ztherea al iqffth iu-sh eatin :eaeh sp in :bei s slee edLe er.sv

shelt 1e a tuato gm ans 16 eemn ses s aced letter arms a; {e an, as and e ga i g ithetree lau eate f .l -sh ed cas n as :a fifi andiheit, 2 1. n mtalz 4 2| by means of a suitable p era d at ea h le er :52 may be p ne straiehtted e .z i g-in aplene' a ali l and p iest hea the axis of the le e an adapted t a, atest flat aneulatlv di posed H f tRQ as: 6! formed on a cam 68 attael ed to a c :et tin trpd-fifi extenders heneaththama,

-.i. t aee 551-1 t me item "Whiehsu a e v s 1Q fim 8 the pane n1 a. .1.1 5- E heha-mm 1,69:ma -heimir a edr nlowerrne tt qn :pf braclte 3 as a 1-0 a xten @13 -wa d1y thro h and W a for fix connect on miththe-lone at ne handle .9 d spo ed merpendien- .ila to th ax s at ",vd t

to H113, 118 tth eaehend w l ls. I

t e in spa e as at en w th ey. pla 1 8 -an i ee t se i e a eedle mane k- ;et e tlie ack hasrbee nron yt e lz en es idem mhe s t has! he andl wte- Wa ftherrear th 1 cam-ser iaee a into 1 easemen it -;t l ere 62 and will thus permit t e s ri s a ree the asing re l-rawand ya d :b ine h snide ;mem;bers=;into

h h en la i fi-z id y .7 zthe-f iuid-aeali a a ing means ar na-amettenduqtingmean r X .n in vi om the manifold.

o p o t y a snn ed est wi h the-al ege i il fi asse t 45, the needle carrying rack 8 (Figs. 5 6 and?) is piovideflziwilth .e plu alit -h tran verse y eatenein s ots .11 I., said slot h me spa es t ..1 th i n id n iea snaees lelati nshi as thee-x e .e th spa ed disehatse p rts.- ihe a k 2 m r se a flat e epeat dt a 1,4 a n gattaehed these-t9 he s ha e; ed e re se 1' a n d e slip o t. at l5- ;Ehe mate 1 may e :made o u tab e li ht eight shee metal, sa d p ate being s ee to a d a darn a di extendii slseaux 'flan and a i ieitu iin ll xt nding t waftsih d e ed l -con ct n ridge 1 l efinin lwith the-plate *7 5 a needle socket-receiving rec (The outer downwardly inclined marginal port on 13 of the sheet metal plate 1-5 terminates in substantial lythesame plane asthat in hichthe lower edge of rack -3 dies for supporting the rack when placed on a :ta'ble and for protectively holding needles-in horizontal position out of contactw-ith at table. :It will be readily apparent from nonsielenation of Fig. '1 that a hypodermic needle to he leaned is thus seclnzely positioned, on the ati the

needle-carrying rack in a desired axial position by means of ridge I1 and reception of neck I9 of the needle socket within a slot II. To insure proper alignment of the needle-carrying rack with with guide openings 80 adapted to receive rack alignment pins BI carried on the outer plate 28. When-the pins BI are engaged within the openings 80 the axes of the needles on the rack 8 are in proper alignment with the axes of the spaced discharge ports.

Each rack 8 may be provided with an end aperture 82 for permitting easy grasp of the needlecarrying rack in its inoperative position within the housing for withdrawal of the rack with the needles carried thereon.

The different cleaning fluid are supplied to the needles through the manifold and selectively controlled by a multiport valve generally indicated at I0, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The manifold I extends beyond the inner bracket 2i for connection with the control valve I0. As best seen in Fig. 19, the ducts '30, 3I, 32 and 33 extend to the end portion of the manifold adjacent the control valve I0, said ducts having intake ports 84, 85, 86, 87 respectively longitudinally spaced from each other. The details of the connection of the control valve with the manifold will be described in detail hereinafter.

The cleaning fluid supply receptacles 3, 4 and 5 may contain diiierent cleaning fluids as for example, receptacle 3 may contain a supply of soap solution; receptacle 4, alcohol; and receptacle 5,

ether. Additional cleaning fluids may be supplied in like manner if desired.

