Terumo Bct, Inc.

Technicare Corporation

National Syringe Disposal, Inc.

Thomas Pearce

Bruce S Ellingboe

Richard Alan Edrich

Jaime Estrada

Jack R Sorwick

David E Wood

Philip E Clements

Joe F Guess

Arthur W Wallace

Paul Welborn

David B Swezey

Centrifuge counter balance bag

Combined centrifuge balance bag and connector

Connector for a centrifuge balance bag

A syringe disposal apparatus has a portable collection unit (1) and a processing unit (2'). The collection unit (1) has an in-feed mechanism (11) to allow syringes to be introduced into the collection unit (1); and an interlock mechanism (12) suitable for removably securing the collection unit (1) to the processing unit (2') and emptying the syringes from the collection unit (1) into the processing unit (2'). The processing unit (2') contains an interlock mechanism (20) suitable to activating the collection unit interlock mechanism (11); a hammer mill (43) for initially breaking up the syringes (45) into discrete pieces (45'); a paddle wheel (44) to regulate the passage of the broken syringe pieces to a grinder (21) suitable for grinding the syringes into particles of metal and plastic; a crucible assembly (22) suitable for heating these particles above the melting point of plastic, and then cooling to produce a solid puck of plastic in which the metal particles are suspended and encapsulated; and a controlling means (50) to coordinate the efficient operation of the members of the processing unit (2').

Syringe disposal apparatus and method

A syringe disposal apparatus has a portable collection unit and a process unit. The collection unit has an in-feed mechanism to allow syringes to be introduced into the collection unit; and an interlock mechanism suitable for removably securing the collection unit to the processing unit and emptying the syringes from the collection unit into the processing unit. The processing unit contains an interlock mechanism suitable to activating the collection unit interlock mechanism; a grinder suitable for grinding the syringes into particles of metal and plastic; and a crucible assembly suitable for heating these particles above the melting point of plastic, and then cooling to produce a solid puck of plastic in which the metal particles are suspended and encapsulated.

A mechanical in-line sector scanner is provided in which the ultrasonic transducer pivots about an axis. The transducer is oscillated through an arc about the axis by reciprocating pins, which alternately push the transducer in opposite directions of scanning. The pins are reciprocated by a continuously turning cam having a cam surface obliquely oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pins.

Ultrasonic in-line sector probe

A pressurizing syringe includes one or more dimple-shaped snapdomes located between the plunger and piston of a syringe assembly. When the plunger is depressed, the snapdomes will deflect at a known pressure level, giving the user a tactile and audible indication that the syringe is compressing fluid at the desired pressure. A method for using a pressurizing syringe to pressurize the fluid-filled compartment of an ultrasonic scan head is also described.

Pressurizing syringe

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Thomas Pearce