GB2367286A - Discard pack for sharps - Google Patents

Discard pack for sharps Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2367286A
GB2367286A GB0123104A GB0123104A GB2367286A GB 2367286 A GB2367286 A GB 2367286A GB 0123104 A GB0123104 A GB 0123104A GB 0123104 A GB0123104 A GB 0123104A GB 2367286 A GB2367286 A GB 2367286A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
pack
discard
carrier
layer
adhesive
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Withdrawn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
GB0123104A
Other versions
GB0123104D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Gregory King
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.)
INTELLIGENT MEDICAL SUPPLIES L
Original Assignee
INTELLIGENT MEDICAL SUPPLIES L
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 INTELLIGENT MEDICAL SUPPLIES L filed Critical INTELLIGENT MEDICAL SUPPLIES L
Publication of GB0123104D0 publication Critical patent/GB0123104D0/en
Publication of GB2367286A publication Critical patent/GB2367286A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • A61B50/3001—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for sharps
    • 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
    • A61B2050/005—Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers with a lid or cover
    • A61B2050/0067—Types of closures or fasteners
    • A61B2050/008—Pegs inserted, e.g. forced, into openings
    • 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
    • A61B50/3001—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for sharps
    • A61B2050/3002—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for sharps including foam blocks for retaining sharps

Abstract

A discard pack for used medical sharps comprises a carrier (1) of material resistant to sharps penetration which is divided into two parts along a hinge line or spine (6), one part carrying an adhesive layer covered by a releasable backing sheet (9) for receiving sharps and the other part being foldable over and sealable to the one part, at least the other part being of light transmissible material. Preferably, the adhesive layer is provided on a layer of foam (3) and the other part also carries an adhesive layer (2) covered by a releasable backing strip (11), and a barbed stud (7) may be provided for locking the pack in a closed condition. Alternatively (Fig.4), the pack may be moulded in clamshell form with the adhesive layer provided in the bottom of a recess or well.

