WO2003024501A2

WO2003024501A2 - Disposable sylinge needle incinerator

Info

Publication number: WO2003024501A2
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001727
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ji-Hoon Park
Original assignee: Gmpbio Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-09-15
Filing date: 2002-09-14
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: KR20030024020A; WO2003024501A3; AU2002329085A1

Abstract

The invention is to provide a disposable syringe needle incinerator (100) for destroying needle and sealing the needle fixing end of a syringe to process the hygiene disposal. A disposal syringe needle incinerator (100) comprises a body (100) including upper and lower cases (1, 2) to form a mechanical chamber, in which a plurality of vent holes (14) are formed on the rear surface of the upper case (1); a cradle (300) receiving the body (200) to store and charge a battery (15) therein; a waste collection case (3) including a waste collection vessel (10) and a plurality of vent holes (13) formed on the front surface thereof, which is mounted on the front of the body (200) to be removable therefrom; an incinerating portion (6) including a chute (22); the first electrode (18) rotatably supported through an elastic spring (21) on a positive voltage terminal block in the form of a flat roller, to which a high positive voltage is applied, and a second electrode (17) rotatably shafted to a motor in the form of a cylindrical roller; and the mechanical chamber includes the battery (15), a filter portion (7) and a fan assembly (8) arranged in order from the front surface of the upper case (1).

Description

DISPOSABLE SYLINGE NEEDLE INCINERATOR

Technical Field

The invention is related to providing a syringe needle incinerator, and particularly, to providing a disposable syringe needle incinerator for destroying a metal needle and sealing a plastic needle fixing end of a disposal syringe to prevent pathogen diseases and metal contamination due to the careless and irresponsible waste.

Background Art In general, a syringe has been used in the disease treatment of a patient by injecting a medicinal fluid into a skin or vein, etc. An aneurysm patient is taken a shot of an iron chloride fluid for his treatment. The syringe including a medicinal fluid containing body and a needle is a medical instrument and supplies that have been developed in various sizes to be appropriate for its use. Recently, the disposable syringe made of sanitary plastic materials is mass-produced and most frequently used for the purpose of preventing the serum contagion.

Then, after taking a shot of medial fluid for the patient treatment in a hospital or a medical office, etc., it is a rule for the disposable syringe to be destroyed as a medical supply in order to prevent the contagious diseases, the bad infections and the environment contamination.

In the past, the metal needles were used to be separately disposed after being cut into small pieces with a cutter and collected at a special site with the plastic syringes. But, in the process of disposing the needles and syringes, the infection viruses and other bacteria in patent blood were remained in the destroyed parts without being removed. For it, the hospital or destroying companies were asked to perform a separate sanitary process as a countermeasure against the disease infection and environment contamination.

Therefore, in the hospital, the measures of the safe handling and disposal of medical wastes and particularly the needles used for the hypodermic injection have been required. A large numbers of sharp needles with blood and drugs requires disposal in safe and hygienic manner to minimize the spread of the infectious diseases and contamination. As part of the easy and safe disposal of needles, there have been developed various incinerating devices to destroy the syringe needle, most of which are portable and includes a pair of electrodes generating a high voltage discharge to melt or disintegrate the needle. Typical technologies are described in UK Patent Laid-Open Publication No.

2,273,231 entitled "Incinerator Device" and US Patent No. 6,326,575 entitled "Needle

Incinerator". The incinerator device comprises a first electrode mounted to the. axis of a motor to be rotated; a second electrode mounted adjacent the first electrode with a gap therebetween; a guide assembly for guiding a needle into the gap to be bridged between the electrodes; and a removal tray for sweeping away of molten needle fragments. But, the patent does not disclose the technologies for the needs to prevent the airborne pathogens from being discharged to the atmosphere and to adjust the incinerator electrodes upon the type of needle to be destroyed. The needle incinerator comprises first and second electrodes, each of which has a contact edge spaced apart in an overlapping relationship to one another and the second electrode is rotated relative to the first electrode so as to define a tapered gap to receive a large range of gauge sizes of needles between the contact edges, a residue collection drawer mounted adjacent to the electrodes in a housing; and an electrode broom movably mounted adjacent to the gap in the housing to remove the build up of debris resulting from incineration of the metals.

But, the patent also does not disclose the countermeasures for the causes of the infection and contamination sources such as blood; drugs resided in the needles and syringes. It may cause the lack of preventing the infectious diseases. In light of these points, it is preferable that the incinerator has the countermeasures to adjust a gap between the electrodes in compliance with various sizes of needle, to prevent the generating of the infectious viruses and contamination causes and to remove the molten metal.

