EP2012702A2 - Récipient d'élimination d'objets acérés ou tranchants et de déchets, et procédé de fabrication associé - Google Patents

Récipient d'élimination d'objets acérés ou tranchants et de déchets, et procédé de fabrication associé

Info

Publication number
EP2012702A2
EP2012702A2 EP07756168A EP07756168A EP2012702A2 EP 2012702 A2 EP2012702 A2 EP 2012702A2 EP 07756168 A EP07756168 A EP 07756168A EP 07756168 A EP07756168 A EP 07756168A EP 2012702 A2 EP2012702 A2 EP 2012702A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
polypropylene
medical
additive
waste
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07756168A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Piyush J. Reshamwala
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Covidien LP
Original Assignee
Tyco Healthcare Group LP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Healthcare Group LP filed Critical Tyco Healthcare Group LP
Publication of EP2012702A2 publication Critical patent/EP2012702A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/46—Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials
    • B65D65/466—Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B50/00—Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers
    • A61B50/30—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
    • A61B50/36—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles
    • A61B50/362—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles for sharps

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a degradable medical sharps and waste container and a method for forming the degradable medical sharps and waste container.
  • Plastics have become an important part of modern life and are used in different applications such as packaging, building materials, and consumer products. Plastics are extremely versatile. Some plastics are shrinkable, rigid, flexible, impervious, or selectively permeable. One feature of plastics is that it does not degrade rapidly over time and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
  • Medical sharps and waste disposal containers are a convenient and safe way of disposing contaminated needles, syringes, glass tubes, scalpel blades, and any other sharps and medical waste. Such disposal containers may be used to safely contain, transport, and ultimately destroy potentially infectious sharps.
  • the filled medical sharps and waste disposal containers are considered biomedical/biohazardous waste and are to be disposed of according to strict federal and state guidelines.
  • a medical sharps and waste disposal container may be incinerated on or off site by a facility, or the facility can have the container rendered nonhazardous through various sterilization techniques.
  • the sterilized medical sharps and waste disposal container is subject only to the same requirements as household garbage and may be disposed of in a permitted, contained landfill.
  • plastic medical sharps and waste disposal containers are a safe and efficient way to collect contaminated or spent medical sharps and medical waste, the properties of plastic that make these containers suitable for disposal of medical sharps and medical waste, i.e., impervious to heat and moisture, have a sufficient rigidity and puncture resistance, and the ability to maintain Its integrity over time, also present challenges to their disposal. Even though the infectious materials contained within the medical sharps and waste disposal containers have been destroyed (i.e., sterilized), the filled containers still present the problem of occupying a large volume of space in a landfill.
  • a medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention is made from a composition of polypropylene and an additive, and has a puncture resistance of at least about 2.8 Ibf.
  • the additive is present in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene after a predetermined shelf-life.
  • a medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention is made from a composition of polypropylene and an additive, and has impact strength sufficient to prevent the escape of sharps from the container.
  • the additive is present in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene after a predetermined shelf-life.
  • An exemplary method of manufacturing a degradable medical sharps disposal and waste container includes forming a container from a composition of polypropylene and an additive in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation/biodegradation of the polypropylene in the composition after a predetermined shelf-life.
  • the formed container has a puncture resistance of at least about 2.8 Ibf.
  • Another method of manufacturing a medical sharps and waste disposal container includes forming pellets containing polypropylene and an additive.
  • the pellets are melted and a medical sharps and waste disposal container is formed by a molding process.
  • the formed container has a puncture resistance of at least about 2.8 Ibf. and an impact strength sufficient to prevent the escape of sharps from the container.
  • a method of disposing of medical sharps and medical waste includes receiving medical sharps in a container made from a composition of polypropylene and an additive in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene after a predetermined shelf- life.
  • the container has a minimum puncture resistance of at least about 2.8 Ibf.
  • Fig. 1 is an illustration of exemplary medical sharps and medical waste containers that can be rendered degradable according to aspects of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of manufacturing a medical sharps and waste container according to aspects of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of disposing medical sharps and medical waste in an exemplary container according to aspects of the present invention.
  • Degradation is a process whereby very large molecules are broken into smaller molecules or fragments. Degradation typically occurs when oxygen is incorporated into these molecular fragments. This type of degradation is called oxidative degradation. Typically, strong plastic films become weak and brittle as a result of oxidative degradation. The plastic "degrades" because the long polymer chains that normally comprise the plastic are broken into shorter, smaller chains. Oxidative degradation may be initiated by mechanical stresses, heat, or exposure to UV light or sunlight.
  • the degradation process of the medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention is accelerated in such a way as to promote degradation while maintaining an acceptable shelf life for the container.
  • this period of time (or shelf life) can be set at about 30 months.
  • Biodegradation is the process by which microorganisms found naturally in the soil (namely, bacteria, fungi or algae) convert a material into a biomass, carbon dioxide, mineral matter, and water.
  • a biomass is understood to include an energy resource derived from organic matter and includes any carbon source on which microorganisms can grow.
  • biodegradable plastic is defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D883-99) as a degradable plastic in which the biodegradation results from the action of naturally-occurring microorganisms, namely, bacteria, fungi, and algae.
  • the medical sharps and waste disposal containers of the present invention can be subjected to biodegradation (e.g., as a second step).
  • the medical sharps and waste disposal container is rendered biodegradable upon exposure to microorganisms found naturally in the soil (namely, bacteria, fungi or algae).
  • Figure 1 illustrates exemplary medical sharps and waste containers configured for accelerated degradation and that can be rendered biodegradable according to aspects of the present invention.
  • container 10 has a base and a top and is comprised of a plurality of walls 15.
  • Container IO may atso include a lid 17 which may have various configurations.
  • the walls 15 and lid 17 have a thickness of approximately 0.05O inches to 0.075 inches, and more preferably have a thickness of approximately 0.060 inches to 0.065 inches.
