Hypodermic Needle Destruction Device

Abstract

An elongated enclosed receptacle has an orifice formed in a first end thereof for receiving a cannula of a hypodermic syringe. A lever is pivotally mounted to the receptacle and has a blade mounted thereto that moves laterally across the orifice when the lever is rotated about its pivotal connection. A spring member urges the lever to a first position in which the blade does not overlay the orifice. A member is provided on a second end of the receptacle for receiving a loop which is attached to the lever so that the lever may be held against the force of the spring member in a second position in which the blade overlays the orifice and closes the receptacle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This patent relates to a device for destroying hypodermic needles and more particularly to such a device that is pocket sized and hand operated.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore, hypodermic needle destruction devices were utilized exclusively in hospitals and were designed for destruction of large quantities of hypodermic needles. Generally, the devices were bulky and complex, and therefore, placed in one central location in a hospital. The procedure used in most hospitals was that after a hypodermic needle was used it would be placed to one side and later sent to a central location where the needle was destroyed. During the period of time between use and destruction, there was an opportunity for pilferage and unauthorized use of the needles and the used needles proved to be a hazard that resulted in accidental punctures and stabbings and in some instances, cross infected the wounded person. Pilferage has greatly increased with the increased drug problem encountered today. It is important that these hypodermic syringes and needles do not become implements for narcotics addiction.

One of the most effective ways of eliminating the potential hazard and opportunity for pilferage of hypodermic syringes is to destroy the needles immediately after use; however, in the prior art no device was provided for such destruction.

Hypodermic syringes discarded after use by insulin-using diabetics have frequently fallen into the hands of drug users. Heretofore, no device was provided whereby hypodermic needles could be conveniently destroyed in the home prior to discarding the used needles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pocket sized, hand operated hypodermic needle destruction device. The device comprises an elongated receptacle having an orifice formed at a first end for the reception of a needle from a hypodermic syringe. A lever arm is pivotally mounted to the same end and has a blade attached thereto and positioned so as to move laterally across the orifice when the lever arm is pivotally rotated. A spring member urges the lever arm and blade to a first position in which the blade does not overlay the orifice.

After a needle is inserted into the orifice, the lever is rotated against the force of the previously mentioned spring so that the blade moves laterally across the orifice and severs the needle from the hypodermic syringe. The needle falls into the receptacle where it is safely retained. Means are provided for retaining the lever in a second position wherein the blade overlays the orifice and provides a cover for the receptacle to prevent the needles from inadvertently falling out of the receptacle.

Thus, the present invention provides a small, inexpensive device for destroying hypodermic needles immediately after use thereby eliminating the opportunity for pilferage. Another benefit flowing from the device is the elimination of any possibility of reusing a contaminated needle in a hospital or a doctor's office. The device provides for the safe disposal of needles in the home after they have been used by a diabetic.

The present invention provides an inexpensive device which is therefore rendered disposable so that after the receptacle becomes filled with severed needles the entire device may be disposed of and a new device used without the expenditure of large sums of money. The unique construction of the device utilizes the blade as a cover to prevent inadvertent spillage of needles deposited in the receptacle. After destroying several needles, the blade tends to become dull; however, because of the disposable characteristic of the device, the blade need not be sharpened but is merely discarded with the device. Prior art devices required that the blade be sharpened periodically because of the high cost of the prior art devices did not render them disposable.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, disposable pocket sized hand operated hypodermic needle destruction device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a needle destruction device having an enclosed receptacle wherein the discarded needles are not subject to spillage.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hypodermic needle destruction device wherein a blade functions as a cover for the device to prevent spillage of discarded needles.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device for immediately destroying hypodermic needles after use and thereby preventing pilferage of used needles and eliminating the hazard of accidental stabbings and cross infection of other persons.

The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and is not to be considered as defining the limits of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 shown after a needle has been sheared off.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings there is shown an elongated receptacle 10 preferably of tubular construction having a closed end 12. An end 14 is open for receiving a cutting assembly designated generally as 16. Closed end 12 has a lug 18 formed thereon the purpose of which will be explained subsequently. Receptacle 10 is preferably made of clear plastic material; however, it is to be understood that it could be made of glass or metal and need not necessarily be transparent.

Cutting assembly 16 comprises a base 20 molded or machined from a plastic or metal material. Plastic because of its low cost is the preferred material for base 20. Base 20 has an outer configuration that conforms with the cross sectional configuration of receptacle 10, preferably cylindrical. A shoulder 22 is provided about the periphery of base 20 by forming a portion of the base with a reduced diameter. The portion of base 20 with reduced diameter is inserted into open end 14 of receptacle 10 so that shoulder 22 abuts with the edge of open end 14. Base 20 is retained within receptacle 10 by cementing or by any other convenient attaching means known in the art.

Base 20 has an orifice 24 formed through a central portion thereof and a circumferential wall 26 formed about the edge of base 20. Wall 26 extends upwardly from a surface 28 of base 20 and has an arcuate slot 30 formed on one side thereof. An outwardly extending flange 32 is formed on the end of wall 26 and is positioned in alignment with slot 30.

A lever arm 34 is pivotally mounted to flange 32 by hinge 36 and has cutting blade 38 attached thereto so as to be disposed within slot 30. When lever arm 34 is pivoted about hinge 36, blade 38 moves laterally across orifice 24. A spring member 40 is attached to base 20 by means of machine screw 42 and functions to urge lever arm 34 into a first position in which blade 38 does not overlay orifice 24.

A guard member 44, in the form of a disc with a hole formed in the center thereof, is mounted between wall 26 so that the hole is in line with orifice 24. Guard member 44 protects a user of the device from a sharpened edge of blade 38.

