JPH10118137A - Method and device for discarding catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily, safely and less bulkily discard a catheter. SOLUTION: This method for discarding the catheter consists in deforming the catheter 1 to a coil shape, positioning its pointed front end 1A to the side inner than an outer peripheral loop and discarding such catheter. In the discarding device, the catheter 1 is inserted into a slit 2A of a revolving shaft 2 from the insertion gap 4A of a separating plate 4 and the catheter 1 is bent to the coil shape by the revolving shaft 2 under revolution. The connecting part 5 of the catheter 1 wound around the revolving shaft 2 is hooked by the insertion gap 4A of the separating plate 4, by which the connecting part 5 is removed from the catheter 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for discarding a catheter such as a used injection needle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is important to safely dispose of catheters such as injection needles after use. Since the catheter is inserted into the body of the patient, it may be contaminated by pathogenic bacteria or the like. If the contaminated catheter is accidentally stabbed into the body of a nurse, a disposal worker, or the like, there is a risk of infection with pathogenic bacteria. For this reason, it is important to safely dispose of the used catheter.

[0003] As a device for discarding a used catheter, a device for cutting a sharp catheter, a device for fusing a metal catheter, and a device for bending a sharp tip of a catheter are described in the following publications.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 1-272247 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 1-138423 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7-24023 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 56-116470

[0005]

In this publication, a device for cutting a sharp tip of a catheter is described. This device cuts the sharp tip, so that the severed catheter can be handled safely. However, this device is difficult to safely dispose of the severed tip.
In addition, this device has the disadvantage that the discarded catheter is bulky.

The publication discloses a device for fusing a catheter with a large current. This device cuts the catheter, cuts it into small pieces and safely discards it. This device has the feature that the catheter to be discarded is not bulky. However, this device has a drawback that the manufacturing cost of the device increases because the catheter is blown with a large current.

The publication describes a device for bending the sharp tip of a catheter at right angles. The bent catheter can be safely discarded a little because the sharp tip is bent. However, there is a drawback that it is difficult to safely dispose of the bent catheter because there is a risk of getting stuck in the body.

[0008] Furthermore, the disposal devices described in these publications cannot separate the plastic connecting part connected to the rear end of the catheter. The catheter is mostly made of stainless steel, and a plastic connecting part is connected to the rear end, so if stainless steel and plastic can be separated,
Subsequent disposal can be extremely convenient. For example, a catheter is heated to a high temperature for sterilization. At this time, if there is a connecting portion made of plastic, there is a problem that the plastic burns and damages a heating furnace and the like.

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the drawbacks of these conventional devices. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a disposal method and apparatus that allows simple, easy, and safe disposal of a catheter.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a disposal method and apparatus capable of safely disposing a catheter in a bulky state.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for discarding a catheter, which comprises deforming the catheter 1 into a V-shape and cutting the sharp tip 1A into a loop. It is characterized by being located on the inner side than 1B. The catheter 1 in which the sharp tip 1A is located inside the outer peripheral loop 1B has a sharp tip 1 even if the outside is grasped.
It can be safely handled and discarded without stabbing with A.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discarding device for a catheter 1, in which a rotating shaft 2, a driving mechanism 3 for rotating the rotating shaft 2, and a separation mechanism arranged close to the rotating shaft 2 are provided. A plate 4. The rotating shaft 2 has a slit 2A extending in the axial direction to insert the catheter 1. The drive mechanism 3 rotates the rotating shaft 2. Separation plate 4
Is disposed close to the rotating shaft 2 and has an insertion space 4A for inserting the catheter 1. This disposal device guides the catheter 1 inserted into the insertion gap 4A of the separation plate 4 to the slit 2A of the rotating shaft 2, rotates the rotating shaft 2, and winds the catheter 1 around the rotating shaft 2 to form a letter. To be deformed.

Further, the disposal device according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that:
The insertion gap 4A is opened to such a size that the catheter 1 can be inserted, but the connecting portion 5 connected to the rear end of the catheter 1 cannot be inserted. In this disposal device, a catheter 1 is wound around a rotating shaft 2 and a separation plate 4
Block the movement of the connecting portion 5. In this state, the rotating shaft 2 pulls the catheter 1 to separate the catheter 1 from the connecting portion 5.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below illustrate a catheter disposal method and apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the disposal method and apparatus below.