Each receptacle 3, 4, and 5 is preferably a transparent or translucent bottle having a cap 88 adapted to engage the top of the bottle for an air-tight connection. Each cap 88 may be provided with a supply inlet cap 85 provided with an air-tight sealed connection with the cap 88. Each cap 08 is provided with a compressed air inlet 90 and a fluid outlet 9| having a tube 92 extending almost to the bottom of the container through which fluid may flow through the outlet 9I and into an outlet tube 93. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the soap receptacle 3 is connected to control valve I by a continuous tubing 94 coupled to outlet tube 93 of the soap receptacle by a suitable rubber hose section 95. Likewise the alcohol receptacle 4 is connected to the control valve I0 by tubing '96, and the ether receptacle is connected to the control valve by tubing 91.

As mentioned in the early part of the specification, the apparatus is illustrated as being connected to a central compressed air supply source. The compressed air from the supply source is suitably connected to the control valve In by tubing 6. In a manner more particularly described in the operation of the control valve compressed air from the tubing 6 passes through the control valve It and into tubing 99 connected to a compressed air header I00 for supplying compressed air 'to each of the'cleaning fluid supply receptacles 3, 4 and 5.

The header is provided with spaced outlets connected by tubes IOI, I02 and I03 to couplings I04 joining the tubes with respective compressed air inlets 90 in the cleaning fluid supply receptacles. Thus each of the receptacles is provided with compressed air as permitted by the control valve I0 for producing therewithin an air pressure head for moving the cleaning fluid through the respecthe compressed air header I00.

tive tubings 94, 96 and 91 to the control valve and through the manifold to the needles.

The details of control valve I0 are best shown in the drawings by Figs. 8 to 15, inclusive. The control valve III includes a multi-disk type valve having a circular bottom disk I05 and an intermediate member I06 secured to the bottom disk by diametrically spaced screw bolts I01. A suitable gasket I08 may be interposed between the disk and the member I06.

Extending axially through disk I05 and member I06 is a valve shaft IIO for rotatably mounting a circular selector disk III on the top surface of member I06. The selector disk III may have welded thereto a locking Washer II2 having diametrically disposed slots H3 formed therein for reception or ends of a locking pin H4 which extends through the valve shaft I It. The valve shaft extends above selector disk I l I and through inclined Wall I6 of the housing for fixed attachment to an actuator knob I I5. 7 Beneath the bottom disk I05 the valve shaft is provided with a securing nut H6 aifording a seat for one end of a coil spring I II, the other end of which is seated against the bottom disk I05, thus spring-biasing the selector disk tightly against the upper surface of the intermecL'ate member I06. The abutting surfaces of member I 06 and selector disk I II are preferably machine finished.

The bottom disk I05 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced intake ports for connection to the cleaning fluid supply tubing. As illustrated, soap tubing 94 may be connected to valve intake port I I8; alcohol supply tubing 96 to valve intak port H9; ether supply tubing 91 to -valve intake port I20; and air intake port I2I connected to air tubing I22 communicating with The air supp y tubing 6 is connected to an air intake valve port I23 and radially outwardly spaced therefrom the bottom disk I05 may be provided with a valve air outlet I24. The outlet I24 is connected to the air line 99 for supplying air to the header I00.

The intermediate member I06 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of vertical bores I25 and I25, th inner bores I25 of each pair being connected by a passage I38 to the main air valve inlet I23. Likewise the outer bores I26 of each pair are connected by an outer passage I39 communicating with the air valve outlet I24.

The intermediate member I06 is also provided with circumferentially spaced vertical bores aligned for communication with the valve intake ports H8, H9, I20 and I2I in disk I05. bores are arranged diametrically opposite the pairs of air bores I 25 and I26.

