Method and apparatus for destroying needles

Abstract

Biohazardous needles, in one embodiment, are destroyed by the application of an electrical arc that progressively destroys the needle and seals hollow needles. An elongated electrode that slopes up and away from the needle supports is used to strike and then progressively support the destructive arc. In another embodiment, an electrical arc is used to blunt the sharp end of the needle by melting it and allowing it to solidify into a spherical cap.

1 . An apparatus for destroying a biohazardous needle having a proximal portion and a distal tip portion, said apparatus comprising: 
 an upper electrode adapted to contact said proximal portion, a lower electrode out of contact with the needle spaced therefrom; and    an electric arc supply connectable between said upper and lower electrodes, said supply being adapted to produce an electric air arc between said lower electrode and said spaced distal tip portion wherein said air arc destroys said needle.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said air arc seals said needle.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said electric arc supply is adapted to provide said upper electrode with a negative polarity with respect to said lower electrode.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a lower electrode carriage, said carriage being adapted to move said lower electrode into and out of momentary contact with said needle to strike said air arc.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said carriage is further adapted to move said lower electrode toward said needle to remove ash therefrom.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said carriage is further adapted to move said lower electrode a further distance from said needle if said needle contacts said lower electrode before said lower electrode is moved into momentary contact with said needle.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said lower electrode includes an elongate member having a lower portion and an upper portion, said elongate member being adapted to maintain said lower portion closer to said distal tip portion than said upper portion while still spaced therefrom to progressively destroy said needle.  
     
     
         8 . A method for destroying a biohazardous needle having a proximal portion and a distal dip portion, said method comprising providing an electric arc supply having an upper and a lower output contact, 
 connecting said upper output contact to said proximal portion and said lower output contact spaced from the needle, and    creating an air arc between said distal tip portion and said spaced lower output contact, said air arc progressively destroying said needle.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  further comprising sealing said needle.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein said upper output contact has a negative polarity with respect to said lower output contact.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8  further comprising moving said lower output contact into and out of momentary contact with said needle to strike said air arc.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8  moving said lower output contact a further distance from said needle if said needle contacts said lower output contact before said lower output contact is moved into momentary contact with said needle.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 8  further comprising moving said lower output contact toward said needle to remove ash therefrom.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein said lower output contact includes an elongate member having a lower portion and an upper portion, 
 said method further comprising maintaining said lower portion closer to said distal tip portion than to said upper portion while still spaced from the needle.  
 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for neutralizing a biohazardous sharp having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said apparatus comprising a first electrode adapted to contact said proximal portion, 
 a second electrode out of contact with the needle spaced therefrom, and    an electric arc supply connectable between said first and second electrodes, said supply being adapted to produce an electric air arc between said second electrode and said spaced distal portion wherein said air arc neutralizes said sharp.    
     
     
         16 . A method for neutralizing a biohazardous sharp having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said method comprising providing an electric arc supply having a first and a second output contact, 
 connecting said first output contact to said proximal portion and said second output contact spaced from the needle, and    creating an air arc between said distal portion and said spaced second output contact, said air arc neutralizing said sharp.    
     
     
         17 . A device for blunting a hypodermic needle comprising a base, a path on the base for receiving the distal end of the needle along a longitudinal direction of the needle, a first electrode adapted to engage the needle when the latter is inserted into the path, a second electrode adjacent the path of the needle with a gap between such second electrode and the needle, a supply of electrical energy, the supply being electrically connected to the electrodes and being arranged to apply a voltage across the electrodes, the power supply, needle receiving path, and electrode positioning being arranged to establish a destructive air arc across the gap that melts and agglomerates the distal end of the needle to render it blunt and effectively block its bore.  
     
     
         18 . A device as set forth in  claim 17 , including an electrically insulating material that shields the second electrode from direct contact with the sharp distal end of the needle.  
     
     
         19 . A device as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said path has a longitudinal direction, said second electrode being laterally displaced from said path.  
     
     
         20 . A device as set forth in  claim 17 , including sensing elements for verifying that the device is supported on a flat surface.  
     
     
         21 . A device as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said sensing elements are arranged to inhibit actuation of said arc when said sensing elements indicate that said device is not resting on a flat surface.  
     
     
         22 . A device as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said first electrode is resiliently biased by spring action into said path.  
     
     
         23 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said first electrode comprises a pair of opposing electrically conductive elements.  
     
     
         24 . A device as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said first electrode has surfaces that diverge laterally from a longitudinal direction of the path such that the tip of a needle causes the surfaces to deflect laterally when the tip passes in or out of the path.  
     
     
         25 . A method of blunting a biohazardous hypodermic needle or other sharp instrument comprising the steps of contacting the surface of the needle at a location anterior of its sharp end with a first electrode, disposing the sharp end of the needle adjacent a second electrode with a gap between the sharp end of the needle and the second electrode, and establishing an air arc between the second electrode and the sharp tip of the needle by a voltage across the electrodes to melt the sharp tip of the needle into an agglomerated mass.  
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the first electrode is arranged at a negative potential relative to the second electrode.  
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein voltage across the electrodes is applied at a sufficiently high magnitude to initiate an arc across an air gap between the second electrode and the tip of the needle.  
     
     
         28 . A method as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the needle is moved longitudinally along a path to where the sharp tip is caused to enter a receiving zone and the second electrode is spaced laterally of said path.