Importance

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Abstract

A closed automatic system for removing (for facilitating the removal) and safely storing potentially contaminated medical (or other) needles in which the operator only uses one hand to operate the system. The user simply inserts a syringe with needle attached in the opening provided in the top of the device and resists the rotation of the needle hub after the hub is engaged by the motor driven cams. Sensors detect the presence of the needle and cause the motor to start driving a chuck mechanism (through a shaft to which gears are attached) which engages the needle and rotates it a predetermined, but changeable, number of times sufficient to disengage the needle from the syringe. The operator then removes the syringe and the needle drops or has dropped into the safe. The system has a counter which counts the number of actuations of the needle sensor. When a predetermined limit is reached the device signals the operator that the safe is nearly full. A further fixed number of needles can then be removed, when that limit is reached, a fuse on the safe is blown causing the system to be inoperative until a new box is installed. Removal of the box also causes the fuse to be blown and the circuit is disabled until a new box is inserted. The safe storage box contains a tab which when fixed in the locked position can not be opened except upon the application of substantial force with a tool. The system uses a Motorola 705 EPROM or similar microcontroller.

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First Claim