Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for destroying a syringe needle, having a housing, first and second walls in opposed relationship in the housing and defining therebetween a needle burn chamber, the distance between the first and second surfaces being at least the length of the needle, the first surface defining a first opening therethrough, a needle receiving enclosure in the chamber movable between the first and second surfaces and defining a second opening therethrough which is coaxial with the first opening, a first electrical contact on the needle receiving enclosure, a second electrical contact on the second surface and being in registry with the second opening, power source connected to the first and second contacts, a waste collector disposed in the housing beneath and in communication with the burn chamber, the waste collector being removable from the housing and a mechanism that moves the needle receiving enclosure toward the first opening; so that when the needle is inserted through the first and second openings to be in contacting relationship to the needle receiving enclosure and the needle receiving means is moved toward the second surface, the tip of the needle engages the second contact closing the circuit between the contacts and melting the needle along at least most of its length with the resultant melted waste falling into the waste collector.

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First Claim