WO1984004068A1

WO1984004068A1 - Hypodermic needle cutting assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1984004068A1
Application number: PCT/US1984/000566
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard F Gianni
Original assignee: Biosafety Systems Inc
Priority date: 1983-04-15
Filing date: 1984-04-16
Publication date: 1984-10-25
Also published as: EP0139744A1

Abstract

A cutting assembly for destroying used hypodermic needles prior to disposal. The cutting assembly comprises a pair of cutter blades (16), (18) mounted over an opening (40) in an elevated platform and normally positioned to permit insertion of a hypodermic needle substantially into the platform opening. An actuator (20) overlying the cutter blades defines a tapered funnel surface (94) for guiding the hypodermic needle substantially into the platform opening. An actuator (20) overlying the cutter blades defines a tapered funnel surface (94) for guiding the hypodermic needle (12) downwardly into the platform opening and is movable to displace one of the cutter blades for cutting the needle which thereupon falls through the platform opening into a disposable receptacle (22) supported therebelow. In one preferred form, the platform comprises an integral portion of a waste station including a separate disposable container (26) for receiving other waste items, such as syringes from which the hypodermic needles have been severed by the cutting assembly.

Description

HYPODERMIC NEEDLE CUTTING ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems and devices for use in the disposal of potentially hazardous items, and more particularly, this invention relates to a relatively simple and easy-to-use cutter assembly for safe and convenient destruction of used hypodermic needles and the like prior to disposal. In medical examination and treatment facil¬ ities, such as a hospital, hypodermic needles are used widely on a regular basis for a variety of purposes including, for example, drawing of blood and other patient fluid samples, administration of medication, and the like. Such hypodermic needles are commonly provided as individually prepackaged, presterilized, disposable items intended for use a single time after which they are discarded, thereby avoiding relatively costly and time-consuming needle resterilization and the need for related sterilization equipment. However, disposal of the once-used hypodermic needles must be accomplished in a manner which safely avoids injury to medical personnel, such as inadvertent needle punctures, and further which prevents potentially contaminating contact with the used needles. Moreover, it is highly desirable to dispose of the used needles in a manner which mini¬ mizes opportunity or risk of unauthorized reuse, for example, by users of illegal drugs substances.

In the past, needle clipping mechanisms have been proposed for use in severing hypodermic needles from syringes promptly after use, thereby destroying the needles and safeguarding against unauthorized or inadvertent needle reuse. However, such needle clipping mechanisms generally have been relatively cumbersome to operate, normally requiring a two-handed operation, and

O PI thus have not been widely accepted for use by medical technicians and other medical personnel. Moreover, in the absence of close operator attention, these prior needle clipping mechanisms tend to cut the needles at widely varying distances from the associated syringe barrels thereby leaving needle stubs on the syringes of inconsistent and sometimes dangerous lengths which can cause injury and/or contamination of personnel and equipment during subsequent handling for disposal purposes. In addition, in previous needle clipping mechanisms, severed needles have been dropped into an open collection cup wherein the collected needles in the cup have not been effectively safeguarded against inadvertent or intentional human contact during subse- quent disposal.

There exists, therefore, a significant need for an improved hypodermic needle cutting assembly for severing and destroying used hypodermic needles, wherein the cutting assembly is designed for quick and easy operation to leave needle stubs on syringes of a consis¬ tent, minimum, and safe length, and further wherein the cutting assembly is adapted for cooperation with a collection receptacle designed to isolate the collected needles substantially against human contact during subsequent disposal. The present invention fulfills these needs and provided further related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, an improved cutting assembly is provided for rapid, convenient, and safe destruction of used hypodermic needles and the like. The cutting assembly comprises an elevated platform having a pair of cutter blades mounted over a platform opening for movement between a first position permitting insertion of a hypodermic needle downwardly

