Hypodermic syringe destruction device

A hypodermic syringe destruction device wherein a cutting member and hammer member are positioned on a movable carrier within a housing. A fixed anvil is mounted within the housing, and an opening in the housing is arranged to permit the needle end of a hypodermic syringe to be inserted in an open region between the anvil and blade-hammer, with the movable carrier in a normal position. A solenoid is mechanically coupled to the carrier to move the blade through the syringe and hammer across the needle and anvil, whereby the needle region of the hypodermic syringe is separate from the syringe portion, and the needle is bent essentially 90.degree..

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to devices for preventing the reusage of hypodermic 
syringes, and particularly to a device which severs the syringe and bends 
its needle. 
BACKGROUND ART 
As is known, hypodermic syringes are legitimately used on a very large 
scale in hospitals and doctors' offices by professional health care 
personnel. Remaining, however, is the illegal use of hypodermic syringes 
by persons administering to themselves or to others illicit drugs. Under 
these circumstances, it is, of course, important to limit access by those 
who would use hypodermic syringes illegally. 
It is thus desirable that after a hypodermic syringe has been used by a 
health care personnel that it be destroyed. Destruction is equally 
important to prevent the spread of a contagious disease which might infect 
a hypodermic needle, and to prevent the residue of a dangerous medication 
on a hypodermic needle from being brought into harmful contact with 
someone who might later handle or use the syringe. 
Accordingly, it is the present practice of hospitals and some doctors' 
offices to employ means to effect, at least to a degree, the destruction 
of hypodermic syringes. Perhaps the most common type used is a 
hand-operated device wherein the syringe is severed from the needle 
portion of the hypodermic syringe. A difficulty with this device is that 
it is hand-operated and requires quite a bit of hand pressure. 
Another device for the destruction of hypodermic syringes grinds them, both 
plastic and metal. A difficulty with this type device is that it is noisy 
and it is not generally used on a hospital ward for this reason. This 
means that hypodermic needles have to be gathered in a ward and taken to 
the device, which requires that there be additional handling of the 
syringes, which is not desirable. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, a hypodermic syringe destruction 
device is constructed in which a combination blade and hammer is mounted 
on a movable frame within a housing. The needle end region of a hypodermic 
syringe is inserted into the housing through an opening, and then by means 
of a solenoid, the movable frame moves the blade and hammer across the 
hypodermic needle, severing it from the syringe portion and effecting a 
bending operation of the needle, the latter being effected by means of an 
anvil against which the needle is pressed by the hammer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to the drawings, fixed guide 10 is attached to housing 12 by 
rivets 13, and guide 10 contains a cylindrical guide member 14 which 
extends through opening 15 of block 17, which in turn supports plates 19a 
and 19b of carrier 18. In this manner, directional movement of carrier 18 
is effected in the direction of arrow 16. Carrier 18 supports (by means 
not shown) blade 20 and hammer 22. Normally, carrier 18 is biased to the 
left by spring 24 connected between arm 26 on fixed guide 10 and arm 28 on 
block 17. 
Anvil 30 is fixedly attached to housing 12 by rivets 21 and includes a 
downwardly tapered surface 32 and a laterally extending edge 34, the 
latter being perpendicular to the direction of arrow 16 and perpendicular 
to the axis of opening 35 of housing 12 through which a hypodermic syringe 
is inserted. Solenoid 36, fixedly attached to housing 12, includes a 
movable arm 38 with a pin 40 which engages slots 42 in plates 19a and 19b 
of carrier 18 to pull carrier 18 to the right upon solenoid 36 being 
energized. Solenoid 36 is then energized by button switch 44 connected in 
energizing power cord lead 46. In operation, hypodermic syringe 48 would 
be positioned through opening 35 in housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Then, 
button switch 44 would be operated, and this would cause carrier 18 to be 
moved to the right, causing blade 20 to sever syringe 48 and cause hammer 
22 to move under the edge of anvil 30 in a spaced relationship thereto in 
order to bend needle 50 of the syringe in an essentially 90.degree. bend, 
as shown in FIG. 2. 
Upon being severed and after the release of button 44, enabling carrier 18 
to be moved back to the left, needle 50 would then drop down through 
opening 52 in housing 12. 
Housing 12 is mounted on a storage housing 54 (by means not shown). Opening 
52 and opening 56 of storage housing 54 are aligned, and thus when 
severed, needle 50 would drop through opening 56 into disposable container 
58. The severed upper portion 60 of syringe 48 would then be deposited by 
hand through an opening 62, and thus into disposable container 58. Opening 
62 has a cover 64, which would normally be moved to the left to cover this 
opening. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the device as shown in FIG. 1 wherein 
housing 70 is smaller than housing 54, and wherein removable container 66 
is likewise smaller. The use of this version of the device is the same as 
with the other version. Thus, with a hypodermic needle being placed into 
an opening 35a, and switch 44a operated, the destruction of a hypodermic 
needle as described above would be effected.