Patent ID: 11925792
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  H | IPC A  H

Claim 30:
31. An apparatus for destroying needles and sharp objects comprising:
an incineration port, the incineration port comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are operable to receive a needle or other sharp object;
a power source, wherein the power source is in communication with the incineration port and wherein the power source is operable to provide electrical power to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
a plurality of sensors comprising a current sensor;
a processor, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the plurality of sensors, and wherein the processor is operable to interface with the power source and the plurality of electrodes; and
a variable resistance element,
wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises a flat portion and an angled portion, each angled portion comprises a contact and a base, and each contact and each base comprise a terminal end,
wherein each angled portion of each electrode is bent downward at an offset angle from a horizontal plane of the flat portion of the electrode,
wherein, for each angled portion, a portion of the contact of the angled portion extends beyond the terminal end of the base of the angled portion and defines an overhang length,
wherein the processor is a microcontroller,
wherein the current sensor is operable to detect current being delivered to the plurality of electrodes by the power source, and the variable resistance element is operable to regulate an amount of current being delivered to the plurality of electrodes,
wherein the current sensor and the variable resistance element are in communication with the processor, and
wherein the microcontroller is operable to: receive data from the current sensor; determine whether an adjustment in the amount of current delivered to the plurality of electrodes is required; when it is determined that an adjustment in the amount of current delivered to the plurality of electrodes is required, compute the required adjustment; and provide a signal to the variable resistance element wherein the signal results in a modification of the amount of current passing to the plurality of electrodes.