Interposed between the valve I0 and the adjacent end portion of the manifold I may be a manifold connector member I21 of generally rectangular shape and provided with a plurality of laterally-spaced vertically-disposed bores I28, I29, I30 and 533i of varying length and each adapted to communicate with a duct in the manifold as 3I, 30, 32 and 33, respectively. The upper ends of bores I28, I29, I30 and I3I lie in substantially the same plane for communication with their respective angular bores I32, I33, I34 and I35 formed in the intermediate member I06 and presenting circumferentially spaced openings in the top surface of member I06 spaced radially These fluid. thenethrough. while at the: same: time: the:

other u-sha-ped. channel; affordscommunication: betweeni that pair: of: vertical; air; honest I25; andi m: for supplying; compressed air; to: the header? 1.0.; Thus: for: each; positionflofi the selectohdi hh ainpressure: is;sunpliech .to. hezheaden and oz he:

fluidisupnlyereceptaclesofon movin 1 thr u h the. valve nto the; manifold and h illl ha he; need es t e cleaned;

As illustrated. rotation; of: knob; 5: nd? he;

ue allx supmy h ev n li Q v fsrseh 0 n ne; fluids o e ma old fonnas ase hnqueha needles arr ed infil ra kzfii.

Qisoharg he; eve l: e n-ins s at m ree-1i he ed e -a-reo iyedi. c nfi ed and:

szlle ed: a ive msanmounted.- th-oinhou ne T a h us n ay b vided: with. a; pair of; longitudinally-l xtendin -z channelm mlper m1 alon theebcttomledees walls Y Li and I 2 tor,supportingashallowwshanedg bottom wall, L42? of pan M31 The vl-shane d bo tw tom wall I 12, mayabe slightly inclined longitudi naDy-isomfiord S i able-drainage of; fillidtthlpu h adrai a ioutlet pine, I43 {which may, be apron ideolwith; suitable drain, valve 4 1.44..

Eon operation of the control valve:v to, permit.

selective and seqnential flow: of, cleaning fluid, int t e anifold; thaknobi us, may bs xovld a: with: an,outwardlya extending annular. flange. Hi5; provided with .indicia indicating off -position (and;

selectiye alignment, of, the v selector disk with. the.

ports in, the valye. for; flow, oft selected. cleaning fluids. It will be apparent that a cleaning cyele' is,co1np1ete.d by= tnrnin knob H 5, throu h, deg ees.

hav een moved. int t idet htr ommunication th thespao didischarse lrgo ts,- of; the m nho e [tu n n of. knob; U 5: wi l'n dilce e eotive fimt of different cleaning; fluids from the supply sources through the valve to the manifolq and fi hr ushv e eed s As lli m esi,,fihis' ea rl cy en e bly ncl des ass g orfasma t qane tyo i oa s l ion hrou h he ean; olution be ng. llowed y; a, small, quantity alcohol anch then, ether," Air" is then lq i fifl;

through'theneedles forfurthercleaning andfdrya ing the n edles,

In detail; after-the needlesto .be; cleanewhave been properly positioned'withinthe ho ising; valve knob H5 maybe-turnedclockwise-until the in= 5.:

dicia lis opposite reference point; I45. 111- this; position the selector disk-l H is: related toythe in termediate member I06 as indicated in Fi-g: 9'9 Oneof the U shapeol-- channels indislg I 1 If coincides withthe compressed air 'bores I25' and I 26* for permitting" flow --ofcompressed air iromthe air-supply to the air header lflfl andithencato'the fluid-supply receptacles 3; Mamie; A-t thesametime; the other" diametrically opposed lJ-shaped ch-annel inthe selector diski-is registered' with the sum; for: movmgi the: different e nina verticalborein memben- I06 communicating witln the soap 1 supply receptacle 3 and also with: the-- ang-ulanlooreJH m-member 106.