OMP∑ into the platform opening and a second position for cutting the needle. An actuator is mounted on the platform and includes a tapered funnel surface overlying the cutter blades for guiding insertion of the hypoder- mic needle downwardly past the blades into the platform opening. The actuator is movable in engagement with at least one of the cutter blades to move said blades to the second position thereby severing the inserted needle which falls through the platform opening into a collec- tion receptacle supported below the platform.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, the cutter blades comprise two vertically stacked metal blades joined together for relative pivoting movement about a vertical axis disposed inter- mediate their lengths. The lower blade is seated in a fixed position within a mating recess formed in the platform, and the upper blade is spring-biased for pivoting movement toward the first position substan¬ tially directly overlying the lower blade. In this first position, relatively small needle passages in the upper and lower blades are vertically aligned over the platform opening to permit downward insertion of a hypodermic needle therethrough. The needle passage in the upper blade, in the preferred form, includes an upwardly open counterbore for at least partial reception of a portion of the associated syringe thereinto. The actuator is mounted on the support plat¬ form for rotatable movement about a vertical axis generally coaxial with the center of the platform opening. The actuator ring includes an easily grasped outer ring portion joined to an upwardly open inner cup portion which defines a relatively enlarged cavity for receiving the needle end of a syringe. The lower extent of this cup portion cavity is shaped to include the funnel surface having a downwardly and radially inwardly tapering truncated conical shape terminating in a lower port aligned generally coaxially with the center of the platform opening. The funnel surface, which in the preferred form comprises a plastic material, is advantageously lined with a relatively hard material, such as a metal cone washer, to prevent damage thereto, which might otherwise result from contact with hypoder¬ mic needles.

In operation, a needle-bearing syringe is placed into the actuator cup portion cavity to insert the hypodermic needle downwardly through the actuator port and further through the cutter blade needle pass¬ ages into the platform opening. The actuator is then rotated through a relatively short arcuate stroke to move a tab thereon against one side edge of the upper cutter blade thereby displacing the upper blade toward the second position oriented angularly relative to the lower blade. Such movement of the upper cutter blade results in misalignment between the needle passages in the blades thereby breaking or severing the hypodermic needle and leaving on the syringe a short needle stub of a minimum and consistent safe length.

The severed hypodermic needle falls downwardly through the platform opening into the collection recep¬ tacle which in the preferred form comprises a disposable bottle and closeable cap assembly as described in copending and commonly assigned application Serial No. (Docket No. 24460) , entitled: Hypodermic Needle Dispo¬ sal System. More particularly, the bottle includes a bottle opening covered by a cap assembly normally in an open position permitting severed needles to drop by gravity into the bottle. The cap assembly includes outwardly radiating wings of dissimilar geometry for unidirectional registry with support tracks depending from the platform to position the bottle and cap assem- bly beneath the platform in appropriate vertical align¬ ment with the platform opening. When bottle disposal is desired, the bottle and cap assembly are quickly and easily removed from the platform and the cap assembly rotated to a closed position substantially locked against reopening to safeguard the collected needles in the bottle against subsequent human contact during disposal for handling purposes.

Other features and advantages of the hypoder¬ mic needle cutting assembly of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one preferred form of a hypodermic needle cutting assembly embodying the novel features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section, partially in side elevation, taken generally on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation view, partially in vertical section, taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmented top plan view of the needle cutting assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmented vertical section of the cutting assembly taken generally on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and illustra¬ ting a portion of the cutting assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken gener¬ ally on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

- jREA

OMPI fayT VfW - FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmented horizontal section of the cutting assembly taken generally on the line 9-9 of FIG. 6 and illustrating cutter blades in a first or normal position permitting inserted reception of a hypodermic needle;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmented horizontal section of the cutting assembly generally similar to FIG. 9 and illustrating the cutter blades moved to a second position for severing an inserted hypodermic needle;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9; FIGURE 12 is a fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 13-13 of FIG. 9;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 14-14 of FIG. 10;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmented vertical section taken generally on the line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative preferred form of a cutting assembly embodying the novel features of the invention; and

FIGURE 17 is a side elevation view of the cutting assembly of FIG. 16, shown partially in vertical section mounted on alternative support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the exemplary drawings, a cutting assembly referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 is provided for convenient and safe cutting of used hypodermic needles 12 (FIGURE 5) from syringes 14 of the type designed for disposal after a single use. The cutting assembly 10 includes a pair of scissor-like cutter blades 16 and 18 responsive to rotational move¬ ment of an actuator 20 for quickly and easily severing the needle 12 from the barrel 15 of a syringe 14 where¬ upon the severed needle falls into an underlying col¬ lection receptacle 22.