  • Container IO is adapted to receive medical sharps and medical waste.
  • Walls 15 are made from a composition of polypropylene and an additive that accelerates degradation after the predetermined shelf life.
  • the lid 17 is preferably also made from a composition of polypropylene and an additive that accelerates degradation, but does not have to be made from such a composition.
  • the composition forming walls 15 of container 10, and also possibly lid 17, comprises about 90% to about 100% polypropylene by weight of the container.
  • An additive is provided in the container, such as container 10, in a sufficient amount to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene in the composition.
  • One exemplary additive is manufactured by EPI Environmental Technologies Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada under the trademark TDPA ® (Totally Degradable Plastic Additive).
  • Another exemplary additive is manufactured by ECM Biofilms, Inc. of Painesville, Ohio under the tradename ECM Masterbatch Pellets.
  • Yet another exemplary additive is manufactured by Symphony Plastic Technologies of the United Kingdom and distributed by Degradable Plastic Products Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada under the trademark d 2 w ® . Additives of this nature are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,854,304; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0062884; and PCT International Application Publication No.
  • WO 2005/017015 each of which is incorporated by reference.
  • the additives in these patent documents are generally described for use in thin film structures, for example, plastic bags and the like.
  • plastic resins namely, polypropylene, polyester, or polystyrene
  • the manufactured plastic product will have an accelerated rate of degradation and can be ultimately rendered ' biodegradable.
  • all that remains of the plastic and the additive is carbon dioxide, water, mineral matter and biomass.
  • concentration and type of additive in the plastic composition the plastic product formed by the composition will begin its accelerated degradation and be can be rendered biodegradable within a desired timeframe.
  • Exemplary timeframes in which the medical sharps disposal container of the present invention begins its accelerated degradation include at least about 20-40 months, preferably at least about 25-35 months, and most preferably at least about 30 months.
  • the additive according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is present in an amount of up to about 10%, preferably between about 1-10%, and more preferably between about 3-5% by total weight of the container, as explained in PCT International Application Publication No. WO 2005/017015.
  • the degradation process is accelerated by the additive and typically begins with the breakdown of a large polymer chain having an average molecular weight of up to 300,000 Daltons into smaller polymer chains by oxidative degradation.
  • Degradation continues by oxygenating the exposed ends of the smaller polymer chains to form aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and alcohols.
  • the degradation process is initiated upon exposure to heat, UV light (e.g., sunlight), moisture, and mechanical stresses.
  • UV light e.g., sunlight
  • moisture e.g., moisture
  • mechanical stresses e.g., sunlight
  • One or any combination of these stimuli begins the degradation process of a product having the composition of the present invention.
  • Biodegradation begins when microorganisms consume the oxygenated ends resulting from the degradation process to reduce the end of the polymer chains two carbon atoms at a time.
  • the polymer backbone end is again exposed, oxygenated (i.e., degraded), and consumed by the microorganisms (i.e., biodegraded); thus repeating the degradation/biodegradation cycle.
  • Degradation can occur without biodegradation or degradation and biodegradation can proceed simultaneously in concert as described above.
  • the medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention although having an accelerated degradation process and which can be rendered biodegradable, maintains structural characteristics that makes it suitable as a container for disposal of medical sharps and medical waste.
  • One such structural characteristic is puncture resistance.
  • ASTM-F2132 provides a test procedure and performance requirement for the puncture resistance of materials used in the construction of containers for discarded medical waste, needles and other sharps. This test specification establishes (1) the average puncture force and (2) a minimum value of puncture force that container materials must withstand when following the test procedure.
  • the medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention has an average puncture resistance of at least about 3.4 Ibf., at least about preferably 5.0 lbf ., wherein the minimum requirement for any single measurement is preferably at least about 2.8 Ibf.
  • a test procedure that measures impact strength is ASTM-D5628, which determines the relative ranking of materials according to the energy required to crack or break flat, rigid plastic specimens under various specified conditions of impact of a free-falling dart.
  • Another test for impact strength is to drop a filled, medical sharps and waste disposal container from a predetermined height (the height depends on the size and weight of the container) onto a hard surface. The container fails this impact strength test when the impact of the drop causes a medical sharp or other medical waste to escape from the container. For example, a filled, 2 gallon medical sharps disposal container weighing about 1.0 lbs was dropped from a height of 36 inches.
  • Degradable sharps and medical waste disposal containers are manufactured by conventional plastic fabrication processes including, but not limited to, plastic vacuum forming, thermoset injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, thermoforming, structural foam molding, compression molding, resin transfer molding (RTM), coating, and dipping.
  • Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary method 20 of forming a medical sharps and waste disposal container of the present invention.
  • a composition of polypropylene and an additive in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene is provided in step 22.
  • a composition of polypropylene and the additive is pelletized and provided in pellet form.
  • the composition is then injected into a mold in step 24.
  • a container is formed having a sufficient puncture resistance and impact strength to prevent medical sharps and medical waste from escaping from the container.
  • the disposal method 30 includes step 32 of receiving medical sharps and/or medical waste in a container comprising polypropylene and an additive in an amount sufficient to accelerate degradation of the polypropylene after a predetermined shelf- life.
  • the spent medical sharps and/or medical waste is sterilized as shown in step 34.
  • Appropriate sterilization techniques include those methods that render the potentially infectious medical sharps and waste noninfectious. Exemplary methods include steam (autoclaving), gravity displacement, dynamic air removal (pre-vac), dry heat, convection heat, ethylene oxide, plasma (hydrogen peroxide plasma or gas plasma), and peracetic acid treatment.
  • step 36 after sterilization, the accelerated degradation of the medical sharps and waste disposal container is activated. Activation of the accelerated degradation is initiated upon exposure to mechanical and/or chemical stimuli including mechanical shredding, heat, or exposure to UV light (e.g., sunlight) or moisture. As shown in step 38, after accelerated degradation is activated, biodegradation of the medical sharps and waste disposal container is activated. Activation of the biodegradation process is initiated upon exposure to microorganisms found naturally in the soil (namely, bacteria, fungi or algae).

