Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
  • A61M5/178—Syringes
  • A61M5/31—Details
  • A61M5/32—Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body; Devices for protection of needles
  • A61M5/3205—Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles

Definitions

• This invention relates to the disposal of needle-carrying syringes and more particularly, to a syringe disposal container which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by matching top and bottom segments or panels, each provided with a cooperating depression, cavity or receptacle for receiving a needle-equipped syringe.
• the panels are also each fitted with extending tabs and corresponding tab seats for locking the top panel on the bottom panel and securing the syringe therebetween.
• the syringe disposal container is shaped of an injection-molded plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
• the top and bottom panel each include seals and upward-standing tabs spaced along one side and both ends, with tab seats located along the opposite side and both ends, respectively, such that closure of the top panel on the bottom panel in tab to tab seat-facing relationship engages the respective tabs with the oppositely-disposed tab seats and locks the top panel on the bottom panel to prevent leaking and re-opening.
• a syringe cradle built into the bottom panel and a corresponding syringe receptacle located in the top panel are enlarged at one end of the syringe disposal container to receive the barrel flange of the syringe barrel.
• Hepatitis "B” (previously called serum hepatitis) is a major and infectious occupational health hazard in the health-care industry and a model for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
• HBV Hepatitis virus
• HBV human immunodeficiency virus
• HBV human immunodeficiency virus
• researchers note that exposure to HBV and HIV should be reduced to the maximum extent feasible by engineering controls, work practices and protective equipment. Workers are at risk of HIV and HBV infection to the extent that they are directly exposed to blood and body fluids. Even in groups that presumably have a high potential for exposure to HIV-contaminated fluids and tissues, transmission is recognized as occurring only between sexual partners or as a consequence of mucous membrane or parenteral (including open wound) exposure to blood or other body fluids. In one investigation, of "needle stick" injuries, one health-care worker contracted HBV and in another instance, a health-care worker contracted cryptococcus. Both HBV and HIV appear to be incapable of penetrating intact skin, but infection may result from infectious fluids coming into contact with mucous membranes or open wounds on the skin.
• a common medical practice by nurses and other hospital personnel charged with the responsibility of administering drugs by injection or withdrawing blood for lab work is to either dispose of a used needle by depositing it in a conventional "needle bucket", or “sharp bucket”, or slipping the syringe and needle combination into a coat pocket for later disposal.
• These "sharp buckets” are normally located in each patient's room or on a cart which the nurse pushes from room to room. The bucket is later incinerated to destroy the contained needles.
• Another technique for disposing of used needles is the use of needle snips for clipping the needles from syringes after use and locating them in a container for later disposal and incineration.
• “sharp buckets” are not spillproof and needles can protrude through openings in the bucket or may be spilled from the bucket should the bucket be accidentally dropped or overturned, thereby further endangering the handler or handlers and contaminating the environment.
• Various types of containers for medical equipment, as well as disposal of syringes, are known in the art.
• Surgical Instrument Case which is also characterized by a base portion shaped to receive a surgical instrument and a hinged lid for closing over the base portion and the surgical instrument.
• An "Expanded Plastic Container Having Rigid Internally Press-Fit Cover” is detailed in U.S. Patent No. 3,491,914, dated January 27, 1970, to P.B. Elzey.
• the device is characterized by a molded, expandable plastic container having a chamber provided therein and fitted with an opening at one face or side, the periphery at the opening being recessed to define a flange and a supporting ledge.
• a flat lid is adapted to be inserted inside the flange and in engagement with the ledge, the lid being of such shape and dimension and having sufficient rigidity, such that it may be inserted within the flange in a press-fit and securely retained in place.
• the carrying case is constructed of a flexible, resilient material and includes a liner made of an elastic material such as a foamed polyester.
• the liner includes a cut-out portion adapted to cradle a pre-drawn capped syringe.
• the needle container assures sterility of the needle prior to use and prevents inadvertent access to the needle after use. It includes a needle housing hingedly attached to a base, such that the housing may be moved from a first position covering the sterile needle to a second position exposing the needle for use, and then to a third position covering the used needle.
• a hook-like protrusion projects from the inside wall of the housing and is biased in a non-engaging relationship against the needle prior to use of the needle.
• the hook-like protrusion engages the needle to prevent movement of the housing and further use of the needle.
• the device includes a one-piece, molded product having a base section provided with a female port, a sterility protector and two side portions, which at their extended ends are further provided with complimentary locking structure.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved syringe disposal container which is characterized by separate top and bottom portions, each provided with extending panel tabs and cooperating tab seats for locking together and enclosing a used syringe and needle to prevent re-use of the syringe and/or accidental needle sticks.
