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
  • A61M5/3278—Apparatus for destroying used needles or syringes
• • 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
  • A61M5/3278—Apparatus for destroying used needles or syringes
  • A61M2005/3283—Apparatus for destroying used needles or syringes using electric current between electrodes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to devices for destroying or decontaminating metal elements such as needles, scalpels, for example to remove any risk of contamination after use.
• SIDA has led to the design of disposable products or devices, for example needles for injection syringes, scalpels, or any other metallic element likely to come into contact with the blood of the human body during their use.
• the difficulty is that, after use, the metallic element such as the syringe needle must be neutralized to avoid any risk of subsequent contact of the user with the metallic element.
• One solution described in documents GB-A-2 287 407 or FR-A-2 717 087 consists in providing an apparatus for destroying metallic elements such as needles, comprising first and second electrode plates that conduct electricity, isolated from one another, supported by a support, and electrically connected to the respective terminals of a low-voltage and low-impedance electrical energy source by means of an electronic switch controlled by a control circuit for pro ⁇ ' oquer the fusion of the portion of metallic element located between two respective zones of contact with the electrodes
• the user then causes the contact between the metallic element such as the needle to be destroyed and both of the electrodes
• Un high intensity electric current is established between the electrodes passing through the portion of metallic element situated between the two respective zones of contact with the electrodes, and this electric current causes the heating and melting of said portion of metallic element.
• the metallic element such as the needle is thus gradually melted from its end, and is thus simultaneously decontaminated.
• Another difficulty is the need to permanently have a sufficient source of electrical energy to ensure the passage of a sufficient current causing the melting of the metallic element to be destroyed Simultaneously, this kind of device destroying metallic elements such as needles is useful when traveling, for example when traveling by a doctor visiting his patients The device must therefore be portable, autonomous, to be used as soon as the metallic element such as a syringe needle has been in use
• the problem proposed by the present invention is thus to design a new device for destroying metallic elements such as needles which ensures particularly reliable operation, avoiding any risk of non-destruction or of incomplete destruction of the element.
• metallic when presented on the apparatus For this, the first difficulty consists in avoiding the risks of fouling of the electrodes, fouling resulting from the previous uses of the apparatus, in particular of the oyydified deposits occurring on the electrodes
• Another difficulty results from the necessary availability of sufficient electrical energy to ensure the fusion of the metallic element to be destroyed.
• Another difficulty is to ensure the complete destruction of the needle, up to the base for connection to the syringe body, and to ensure, if possible, the simultaneous closure of 1 syringe outlet orifice to avoid any risk of subsequent flow of fluid out of the syringe body
• an apparatus for destroying metallic elements such as needles comprises first and second electrically conductive electrode plates, isolated from each other, supported by a support and electrically connected to the respective terminals of a low voltage and low impedance electrical energy source to cause the fusion of the portion of metallic element situated between two respective zones of contact with the electrodes; the source of electrical energy is connected to the electrode plates by means of an electronic switch controlled by a control circuit; in addition
• an electrical resistance measurement circuit is suitable for measuring the electrical resistance present between the first and second electrode plates during the introduction of the metallic element to be destroyed, and for transmitting the measurement signal to the control circuit,
• control circuit is adapted to compare the electrical resistance measured with a predetermined maximum threshold, and to inhibit the supply of the electrode plates by the electronic switch if the resistance measured is greater than said predetermined maximum threshold.
• control circuit is adapted to produce a signal warning the user during the inhibition of the supply of the electrode plates, said signal comprising an alphanumeric message displayed on an alphanumeric display and / or a light signal generated by a diode. electroluminescent and / or an audible signal perceptible by
• the device is such that • - the electronic switch is interposed between the accumulator and the first electrode plate, the electrical resistance measurement circuit comprises an electrical resistance connected in bypass to the electronic switch,
• a measurement input of the control circuit is connected to the first electrode plate, - the control circuit is adapted to compare with a predetermined threshold voltage the voltage that it receives on its measurement input and to authorize setting conductive state of the electronic switch when the measured voltage is greater than the threshold voltage, and to prohibit the placing in the conductive state of the electronic switch when the measured voltage is lower than the threshold voltage.
• the second electrode plate may include at least one lumen sized to allow the passage of a portion to be destroyed of the metal element
• the light is substantially triangular, so that the user can easily engage laterally the portion to be destroyed of the metallic element in the dihedral formed by two sides of the triangle, ensuring double contact for good electrical conduction.