Further, in this specification, in order to make it easy to understand the claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments will be referred to as “claims” and “ In the column of “means”. However, the members described in the claims are not limited to the members of the embodiments.

The disposing device for the catheter 1 shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 removes the connecting portion 5 by bending the catheter 1 in the following manner in the steps of FIGS. . As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end 1A of the catheter 1 is inserted into the slit 2A of the rotating shaft 2 through the insertion gap 4A of the separation plate 4. At this time, the rotating shaft 2 is stopped at a position where the slit 2A faces up and down. As shown in FIG. 3, when the rotation shaft 2 is rotated, the catheter 1 is wound around the surface of the rotation shaft 2. When the rotating shaft 2 is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 5 connected to the rear end of the catheter 1
It cannot pass through the insertion gap 4A and hits the separation plate 4. When the rotating shaft 2 is further rotated in this state, the catheter 1 is separated from the connecting portion 5 and wound around the rotating shaft 2. The catheter 1 wound around the rotating shaft 2 is pushed out to the tip of the rotating shaft 2 by the pushing guide 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the catheter 1 extruded from the rotating shaft 2 has a shape in which the sharp tip 1A is located inside the outer peripheral loop 1B. This is because the outer peripheral loop 1B becomes larger due to the cushion back of the metallic catheter 1.

As described above, FIG. 6 shows a side view of a disposal device for processing a catheter into a V-shape, and FIG. 7 shows a plan view thereof.
The device shown in these figures comprises a rotating shaft 2 and a separating plate 4.
, An extrusion guide 6 and a drive mechanism 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating shaft 2 has a slit 2A at its tip. The slit 2A is wider than the width for inserting the sharp distal end 1A of the catheter 1, that is, the thickness of the catheter 1. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 8, the slit 2A of the rotating shaft 2 has a wide end and a narrow inner width. The slit 2A in this figure is
For example, toward the tip, the width is 1 mm, 1.5 m
m and 2 mm. The rotating shaft 2 having the slits 2A having different widths can bend the catheters 1 having various thicknesses into an ideal shape. The catheter 1 is inserted into the narrowest width slit 2A that can be inserted and bent.

The slits 2A can be provided on both sides of the rotating shaft 2, but need not necessarily be provided on both sides of the rotating shaft 2. For example, a slit having a bottom can be used.

The separation plate 4 is disposed horizontally on the upper surface of the separation plate 4 close to the rotation shaft 2. The separation plate 4 has an insertion gap 4A into which the catheter 1 is inserted. The insertion gap 4A shown in the figure is a round hole. The inner diameter of the round hole is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the catheter 1 and smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting portion 5. This is because the catheter 1 is inserted so as not to pass through the connecting portion 5. The separation plate 4 shown in the figure has three round holes. The round hole is
It is opened right above the three-step slit 2A provided on the rotating shaft 2. The round hole has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the width of the three-step slit 2A. This is for inserting the catheter 1 inserted in the round hole into the slit 2A.

Below the rotary shaft 2, a stopper 7 for limiting the insertion depth of the catheter 1 to be inserted into the rotary shaft 2 is provided. The stopper 7 is arranged close to the rotating shaft 2 and below the rotating shaft 2, and is arranged at a position where the tip 1A of the catheter 1 inserted into the slit 2A hits. The stopper 7 is a metal plate disposed horizontally below the rotating shaft 2.
This is because, when the stopper 7 is far away from the rotation shaft 2, the sharp distal end 1A of the catheter 1 bent in the shape of a letter protrudes from the outer peripheral loop 1B which is curved in a loop shape.
Therefore, the stopper 7 is disposed close to the rotating shaft 2 such that the sharp tip 1A of the catheter 1 bent in a U shape does not project from the outer peripheral loop 1B.

The catheter 1 inserted into the slit 2A of the rotating shaft 2 and wound around the rotating shaft 2 when wound around the rotating shaft 2, as shown in FIGS.
The sharp tip 1A protrudes from the loop. However, when the catheter 1 is removed from the rotation shaft 2, as shown in FIG.
The outer peripheral loop 1B is enlarged by the cushion back, and the sharp distal end 1A of the catheter 1 is located inside the outer peripheral loop 1B. This is because the catheter 1 is made of an elastically deformable metal such as stainless steel.