Description

Title : Discard Pack DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a discard pad or pack.
Safe disposal of the likes of scalpel blades and needles has lead to the development of a sterile adhesive disposal pad for sharps. A known pad comprises a rectangular piece of card creased down the centre defining two halves and having a 4-5 mm layer of foam adhered thereto. One half of the foam has a sheet of double sided adhesive material adhered thereto. The releasable backing paper is retained in place until required for use. After removal of the backing paper, sharps for disposal are placed on the exposed adhesive surface which holds them secure. The other half of the pad is folded over onto the adhesive thereby covering any sharps and permitting safe disposal of the sharps.
It has been found that over filling of the pad can give raise to sharps piercing the cardboard. It is the aim of the present invention to provide a solution.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a discard pack comprising a carrier made of material which is resistant to the penetration of sharps and which is divided into two parts along a hinge line, a layer of foam adhered to one of the parts and wherein the layer of foam carries a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet, and wherein, the other part of the carrier is foldable to overlie the foam layer and is securable with respect thereto, and wherein the at least said other part of the carrier is made of a light transmissive material.
Said other part is translucent or transparent such that items adhered to the foam layer are visible through said translucent carrier part. A thermoplastics may be used for the carrier. One suitable material for the carrier is polypropylene which has high impact properties and can be folded.
Any other materials could be used, be it plastics or otherwise, which afford the desired anti-piercing properties. Polypropylene 1-2mm thick has been found to be satisfactory.
Decorative markings may be applied to the carrier. Preferably any decoration is applied to the outside of that half of the carrier to which the foam is applied, but it could be applied to other surfaces of the carrier. Such decorative markings may be printed directly onto the plastics or carried on a paper or plastic substrate which is adhered to the carrier.
To aid folding of the pack the hinge line preferably comprises two lines of weakness which are formed at parallel spaced positions defining the two parts of the pack separated by a central spine.
The foam layer may comprise a single sheet of foam or two or more pieces. The outer periphery of the foam and the carrier are preferably substantially coterminus on said part. The use of the pierce resistant carrier allows a lighter more compressible foam to be used. It is preferred to use a thicker foam of the order of 5-6 mm thick. It is preferred to use an open cell foam. A cross-linked expanded polyethylene foam may be used. Preferably the foam is flame retardant. The foam is coloured. Yellow is preferred.
There is a tendency for the users to over fill the discard pack and thereby reduce the area of adhesive which can be used to secure the carrier in position over the items secured to the foam. Accordingly, it is preferred to provide additional means to hold the carrier in its closed position. In one embodiment securing means in the nature of a clip is used to secure the two parts of the carrier together when in the folded over position. The clip may comprise a barb like structure carried by one part of the carrier and arranged to pass through a hole in the other part of the carrier. In an alternative embodiment a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet may be applied to the inner surface of said other part of the carrier. The adhesive is translucent. The removal of the backing sheet presents an adhesive surface to aid adhesion of the carrier when folded over on to the foam and/or any items adhered to the foam. This may be in addition to or as an alternative to the aforementioned physical securing means.
In another embodiment, the carrier comprises a clam shell type container moulded from a transparent material. The container comprises a lid and a tray like body that are connected along an integral hinge line. The tray comprises a recess formed within a peripheral rim. The afore described foam is accommodated within the tray. The foam has an adhesive overlay as afore described. The lid may comprise a planar element or have a recess formed within a peripheral rim. The peripheral rim of the tray is adhered to the lid when the pack is to be disposed of. Adhesive is applied to the lid or the peripheral rim for this purpose.
The foam of the afore described embodiment is not necessary, and another aspect of the present invention provides a discard pack comprising a carrier made of material which is resistant to the penetration of sharps and which is divided into two parts along a hinge line, at least one of the parts comprising a recessed well within a peripheral rim, and wherein the base of the well carries a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet, and wherein the other part is foldable to overlay said one part and is securable with respect thereto, and wherein at least said other part is made of light transmissive material.
The peripheral rim preferably has a layer of adhesive applied thereto for securing the other part thereto when the pack is to be disposed. This combination serves to secure the sharps safely within the recessed well.
The adhesive layer carries a releasable backing sheet that is removed when it is desired to securely close the pack. In an alternative, the adhesive layer may be on the lid. In another embodiment both half parts of the carrier have a recessed well and both may be adapted to receive sharps.
More generally the present invention provides a discard pack comprising a carrier made of material that is resistant to the penetration of sharps and which is divided into two parts along a hinge line, one of the parts carries a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet to receive sharps in use, and the other part of the carrier is foldable to overlie said one part and is salable with respect thereto, and wherein at least said other part of the carrier is made of a light transmissive material.
The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a discard pack according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the discard pack of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the discard pack of Figure 2 in its folded condition for disposal.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sharps disposal pack according to another aspect of the invention, Figure 5 is a section on V-V of figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sharps disposal pack according to another embodiment.
A discard pad according to the invention comprises a carrier layer 1 which is generally rectangular and which has a pair of parallel spaced crease lines 5 defining a spine 6 therebetween, which crease lines define lines of weakness allowing the carrier to fold over in the manner of a hinge. The respective creases define first 1a and second 1b parts of the carrier. The first part 1b has adhered to it a layer of foam 3 which is covered by an adhesive 7 having a removable backing sheet 9. The adhesive securing the foam to the carrier is shown exaggerated as layer 4. The carrier is formed from a translucent polypropylene 1-2mm thick. The discard pad is sold in a sterile envelope (not illustrated).
In use the releasable backing sheet 9 is peeled off so that sharps can be placed on the then exposed adhesive surface 7 of the foam pad. When the pad is to be disposed of the other part of the carrier 1 b, devoid of the foam, is folded to overlie the surface 7 of the foam 3 thereby covering any sharps placed thereon. Depending on the number of items placed on the adhesive surface 7 there may still be a sufficiently exposed area of adhesive to secure the part 1b thereto without further securing means. However, to further aid securing we propose either a physical securing clip such as the headed barbed stud 7 which is passed through a hole in the carrier part 1a and through a corresponding hole 9 in the other part 1 b of the carrier, so as to be able to secure the two halves of the carrier positively in the folded over position as illustrated in Figure 3. As an alternative, or in addition to the barb, the part 1 b of the carrier which is devoid of foam may be provided with an adhesive layer 2 covered by a releasable backing strip 11. The adhesive is transparent so as to maintain the transparency of that part of the carrier, at least when the backing sheet 11 is removed, permitting the part 1b to be folded over and secured to the foam and/or any sharps adhered thereto.
Figure 4 shows another embodiment of sharps disposal pack. It comprises a clam-shell type container 100 formed from clear plastics material. In the illustrated embodiment of figures 4 and 5 each half of the container comprises a recessed well 101/102 bounded by a peripheral rim 103/104. A line of hinging between the two halves is shown at 105.
A layer of adhesive is applied to rim 104. It is covered by a release sheet to cover the adhesive until it is desired to secure the two halves together in a closed position.
One or both of the wells 101,102 has the base thereof covered with an adhesive as denoted by the hatch lines. The adhesive is covered with a release sheet until it is desired to bring the pack into use when the release sheet is removed to allow sharps to be adhered to the adhesive. The recessed well could accommodate a foam pad covered with adhesive as used in the aforedescribed embodiment, but since the recessed well allows the pack to accommodate a number of sharps the foam pad is unnecessary and can be done away with. This results in an equally useful and safe discard pack, but at reduced cost.
Figure 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of sharps disposal pack.
It comprises a recessed tray 110 bounded by a peripheral rim 112 and having a lid 114 hingedly connected thereto. The base of the tray 108 has an adhesive applied thereto with a release sheet, and the rim has adhesive applied thereto, covered by a removable release sheet. The tray, rim and lid are preferably formed from a transparent material. This embodiment has the advantage that it uses minimum adhesive and requires the lid to be folded over onto the tray. With this embodiment there is no likelihood of sharps falling from one tray as it is being folded over on to the other to close the pack and so it provides a safer combination to use.
The material of the trays is sufficiently robust to prevent it being easily penetrated by the sharps.
It will be understood that the desired characteristics of the discard pack of figures 1 to 3 may be utilised with the embodiment of figures 4 and 5 or 6. Similarly the features of each embodiment may be used in part or in combination as embraced by the accompanying claims.