• the electrode plates are arranged in the upper part of a support housing comprising, below said electrode plates, a receiving compartment accessible by a front opening which can be closed by a flap and giving access to the intermediate zone between the electrode plates . The user can thus insert a tool between the two electrode plates, to scrape the first electrode plate and eliminate possible causes of fouling
• FIG. 1 is a side view in section of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown with a syringe needle at the start of destruction,
• FIG. 2 is a partial side view in section of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the syringe needle at the end of destruction
• - Figure 3 is a front view in cross section along the plane AA of Figure 1;
• FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1;
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the electrode plates of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 6 is a side view in longitudinal section along the plane B-B of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 8 illustrates the general electrical diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• the device for destroying metallic elements comprises a support housing 1 made of electrically insulating material, defining an internal enclosure 2 delimited by an external wall defining a base 3, side walls, and a top wall 4 with a carrying handle 5
• the inner enclosure 2 is divided into a rear main compartment 6 containing a source of electrical energy such as an accumulator 7, and an anterior main compartment 8 containing a first electrode 9 and a second electrode 10
• the accumulator 7 constitutes a source low voltage and low impedance electrical energy, and the electrodes 9 and 10 are electrically connected to the respective terminals of the accumulator 7 by a circuit comprising electrical connections not shown in FIG. 1 and comprising an electronic switch 22 and a circuit control 23 placed in the rear main compartment 6
• the first electrode 9 is a first fixed conductive electrode plate, carried inside the housing 1 by two lateral arms such as the arm 11, so that the central part of the first electrode plate 9 is free to access in the compartment main anterior 8
• the second electrode 10 is a second conductive electrode plate, freely movable relative to said first electrode plate 9 between a separated position illustrated in FIG. 1, in which it is away from said first electrode plate 9 according to a predetermined rest spacing and a close position, illustrated in FIG. 2, in which it is close to said first electrode plate 9.
• FIGS. 1 a first fixed conductive electrode plate
• the first electrode plate 9 and the second electrode plate 1 0 are generally parallel to each other, and the second electrode plate 1 0 moves in translation along appropriate guides 12 and 13, for example two guides disposed respectively on either side of the central area of the electrode plates and generally perpendicular to the mean plane of the electrode plates
• Elastic return means such as the spring 14 urge the second electrode plate 10 towards its separated position
• the second movable electrode plate 10 is arranged towards the outside of the housing 1 relative to the first fixed electrode plate 9, and is directly accessible from outside the housing 1 for the use
• the predetermined rest gap between the two electrode plates 9 and 10 is a few millimeters. In the close position illustrated in FIG. 2, the spacing between the electrode plates 9 and 10 is less than one millimeter, but the electrode plates do not touch.
• the electrode plates 9 and 10 are held in inclined orientation, making with the base 3 an angle D of between approximately 20 ° and 50 °, advantageously approximately 40 °.
• the second electrode plate 10 is shaped so as to allow a metallic element to be destroyed to be engaged by lateral support against the second electrode plate 10 while coming into axial support against the first electrode plate 9. This position is illustrated for example in the figures 1 and 2, in which a syringe 15 is shown, the needle 16 of which comes into contact with the two electrode plates 9 and 10
• the second electrode plate 10 comprises at least one lumen 17 sized to allow passage of the portion of metal element to be destroyed, namely the passage of the needle 16 in the use shown.
• the lumen 17 can advantageously be substantially triangular, as seen in Figure 5, and beveled as seen in Figures 1 and 2, forming a flared introduction port towards the exterior which facilitates the introduction of the needle 16 and allows good electrical contact by lateral engagement of the needle in one of the vertices of the triangle.
• the triangle forming the light 17 is advantageously oriented so as to have a top 117 directed downwards in the direction of the inclination of the electrode plates 9 and 10.
• the first electrode plate 9 is relatively thick, constituting a mass whose thermal inertia is sufficient to avoid significant heating, thus avoiding the adhesion of molten metal and oxides, to reduce the risk of fouling.
• the second electrode plate 10 is thin, so that, at the end of destruction of the needle 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the syringe body 15 is located as close as possible to the first electrode plate 9, ensuring a complete destruction of the needle 16 and possible welding of the orifice of the syringe body 15 As illustrated in FIGS.
• the front main compartment 8 which contains in its upper part the electrode plates 9 and 10, defines at below said electrode plates 9 and 10 a receiver compartment 18 accessible by an opening closable by a flap 19 and giving access to the intermediate zone 20 between the electrode plates 9 and 10
• the user can thus engage a tool 21 in zone 20 to scrape the bottom electrode plate 9 and remove a cause of poor electrical contact.
• the molten metal flows from the lower electrode plate 9 and falls into the flap 19 constituting a discharge receptacle.
• a syringe needle 16 to be destroyed is engaged in the lumen 17 and, by contact between the two electrode plates 9 and 10, is traversed by an electric current which causes its fusion and its destruction.
