Hypodermic needle extraction and disposal system and device

Abstract

A hypodermic needle extraction device for removing a hypodermic needle from a syringe having a syringe body and a luer, the device including at least one guide rod disposed with the device, a carriage assembly having a carriage slidably mounted on the guide rod, and a needle extraction assembly configured to grasp the needle such that the needle is separated from the syringe body as the syringe body and needle are urged apart.

1 . A hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device for removing a hypodermic needle from a syringe having a syringe body and a luer, said device comprising: 
 a guide rod disposed within said device;    a carriage assembly having a carriage slidably mounted on said guide rod; and    a needle extraction assembly configured to grasp the needle such that the needle is separated from the syringe body as the syringe body and needle are urged apart.    
   
   
       2 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said guide rod further comprises a pair of parallel guide rods.  
   
   
       3 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , said carriage assembly further comprising: 
 a pair of opposed body clamp plungers configured to grasp the syringe body; and    a pair of body clamp motors, each said body clamp motor configured to move one of said body clamp plungers such that said body clamp plungers grasp the syringe body.    
   
   
       4 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 3 , each said body clamp motor further comprising a pinion gear configured to engage a rack disposed on said respective body clamp plunger.  
   
   
       5 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater assembly disposed between said carriage assembly and said needle extraction assembly, said heater assembly being configured to heat the luer.  
   
   
       6 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 5 , said heater assembly further comprising a pair of heater motors, each said heater motor engaging a heater element, said heater elements being configured to contact the luer.  
   
   
       7 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , said needle extraction assembly further comprising: 
 a platform slidably mounted to said guide rod;    a platform motor configured to urge said platform along said guide rod;    a pair of needle tip clamp motors mounted to said platform, each said needle tip clamp motors including a needle tip gripper; and    wherein said needle tip grippers are configured to grip the needle.    
   
   
       8 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a bin having a recess, said bin being configured to receive the needle after the needle after removal from the syringe body;    a housing configured to slidably receive said bin;    an actuator configured to engage said recess after said bin is inserted into said housing; and    wherein removal of said actuator from said recess allows said bin to be removed from said housing.    
   
   
       9 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to slidably receive a bin having a bin door, wherein said bin is configured to receive the needle after removal from the syringe body and said bin door is configured to slide to a shut position as said bin is removed from said housing.  
   
   
       10 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 9 , wherein said bin door further comprises an actuator tab extending upwardly therefrom and said housing further comprises a slot configured to slidably receive said actuator tab as said bin is inserted into and removed from said housing, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a magnet disposed in said actuator tab; and    a reed switch disposed in said housing, said reed switch being configured to determine the position of said actuator tab by way of the position of said magnet, thereby determining whether said bin door is in said open or said closed position.    
   
   
       12 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said needle extraction assembly is mounted to said carriage.  
   
   
       13 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 12 , wherein said needle extraction assembly further comprises a stationary needle tip gripper, a movable needle tip gripper, and a needle tip clamp motor configured to urge said movable needle tip gripper toward said stationary needle tip gripper, thereby gripping the needle therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 12 , further comprising a carriage motor configured to urge said carriage away from the syringe body such that the needle is removed from the syringe body.  
   
   
       15 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one guide rod further comprises a pair of parallel guide rods.  
   
   
       16 . A hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device for removing a hypodermic needle from a syringe having a syringe body and a luer, said device comprising: 
 a housing;    a carriage assembly including a carriage disposed within said housing;    a motor configured to move said carriage relative to said housing;    a needle extraction assembly configured to grasp the needle such that the needle is separated from the syringe body as the needle and the syringe body are urged apart;    a bin including a bin door, said bin being slidably received within said housing and configured to receive the needle after separation from the syringe body; and    wherein said bin door is configured to move to a shut position as said bin is removed from said housing.    
   
   
       17 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 16 , wherein said bin door further comprises an actuator tab extending upwardly therefrom and said housing further comprises a slot configured to slidably receive said actuator tab as said bin is inserted into and removed from said housing, respectively.  
   
   
       18 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a magnet disposed in said actuator tab; and    a reed switch disposed in said housing, said reed switch being configured to detect said magnet, thereby determining whether said bin door is in said open or said closed position.    
   
   
       19 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of parallel guide rods disposed within said housing, said carriage assembly being slidably mounted on said guide rods.  
   
   
       20 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 19 , said carriage assembly further comprising: 
 a pair of opposed body clamp plungers configured to grasp the syringe body; and    a pair of body clamp motors, each of said body clamp motors configured to move one of said body clamp plungers such that said body clamp plungers grasp the syringe body.    
   
   
       21 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 19 , said needle extraction assembly further comprising: 
 a platform slidably mounted to said guide rods;    a needle extraction platform motor configured to urge said platform along said guide rods;    a pair of needle tip clamp motors mounted to said platform, each of said needle tip clamp motors including a needle tip gripper; and    wherein said needle tip grippers are configured to grip the needle.    
   
   
       22 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 16 , wherein said needle extraction assembly is mounted to said carriage.  
   
   
       23 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 22 , wherein said needle extraction assembly further comprises a stationary needle tip gripper, a movable needle tip gripper, and a needle tip gripper motor configured to urge said movable needle tip gripper toward said stationary needle tip gripper, thereby gripping the needle.  
   
   
       24 . A hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device for removing a hypodermic needle from a syringe having a syringe body and a luer, said device comprising: 
 at least one guide rod disposed within said device;    a carriage slidably mounted on said guide rod;    means for urging said carriage along said guide rod; and    a needle extraction assembly configured to grasp the needle such that the needle is separated from the syringe body as the syringe body and needle are urged apart.    
   
   
       25 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 24 , said carriage assembly further comprising: 
 means for grasping the syringe body slidably mounted to said carriage; and    means for driving said means for grasping such that said body clamp plungers grasp the syringe body.    
   
   
       26 . The hypodermic needle extraction and disposal device of  claim 24 , wherein said needle extraction assembly is mounted to said carriage.