An object of the invention is to provide a disposable syringe needle incinerator for destroying needle and sealing the needle fixing end of a syringe to process the hygiene disposal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable syringe needle incinerator for enabling the adjustment of a gap between electrodes to adapt various sizes of needles thereto. Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable syringe needle incinerator for melting a disposal syringe needle and sealing a plastic needle fixing end of a syringe by a high voltage spark discharge generating upon forming the contact short- circuit of the needle inserted into a gap between electrodes which are electrically connected to a battery in a housing and discharging smoke, smell resulting from the needle melting out of outside using a fan assembly through a filter portion, thereby preventing the spread of the infectious disease and environment contamination.

The invention has another advantages in that the disposable syringe needle incinerator is provided with a removable waste collecting vessel, has a good aesthetic appearance, is designed to be portable to facilitate its use and enable a user to visually confirm its operating state.

Disclosure of Invention In order to resolve these disadvantages and problems, according to the invention a disposable syringe needle incinerator comprises a portable body including upper and lower cases coupled to each other; a cradle including a base cover and base and for receiving the body removable therefrom and charging a battery mounted in the body comprises the body; a waste collection case including a waste collection vessel supported on a supporting portion and positioned directly below the opening of a chute and a permanent magnet or electro magnet arranged directly adjacent thereto and for collecting wastes and their fine fragments from an incinerating portion; the incinerating portion including a mounting block mounted adjacent to a needle guide plate, in which the mounting block includes the chute for guiding wastes into a waste collection vessel, a first electrode rotatably supported on a positive voltage terminal block in the chute, to which a high positive voltage is applied, in which an elastic spring is provided between the first electrode and the positive voltage terminal block to adjust the gap between the first and second electrodes and the second electrode mounted away under the first electrode in the chute to be spaced therefrom and rotatably shafted to a motor, to which a high negative voltage is applied; and a mechanical chamber formed in the body including the battery positioned directly below the incinerating portion by fixing elements and for supplying the power source voltage to the first and second electrodes, a fan assembly, etc.; a filter portion positioned directly behind the battery to purify contaminated air including smoke and gases; and the fan assembly positioned adjacent to the filter to introduce air from a plurality of vent holes formed on the front surface of the waste collection case out into the mechanical chamber and discharging the purified air to atmosphere through a plurality of vent holes formed on the rear surface of the upper case. Brief Description of Drawings

The invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an overall inner configuration of a disposable syringe needle incinerator according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view illustrating the incinerating portion of the disposable syringe needle incinerator according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the disposable syringe needle incinerator with a waste collection case being separated therefrom according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a charging circuit for supplying the power source and charging a battery mounted in the disposable syringe needle incinerator according to the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to Fig. 1, a disposable syringe needle incinerator 100 comprises a body 200 for disposing of a metal needle of a syringe and a cradle 300 for charging a battery 15 mounted in the body 200, which are separable from each other to enable the body 200 to be carried on to a place where a patient is taken a shot for the treatment. The body 200 includes upper and lower cases 1 and 2 which are coupled at positions 2' and 2" to each other by fixing elements such as screws, threaded couplers etc. The upper case 1 includes an incinerating portion 6 arranged adjacent to the front portion and a guide plate 9 mounted directly and adjacently at above the incinerating portion 6 on the front top surface thereof. LEDs 19 and 19' are properly arranged on the top surface of the upper case 200 to indicate the power source and the incinerating state of a needle.

The lower case 2 is divided into a waste collection case 3 and a mechanical chamber receiving a battery 15, a filter 7 and a fan assembly 8 arranged in order from its front therein. The waste collection case 3 is constructed in the form of a chamber as a front portion of the body 100 as shown in Fig. 3, on its front surface of which a plurality of vent holes 13 are formed to introduce air into chambers. The waste collection case 3 is removable from the lower case 2. A waste collection vessel 10 is positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the waste collection case 3 in a supporting portion 24 that is integrally molded with the waste collection case 3 in a manner not to disturb the air inflow into the mechanical chamber. Herein, it is noted that the waste collection vessel 10 is made of a metal material and positioned rightly above a permanent magnet 23 to prevent the dispersion or disappearance of wastes such as fine molten metal and its fine fragments, in which the permanent magnet 23 is substituted with an electro magnet. The permanent magnet 23 is supported on a bulk member 31 .arranged on the front of the lower case 3.

In the lower case 3, the battery 15 is positioned on supporting members 32 and 33 adjacent to the rear of the supporting portion 24 directly below the incinerating portion 6.