• the syringe body 15 comes to bear against the second electrode plate 10 and pushes it towards the first electrode plate 9, the spring 14 ensuring the subsequent return of the second electrode plate 10 to the gap of the first electrode plate 9.
• FIG. 8 illustrating the general electrical diagram of the apparatus.
• the electrical accumulator 7 is connected to the electrode plates 9 and 10 via an electronic switch 22 such as a controlled transistor by a circuit of control such as the micro-controller 23.
• the electronic switch 22 is interposed between the accumulator 7 and the first electrode plate 9, and the base of the transistor forming the electronic switch 22 is connected to a corresponding output 24 of the micro-controller 23 L the emitter of transistor 22 is connected to the accumulator 7, while its collector is connected to the first electrode plate 9.
• An electrical resistance measurement circuit is adapted to measure the electrical resistance present between the first electrode plate 9 and the second electrode plate 10 when the metal element to be destroyed is introduced, and to send the measurement signal to the
• the electrical resistance measurement circuit comprises an electrical resistance 25 of a few kiloohms connected in shunt on the electronic switch 22, that is to say between the transmitter and the collector of transistor 22, and a measurement input 26 of the microcontroller 23 of the control circuit is connected to the first electrode plate 9.
• the microcontroller 23 of the control circuit is adapted to compare with a threshold voltage VS determined the voltage Vm which it receives on its measurement input 26, and to authorize the putting into the conducting state of the electronic switch 22 when the measured voltage Vm is greater than the threshold voltage VS, and to prohibit the setting in the conductive state of the electronic switch 22 when the measured voltage Vm is less than the threshold voltage VS Simultaneously, when the received voltage V is less than the threshold voltage VS, this means that a relatively large contact resistance exists between the electrode plates 9 and 10, resulting from the probable presence of fouling on the lower electrode plate 9
• the control circuit is thus adapted to compare the electrical resistance measured at a predetermined maximum threshold, and for inhibiting the supply of the electrode plates 9 and 10 by the electronic switch 22 if the measured resistance is greater than said predetermined maximum threshold
• the microcontroller control circuit 23 is adapted to produce a signal warning the user during the inhibition of the supply of the electrode plates 9 and 10.
• the control circuit ensures the supply of a first indicator light 27 or light-emitting diode signaling to the user the existence of too much fouling
• the circuit of command can simultaneously issue an alphanumeric signal displayed on an alphanumeric display 29, and / or an appropriate audible signal perceptible by the user.
• the microcontroller 23 can advantageously be programmed to continue the resistance measurement for a period of a few seconds, thus giving the user time to move the syringe needle 16 by scraping the lower electrode plate 9 with the tip of the needle to try to locally eliminate the fouling and to ensure sufficient contact to authorize the correct functioning of the apparatus
• the invention further provides means for managing the electrical power supply, to control the presence of sufficient capacity in the accumulator 7.
• control circuit 23 with microcontroller is adapted to count the periods of operation of the device, this counting can be carried out for example by detecting the said periods of operation by the resistance measurement circuit,
• microcontroller control circuit 23 is further adapted for:
• the microcontroller control circuit 23 can then display a fault message on the alphanumeric display 29, and / or generate a light signal by a light-emitting diode 28, and / or generate a sound signal perceptible by the user.
• the comparison of the battery voltage Vbat with respect to the predetermined minimum voltage threshold is carried out according to an algorithm in which the comparison measurement step is approximately 0.1 volts when the number of operating periods is low since the last battery charging period, and in which the measurement step decreases progressively to reach a minimum step, for example 0.01 volt, when the number of operating periods of the device approaches generally possible maximum number, for example reaches the number 50 FIG.
• the operating period counter is at zero
• the microcontroller then executes a sequence of control of the accumulator 7, by comparing the accumulator voltage Vbat with a lower threshold V0. If the accumulator voltage is below this threshold, the microcontroller signals the operator, by supplying a second indicator light 28, that the device must be charged and that fusion is impossible. controller 23 then prohibits the supply of the electrode plates 9 and 10, and the control circuit returns to the initial state to compare again the accumulator voltage Vbat.
• the microcontroller performs a second comparison of the accumulator voltage Vbat with a charge threshold VI. If the accumulator voltage Vbat is less than this charge threshold VI, the microcontroller controls the supply of the second indicator light 28 such as a light-emitting diode, to indicate to the user the need to charge 1 accumulator, and simultaneously controls the inhibition of supply of the electrode plates 9 and 10.
