Low-Cost Open-Source Electric Needle Incinerator for Biomedical Waste Management

The safe disposal of sharps, particularly acupuncture and dry needling needles, remains a challenge in clinical and therapeutic environments, where inadequate management increases the risk of occupational injuries and infections. Commercial needle disposal devices are often costly, non-portable, and closed-source, limiting their adoption in small clinics and low-resource contexts. This work presents the design, construction, and validation of an open-source electric needle incinerator developed as a low-cost, safe, and reproducible alternative for biomedical waste management. The device was designed using accessible materials, 3D-printed components, and standard electronic parts, ensuring ease of replication. Detailed build and operating instructions are provided, to facilitate reproduction and future development of the system. Validation tests confirmed that the prototype incinerates individual needles in 3–5 s, processing typical sessions of 5–20 needles without performance degradation. Safety was ensured through thermal insulation, protective casing, and compliance with international standards. The fabrication cost of approximately 199 USD represents a reduction of over 65% compared to commercial devices priced at 600–1500 USD. By openly releasing the design, this contribution supports the hardware community with a replicable solution that enhances occupational safety, reduces costs, and fosters innovation in therapeutic and educational contexts.