The influence ofthe: air: pressure head in -re ceptaclea3 -.pro duces flow ofosoap solutions-through:

the soap tubing 94:; the; valve I051 the manifolds connector'mem-beri I23 into-ductzflilt Thwsoap; solution flowsalong; duct; 3:]; and'zis discharged t rou h; thegseveral communicatin portsiih in;

heduotwanrvioa a e; "No.:each;ohanne1 40mm top wall of the housing fiedx n matinetop a e manheio arepli nha de r entlyi leaned m ess than a; mi

In operation after thewneedlesdt'o belclealled wpappammsl may} h to; Q1

10 the. sealing memben All: andi thence: out the; dis-.1 changewports 45 =intoi and through: the-needle the valve knob Mali: is turned sequentially; tn; inadicia..= 2, 33-

4g thezseaeiqalv. other difierentlcieane: ing; fluids mpalta telw andgindependentlnfi-ow from? their supply receptacles through the uasltienmane hold: and diSQhfiJIQBJRQIEtSZ inhoz and thnoueh the needies:.,.

hshquld': ba lots at hei as s leanina iu ch %xa.i F hiQh1 blows h' ndeennossa eany races; of other cleaning fluids lent; 'Ijhe mountofi: me eoes aea' erqomn e hea: 165.1 n i csnledsflsss: ha a neiminute amoi nh o eaehiolean na Id; W ichl s thet-nesdles b sole-91 m l. oneratorc: as; or: example. a: anes; uaat tsi 04 so p solution maylh .-;'Il y. fiQ hI91l%b-i'QQQIAQQQlfiSeh a: sli htln ess quantity; Q5: qh i nd). Q lh a elativela mal quant tse oiz oth r).

It should be noted that the window in the;-

permits obse nv at-jons; of the cleaning operationa ofihattm the ev 2.1.

Q sthe. ne dle s p thenethroueha hlss ee e mam eead n de Withi the enemies: contem la ed, ig. h s; ii- Vent Qn,'.QlfiamI, -i t: h:12 1123 1 5,Qi 2. d1 1 lustlzatea would; equire; minimum; n imnractica the nee esianezefie While; theiapnax tusi ill strated; a m ides: 9 3 hold n z tWlV;:nQ@ 1:QIl;%5 n h -tewil be obvio mate ny reaternumber. qfi n edles: ma e leans abithe samostimelbw'pn ionmf ai oeaen e aszhzh a .i apacity It minke-wise QQn emnla Qdth -tiem, i rality offmanifQldfimay he arranse i n ral el. relatig,mshiafor handl n llzdOQiQlS 6 1w 1 ea number? ofzneeolle g ha ithate uste te It), will; be: read ly. rena-I na ha carrier}:racloiaoilitate handli a oi before: and: aster; cleani g he: te hs. convementlyi ayailahle; 15 usedauponidemehmenti mml h ..,4 benmmediatelyemaeeh niho ask Wh aten; rack is filled the used needlesQflflfiQaQlhfihgraplg; may; heye fi i z and quic ly; c eane b n ist n thegrack and-:needles ntm he hous n pnqlea ineeasiaho et descr bedter c e nin the a he mawbeiuseditohold thelnee le onvenient? place; readw for: ste l zation! Thea; employment; of; io s d fi ntitmes i; cleanin flu ds; illustrated; he eini s bv ou l exemplarsaonlw d1:othen eaninsufiuidsnfd w' ferent type; and; a; ar ten ess number o clean ngsfluids may be u dioonn i nrwa thisg aratua for; properly; clean ng h m dermici needl sior any; other; qp nndede u ul lr elements; which;requ ra 'oleanine the n-ooh; 151:- andf; valve; construction oeinam ified accord: mg

Whilezthe; cleanineiofrthe needlesdllu tr -tsdi thiszinventionlisipe fiorm dgbys eohm c;

needless Eonsm thrQughs'ItheZn .dfl-e$ittiiS' contemplat drw; an he a paratusimasc be;c nven ent nmodifiedybyrm vidingasuitable sealing!means;-so;.:thatathewcleanw: ingi fiuidzmayl bel moved from; the: supply: reg;

' ceptaclesithroughthezneedles:aunderatheinflnencec of a vacuum.

Itewill-ibezreadilyrapnarent tozthose: skilled in he; arm hat the; mani u a ion, o he: controls ali esme b aautpma ic nstead; esonatillustrated. A suitable timing control device may.

be operatively associated with the valve so that the selector disk is automatically turned at predetermined intervals to permit the desired quantities of different cleaning fluids to pass through the needles.

If desired a pressure regulator may be installed within the housing in air supply line 6 in front of control valve In for providing a uniform regulatable fluid pressure for imparting flow to the several cleaning fluids.