A printed circuit board 11 is provided with a high direct current voltage-generating portion and s high voltage transformer that are not shown, which is electrically connected to the battery 15 for the operating power source of a system, for example an incinerating portion

6, a fan assembly 8, etc. The printed circuit board 11 is properly mounted on the bottom surface of the lower case 3 directly below the battery 15 to control the operating of the incinerating portion 6 in the same manner as a known technology. In the rear of the battery 15, the filter portion 7 is installed with upper, sides and lower bulk supporters 34 and 35 to block or filter smoke, gases having toxic components, infectious viruses, etc., which might be generated, and purify air introduced into the mechanical chamber. The fan assembly 8 is mounted on the bottom surface of the lower case 3 by upper, sides and lower bulk supporters 36 and 37 to introduce air into the chambers and discharge purified air to atmosphere through a plurality of vent holes 14. The vent holes 14 are formed on the rear surface of the upper case 2.

The cradle 300 receives the body 200 therein for the charge of the battery 15 and the storage thereof, which comprises a base cover 4 and a base 5 coupled by fixing elements 38, 39 such as screws, etc. to each other. The base cover 4 includes power supply terminals as not shown in the drawings to be contacted with another power supply terminals Tl and T2 as shown in Fig. 4, which are provided on the bottom surface of the lower case 3. The base cover 4 directly receives the body 1 therein to support it and has an enlarged bulk over that of the base 5 as shown in Fig. 3 and LEDs 20 and 20' arranged on the rear surface to indicate the charging state of the battery 15. A printed circuit board 12 is mounted in the base 5 to control the charging of the battery 15, which comprises a control circuit as shown in Fig. 4 as described in detail below.

Referring to Fig. 2, the incinerating portion 6 comprises a mounting block 25 installed between the needle guide plate 9 and the waste collection vessel 10 and the battery 15. The mounting block 25 includes chute 22 mounted therein with a slight gradient to guide wastes into the waste collection vessel 10, an outlet portion of which is positioned to correspond to the opening of the waste collection vessel 10. In the chute 22 first and second electrodes 17 and 18 are mounted to generate a high voltage arc discharge bridging the contacting points of a metal needle across a gap therebetween. The first electrode 17 made of a high conductive material such as carbon graphite, copper, etc. is constituted as a flat roller that is rotatably supported on a high positive voltage terminal block 26 with elastic spring 21, to which a high voltage is applied. The second electrode 18 is constituted as a cylindrical roller shafted to a motor (not shown) to rotate downward at a lower speed, for example 60 RPM. The cylindrical roller or the second electrode 18 made of a high conductive material such as carbon graphite is connected to a highly negative voltage that is supplied from the battery 15. The needle guide plate 9 includes a concaved portion formed at the center portion in a concentric circle, at the center of which a guide hole is perforated to guide a needle 16 into the gap between the first and second electrodes with a gradient angle of about 15°.

Therefore, a disposable syringe S with a needle is guided through the hole of the needle guide plate 9 into the chute 22. The needle 16 is brought to the second electrode 18 in contact with the first electrode 17. At this time, the high voltage arc discharge generated between the contacting points of the needle instantaneously incinerates the needle in parts. As the second electrode 18 is rotated at a lower speed and the flat roller 17 also is rotated slowly, the needle 16 is forced to lower downward in the chute 22 so as to be incinerated. When the needle-mounting portion reaches the first electrode 17, it is momentarily melted with a plastic end of the syringe S to seal the opening end thereof, which means the completion of the incineration. Advantageously, the end sealing promotes the safe handling of the wasted syringes to prevent the spread of the infectious viruses and environment contamination. Also, the elastic spring 21 enhances the adaptability of various sizes of needles to the incineration. The permanent magnet 23 helps collecting the molten metals and their fine fragments into the waste collection vessel 10.

Referring to Fig. 3, a disposable syringe needle incinerator 100 has a good aesthetic appearance. A body 200 is contained in a cradle 300 for the charge, and a waste collection case 3 is being separated from the body 100 with a waste collection vessel 10 supported on a supporting portion 24. The body 100 including upper and lower cases 1 and 2 is potable. For it, the lower case 2 has upright walls extended upward from the cradle 300 to form on both sides of the body 100 an indentation that has a narrower width than the upper portion of the upper case 1, so that a handle portion is made. A needle guide plate 9 for guiding a needle 16 fitted into a plastic end of a syringe S and LEDs 19 and 19' for representing the operating state of an incinerating portion 6 and a battery 15 are provided on the upper surface of the upper case 1. A permanent magnet 23 is arranged on a position where the waste collection case 3 is placed. The cradle 300 includes a base cover 4 and a base 5 coupled to each other, in which the base cover 4 has the same form as that of the lower case 2 in a manner that it is closely contacted with the outer contour thereof. LEDs

20 and 20' for indicating the charge of the battery 15 are arranged on the rear portion of the base cover 4. Therefore, the collection of wastes and the identification of the operating states of the power source, battery and the incinerating portion are easy.

