Abstract: The apparatus for priming a hypodermic needle with hazardous fluid and for retaining the hazardous fluid expelled from the needle in purging air from the needle includes a hypodermic needle and a tubular sheath member with a distal fluid containment chamber. The proximal end of the needle is adapted to be connected to a syringe or I.V. tubing, and is preferably removably mounted in the base portion of the sheath. The containment chamber includes a sealing membrane through which the needle extends, and a vent with a hydrophobic filter is disposed in the distal end of the containment chamber for venting air. A deflector shield is also provided within the containment chamber between the hydrophobic filter at the vent opening and the hypodermic needle for deflecting the hazardous fluid expelled from the distal end of the needle.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle disposal system includes a portable disposable bottle having a cap assembly movable between an open position permitting used needles to be dropped into the bottle and a closed position locked against reopening. The cap assembly comprises a shim positioned over a bottle opening and a cap ring secured to the bottle in a position overlying the shim and rotatable between the open and closed positions, wherein the shim and cap ring have passages of predetermined shape formed off-center therein. In the open position, these off-center passages are aligned to permit dropping of used needles into the bottle which is shaped for controlled needle stacking for optimized numerical capacity. In the closed position, the off-center passages are moved out of alignment to close the bottle opening, and locking members on the cap ring and bottle are moved into locked engagement to prevent return cap ring movement toward the open position.