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide a syringe disposal container which is characterized by separate top and bottom portions or panels fitted with a depression, cavity or receptacle for receiving a syringe and further including cooperating, spaced interlocking means provided in the panels for securing and encapsulating a syringe and needle therein, to prevent accidental pricking or sticking of doctors, laboratory technicians, hospital personnel and others charged with responsibility of using and handling syringes.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved syringe disposal container which is constructed of an injection-moldable plastic material and is characterized by separate top and bottom portions or panels, each fitted with a seal and interlocking tabs and corresponding tab seats, as well as an interior cavity or receptacle for locking the top and bottom panels together, encapsulating a used syringe and preventing reuse of the syringe and accidental sticking of those who use and handle syringes.
• a new and improved syringe disposal container which is characterized by a shaped bottom panel provided with a syringe cradle for receiving a syringe and needle and further fitted with a seal and spaced, extending lock tabs on one side thereof and tab seats on the opposite side for receiving and engaging corresponding tab seats and lock tabs, respectively, provided in a companion top panel having a seal and a syringe receptacle therein, whereby the top panel and bottom panel are locked together to enclose, seal and securely encapsulate the syringe and needle in the syringe cradle and receptacle for incineration.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the syringe disposal container of this invention
• FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the bottom panel of the syringe disposal container illustrated in FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the bottom panel of the syringe disposal container illustrated in FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the top panel closed on the bottom panel in locking configuration.
• the syringe disposal container 1 includes a rectangular-shaped bottom panel 2, provided with a bottom panel tab base 3 having a flat tab surface 3a extending along one face thereof and fitted with bottom panel tabs 4 projecting upwardly from the tab surface 3a in spaced relationship.
• Each of the bottom panel tabs 4 are characterized by an upward-standing tab post 5, having a bevelled post retainer 6 shaped in the extending end thereof.
• a bottom panel tab side 7 defines the side of the bottom panel tab base 3 and a bottom panel seat base 16 is located opposite the bottom panel tab base 3 in the bottom panel 2.
• bottom panel tab seats 17 are shaped in the bottom panel seat base 16 and each of the bottom panel tab seats 17 include a tab seat cavity 18, fitted with an encroaching retainer shoulder 19, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.
• a bottom panel seat side 20 defines the side of the bottom panel seat base 16, as further illustrated in FIGURE 2.
• a bottom panel tab 4 is provided in upward-standing relationship in each of the front end top surface 8a and the rear end top surface 9a, along with a corresponding bottom panel, tab seat 17. As illustrated in FIGURE l, the respective bottom panel tabs 4 and bottom panel tab seats 17 located in the front end top surface 8a and the rear end top surface 9a are disposed in offset relationship with respect to each other.
• a syringe cradle 11 is shaped in the center of the bottom panel 2 and is characterized by a cradle bottom 12, supported by upward-standing cradle walls 13, which extend into the bottom panel tab base 3 on one side and the bottom panel seat base 16 on the opposite side, as well as the bottom panel front end 8 and the bottom panel rear end
• the bottom panel 2 is injection-molded from a suitable plastic material, such that the syringe cradle 11 is shaped in one piece with the bottom panel tab base 3, bottom panel seat base 16, bottom panel front end 8 and the bottom panel rear end 9.
• the bottom panel tabs 4 are also preferably molded or formed integrally with the bottom panel tab base 3, bottom panel front end 8 and the bottom panel rear end 9, while the bottom panel tab seats 17 are integrally shaped in the bottom panel seat base 16, bottom panel front end 8 and the bottom panel rear end 9.
• a cradle enlargement 14 is provided in the syringe .cradle 11 adjacent to the bottom panel front end 8 and ,is designed to receive the barrel flange 47 of the syringe barrel 44 component of the syringe 43, which is fitted with a plunger 45 and a needle 46, as illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 1.
• a top panel 25 is characterized by a top panel tab base 26 extending along one side thereof, with multiple top panel tabs 27 projecting downwardly from a flat top panel tab base face (not illustrated), in spaced relationship.
• the bottom panel tabs 4 illustrated in
• top panel tabs 27 are each characterized by a tab post 5, downwardly-extending from the top panel tab base face, and fitted with a post retainer 6 on the end thereof.
• a top panel tab wall 28 defines an outside surface of the top panel tab base 26.
• a top panel seat base 37 extends along the opposite side of the top panel 25 and is provided with spaced top panel tab seats 38 therein.
• a top panel seat wall 39 defines the outside surface of the top panel seat base 37 and a top panel front end 29, having a flat bottom surface or face (not illustrated), closes the front end of the top panel 25.