Referring to Fig. 4, a charging circuit 50 is properly mounted on a printed circuit board 12. A battery 15 is electrically connected to two positive and negative terminals Tl and T2 applied to a direct current power source including a regulator RG for rectifying an AC voltage into a regular voltage, for example 7.2N. The regulator RG is connected through a transformer and a condenser C₈ to an AC terminal of a commercial power source, for example 220N or 100N of 60 or 50 Hz. Between the positive terminal Tl and the regulator RG, a LED-driving portion for operating a LED 20 is provided 20, which includes a transistor ΥR_\ is connected at the emitter through a resistor R₆ and a diode D₂ to the battery positive terminal Tl, at the collector through a condenser C₇ to the output of the regulator RG and at the base through a resistor R_\ to a comparator CPi and the LED 20 grounded by a resistor R₉. The comparator CP₁ is connected at the positive port through parallel coupled a diode Dl and a condenser C₃ to a cathode of the diode D₂, at a negative port through a condenser C₂ to a tap between a resistor R₃ and a variable resistor R₄ that determine a reference voltage to be compared and at the output port to a tap between a resistor R and a condenser C_\ grounded to apply its output to the transistor TR\ via the resistor Ri. Therefore, upon the charging of the battery 15, the comparator CPi outputs a high level signal to light the LED 20 and indicate the charging state of the battery 15.

The LED 20' is operated according to the output of a comparator CP₂, the positive port of which is connected through a diode D to the battery positive terminal Tl and the negative port of which is connected to a tap between a resistor R₈ and a variable resistor R₁₀ with a condenser C₆ grounded, which determine a reference voltage to be compared. A diode D₃ is connected between the positive terminal Tl and the diode D at the anode and at the cathode through a resistor R and a condenser C₆ grounded to the LED 20'. Therefore, when the comparator CP₂ outputs a high level signal, the LED 20' is lighten to indicate the charging completion of the battery 15. If the output of the comparator CP₂ is a low level, the LED 20' is blinked according to the charging and discharging of the condenser Ci.

Industrial Applicability As described above, a disposable syringe needle incinerator melts a disposal syringe needle and seals a plastic needle fixing end of the syringe by a high voltage spark discharge generating upon forming the contact short-circuit of the needle inserted into a gap between electrodes which are electrically connected to a battery in a housing and discharging smoke, smell resulting from the needle melting out of outside using a fan assembly through a filter portion, thereby preventing the spread of the infectious disease and environment contamination.

Claims

1. A disposable syringe needle incinerator comprising: a portable body including upper and lower cases coupled to each other to form a mechanical chamber, in which the upper case includes a needle guide plate mounted on the upper surface of the upper case, and the lower case includes a printed circuit board formed as a charging circuit; a cradle including a base cover and base and for receiving the body to be removable therefrom and a battery mounted in the body, in which the base includes a printed circuit board formed as a charging circuit; a waste collection case positioned directly below the opening of a chute and including a waste collection vessel supported on a supporting portion; the incinerating portion including a mounting block mounted adjacent to a needle guide plate, in which the mounting block includes the chute for guiding wastes into a waste collection vessel, a first electrode rotatably supported through an elastic spring on a positive voltage terminal block in the chute, to which a high positive voltage is applied, and a second electrode mounted away under the first electrode in the chute to be spaced therefrom and rotatably shafted to a motor, to which a high negative voltage is applied; and the mechanical chamber including the battery positioned directly below the incinerating portion by fixing elements and for supplying the power source voltage to the first and second electrodes and a fan assembly; a filter portion positioned directly behind the battery to purify contaminated air including smoke and gases; and the fan assembly positioned adjacent to the filter to introduce air from a plurality of vent holes formed on the front surface of the waste collection case out into the mechanical chamber and discharging the purified air to atmosphere through a plurality of vent holes formed on the rear surface of the upper case.

2. The disposable syringe needle incinerator according to Claim 1, wherein:

The charging circuit includes a comparator connected between a regulator and the battery in parallel with a LED to indicate the charging of the battery; and another comparator connected in parallel to another LED to indicate the charging completion of the battery.

3. The disposable syringe needle incinerator according to Claim 1, wherein: the first electrode is constituted as a flat roller and includes the elastic spring provided between the first electrode and the positive voltage terminal block to adjust the gap between the first and second electrodes, and the second electrode is constituted as a cylindrical roller to be rotated at a lower speed of about 60 rpm.

4. The disposable syringe needle incinerator according to Claim 1, wherein: the lower case includes a permanent magnet arranged directly adjacent thereto to collect wastes and their fine fragments from an incinerating portion.

5. The disposable syringe needle incinerator according to Claim 1, wherein: the needle guide plate includes a hole formed at the center to guide the needle into the body with a gradient angle of 15°.