The apparatus described above for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of open-ended tubular elements will be readily recognized as one which not only thoroughly, efficiently and completely cleans and flushes said elements but also results in a great saving of time and labor.

All changes or modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning a plurality of hypodermic needles, a combination of: a base; a housing and a plurality of cleaning fluid supply containers mounted on said base; a fluidconducting manifold supported within the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally extending ducts, each for a different fluid, all of said ducts communicating with longitudinally spaced common discharge ports; a needle-carrier rack removably positioned within the housing and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced needles to be cleaned; a spring-biased, movable casing enclosing said manifold and having guide means for said rack; means on said casing engageable with means on said rack for axially aligning the needles to be cleaned with said ports; manually operable means for causing the spring-biased casing to move with relationship to the manifold for bringing ends of the needles into scalable engagement with margins of said ports; and a control valve for selectively connecting the fluid supply containers with the manifold for successively passing different cleaning fluids through all of the needles, said control valve including means for introducing fluid pressure to the supply containers for causing flow of selected cleaning fluid.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning a plurality of hypodermic needles, a combination of: a base; a a

housing and a plurality of cleaning fluid supply containers mounted on said base; a fluid-conducting manifold supported within the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally extending ducts, each for a different fluid, all of said ducts communicating with longitudinally spaced common discharge ports; a needle-carrier rack removably positioned within the housing and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced needles to be cleaned; a spring-biased movable casing enclosing said manifold and having guide means for said rack; means on said casing engageable with means on said rack for axially aligning the needles to be cleaned with said ports; manually operable means for causing the spring-biased casing to move with relationship to the manifold for bringing ends of the needles into scalable engagement with margins of said ports; and a control valve for selectively connecting :the fluid supply containers with the manifold for successively passing different cleaning fluids through all of the needles.

3. In an apparatus for cleaning a plurality of hypodermic needles, a combination of: a base; a housing and a plurality of cleaning fluid supply containers mounted on said base; a fluid=con= ducting manifold supported within the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally extending ducts, each for a different fluid, all of said ducts communicating with longitudinally spaced common discharge ports; a needle-carrier rack removably positioned within the housing and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced needles to be cleaned; a spring-biased movable casing enclosing said manifold and having guide means for said rack; manually operable means for causing the spring-biased casing to move with relationship to the manifold for bringing ends of the needles into scalable engagement with margins of said ports; and a control valve for selectively connecting the fluid supply containers with the manifold for successively passing different cleaning fluids through all of the needles.

4. In an apparatus for cleaning hypodermic needles, the combination of: a base; a housing with an elongated aperture in one end wall mounted on the base; a fluid-conducting manifold supported within the housing and having a plurality of ducts, each for different fluid, communicating with spaced common discharge ports;

a needle carrier adapted to carry a plurality of needles to be cleaned and to be removably inserted within the housing through said aperture; carrier guide means within the housing for positioning needles on the carrier in axial alignment with respect to said ports; selective operable means for moving the carrier and needles against the manifold for sealably holding the needles in communication with said ports; a plurality of sources of different cleaning fluid; and valve means for selectively and sequentially connecting said different sources with said manifold and ducts.

5. An apparatus of the character described in claim 4, wherein a resilient yieldable material defines each discharge port.

6. An apparatus of the character described in claim 4, wherein the selective operable means includes spring means for tightly pressing an end of each needle against margins of a spaced discharge port.

'7. An apparatus of the character described in claim 4, wherein a resilient yieldable material defines each discharge port, and the selective operable means includes spring means for tightly pressing an end of each needle against margins of a spaced discharge port.

8. An apparatus of the character described in claim 4, wherein one of the cleaning fluids is operatively related to the control valve and to sources of other cleaning fluids for moving by fluid pressure the other fluids through the valve, manifold, and needles.

9. In an apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of open-ended hollow tubular elements, the combination of: a duct for cleaning fluids, said duct being provided with a plurality of spaced discharge ports with their axes lying in a downwardly inclined plane; a movable car- -rier provided with means for holding tubular open-ended elements in spaced relation in said plane; means operable to move said carrier toward said ports for releasably holding one end of each tubular element on said carrier in pres- ;sure-tight sealed relation with a port of said duct; and means for selectively connecting said duct with different sources of cleaning fluid.