• the second indicator light 28 such as a light-emitting diode
• the microcontroller 23 determines that correct operation is then possible, and then compares the accumulator voltage Vbat with a high threshold V2, the high threshold V2 being determined as being the voltage threshold reached by the accumulator at the end of the charging period. If the accumulator voltage Vbat is then greater than this high threshold V2, this means that a charge is in progress and that it can be cut, and the microcontroller 23 then controls the cutting of the charging circuit. If the battery voltage Vbat is below the high threshold V2, the microcontroller 23 has no action on the load cut-off circuit In both cases, the operation of the accumulator 7 for a melting step is authorized.
• the microcontroller 23 scans on its measurement input 26 the value Vm of the voltage on the first electrode plate 9 If this voltage Vm is zero, the microcontroller 23 returns to the initial state, because this then means that no needle or other metallic element has been inserted between the electrode plates 9 and 10, and that the device can remain on standby. If, during this same comparison step, the plate voltage Vm is less than a threshold VS suitable for correct operation, the microcontroller continues the measurement of Vm for several seconds, for example 4 seconds, thus leaving the The operator has time to eliminate the cause of the fouling by scraping the lower electrode plate 9 with the end of the needle to be destroyed.
• the device returns to the initial state. If, on the other hand, the voltage Vm becomes greater than the threshold VS, authorization is given for the start of a melting step, that is to say for putting the transistor 22 in the on state, until at full fusion of the needle Simultaneously, the microcontroller updates our memory for counting the operating cycles, a memory which will subsequently be reset to zero at the start of a stage of charging the accumulator
• the device may include an alphanumeric display device 29, visible on the upper face of the housing 1, and giving the user information such as the number of operating cycles having elapsed since the last battery charge, a code relating to each of the faults that can be detected by the microcontroller, or other information whose generation can be easily integrated by a person skilled in the art in the program managing the microcontroller 23.
• the third indicator 30 can indicate the state of the device according to which it cannot operate
• the microcontroller control circuit 23 advantageously comprises means for detecting the presence of an electric current delivered by the electric power source 7 between the electrode plates 9 and 10, and for producing, by the fourth indicator 31 such that 'a light emitting diode, intermittent light signals in the presence of said detected electric current; in the event of authorization for correct operation, the light signal generated by the light-emitting diode 31 may become continuous.
• the indicator 30 can be supplied so as to produce a light signal when the indicator 31 is neither continuously nor intermittently supplied, and in particular when the electronic switch 2? is in the open state
• control circuit 23 with micro-controller can advantageously include:
• Restoring to the operating state can be done manually, for example by actuation of an appropriate push button.
• the rear main compartment 6 of the housing 1 is separated from the front main compartment 8 by an intermediate wall 40 which comprises, in line with the electrode plates 9 and 10, an opening 41 containing a suitable filter 42, such as an activated carbon filter, associated with a fan 43.
• the fan 43 draws air and fumes from the front main compartment 8 and discharges them into the rear main compartment 6
• the exhaust air s 'then escapes through the various openings of the rear main compartment 6 such as the interstices around the indicators, around the alphanumeric display 29, around the buttons, in the hinge zone of the flap 19, participating simultaneously in the cooling of the electronic circuits.
• the fan 43 is supplied by the electrical energy source 7 via a switching circuit 44 (FIG. 8) controlled by the control circuit 23 so that - the fan 43 is supplied from the detection of an electric current supplied by the electric power source 7 between the two electrode plates 9 and 10, and its supply continues until the end of a predetermined period after detection of the absence of said current supplied by the source of electrical energy 7, for example after ten seconds
• the device according to the invention can be used with one hand, that is to say that it remains stationary while the user introduces a needle between the electrode plates 9 and 10 for fusion.
• the housing 1 is provided with non-slip pads 45 along its underside or base 3
• the fouling problems are generally cumulative, and are amplified when the electric current passing through the metallic element to be destroyed is insufficient.
• a first cause of this insufficiency can be poor electrical contact between the metallic element to be destroyed and the at least one of the electrode plates, either by a bad position, or by a start of fouling of the electrode.
• a second cause can be an insufficient residual capacity of the electric energy source used.
• the invention avoids the accumulation of fouling problems, by providing for inhibiting the electrical supply of the electrode plates when the conditions are not met for the flow of a sufficient current in the portion of metallic element to be destroy

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
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• 1996
  • 1996-03-14 FR FR9603367A patent/FR2746017B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-03-12 TW TW086103043A patent/TW329390B/zh active
  • 1997-03-14 CN CN 97193036 patent/CN1213321A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-03-14 CA CA 2248943 patent/CA2248943A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-03-14 EP EP97914396A patent/EP0886531A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-03-14 JP JP9532341A patent/JP2000507851A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-03-14 WO PCT/FR1997/000457 patent/WO1997033639A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

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