CONTAINMENT DEVICE FOR SAFELY REMOVING, STORING AND ULTIMATELY DISPOSING OF NEEDLES FROM HYPODERMIC NEEDLE/SYRINGE ASSEMBLIES.

摘要

A needle removal and storage device for removing needles from hypodermic needle/syringe assemblies and automatically receiving and safely storing removed needles within the device. The device includes a storage/containment member closed at one end and proportioned to receive used needles, and a top assembly at the open end of the storage/containment member which provides an opening to receive a needle in its hub portion. The top assembly is provided with a pair of grasping members mounted to generally opposite sides of the storage/containment member at its open end. The grasping members are adapted to receive the needle hub portion of a needle/syringe assembly and grasp the hub portion when squeezed together to permit removal of the needle from the syringe. The storage/containment member is generally flexible and resilient at its open end to permit the grasping members to be squeezed together so as to constrict the opening in the top assembly and grasp the needle hub at its ribbed portion for removal of the needle from the syringe, yet resiliently bias the grasping members away from each other after the grasping force is released to allow the needle to drop vertically into the storage/containment member, needle point first. The device further includes a closure member formed integrally with one of the grasping members via a living hinge-type connection. The closure member is adapted to releasably engage the other grasping member so as to hold the closure member securely closed over the open end of the storage/containment member when the device is not being used for removal of a needle.