Claims (19)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A discard pack comprising a carrier made of material that is resistant to the penetration of sharps and which is divided into two parts along a hinge line, one of the parts carries a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet to receive sharps in use, and the other part of the carrier is foldable to overlie said one part and is salable with respect thereto, and wherein at least said other part of the carrier is made of a light transmissive material.
  2. 2. A discard pack is claimed in claim 1 in which at least said one part comprises a recess or well and the layer of adhesive is disposed in the bottom of the recess or well.
  3. 3. A discard pack as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which one of said parts has a layer of foam adhered thereto and said layer of adhesive is adhered to the layer of foam.
  4. 4. A discard pack as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 in which said other part is translucent or transparent such that items adhered to the adhesive layer are visible through said translucent carrier part.
  5. 5. A discard pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a thermoplastics is used for the carrier.
  6. 6. A discard pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the carrier is polypropylene.
  7. 7. A discard pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the hinge line comprises two lines of weakness which are formed at parallel spaced positions defining the two parts of the pad separated by a central spine.
  8. 8. A discard pack as claimed in claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 7 dependent on claim 3 in which the foam layer comprises a single sheet of foam or two or more pieces.
  9. 9. A discard pack as claimed in claim 3 in which the outer periphery of the foam and the carrier are preferably substantially coterminus on said part.
  10. 10. A discard pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the two halves of the carrier are secured together for disposal by adhesive.
  11. 11. A discard pack as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 10 and further comprising additional securing means to hold the carrier in its closed position.
  12. 12. A discard pack as claimed in claim 11 in which the additional securing means is in the nature of a clip.
  13. 13. A discard pack as claimed ih claim 12 in which the clip comprises a barb like structure carried by one part of the carrier and arranged to pass through a hole in the other part of the carrier.
  14. 14. A discard pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 in which a layer of adhesive covered by a releasable backing sheet is applied to the inner surface of said other part of the carrier.
  15. 15. A discard pack as claimed in claim 2 in which the recess has a peripheral rim and the other part is adapted to be secured to the peripheral rim by a layer of adhesive.
  16. 16. A discard pack as claimed in claim 15 in which the layer of adhesive is formed on one of the lid on the peripheral rim and has a releasable backing sheet.
  17. 17. A discard pack as claimed in any one of claims 3,15 or 16 in which the two parts comprise a clamshell like container.
  18. 18. A discard pack as claimed in claim 17 in which both halves of the container have a recess bounded by a peripheral rim.
  19. 19. A discard pack constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 3,4 or5, or6.
GB0123104A 2000-09-26 2001-09-26 Discard pack for sharps Withdrawn GB2367286A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0023526.7A GB0023526D0 (en) 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Discard pad

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0123104D0 GB0123104D0 (en) 2001-11-14
GB2367286A true GB2367286A (en) 2002-04-03

Family

ID=9900119

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0023526.7A Ceased GB0023526D0 (en) 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Discard pad
GB0123104A Withdrawn GB2367286A (en) 2000-09-26 2001-09-26 Discard pack for sharps

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0023526.7A Ceased GB0023526D0 (en) 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Discard pad

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0023526D0 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008100469A2 (en) * 2007-02-13 2008-08-21 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Medical sharps container

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4167230A (en) * 1978-07-26 1979-09-11 Barratt Don C Disposable receiver
US4182448A (en) * 1978-07-28 1980-01-08 Ethicon, Inc. Receiver for disposable surgical sharps
US4193496A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-03-18 Barratt Don C Disposable receiver
US4344532A (en) * 1980-08-11 1982-08-17 Instranetics, Inc. Surgical blade remover

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4167230A (en) * 1978-07-26 1979-09-11 Barratt Don C Disposable receiver
US4193496A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-03-18 Barratt Don C Disposable receiver
US4182448A (en) * 1978-07-28 1980-01-08 Ethicon, Inc. Receiver for disposable surgical sharps
US4344532A (en) * 1980-08-11 1982-08-17 Instranetics, Inc. Surgical blade remover

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008100469A2 (en) * 2007-02-13 2008-08-21 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Medical sharps container
WO2008100469A3 (en) * 2007-02-13 2008-10-16 Covidien Ag Medical sharps container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0123104D0 (en) 2001-11-14
GB0023526D0 (en) 2000-11-08

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Free format text: EXTENSION APPLICATION: APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD(S) PRESCRIBED BY RULE(S) 33(2) FILEDON 20021204.

WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)