摘要 |
<p>An incinerator for use in incinerating substantially hollow articles is provided with crimping means (31, 36) adapted to plastically deform a portion of the article. Typically the article comprises an elongate hollow medical needle (64) and therefore the incinerator typically includes a pair of spaced electrically conductive contacts (25/26, 27/11) defining a gap across which an electrical potential difference is set up. When the needle is brought into contact with the pair of contacts, the portion of the needle bridging the gap is incinerated. The crimping means (31, 36) acts to provide a substantially sealed end or termination to the portion of the needle which is not incinerated. Potentially harmful fluids which may be present in the remaining portion of the needle or the syringe to which the needle is attached are thereby effectively sealed in the needle and syringe.</p> |