ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,311,156, issued on May 27.
"Phlebotomy needle destruction" was invented by Clifford Ian Kirby (Sefton Village, Great Britain).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An apparatus for processing a phlebotomy needle having a double-ended needle with a tub between its tips. The apparatus has a clamping electrode for contacting/clamping one end of the needle between the hub and tip and tip electrode for contacting the needle as its tip. A voltage is applied between the clamping electrode and the tip electrode, to soften/melt the needle via resistive heating, at the same time as the tip electrode is advanced to compress the needle tip and blunt it. The...