The cutting assembly 10 of the present inven¬ tion provides a relatively inexpensive yet highly convenient, easy-to-use, and safe apparatus for destruc¬ tion and subsequent disposal of used hypodermic needles and the like in a medical examination and treatment facility, such as a hospital. The cutting assembly 10 is designed for safe and easy insertion of a needle- bearing syringe without requiring direct human contact with the hypodermic needle 12 and for subsequent cutting of the needle in a manner which substantially eliminates risk of inadvertent needle contact, thereby substantially preventing puncture injuries and cont& in- ation which might otherwise result. The inserted hypodermic needle is quickly and easily severed from the syringe 14 substantially by a one-handed operation to leave on the syringe barrel 15 a needle stub of minimum, consistent, and relatively safe length whereby the syringe barrel 15 can be disposed safely in any conven¬ ient manner. The severed needle 12 falls into the collection receptacle 22, which in the preferred form, is adapted for closure substantially locked against reopening prior to disposal to safeguard against inten- tional or inadvertent contact with the needle during subsequent handling for disposal purposes.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the cutting assembly 10 is provided in one preferred form as a portion of an integrated waste station 24 including the needle col- lection receptacle 22 and a disposable waste container

26 for receiving and collecting other waste items, such

f O P as syringe barrels 15 from which hypodermic needles 12 have been severed by the cutting assembly. More parti¬ cularly, the illustrative waste station 26 comprises a shell molded from lightweight plastic or the like to include an upwardly open enlarged tray 28 sized for seated reception of the waste container 26, depicted in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 to have an upwardly open central slot 30 through which waste items may be dropped thereinto. The tray 28, supporting the con- tainer 26, is joined at one side to three upstanding generally vertical walls 32 which are in turn joined at their upper ends to an elevated, generally horizontal support platform 34 upon which the cutting assembly 10 is mounted. These vertical walls 32 define a lower chamber 35 beneath the platform 34 wherein this chamber is open at its end opposite the tray 28, as depicted by arrow 38 in FIG. 2, for removable reception of the collection receptacle 22 within which the severed hypodermic needles 12 are collected for subsequent disposal.

The cutting assembly 10 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4-15. More particularly, as shown best in FIG. 5, the elevated platform 34 includes an inte¬ grally formed upstanding and generally cylindrical boss 36 defining a platform opening 40 disposed above the collection receptacle 22. This cylindrical boss 36 cooperates with a support block 42 upstanding from the platform 34 at one side of the boss 36 to support the pair of cutter blades 16 and 18 in positions overlying the platform opening 40. The cutter blades 16 and 18 are in turn positioned beneath an overlying central or inner cup portion 44 of the actuator 20 through which used hypodermic needles 12 are inserted quickly and easily into engagement with the cutter blades. The cutter blades 16 and 18 are formed from strips of a material such as steel appropriate for severing used hypodermic needles 12. These blades 16 and 18 are arranged one on top of the other and are secured to each other by a shoulder screw 46 for pivot¬ ing movement about a generally vertical axis disposed intermediate their lengths. This shoulder screw 46, as shown best in FIGS. 5, 12, and 15, includes an unthread¬ ed shank portion 48 passed upwardly through an unthread¬ ed bore in the lower blade 18 and a threaded shank portion 50 fastened into a threaded bore in the upper blade 16.

The lower blade 18 of the cutter blades 16 and 18 is nested or seated in a fixed position within matingly shaped recesses 52 and 54 formed respectively at the upper ends of the platform boss 36 and support block 42, wherein the boss 36 further includes an appropriate depression 55 for accommodating the head of the shoulder screw 46. In this position, one end of the lower cutter blade 18 overlies the platform opening 40 to position a relatively small needle passage 56 formed in the blade 18 in a generally coaxial relationship with the vertical axis of the platform opening 40. This needle passage 56, as shown most clearly in FIG. 15, may have a generally truncated conical shape expanding downwardly from a narrow diameter at its upper extent, wherein this narrow diameter is chosen to be slightly greater than the diameter of anticipated hypodermic needles 12 to be inserted therethrough, as will be described in more detail.

The upper cutter blade 16 has one end adapted to extend over the platform opening 40 in overlying relation with the stationary lower cutter blade 18 and the needle passage 56 formed therein. A relatively small needle passage 58 is formed in this end of the upper blade 16 in position for vertical alignment with the passage 56 in the lower cutter blade 18 when the upper blade 16 is pivoted to a normal or first position