The push-out guide 6 slides in the axial direction along the rotating shaft 2 to move the catheter 1 bent in a U-shape into the rotating shaft 2.
Extrude from The extrusion guide 6 has a guide hole 6A that is inserted so as to slide on the rotating shaft 2. The extrusion guide 6 is connected to a crankpin 9A of a crankshaft 9 via a connecting rod 8 which is a driving mechanism 3, and
The catheter 1 is pushed back and forth to push out the catheter 1 wound around the rotating shaft 2. The extrusion guide 6 is disposed so as to be slidable between the separation plate 4 and the stopper 7 so as to be able to move in a horizontal posture and parallel along the rotation shaft 2. The extrusion guide 6 slides on the upper surface of the stopper 7 and reciprocates along the rotating shaft 2. The extrusion guide 6
The reciprocating motion is performed in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating shaft 2.

The discarding device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is connected to the base 10 so that the rotating shaft 2 can be rotated by bearings. The crankshaft 9 connected to the connecting rod 8 is also connected to the base 10 via a bearing so as to be rotatable. The crankshaft 9 is connected to the rotating shaft 2 via a bevel gear 11 and a spur gear 12.
It is connected to. A handle 13 is fixed to the rear end of the rotating shaft 2. Instead of the handle, a speed reduction motor (not shown) can be connected to the rear end of the rotating shaft.

The rotation ratio between the crankshaft 9 and the rotary shaft 2 is determined so that the catheter 1 bent in the shape of the rotary shaft 2 can be pushed out from the rotary shaft 2 by the pushing guide 6. For example, the rotation ratio is designed to be 1: 4 to 1: 8. In the apparatus having a rotation ratio of 1: 4, the extrusion guide 6 reciprocates one stroke when the rotating shaft 2 makes four rotations. In other words, when the extrusion guide 6 moves from the most retracted position to the most advanced position, the rotating shaft 2 makes two rotations. For this reason, the catheter 1 can be wound twice around the rotating shaft 2 and extruded from the rotating shaft 2 by the extrusion guide 6. The longer catheter 1 is wound around the rotating shaft 2 more times. Therefore, the rotation ratio between the crankshaft 9 and the rotating shaft 2 is increased, and after the catheter 1 is completely wound around the rotating shaft 2, the pushing guide 6 is pushed out.

The disposal device having the above structure is used as follows to bend the catheter into a V-shape. By rotating the handle 13, the extrusion guide 6 is moved backward most, and the rotating shaft 2 is stopped at a position where the slit 2A is oriented in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion gap 4A of the separation plate 4
Then, the distal end 1A of the catheter 1 is inserted. Catheter 1
Passes through the slit 2 </ b> A from the insertion gap 4 </ b> A of the separation plate 4 and hits a stopper 7 provided below the rotating shaft 2 and is stopped. The rotating shaft 2 is rotated with the catheter 1 inserted in the slit 2A. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the catheter 1 is wound around a rotating shaft 2 and bent in a U-shape. When the rotating shaft 2 is further rotated, the connecting portion 5 connected to the rear end of the catheter 1 collides with the insertion gap 4A of the separation plate 4. When the rotating shaft 2 is rotated in this state, the catheter 1 is pulled out from the connecting portion 5 and the catheter 1 is pulled out.
Only the rotary shaft 2 is wound. Since the connecting portion 5 remains on the upper surface of the separation plate 4, it can be easily separated from the catheter 1. When the rotating shaft 2 is rotated, the pushing guide 6 advances along the rotating shaft 2, and separates the connecting portion 5 and pushes the catheter 1 bent in a U-shape from the distal end 1 </ b> A of the rotating shaft 2.

As described above, the steps (1) to (4) can be repeated to bend the catheter into a V shape.

