GB2283917A - Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles - Google Patents

Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2283917A
GB2283917A GB9323679A GB9323679A GB2283917A GB 2283917 A GB2283917 A GB 2283917A GB 9323679 A GB9323679 A GB 9323679A GB 9323679 A GB9323679 A GB 9323679A GB 2283917 A GB2283917 A GB 2283917A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sheet
needle
stiff material
crease line
adhesive layer
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB9323679A
Other versions
GB9323679D0 (en
GB2283917B (en
Inventor
David Reid
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.)
Sato UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Sato UK Ltd
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 Sato UK Ltd filed Critical Sato UK Ltd
Priority to GB9323679A priority Critical patent/GB2283917B/en
Publication of GB9323679D0 publication Critical patent/GB9323679D0/en
Publication of GB2283917A publication Critical patent/GB2283917A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2283917B publication Critical patent/GB2283917B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • A61M5/321—Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles
    • A61M5/3216—Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base
    • 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
    • A61B2050/002—Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
    • 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

Landscapes

  • 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)

Abstract

A device for rendering a hypodermic needle safe for handling and disposal after use comprises a sheet or strip (2) of stiff material having a layer (4) of self-adhesive material on one face covered by a removable backing sheet (5), the sheet (2) of stiff material being provided with a crease line (6) about which the sheet can readily be folded, after removal of the backing sheet (5), to sandwich and retain at least the contaminated end of a hypodermic needle between two portions (1a, 1b) of the sheet which are brought together and caused to adhere to each other as a result of the adhesive layer (4). A hole or mark may be positioned midway along the crease line to indicate where the needle should be pushed through the device. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to the problem of handling and disposing of used hypodermic needles in a manner which minimises the risk of injury and possible infection from the contaminated end of the needle.
With a view to solving this problem, the invention provides a device for rendering a hypodermic needle safe for handling and disposal after use, the device comprising a sheet of stiff material having a layer of adhesive on one face covered by a removable backing sheet, the sheet of stiff material being provided with a crease line about which the sheet can readily be folded, after removal of the backing sheet, to sandwich and retain at least the contaminated end of a hypodermic needle between two portions of the sheet which are brought together and caused to adhere to each other as a result of the adhesive layer.
The invention also provides a method of using the device to render a hypodermic needle safe for handling and disposal after use, the method comprising removing the backing sheet from the adhesive layer of the device, and folding the sheet of stiff material about the crease line with the adhesive layer facing inwards and so that the two folded portions of the sheet come together about the contaminated end of the needle, the adhesive sticking the two portions of the sheet together to trap and retain the end of the needle therebetween.
As a result, the portion of the needle with the contaminated sharp end is clamped and also adhesively retained between two adhesively bonded layers of stiff material which together form a relatively rigid unit which is safe to handle and which is reasonably resistant to bending to prevent unwanted penetration of the material by the sharp end of the needle.
If the needle is of the type which is removably connected to the syringe so that the syringe can be re-used, the needle can then be detached safely while holding the unit formed by the device which is folded about the contaminated end of the needle, and the opposite end of the needle which is removed from the syringe can then be inserted into a protective sheath, or a second device in accordance with the invention, ready for safe disposal.
When fitting a device in accordance with the invention to a needle, the needle may simply be placed on the adhesive layer to one side of the crease line, and the sheet of stiff material then folded about the crease line to cover the needle and stick the two portions of the sheet together. Preferably, however, the needle is pushed through the sheet of stiff material from the side opposite the adhesive layer at about the centre of the crease line, and the sheet is then folded to stick the two portions of the sheet together about the portion of the needle which was pushed through the sheet. In this case, the face of the device remote from the face carrying the adhesive layer is provided with a mark and/or hole substantially midway along the crease line to indicate where the needle should be pushed through the sheet of stiff material.