OMPI directly overlying the lower blade 18. The needle passage in the upper blade 16 is formed with a lower relatively small bore portion 60 with a diameter chosen to be slightly greater than the diameter of anticipated hypodermic needles 12 to be inserted therethrough, and an upwardly open enlarged counterbore portion 62. The upper cutter blade 16 is vertically positioned above the platform boss 36 and support block 42 by a sufficient clearance to permit pivoting movement of the blade 16 in a horizontal plane about the axis of the shoulder screw 46 with respect to the underlying cutter blade 18. This pivoting movement is sufficient to carry the upper cutter blade 16 between the normal or first position with its needle passage 58 aligned vertically with the needle passage 56 in the lower cutter blade 18 to a second position illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 14 with the needle passage 58 horizontally displaced to a vertically misaligned position relative to the needle passage 56 in the blade 18. A torsion spring coiled about the boss 36 with a lower end secured to a short anchor post 66 on the platform 34 and an upper end wrapped over one side edge 68 of the upper cutter blade 16 applies a laterally or horizontally directed biasing force to urge the blade 16 toward the normal or first position directly overlying the lower cutter blade 18. When such overlying alignment is achieved, the upper cutter blade 16 contacts a stop 70 (FIG. 11) which cooperates with the spring 64 to hold the upper blade in the desired first position. The actuator 20 is provided for controlled rotation of the upper cutter blade 16 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 64 to an angular position relative to the underlying lower blade 18, as viewed in FIG. 10. More particularly, the inner cup portion 44 of the actuator 20 includes a downwardly projecting actuator tab 72 disposed for abutting the

OMM side edge 74 of the upper blade 16 opposite the side edge 68 and generally adjacent one end of the blade 16 opposite the needle passage 58 therein. Rotation of the actuator 20 moving the tab 72 against the blade side edge 74 is effective to rotate the blade 16 toward the second position limited by abutting engagement of the blade side edge 68 with a stop post 76 projecting upwardly from the platform 34. Such rotation, as viewed best in FIG. 14, moves the needle passage 58 in the upper blade 16 to a vertically misaligned position relative to the passage 56 in the lower blade 18. The actuator 20 is shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5 to include an outer ring portion 78 formed integrally from a lightweight molded plastic or the like with the inner cup portion 44. An outwardly radiating flange 80 at the lower end of the ring portion 78 is conveniently captured beneath an inwardly radiating flange 82 of a retaining ring 84 having a plurality of circumferen- tially spaced and downwardly projecting locking legs 86 for snap-fit reception through associated slots 88 formed in the platform 34 at common radial distances from the center of the platform opening 40. The retain¬ ing ring 84 thus anchors the actuator 20 upon the platform 34 while permitting rotation of the actuator 20 about a vertical axis common to the center of the platform opening. This actuator rotation is facilitated by the overall size and shape of the actuator ring portion 78 which conveniently includes easily grasped outwardly radiating ribs 90. The upper end of the actuator ring portion 78 merges with the central cup portion 44 which defines an upwardly open, relatively enlarged cavity 92 sized for easy insertion of the barrel 15 of a syringe 14 or the like. This cavity 92 is bounded at its lower end by a funnel surface 94 of a generally truncated conical shape tapering downwardly and radially inwardly toward a relatively small port 96 aligned vertically with the center of the platform opening 40 and disposed directly above the aligned needle passages 58 and 56 of the cutter blades 16 and 18. This funnel surface 94 is advantageously lined by a cone washer 98 of a suitable hard material, such as steel or the like, resistant to damage from contact with the pointed ends of hypodermic needles 12.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 5, a syringe 14 is inserted into the cavity 92 of the actuator cup portion 44. During such insertion, the downwardly tapering lined funnel surface 94 guides the hypodermic needle 12 of the syringe 14 into relatively easy align¬ ment with the port 96 for reception downwardly through the needle passages 58 and 56 in the cutter blades 16 and 18 and further into the platform opening 40. This downward insertion of the needle 12 is continued until a relatively small diameter nub 99, which comprises structure for mounting the needle 12 to the syringe barrel 15, reaches a seated position projecting into the relatively large counterbore portion 62 of the needle passage 58 in the upper cutter blade 16. With the hypodermic needle inserted as de¬ scribed above, the actuator 20 is rotated through a short arcuate stroke, conveniently as a one-handed operation while holding the syringe 14, to move the upper cutter blade 16 to the second position with its needle passage 58 vertically misaligned with respect to the needle passage 56 in the underlying lower blade 18. Such actuator rotation horizontally displaces the blade passage 58 and the received nub 99 on the syringe barrel 15 through a short distance permitted by the diametric size of the actuator port 96. The resultant misalignment of the needle passages 58 and 56 effective- ly severs or cuts the hypodermic needle 12 which drops downwardly through the platform opening 40 into the collection receptacle 22. The actuator 20 is then released to permit the torsion spring 64 to return the upper cutter blade 16 pivotally to the first position, as shown in FIG. 9, and further to rotate the actuator 20 back toward an initial rotational position prepara¬ tory to cutting a subsequent hypodermic needle.

