Abstract: A handheld needle incinerator is self-contained within a portable housing and includes a guideway designed to guide the external walls of a diabetes pen-type injector into the incinerating chamber. Two spaced electrodes are simultaneously engaged by the needle to complete an electrical circuit and cause needle incineration. One electrode is dome-shaped and protrudes through an opening in the other electrode. Surrounding the opening in the other electrode is an annular generally conical surface designed to act like a ramp and lead the end of the needle toward the dome-shaped electrode to cause completion of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A portable hand-held device facilitates incineration of needles such as those used in hypodermic syringes. Incineration of such needles precludes the spread of diseases and the possibility of contamination of personnel handling such needles. The device includes two electrodes that are interconnected to complete the circuit when a needle is inserted into a recess in the device. A groove in the guide for the hand-held device allows full insertion of the a syringe to facilitate complete incineration of the needle, leaving little or no residue behind. An ambient temperature sensor senses the temperature adjacent the electrodes and cuts off power when the temperature exceeds a pre-set level.