Patent ID: 8829394

Claim:
An apparatus for removing a needle from a needle holder, comprising: a grasping unit comprising arms for grasping the needle, each arm having at least one tapered portion; a receiving unit for receiving the needle holder, at least one of said grasping unit and said receiving unit being displaceable with respect to the other of said grasping unit and said receiving unit; a biasing unit biasing at least one of said grasping unit and said receiving unit in a first direction; and separating means for separating the entire needle from the needle holder; wherein the receiving unit comprises an activating unit comprising an annular disk, which upon displacement of the displaceable one of said grasping unit and said receiving unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction, engages the tapered sections of the arms, thereby automatically causing the arms to grasp the needle; wherein upon separation of the entire needle from the needle holder, the biasing unit automatically displaces the displaceable one of said grasping unit and said receiving unit in the first direction, thereby displacing the annular disk relative to the tapered arm portions and reducing the engagement therewith, thereby automatically releasing said separated needle; wherein adhesive connects the needle with the holder; and the separating means heats the needle to melt, soften, or otherwise weaken material and/or adhesive connecting the needle with the needle holder.