The syringe 14 is withdrawn from the cutting assembly 10 and includes a remaining needle stub 100

(FIG. 14) of a minimum, consistent, and safe length in accordance with the vertial height of the small diameter bore portion 60 of the upper blade needle passage 58.

The length of this stub, which may be on the order of about 0.05 inch or less, is sufficiently short to prevent puncture injuries during handling of the syringe 14 for disposal purposes preferably by direct placement into the waste container 26 supported on the adjacent tray 28 (FIG. 1) .

The cutting assembly 10 of this invention thus provides a convenient and easily operated apparatus for . quickly severing hypodermic needles 12 from syringes 14, thereby destroying the needles and effectively prevent¬ ing undesired reuse. The severed hypodermic needles 12 conveniently drop by gravity through the elevated platform 34 into the disposable receptacle 22 which comprises in the preferred form of the invention a disposable lightweight bottle 102 having a bottle opening 104 covered by a cap assembly 106 of the type described in copending and commonly assigned application Serial No. (Docket No. 24460), entitled: Hypodermic Needle Disposal System, which is incorporated by refer¬ ence herein.

More particularly, as described in said copending application, the cap assembly 106 includes a rotatable cap ring 108 overlying a nonrotatable shim 110 and cooperating therewith to define normally aligned passages 109 and 111 permitting placement of used hypodermic needles 12 into the bottle 102. This cap ring 108, as shown best in FIGS. 6-8, includes an opposed pair of outwardly radiating wings 112 and 114 having different thicknesses for respective mating engagement with a pair of horizontally oriented support tracks 116 and 118 suspended from the platform 34 at different vertical distances therefrom. These support tracks 116 and 118 thereby permit horizontal sliding reception of the cap ring 108 in a predetermined rota- tional orientation to a position beneath the platform opening 40. Importantly, this unidirectional reception of the cap ring 108 insures vertical alignment of the cap ring and shim passages with the platform opening 40 to correspondingly insure that severed hypodermic- needles 12 will fall directly into the underlying disposable bottle 102. Conveniently, dimples 120 and 122 are formed in the tracks 116 and 118, respectively, for seated reception of protrusions 124 and 126 on the cap ring wings 112 and 114 for releasably holding the cap ring in the desired position below the platform opening 40.

When the disposable bottle 102 is filled, or disposal of the hypodermic needles 12 collected therein is otherwise desired, the bottle 102 and cap assembly 106 is withdrawn from engagement with the platform tracks 116 and 118. The cap assembly 106 is then rotated to a closed position with the cap ring passage vertically misaligned relative to the underlying passage in the shim 110. In the closed position, the cap ring 108 is substantially locked against reopening rotational movement relative to the bottle 102 to positively safeguard the collected needles against intentional or inadvertent access during subsequent handling of the bottle 102 for disposal purposes. The specific struc- tural features of the cap assembly 106 and bottle 102 which permit this positive locked closure are described in said copending application Serial No. (Docket No. 24460) .

The cutting assembly 10 of this invention may be modified for alternative uses other than as an integral portion of the waste station 24 shown in FIG. 1. More particularly, as viewed in FIGS. 16 and 17, the cutting assembly 10 may be installed onto a modified platform 34' including at one side a vertically oriented bracket 130 adapted for attachment to appropriate support structure, such as the side 132 of a mobile medical cart or the like of the type used in many medical facilities, such as hospitals. This attachment can be accomplished, by way of example, by bolts 134 passed through vertically oriented slots 136 in the bracket 130 and further through appropriate openings in the side 132 of the cart. The cutting assembly 10 thus may be conveniently transported throughout the medical facility for availability directly at the site of use of a syringe thereby permitting prompt destruction of the hypodermic needle. The destroyed needles are collected within a disposable receptacle 22 which, as shown in FIG. 17, may be suspended below the platform 34' by appropriate support tracks analogous with the tracks 116 and 118 shown in FIGS. 6-8. A variety of further modifications and im¬ provements to the cutting assembly of this invention are believed to be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended, except by way of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cutting assembly for cutting hypodermic needles and the like, comprising: a platform having an opening formed therein; at least one cutter blade supported on said platform generally overlying the platform opening and movable between a first position permitting insertion of a hypodermic needle past said blade into the platform opening and a second position for cutting the needle thus inserted; means generally overlying said blade for guiding insertion of the needle past said blade into the platform opening; and means for selectively moving said blade to the second position.