The sheet of stiff material may be made of cardboard or plastics. A preferred material is expanded polystyrene, the sheet being preferably at least 1.5mm thick and preferably provided with a paper reinforcing layer on its face remote from the face carrying the adhesive layer.
This paper reinforcing layer may be printed with instructions for using the device and/or any other information as desired.
The adhesive is preferably a self-adhesive material, although any suitable adhesive may be used, and the backing sheet may be a silicone coated release paper as is well known.
The crease line will usually be centrally located so that the sheet of stiff material will fold in half. The sheet may be of any suitable shape, for example circular or oval, but usually it will be rectangular, with the crease line formed parallel to and midway between the shorter sides.
One example of a device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the device with the thickness of the component layers increased for purposes of clarity; Figure 2 is a plan view of the top face of the device; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device after it has been used to envelope the contaminated end of a hypodermic needle; and, Figure 4 is a side view of the used device as shown in Figure 3.
The device (1) illustrated in the drawings comprises a rectangular strip (2) of expanded polystyrene approximately 1.5mm thick having a reinforcing layer (3) of paper permanently bonded to the upper face of the strip (2). On its lower face the strip (2) is coated with a layer (4) of self-adhesive material, and this layer is covered by a removable protective backing sheet (5) made of a suitable silicone coated paper.
The device is provided with a predetermined crease line (6) midway between, and parallel to, its two ends (i.e.
the two shorter sides of the strip), the crease being formed by suitably compressing the device along the line (6). A hole (7) may be formed through at least the reinforcing layer (3) and the polystyrene strip (2) at the centre of the crease line (6), and the reinforcing paper layer (3) may be printed with marks, such as the crossed lines (8) as shown, which indicate the position of the hole (7).
When the device is to be used, the backing sheet (5) is removed from the adhesive layer (4), and the contaminated sharp end of the hypodermic needle (9) to be disposed of is pushed through the hole (7) from the top side (3) of the device until the hilt (10) of the needle comes up against the top face (3). The two halves (la) and (lob) of the device on opposite sides of the crease line (6) are then folded towards each other about the line (6) so that the adhesive coated faces of the portions (la) and (lob) come together and sandwich the needle (9) between them as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The two halves (la) and (lob) are then pressed firmly together to ensure that they are securely bonded to each other and to the needle therebetween.
The hypodermic needle can then be unscrewed from the syringe and the end of the needle thereby exposed then covered by a protective sheath (11) as shown or, alternatively, by a second device (1) in the same way as just described.
In the example shown, the device (1) is approximately 90mm long by 20mm wide, and is designed for use with hypodermic needles (9) which project from the hilt (10) by up to about 40mm. Obviously for larger needles the size of the device (1) will be increased accordingly.
It will be convenient to manufacture the devices by forming a continuous web of the expanded polystyrene material having a reinforcing paper layer on one face and a self-adhesive layer and backing sheet on the opposite face, the web having a width equal to the length of the required devices, and cutting strips of the desired width from the web to form the devices. The web may be creased along its longitudinal centre line and pierced at intervals corresponding to the width of the required device. In this case, the strips will be cut from the web along transverse lines midway between the pierced holes to produce the required devices. If desired, instead of cutting completely through the web to form separate individual devices, the web may be cut through only as far as the reinforcing paper layer, with this layer being perforated along the said cut lines.
This leaves the devices connected together in the web so that each may be detached readily when required simply by tearing through the reinforcing paper layer along the appropriate line of perforations.
In an alternative example which is not shown, the device may be circular, with its crease line formed along a diameter. The construction of the device and its method of use is otherwise the same as for the rectangular example described above.

Claims (16)

