Discussion on:

This syringe will now self-destruct

What a great idea.

I'd be much more impressed if it also found a way to dissolve after a few weeks. While reusing syringes is definitely a bad thing and this sounds like a solid idea, so are millions upon millions of syringes around forever.

Yes, a great idea for those who might otherwise share needles, however a lousy idea for people like me who reuse syringes for my multiple daily insulin injections in order to control my diabetes and save a little money. This will increase my syringe cost six-fold. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find the syringe manufacturers involved somehow.

I'm seeing single use insulin syringes in 100 ct packs as low as $10-15. Not seeing the economics of reusing to save money. Also, no one said these self destructing syringes were being mandated in the US or anything, though even a single person reusing a non sterilizable syringe is putting themselves at risk for infections from bacteria that breed on the syringe after the first use.

the issue is using supposedly disposable syringes on different people.
thus passing infection from one person to another.
in many developing countries do to cost this is a common practice.
also drag users share same syringes as well very often.

Vl1969 even re-using disposable syringes on oneself - there is a risk for infection and bacteria. Once the package is opened it us no longer sterile. The longer the unit is exposed to open air - the greater the risk of/for infection. Surfaces also carry bacteria and infection from salmonella to the common cold.

I agree with that, all I mean is the chances of getting with something deadly is far less if you only reuse it on your self.
I am sure that if I need have an injection, and I need to reuse the syringe
I would make sure to wash and sterilize it as much as I can (at least with alcohol ) before 2nd use. that should take care of most bacteria picked up from the surfaces. also if I know I need to reuse it I would take care to minimize the syringe contact with surfaces to begin with.

just do not go past the second ring

simple huh?

I know you will not get the full dosage ,but you can refill it and add the missing douse

using them as intended will help cut down on the number of syringes being reused. Health care facilities from hospitals to clinics to hospice care to... will no longer worry about having their waste pilphered thru for used syringes. It will be a welcome relief to many that such waste will no longer be part of the problem.

Not a very bright idea in my opinion. And 'using them as intended'. That's the whole problem isn't it. People are NOT using conventional syringes as intended, why would they use these new ones 'as intended'?

There is a much better and 'greener' solution: Every syringeneedle has a protective 'hat' on it before it is used. Fill this 'hat' with a sterilizing liquid. So even if someone does use a syringe more than once, it can be sterilized simply by replacing the 'hat', and flushing it sterile by a small pumping action. And this idea took me only 27 seconds to invent.

I don't care what anybody says about any invention. Any little invention like these is one little step closer to a better future. Every little thing helps, and that's why I have so much respect for the people who think. Those people use the one thing no other species has on earth: a really intelligent brain.

This is a great idea in theory. But do you not think that somebody in a third world country without any sort of social security payments will not find a way around it. Pay a few pence each for undamaged one to the guy that collects the rubbish and resell them. what do you think! Only way is if every doctor or nurse broke them before throwing away, but would they risk their lives if threatened and told just put in bin unbroken or if a local nurse assistant given even 5p each for them???. This is the real world of poverty & hand to mouth living.
Good luck anyway???

It's not the syringe that is the problem, it's the needle!

I remember from a lot of years ago a syringe that pulled the needle back into the barrel and jammed it there. The purpose was to prevent accidental needle sticks. The patent has probably expired by now, but it would certainly have cost more than this design.

this is very good, especially if it can get to under developed and developing countries , it will reduce a lot of transfar of infections and disease