2. The cutting assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one cutter blade comprises a pair of cutter blades supported on said platform generally overlying the platform opening and movable between a first position permitting insertion of a hypodermic needle past said blades into the platform opening and a second position for cutting the needle inserted into the platform opening.

3. The cutting assembly of claim 2 wherein said insertion guiding means and said moving means are joined together to form an actuator mounted with respect to said platform for rotational movement about an axis generally coaxial with the center of the platform opening, said actuator including a funnel surface generally overlying said cutter blades for guiding insertion of the needle past said blades into the platform opening and means for engaging at least one of said cutter blades upon rotation of said actuator for moving said cutter blades to the second position.

4. The cutting assembly of claim 1 wherein said platform is generally horizontally oriented whereby the needle inserted into the platform opening when cut falls through the platform opening.

5. The cutting assembly of claim 4 further including a receptable below said platform for receiv¬ ing needles falling through the platform opening.

6. The cutting assembly of claim 5 further including means for supporting said receptacle in generally vertical alignment with the platform opening.

7. The cutting assembly of claim 3 wherein said cutter blades comprise a first blade supported in a stationary position on said platform, a second blade overlying said first blade, and means for connecting said second blade for pivoting movement relative to said first blade about an axis offset to one side of the platform opening, said engaging means on said actuator being engageable with said second blade for pivotally moving said second blade relative to said first blade.

8. The cutting assembly of claim 7 wherein said platform has a recess formed therein for mating. seated reception on said first blade, said second blade overlying said first blade with sufficient clearance relative to said platform to permit said second blade pivoting movement.

9. The cutting assembly of claim 7 wherein said first blade has one end disposed over the platform opening with a relatively small needle passage formed therein.

10. The cutting assembly of claim 9 wherein said second blade is movable between the first position generally directly overlying said first blade and the second position oriented angularly relative to said first blade, said second blade having a relatively small needle passage formed therein and disposed in alignment with said first blade needle passage when said second blade is in said first position.

11. The cutting assembly of claim 10 in¬ cluding means for urging said second blade normally toward the first position.

12. The cutting assembly of claim 10 wherein said second blade needle passage is defined by a relatively short small bore portion adjacent said first blade and an enlarged diameter counterbored portion opening in a direction away from said first blade.

13. The cutting assembly of claim 10 in¬ cluding stop means for limiting angular displacement of said second blade relative to said first blade.

14. The cutting assembly of claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises a ring portion mounted for rotational movement relative to said platform and a cup-shaped portion defining an enlarged open-ended cavity opening in a direction away from said blades, said cavity being bounded by said funnel surface having a generally truncated conical shape tapering inwardly in a direction toward said blades and terminating in a port centered generally on the center of the platform opening.

15. The cutting assembly of claim 14 wherein said funnel surface is lined with a cone washer of a material resistant to needle puncture.

16. The cutting assembly of claim 14 wherein said cutter blades comprise a first blade supported in a stationary position on said platform, a second blade overlying said first blade, and pivot means for con- necting said second blade for pivoting movement rela¬ tive to said first blade about a pivot axis generally parallel with a central axis of the platform opening, said first blade having one end disposed over the platform opening with a relatively small needle passage formed therein, and said second blade being movable between the first position generally directly overlying said first blade and the second position oriented angularly relative to said first blade, said second blade having a relatively small needle passage formed therein and disposed in alignment with said first blade needle passage when said second blade is in said first position.

17. The cutting assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptacle comprises a disposable bottle having a bottle opening covered by a cap assembly, said cap assembly including means for registry with said recep¬ tacle support means and further being movable between an open position and a closed position substantially locked against reopening.

18. The cutting assembly of claim 1 further including means joined to said platform for supporting a waste container.

19. The cutting assembly of claim 1 wherein said platform includes means for mounting said platform in an elevated position.

20. The cutting assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one cutter blade comprises a first blade supported in a stationary position on said platform, a second blade overlying said first blade, and means for connecting said second blade for pivoting movement relative to said first blade, said moving means en¬ gaging said second blade for pivotally moving said second blade relative to said first blade.