10. In an apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of open-ended hollow tubular elements, the combination of a duct for cleaning fluids, said duct being provided with a plurality of downwardly directed spaced discharge ports; a movable carrier provided with means for holding tubular open-ended elements in spaced relation; means operable :to move said carrier toward said ports for releasably holding one end of each tubular element on said carrier in fluidtight abutment with opposed marginal faces of a port of said duct; and control means for selectively passing different cleaning fluids through the duct, ports and elements.

11. An apparatus of the character described in claim provided with a yieldable sealing material defining each discharge port whereby margins of each port sealably contact one end face of a tubular element.

12. An apparatus of the character described in claim 10 wherein alignment means are provided for axially positioning each element with respect to a discharge port.

13. An apparatus of the character described in claim 10 wherein said releasable holding means includes resilient means for pressing an end face of each element against margins of a discharge port.

14. An apparatus of the character described in claim 10 wherein said control means is operatively associated with pressure means for moving selected cleaning fluid through the duct, ports, and elements.

15. In an apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of openended, hollow, tubular elements, the combination of a housing including a wall having an aperture; manifold means within the housing adapted to conduct a plurality of different cleaning fluids and provided with spaced common ports; a movable carrier for supporting said elements in spaced relation and positionable within said housing through said aperture for bringing said elements into axial alignment with respective ports; means for moving the carrier and elements in said housing for sealably engaging under pressure contact open ends of said elements with margins of respective ports for permitting flow of cleaning fluid from the ports into and through said elements; andv control means for selectively passing difierent cleaning fluids through the ports and the elements.

16. In an apparatus for simultaneously clean ing a plurality of open-ended, hollow, tubular elements, the combination of: a housing; manifold means within the housing adapted to conduct a plurality of difierent cleaning fluids and provided with spaced common ports; a remov- 17. In apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of tubular elements open at both ends constructed for unobstructed flow of fluid therethrough, means for passing cleaning fluid through one end of said elements, means at the other end thereof for receiving and confining said fluid, including; a plurality of relatively spaced fluid conducting elements provided with fluid-sealing seating means for contactive association with at least one end of each of said tubular elements to be cleaned, a carrier provided with means for holding said plurality of tubular elements, means for optionally positioning said carrier with the said ends of the tubular elements in and out of contactive association with said sealing means, means for imparting movement to said carrier to eifect such optional positioning of the tubular elements, means for supplying cleaning fluid to said fluid passing means, and means for controlling the passage of said cleaning fluid from said fluid supplying means to and through said passing means and elements.

18. In apparatus for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of hypodermic needles open at both ends constructed for unobstructed flow of fluid therethrou-gh, means for passing cleaning fluid through one end of said hypodermic needles, means at the other end thereof for receiving and confining said fluid, including; a plurality of relatively spaced fluid conducting elements provided with fluid-sealing seating means for contactive association with at least one end of each of said hypodermic needles to be cleaned, a carrier provided with means for-holding said plurality of hypodermic needles, means for optionally positioning said carrier with the said ends of the hypodermic needles in and out of contactive association with said sealing means, means for imparting movement to said carrier to effect such optional positioning of the hypodermic needles, means for supplying cleaning fluid to said fluid passing means, and means for controlling the passage of said cleaning fluid from said fluid supplying means to and through said hypodermic needles.

PHILIP M. CASADY. RICHARD R. CASADY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 723,792 Wickham Mar. 24, 1903 1,194,542 Raymond Aug. 15, 1916 1,600,170 Henderson Sept. 4, 1926 1,822,614 Darling Sept. 8, 1931 1,934,248 Wynne Nov. 7, 1933 2,222,676 Mahler Nov. 26, 1940 2,223,791 Morgan Dec. 3, 1940 2,263,367 Peterson Nov. 18, 1941 2,322,729 Holman June 22, 1943 2,515,570 Robinfield July 18, 1950

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