In the above disposal device, the rotating shaft is rotated by the handle. This device has a feature that the entire structure is extremely simple and can be manufactured at low cost. However, the rotation axis is
It can be rotated by a motor. This disposal device
The rotation of the motor is controlled by detecting the position of the slit of the rotating shaft and the position of the extrusion guide with a sensor. When the catheter is inserted, the sensor detects the position of the slit and the extrusion guide, moves the extrusion guide most backward, and stops the rotation axis in the vertical posture of the slit. After inserting the catheter into the slit of the rotating shaft, the motor rotates the rotating shaft. After extruding the extrusion guide, the motor stops the rotation of the rotating shaft at a position where it is most retracted. At this time, the slit is set to a vertical posture. A device that bends a catheter into a V-shape with a motor can detect the insertion of the catheter into the insertion gap and automatically rotate the rotating shaft. The device that rotates the rotating shaft with a motor has the feature that it can be used conveniently and easily.

[0029]

According to the method for discarding a catheter according to the first aspect of the present invention, the catheter is deformed into a V-shape, and the sharp tip is disposed inside the outer peripheral loop deformed into a loop and discarded. . For this reason, the disposal method of the present invention has an advantage that it can be disposed of simply, easily and safely compared to the conventional method of melting or cutting and disposing the catheter. Further, since the catheter bent in a U-shape can significantly reduce the entire outer shape, it also realizes a feature that it can be safely discarded in a bulky state.

Further, in the disposal device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the tip of the catheter is inserted into the slit of the rotating shaft,
Since the rotating shaft is rotated to bend the catheter into a U-shape, the catheter has an extremely simple structure and has a feature that the catheter having a sharp tip can be safely discarded. In particular, this disposal device
Since the catheter is inserted into the slit of the rotating shaft from the insertion gap of the separation plate, the rotating shaft is rotated without supporting the catheter inserted in the slit by hand, etc., and the rigid catheter is quickly bent into a U-shape. It can be safely disposed of.

Further, in the discarding device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the catheter can be safely discarded while rotating the rotating shaft to separate the catheter from the connecting portion and bend it into a U-shape. There is a feature that the connecting portion can be separated and discarded. Since the catheter with the connecting part separated is only a metal part, it does not generate gas etc. even if it is heated to high temperature, it is securely sterilized with a simple heating furnace, and damage due to gas in the heating furnace There is a feature that can eliminate all. Further, since the connecting portion is hooked into the insertion gap of the separation plate and separated from the catheter, when the catheter is bent in a U-shape, the connecting portion can be quickly separated from the catheter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of an apparatus used for a disposal method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where a catheter is inserted into the disposal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the catheter is bent in the shape of a letter by the disposal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the catheter is bent in the shape of a letter by the disposal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a catheter bent in a U-shape.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of a disposal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the disposal device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a tip portion of a rotating shaft of the disposal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Catheter 1A ... Tip 1B ... Outer peripheral loop 2 ... Rotating shaft 2A ... Slit 3 ... Drive mechanism 4 ... Separation plate 4A ... Insertion space 5 ... Connecting part 6 ... Extrusion guide 6A ... Guide hole 7 ... Stopper 8 ... Connecting rod 9 ... Crank Shaft 9A ... Crank pin 10 ... Base 11 ... Bevel gear 12 ... Spur gear 13 ... Handle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for disposing of a catheter, comprising deforming the catheter (1) into a U-shape and positioning the sharp tip (1A) inside the outer peripheral loop (1B). 2. A rotating shaft (2) having a slit (2A) extending in an axial direction for inserting a catheter (1), and the rotating shaft (2).
A drive mechanism (3) for rotating the rotating shaft (2), and a separation plate (4) having an insertion gap (4A) in which the catheter (1) is inserted close to the rotation shaft (2), The catheter (1) inserted into the insertion gap (4A) of the separation plate (4) is guided by the slit (2A) of the rotating shaft (2), the rotating shaft (2) is rotated, and the catheter (1) is rotated. (2) A catheter disposal device configured to be wound into a U-shape. 3. An insertion space (4A), into which the catheter (1) can be inserted, but which is connected to the rear end of the catheter.
(5) is a rotating shaft that opens and rotates in a size that cannot be inserted
The catheter (1) is wrapped around (2) and the separation plate (4)
Prevents movement of the connecting part (5), and the rotation axis (2)
The catheter disposal device according to claim 2, wherein (1) is pulled away from the connecting portion (5).