JPH05184653A - Method of disposing of hotwater- soluble implement - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make used medical tools sterilizable and disposable with water by a single operation, by making the tools water-soluble at such a temperature as exceeding the normal human body temperature, being exposed them to water of a temperature sufficient for dissolving the tools after using them, and disposing the water and the dissolved tools. CONSTITUTION: The tool is provided as a molding material, a formed material, or an exclusion molding material and is made soluble in water at a temperature as exceeding the normal human body temperature (37 deg.C). After being used, the tool is exposed to the water at a temperature sufficient for dissolving the tool substantially and then, the water and the dissolved tool are disposed. In this case, the tool is constituted of 1, 2, or more compositions selected from groups composed of propylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and copolymer between polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. This constitution can set the tool soluble, substantially sterilize used medical wastes at a single operation, and dispose the tools.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water soluble tool and a method of disposing of the tool after use. In particular, the device comprises a molding, molding or extrudate that is water soluble at temperatures above about normal human body temperature (37 ° C).

[0002]

Hospital patient care generates large amounts of infectious medical waste in early and acute care facilities. In general, there has been a shift from reusable and cleanable items to disposable items over the last three decades. These shifts have facilitated infection prevention techniques in patient care and reduced the likelihood of cross-infection between patients, staff and the public. Recent US federal and state regulations, such as the 1988 Medical Waste Tracking Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Medical Facility Act and the "General Prevention" Infectious Diseases Control Headquarters, are equivalent in amount to medical waste that should be classified as "infectious" Brought a huge increase.

When one patient is hospitalized, about 5 per day
It produces 5 pounds of medical waste. About 20% of this garbage is infectious. The current purpose of the American Hospital Association and the Headquarters for Infectious Diseases is to dispose of medical waste as soon as possible after it is generated. Both agencies acknowledge that medical waste is not an environmental problem, although it is an occupational hazard primarily to health care workers. The best way to handle infectious medical waste is to disinfect it as it occurs and dispose of the treated medical waste with minimal handling and on-site storage.

Disposable medical devices generally consist of thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, polyamide and acrylic. These devices may further include a mixture of thermosetting materials such as polyimide, polyaramid and cellulose.

For the use of disposable items in the medical field,
Although there are clear benefits in reducing human contact with medical debris, non-biodegradable disposables presently present a recognized disposable problem.
Landfill landfills are increasingly plagued with disposable items that do not decompose, or if they do, take hundreds of years. When the landfill landfill site is completely depleted, new land must be found and is legally opposed by local residents near the proposed site.
Medical waste incinerators are an ineffective choice for many sources.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot water soluble tool that can be disposed of without imposing an additional burden on the landfill waste disposal site and incinerator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of disposing such a device after use, which is capable of solubilizing such device and substantially sterilizing medical waste in a single operation. It is in.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes moldings or formations that can be disposed of in hot water, and methods of disposing of such. These things are normal human body temperature or about 37
It is water soluble at temperatures above ° C. The device is exposed to water at a temperature substantially sufficient to dissolve the device and the water and melt are disposed of.

The present invention deals with the disposal of moldings, moldings or extrudates forming tools such as sample containers, toilet bowls, sponge bowls and containers, trays and washbasins. Such products are commonly used in the medical industry, both in hospitals, outpatient facilities and home settings.

Many of these products generally come into contact with the human body's secretions, and their treatment and disinfection lacks the biodegradability of previous products, and hepatitis B (HBV), AIDS (HI).
In view of the potential transmission of human secretion-derived diseases such as V), it has become a major concern.

To address these problems, it is proposed that the molding or forming tool, either alone or with the addition of surfactants, salts and bleaching agents, be soluble in a hot aqueous bath containing water. Was done. Such equipment is insoluble in cold water baths, preferably at temperatures below the average human body temperature of 37 ° C.
However, it can be disposed of in a hot water bath such as a dedicated washing machine for dissolving and disinfecting such a water-soluble polymer, preferably near the boiling point of water or at least about 50 to 90 ° C. Is preferred. By using such a method, two purposes are achieved. That is, items and equipment are sterilized and solubilized for disposal through the sewer system. This not only reduces the burden on the current landfill landfill site, but also does not place a burden on the user for such used equipment, and liquid sewage treatment is relatively low cost. Will provide a point-of-origin treatment and thus reduce the chance of cross-infection.