1. A device for rendering a hypodermic needle safe for handling and disposal after use, comprising a sheet of stiff material having a layer of adhesive on one face covered by a removable backing sheet, the sheet of stiff material being provided with a crease line about which the sheet can readily be folded, after removal of the backing sheet, to sandwich and retain at least the contaminated end of a hypodermic needle between two portions of the sheet which are brought together and caused to adhere to each other as a result of the adhesive layer.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which the face of the device remote from the face carrying the adhesive layer is provided with a mark and/or hole substantially midway along the crease line to indicate where the needle should be pushed through the sheet of stiff material.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the sheet of stiff material is made of cardboard or plastics.
4. A device according to claim 3, in which the sheet of stiff material is made of expanded polystyrene.
5. A device according to claim 4, in which the sheet of expanded polystyrene is at least 1.5mm thick.
6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the sheet of expanded polystyrene is provided with a paper reinforcing layer on its face remote from the face carrying the adhesive layer.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the adhesive is a self-adhesive material.
8. A device according to claim 7, in which the backing sheet is made of a silicone coated release paper.
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the crease line is centrally located so that the sheet of stiff material will fold in half.
10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet of stiff material is rectangular in shape.
11. A device according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, in which the crease line is formed parallel to and midway between the shorter sides of the rectangular sheet.
12. A device according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A method of using a device according to any one of the preceding claims to render a hypodermic needle safe for handling and disposal after use, comprising removing the backing sheet from the adhesive layer of the device, and folding the sheet of stiff material about the crease line with the adhesive layer facing inwards and so that the two folded portions of the sheet come together about the contaminated end of the needle, the adhesive sticking the two portions of the sheet together to trap and retain the end of the needle therebetween.
14. A method according to claim 13, in which the needle is placed on the adhesive layer to one side of the crease line, and the sheet of stiff material is folded about the crease line to cover the needle and stick the two portions of the sheet together.
15. A method according to claim 13, in which the needle is pushed through the sheet of stiff material from the side opposite the adhesive layer at about the centre of the crease line, and the sheet is then folded to stick the two portions of the sheet together about the portion of the needle pushed through the sheet.
16. A method according to claim 13, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9323679A 1993-11-17 1993-11-17 Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles Expired - Fee Related GB2283917B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9323679A GB2283917B (en) 1993-11-17 1993-11-17 Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9323679A GB2283917B (en) 1993-11-17 1993-11-17 Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9323679D0 GB9323679D0 (en) 1994-01-05
GB2283917A true GB2283917A (en) 1995-05-24
GB2283917B GB2283917B (en) 1997-09-10

Family

ID=10745301

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9323679A Expired - Fee Related GB2283917B (en) 1993-11-17 1993-11-17 Device and method for the safe handling of used hypodermic needles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2283917B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000016831A1 (en) * 1998-09-19 2000-03-30 Star Syringe Limited Means for preventing needlestick injuries
US20140024877A1 (en) * 2012-07-17 2014-01-23 Robert W. Brunson Hypodermic Needle Containment System

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA975718A (en) * 1971-09-08 1975-10-07 John D. Eldridge (Jr.) Receiver for disposable surgical implements
US3944069A (en) * 1969-10-22 1976-03-16 Eldridge Jr John D Receiver for disposable surgical implements
US4076882A (en) * 1976-12-30 1978-02-28 Fenster Larry A Sharps disposal pads
US4182448A (en) * 1978-07-28 1980-01-08 Ethicon, Inc. Receiver for disposable surgical sharps
US4254862A (en) * 1978-12-20 1981-03-10 Barratt Don C Foldable disposable sharps container
US4859515A (en) * 1987-07-06 1989-08-22 Pothetes Nicholas L Device for disposing of sharp instruments
GB2222137A (en) * 1988-08-23 1990-02-28 Thomas E Osborne Dual-function label or tag

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3944069A (en) * 1969-10-22 1976-03-16 Eldridge Jr John D Receiver for disposable surgical implements
CA975718A (en) * 1971-09-08 1975-10-07 John D. Eldridge (Jr.) Receiver for disposable surgical implements
US4076882A (en) * 1976-12-30 1978-02-28 Fenster Larry A Sharps disposal pads
US4182448A (en) * 1978-07-28 1980-01-08 Ethicon, Inc. Receiver for disposable surgical sharps
US4254862A (en) * 1978-12-20 1981-03-10 Barratt Don C Foldable disposable sharps container
US4859515A (en) * 1987-07-06 1989-08-22 Pothetes Nicholas L Device for disposing of sharp instruments
GB2222137A (en) * 1988-08-23 1990-02-28 Thomas E Osborne Dual-function label or tag

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000016831A1 (en) * 1998-09-19 2000-03-30 Star Syringe Limited Means for preventing needlestick injuries
US20140024877A1 (en) * 2012-07-17 2014-01-23 Robert W. Brunson Hypodermic Needle Containment System
US8926489B2 (en) * 2012-07-17 2015-01-06 Robert W. Brunson Hypodermic needle containment system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9323679D0 (en) 1994-01-05
GB2283917B (en) 1997-09-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20031117