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Abstract

An apparatus for destroying or rendering safe the metal needle portion of a hypodermic needle syringe in which the needle is destroyed by electrical resistance heating. The apparatus includes two electrodes that are generally disc shaped that are mounted so that they are a predetermined distance away from each other in an overlapping manner. During operation, the metal needle portion forms a resistive load between the electrodes which causes the metal to be incinerated and which causes switching circuitry to turn on a fan for a predetermined period of time. The fan draws smoke and emissions produced by incineration through a filter module. The filter module preferably includes a first filter having a porous layer and an antimicrobial layer, a second filter of activated carbon, a third filter of potassium manganate, and a fourth filter of activated carbon in series.

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