An end of lever arm 34 opposite hinge 36 has a wire loop 46 attached thereto. When lever arm 34 is urged against spring 40, blade 38 moves laterally across orifice 24 into a second position in which blade 38 covers the orifice to close the interior of receptacle 10. In this position loop 46 may be placed over lug 18 to retain lever arm 34 in the second position where blade 38 functions as a cover for the receptacle. Because of the action of spring 40, loop 46 cannot readily slip over the end of lug 18 and the lever arm is retained securely in the second position.

While the relative size of the device is not critical, a maximum length of approximately three inches and a diameter of approximately five-eighths inch is considered preferably so that the device may be easily carried in the pocket of a user and may fit conveniently in the user's hand.

In use, a hypodermic syringe 48 having a cannula 50 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1. Cannula 50 is then inserted in orifice 24 to the maximum extend possible. After inserting cannula 50 into orifice 24, lever arm 34 is urged against spring 40 so that blade 38 engages cannula 50 and shears the cannula off at a point close to syringe 48 rendering the hypodermic syringe unusable. Loop 46 is then placed over lug 18 to retain lever arm 34 in the second position where blade 38 functions to cover orifice 24 and prevents an accidental discharge of the severed cannula from the receptacle 10. Since the device is preferably molded from plastic, it is very inexpensive and when receptacle 10 becomes filled with cannulas, the entire device is discarded and a new one used.

The device as previously described is the preferred embodiment; however, many variations are contemplated that would still come within the scope of the present invention. It is contemplated that lever arm 34 could be pivotally mounted to end 12 of receptacle 10 rather than to base 20. However, such a configuration would not provide for the optimum lever action and considerably more force would be required to sever cannula 50. Other blade arrangements such as the use of a pair of cooperating blades are also contemplated but would result in somewhat more complex device having a higher cost and are therefore not considered to be the preferred embodiment.

Thus, the present invention provides a disposable inexpensive pocket sized hand operated hypodermic needle destruction device which is easily carried by doctors and nurses or by insulin-using diabetics so that hypodermic needles may be destroyed immediately after use, rendering them unavailable for future use by drug addicted persons. The device is inexpensively manufactured from molded plastic parts except for the blade which should be made from a metal, preferably a hardened steel.

The unique design of the device utilizes the blade as a closure for the receptacle and thereby eliminates unnecessary components that would only serve to complicate the device and increase its cost. The sheared-off cannulas are deposited within an enclosed receptacle so that they do not become a hazard to other individuals.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for destroying hypodermic needles, comprising:

a receptacle having an orifice adapted to receive a cannula of a hypodermic syringe;

shear means associated with the orifice for shearing off the cannula and for covering the orifice; and

means for retaining the shear means in a position covering the orifice.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the shear means comprises:

an arm mounted to the receptacle for relative movement between the arm and the receptacle; and

a blade mounted to the arm so that the blade moves laterally across the orifice when the arm is moved relative to the receptacle.

3. A device as described in claim 2, wherein the arm is a lever arm pivotally mounted to the receptacle.

4. A device for destroying hypodermic needles, comprising:

a receptacle having an orifice adapted to receive a cannula of a hypodermic syringe;

a lever arm pivotally mounted to the receptacle for relative movement between the arm and the receptacle;

a blade mounted to the lever arm so that the blade moves laterally across the orifice when the lever arm is moved relative to the receptacle; and

spring means for urging the lever arm to a position wherein the orifice is not covered by the blade.

5. A device as described in claim 4, additionally comprising:

means for retaining the lever arm in a position so that the blade covers the orifice and encloses the receptacle.

6. A device for destroying hypodermic needles which comprises:

a tubular receptacle having a closed end and an open end;

a base member inserted into the open end of the tubular receptacle and secured thereto, the base member having an orifice formed therethrough;

a lever arm pivotally mounted to the base member;

a blade member attached to the lever arm and disposed adjacent one end of the orifice in the base said blade member positioned to move laterally across the orifice when the lever arm is rotated;

spring means for urging the lever arm to a position wherein the blade member does not cover the orifice; and

means for retaining the lever arm in a second position wherein the arm is urged against the spring means and the blade member covers the orifice to close the receptacle, whereby a cannula inserted in the orifice while the lever arm is in the first position is sheared-off by the cooperation by the blade member and the base member when the lever arm is urged against the spring means and the blade member closes the receptacle to retain the sheared-off cannula within the receptacle and the retaining means secures the lever arm in the second position to assure that the receptacle remains closed so that the cannula may not be discharged from the receptacle.

7. A device for destroying hypodermic needles, comprising:

a receptacle having an orifice adapted to receive a cannula of a hypodermic syringe;

shear means associated with the orifice for shearing off a cannula and for covering the orifice;

spring means for urging the shear means to a first position in which the shear means does not cover the orifice; and

means for retaining the shear means against the force of the spring means in a second position covering the orifice.

8. A device for destroying hypodermic needles, comprising:

a receptacle having an orifice adapted to receive a cannula of a hypodermic syringe;

an arm mounted to the receptacle for relative movement between the arm and a receptacle;

a blade mounted to the arm so that the blade moves laterally across the orifice when the arm is moved relative to the receptacle; and

means for retaining the arm in a position so that the blade covers the orifice.

9. A device for destroying hypodermic needles, comprising:

an elongated receptacle having an orifice formed in a first end thereof for receiving a cannula of a hypodermic syringe;

an arm having a first end pivotally mounted to the receptacle adjacent the first end of the receptacle and a second end movable from a first position remote from the receptacle to a second position adjacent the receptacle; and

a blade mounted to the arm so that the blade moves laterally across the orifice when the arm is pivoted from the first position to the second position.