Apparatus for electrical destruction of medical instruments

摘要

A hypodermic needle destruction system that utilizes a primary sub-housing with a cartridge demountably secured to the primary sub-housing. First and second electrodes are disposed within the cartridge. A guide is incorporated in the cartridge for accepting a metallic medical instrument for destruction. The guide directs the metallic medical instrument such that insertion thereof into and at least partially through the guide effects an electrical connection between the first and second electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is movable with respect to the other, and a sufficient level of electrical energy is applied across the first and second electrodes to cause the electrical destruction of the medical instrument positioned in electrical contact across the first and second electrodes. A variety of sub-housing alternatives as well as a variety of electrode and protective cap assemblies are disclosed.