Tools useful for carrying out the method include, for example: -Treatment trays, bowls and washbasins-Laboratory tools including sample containers, petri dishes, pipettes, etc.-Toilet bowls, bottles, dosing cups, Patient care items including glasses, feeding trays and utensils-Cleaning syringes and trays, catheter trays, drainage bags-Enema bags and buckets and tubes.

The device may be molded from propyl cellulose such as "Klucel" (trademark, Aqualon Company). In particular, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can be preferably used, most preferably polyvinyl acetate (PV) having the following general formula 3
A copolymer of Ac) and polyvinyl alcohol can be used.

[0014]

[Chemical 3]

In practice, if x is too large, the polymer is soluble in cold water, and if y is too large or is present alone, the polymer is insoluble in cold or warm water and only soluble in boiling water. Is.

The polymer represented by the chemical formula 3 is generally polyethylene glycol or glycerin 0.05 to 5.0.
%, And the melting decomposition temperature is around 200 ° C. without any plasticizer, so that it is stably controlled at the melting point. The polymer may also be blended with other polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), if necessary depending on the processing purpose. However, most practically, the polymer is a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) homopolymer,
You may mix | blend in the range of 1-10 weight part of PVAc with respect to 99-90 weight part of copolymers, and you may manufacture a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic is plasticized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and then 200-220.
It may be molded, formed or extruded at ℃ without being decomposed.

A commercial product "Vinex 1003" (trademark, Air Products) which is a blend of PVA and PVAc.
Is plasticized with PEG and / or glycerin and is useful in the practice of the invention. It may be molded, formed or extruded at 215 ° C without decomposition to produce a tool or article that dissolves in H ₂ O at 50 ° C or above.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A tool is provided as a molding, molding or extrudate, wherein the tool is at about normal human body temperature (37).
Water soluble at temperatures above (.degree. C.) and, after using the device, exposing the device to water at a temperature sufficient to substantially dissolve the device, thus disposing of the water and the melted device. How to dispose of used equipment. 2. The device is selected from the group consisting of propyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and a copolymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol.
Alternatively, the disposal method according to claim 1, which comprises two or more constituent elements. 3. The disposal method according to claim 2, wherein the copolymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol is a copolymer represented by the following general formula 1. [Chemical 1] 4. The disposal method according to claim 1, wherein the tool further contains a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and glycerin. 5. The plasticizer is approximately 0.05% by weight to
The disposal method according to claim 4, which is used in an amount in the range of 5.0% by weight. 6. The disposal method according to claim 1, wherein the tool further contains one or more constituent elements selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. 7. The disposal method according to claim 3, wherein the tool contains about 1 to 10 parts by weight of polyvinyl acetate and about 99 to 90 parts by weight of a copolymer. 8. The disposal method according to claim 7, wherein the tool further contains polyethylene glycol as a plasticizer. 9. A tool comprising a molded product, a molded product, or an extruded product, which is water-soluble at a temperature above a normal human body temperature (37 ° C.). 10. The tool according to claim 9, wherein the tool comprises one or more constituent elements selected from the group consisting of propyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and a copolymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. 11. The tool according to claim 10, wherein the copolymer of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol is a copolymer represented by the following general formula 2. [Chemical 2] 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and glycerin. 13. The plasticizer is approximately 0.05% by weight.
13. The method of claim 12 used in an amount ranging from ˜5.0% by weight. 14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device further contains one or more constituent elements selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. 15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device contains about 1 to 10 parts by weight of polyvinyl acetate and about 99 to 90 parts by weight of a copolymer. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device further contains polyethylene glycol as a plasticizer.