An apparatus (100, 170, 180, 240, 270, 320, 400, 480, 580, 750) for removing a needle (10, 40) from a needle holder (20, 50), including a grasping unit (104, 216, 248, 280, 324, 452, 508, 592, 764) for selectively grasping the needle (10, 40)； a receiving unit (108, 172, 204, 268, 272, 340, 416, 540, 584, 752) for receiving the needle holder (20, 50), displaceably disposed relative to the grasping unit (104, 216, 248, 280, 324, 452, 508, 592, 764)； a biasing member (112, 276, 588, 768) biasing the receiving unit (108, 172, 204, 268, 272, 340, 416, 540, 584, 752) in a first direction； and separating means (150, 182, 310, 390, 458, 558, 600, 740) for separating the entire needle (10, 40) from the needle holder (20, 50). Preferably, the needle (10, 40) is heated to melt, soften, or otherwise weaken a material and/or adhesive connecting the needle (10, 40) with the needle holder (20, 50). Preferably the heating is electrical heating, including completing an electrical circuit (152, 188, 246, 308, 392, 462, 560, 604) through the needle (10, 40) and passing current through the needle (10, 40), and/or passing current through a heating element (184； 432； 468,472； 488, 492；616).
