Abstract: A holder for a sheath having an open end of the type used for the protection of hypodermic needles. The holder comprises a base adapted to resist tipping and sliding in use when supported on a surface, and a holder device associated with the base. The holding device is capable of temporarily holding the sheath with the open end outermost so that the sheath may be re-positioned over a hypodermic needle without risk of puncture by the needle of the user's hands. The holder avoids the risk to health field workers of becoming infected from a patient's bodily fluids by accidental puncturing of the user's hands when relocating the safety sheath on a hypodermic needle.

Abstract: A device for removing needles or needle/sheath combinations from hypodermic syringes. The device comprises a gripping mechanism for releasably gripping the needle or needle/sheath combination when inserted into the device. The device also includes a drive mechanism associated with the gripping mechanism for causing the gripped needle or needle/sheath combination to rotate relative to the syringe. The gripping mechanism is designed so that the needle or needle and sheath combination move freely away from the gripping mechanism when released. The rotation enables the needle or needle sheath combination to be removed from the syringe simply by moving the syringe away from the device as the rotation takes place. When released by the gripping mechanism the needle or needle/sheath combination preferably falls into a removable container within the device.