• top panel tabs (not illustrated) and top panel tab seats (not illustrated) are also provided in the bottom surfaces of the top panel front end 29 and the top panel rear end 30 for engagement with the respective bottom panel tab seats 17 and the bottom panel tabs 4, respectively, located in the front end top surface 8a and rear end top surface 9a, of the bottom panel front end 8 and bottom panel rear end 9, respectively, as hereinafter further described.
• a syringe receptacle 32 is also molded or otherwise provided in the top panel 25 and includes a receptacle top 33, supported by spaced receptacle walls 34, which are joined at the extending edges to the top panel tab base 26 and the top panel seat base 37, respectively.
• a receptacle enlargement 35 is also provided in the receptacle walls 34 of the syringe receptacle 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.
• the cradle walls 13 of the syringe cradle 11 in the bottom panel 2 are each spaced from the bottom panel tab base 3 and the bottom panel seat base 16 by a separate bottom panel cavity 21.
• the top panel tab base 26 and the top panel seat base 37 of the top panel 25 are each spaced from the respective facing receptacle walls 34 of the syringe receptacle 32 by a separate top panel cavity 40.
• the mold or molds used in injection-molding the bottom panel 2 and top panel 25 preferably shapes the bottom panel cavities 21 and top panel cavities 40, in order to avoid wasting plastic stock.
• the bottom panel 2 and top panel 25 can be injection-molded or otherwise fabricated without the bottom panel cavities 21 and top panel cavities 40, as desired.
• a bottom panel seal 22 projects upwardly from the tab surface 3a of the bottom panel tab base 3 and the bottom panel seat base 16, as well as the front end top surface 8a and the rear end top surface 9a of the bottom panel front end 8 and bottom panel rear end 9, respectively, around the periphery of the syringe cradle ⁇ , as further illustrated in FIGURE 1.
• a top panel seal 41 projects from the bottom surfaces of the top panel tab base 26 and the top panel seat base 37, respectively, as well as the bottom surfaces of the top panel front end 29 and the top panel rear end 30, around the periphery of the syringe receptacle 32, in order to match the bottom panel seal 22 when the top panel 25 is fitted on the bottom panel 2, as hereinafter further described.
• the syringe 43 is initially inserted in the syringe cradle 11 with the barrel flange 47 located in the cradle enlargement 14.
• the needle 46 therefore protrudes into the opposite end of the syringe cradle 11 from the barrel flange 47.
• the top panel 25 is then superimposed on the bottom panel 2 as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is then manipulated downwardly, such that the bottom panel tabs 4 and the top panel tabs 27 each project into a corresponding tab seat cavity 18 in the respective top panel tab seats 38 and bottom panel tab seats 17, as illustrated in FIGURE 4.
• the syringe disposal container 1 can then be placed in the pocket by a doctor, nurse, lab technician or other user or handler and subsequently tossed into a wastebasket or otherwise collected for incineration without fear of injury, reuse or contamination. While the bottom panel tabs 4 and top panel tabs 27 are illustrated in perpendicular extension from the respective tab bases, they can be angled to register with correspondingly angled top panel tab seats 38 and bottom panel tab seats 17, as desired. Other alterations, such as ribs on the bottom panel tabs 4 and top panel tabs 27 and corresponding multiple retainers or shoulders in the top panel tab seats 38 and bottom panel tab seats 17 may also be incorporated, in non-exclusive particular.
• the bottom panel 2 and the top panel 25 of the syringe disposal container 1 are both injection-molded in a single mold from a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, in non-exclusive particular. This facility reduces production costs, since the bottom panel 2 and the top panel 25 are identical, and therefore interchangeable.
• the syringe disposal container 1 can be fabricated in one or more molds from other materials, including fiberglass and like materials, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, under circumstance ' s where the panel tabs are located on one panel and the tab seats on another.
• the panel tabs and the tab seats may alternate one after another around each panel and match to corresponding panel tab seats and panel tabs, respectively.
• the bottom panel seal 22 and the top panel seal 41 are illustrated as flat on the matching top faces thereof, it is understood that other seal configurations, such as tongue-and-groove and the like, can be implemented, as desired.
• the syringe disposal container of this invention is characterized by convenience, safety and portability, in that it can be quickly and easily used to protect and seal a used needle-equipped syringe without fear of contamination or needle pricks and without the necessity of separating the needle from the syringe.
• the syringe disposal container operates to prevent accidental infection and contamination of nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians and other medical personnel who are charged with the responsibility of using and handling syringes and needles.
• the syringe disposal container is universally sized, shatter-proof, leak-resistant and disposable.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=23220368

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Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 1990
  • 1990-02-22 WO PCT/US1990/000958 patent/WO1990009937A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-02-22 EP EP19900904127 patent/EP0412151A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1990-02-22 AU AU51910/90A patent/AU5191090A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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