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
  • Refuse Receptacles (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un procédé et un appareil pour objets acérés ou tranchants, ainsi qu'à un récipient d'élimination de déchets constitué d'une composition de polypropylène et d'un additif. Le récipient selon l'invention présente une résistance à la perforation égale ou supérieure à 2,8 livres-force environ. L'additif est présent en une quantité suffisante pour accélérer la dégradation du polypropylène après une durée de conservation prédéterminée.
EP07756168A 2006-05-03 2007-05-02 Récipient d'élimination d'objets acérés ou tranchants et de déchets, et procédé de fabrication associé Withdrawn EP2012702A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79729306P 2006-05-03 2006-05-03
PCT/US2007/010536 WO2007130402A2 (fr) 2006-05-03 2007-05-02 Récipient d'élimination d'objets acérés ou tranchants et de déchets, et procédé de fabrication associé

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2012702A2 true EP2012702A2 (fr) 2009-01-14

Family

ID=38668255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07756168A Withdrawn EP2012702A2 (fr) 2006-05-03 2007-05-02 Récipient d'élimination d'objets acérés ou tranchants et de déchets, et procédé de fabrication associé

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2012702A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2009535163A (fr)
CA (1) CA2651210A1 (fr)
IL (1) IL194849A0 (fr)
MX (1) MX2008013516A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007130402A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011102873A1 (fr) * 2010-02-21 2011-08-25 Innovative Bottles, Llc Contenant pharmaceutique biodégradable et capuchon de sécurité
US8852157B2 (en) 2010-02-21 2014-10-07 Innovative Bottles, Llc Disposable items made from bioplastic resins
US20180243499A1 (en) 2015-01-23 2018-08-30 Rotho Kunststoff Ag Disposable container
US11111057B2 (en) 2016-03-04 2021-09-07 Amisha Patel Bioplastic collapsible dispensing tube
KR20200069363A (ko) * 2018-01-24 2020-06-16 데이진 가부시키가이샤 반복 이용 가능한 의료용 박스
SE545011C2 (en) 2021-11-08 2023-02-28 FrostPharma AB Reinforced clinical waste container comprising wood fibres and method for producing the same

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2626443A (en) * 1950-05-19 1953-01-27 United Carr Fastener Corp Snap fastener socket assembly
US3705659A (en) * 1970-09-18 1972-12-12 William L Mackie Erodable material
US3984940A (en) * 1973-05-08 1976-10-12 Murray Reich Degradable plastic
US4804090A (en) * 1987-08-28 1989-02-14 Schuh Ronald A Sharps disposal system
US5216043A (en) * 1991-12-12 1993-06-01 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Degradable thermophastic compositions and blends with naturally biodegradable polymers
JPH08119272A (ja) * 1994-10-26 1996-05-14 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd 複合容器

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2007130402A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2009535163A (ja) 2009-10-01
MX2008013516A (es) 2008-10-31
IL194849A0 (en) 2009-08-03
WO2007130402A3 (fr) 2008-01-24
CA2651210A1 (fr) 2007-11-15
WO2007130402A2 (fr) 2007-11-15

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