RU224480U1 - Device for collecting and recycling used medical needles - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to means for collecting medical waste for subsequent disposal, namely, used potentially infectious waste, such as disposable sharp and piercing objects that come into contact with human blood: needles of disposable syringes, etc. A device for collecting and recycling used medical needles includes a block 1 made of foamed thermoplastic polymer material (preferably polystyrene foam), and a needle-removal plate 2 fixed to it, made of a polymer material (preferably polyethylene) and having holes of variable cross-section . The achieved result is to ensure the possibility of thermal agglomeration of the material of the device itself and the needles 3 placed in it during the process of thermal disinfection. The inventive device can find application in medical institutions, epidemiological laboratories, research and medical institutions and other organizations that generate medical waste.

Description

The utility model relates to means for collecting for the purpose of subsequent disposal of medical waste, namely used potentially infectious waste, such as disposable sharp and piercing objects that come into contact with human blood: needles of disposable syringes, needles of blood collection and transfusion systems, flexible needles with atraumatic end (cannulas), etc. For brevity, such articles are hereinafter referred to as “medical needles” in this application.

The inventive device can be used in medical institutions, epidemiological laboratories, research and medical institutions and other organizations that generate medical waste.

Numerous designs of waste collection containers are known, in particular for collecting medical needles [see, for example, invention patent RU 2410309, invention patent RU 2438951, utility model patent RU 87148, and others, as well as information on the Internet ttps ://tatusklad.ru/katalog/konteiner_dlya_utilizacii_othodov_1000_ml_ku_50_y ellow]. Such containers are made of polymer materials (puncture-proof plastics that are resistant to disinfectants) and have a container that is hermetically sealed with a lid, in the neck of which there is a plate with holes. The shaped holes of the plates can be made in the form of a stepped groove, or in the form of a round cutout with petals, or other shapes that ensure engagement with the cannula (connector) of a medical needle for its removal from the syringe in a non-contact manner (excluding contact with the hands of personnel). Such partitions with figured cutouts are called needle strippers. The partitions, as a rule, are made of flexible material, for example, plastic, and the shape of the holes ensures that cannulas of needles of various diameters engage from below with the edge of the hole or with a slot.

Used medical needles are placed in such containers, after which they must undergo disinfection by chemical (disinfectants) or physical methods (temperature, steam under pressure, microwave waves). After disinfection, containers with needles must undergo a destruction procedure to exclude the possibility of their reuse [SanPiN 2.1.7.2790-10 “Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the management of medical waste” https://rg.ru/documents/2010/12/12 /sanpin-medothodv-site-dok.html].

In the context of this application, the term “destruction” means “transformation of the structure of processed waste, leading to a change in their appearance to an extent that precludes the possibility of their reuse.”

The most widely used method for further destructuring of medical needles is the shredding method, for example, in the Baltner-Sh recycling apparatus [see. information on the Internet https://www.tiaramed.ru/catalog/utilizatsiya-otkhodov/baltner-sh/?ysclid=lpb3nq3n9u641897381]. However, as practice has shown, in the process of destroying containers with needles in shredders, more than 70% of the needles slip between the knives without damage, and their re-collection for the next shredding cycle is prohibited.

There are known devices for the electrothermal destruction of medical needles, based on the method of resistive melting by flowing through the needle a current sufficient to heat the needle to the melting temperature [Patents US 591621, US 5138124, etc.] The main disadvantage of such devices is low productivity and unreasonably high energy consumption.

Thus, the solutions known to the author for the collection and subsequent disposal of medical needles are ineffective. The common principle that unites them is the destruction of needles as such, collected in a container or melted separately in electrothermal destruction chambers.

The utility model is based on the task of expanding the arsenal of tools and creating a device for collecting used medical needles for subsequent disposal, based on a new operating principle. The achieved result is to ensure the possibility of thermal agglomeration of the material of the device itself and the needles placed in it during the process of thermal disinfection. In the context of this application, the term “agglomeration” is used to mean sintering, a thermal transformation accompanied by the formation of a single monolith, including needles that cannot be removed from it.

The claimed device for collecting used medical needles for subsequent disposal includes a block made of foamed thermoplastic polymer material and a needle-removal plate mounted on it, made of polymer material and having holes of variable cross-section. The block may have the shape of a cube or a straight parallelepiped, the height of which exceeds the length of the needles intended for disposal.

As a foamed thermoplastic polymer, for example, polyethylene foam or polypropylene foam, or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or other material with similar properties can be used, the upper limit of operating temperatures lies in the range of 100-200 ° C, that is, in the temperature range of thermal disinfection: by exposure method dry hot air or an equivalent method of exposure to saturated water vapor, or disinfection with microwave radiation.

It is preferable to make the block from polystyrene foam.

The connection of the thermoplastic polymer foam block and the needle stripper plate can be carried out in any suitable way, for example, using glue. However, the possibility of their detachable connection cannot be excluded using protrusions and mating grooves, for example, like a “dovetail” on the contacting surfaces or using another locking connection. The very design of the connection between the block and the needle stripper plate is not the subject of this utility model. It is important that the connection ensures reliable mutual fixation of these elements.

The variable cross-section holes in the needle stripper plate can also have any acceptable shape, for example, an oval shape, a teardrop shape, a triangle, a rhombus, a quadrangle with a stepped edge, a circle with extending radial slots, a radial star shape, etc. The shape of the hole is not the subject of this utility model. It is important that it is possible to insert needles of various sizes into the hole, deepen the connector into the body of the block and then engage the end of the connector with the edge of the hole (slot) from below.

The device may have external packaging, for example, made in the form of a resealable polymer or metal container or cardboard box.

In order to better demonstrate the distinctive features of the utility model, a preferred embodiment is described below by way of example and not in any way limiting. An example implementation is illustrated by the Figures of the drawings, which show: FIG. 1 - image of the inventive device with a stuck needle, Fig. 2 - image of the device after thermal disinfection and agglomeration of needles and the inventive device.

In the inventive device, block 1 is made of expanded polystyrene (foam) and has the shape of a cube 100×100×100 mm. The needle stripper plate 2 is made of polyethylene and is connected to block 1 using glue.

The holes in the plate 2 are, for example, drop-shaped.

The device is used as follows.

The needle of the Luer Slip syringe to be disposed of is inserted into the hole in the needle stripper plate and slightly recessed into the body of the block by pressing the syringe body. Then the syringe is turned slightly and the end of the connector 3 of the needle is brought under the edge of the hole in a narrower cross-section or placed under the slot. The softness and pliability of the block material (foamed polymer) allows this to be done. Then, with a reverse movement, the syringe is removed. In this case, the end of the connector, hooked from below to the edge of the hole, does not allow the needle to leave the body of the block, and the needle is removed from the needle cone. Thus, removing the needle from the syringe is done in one movement and with one hand. The inventive device allows you to remove needles with connectors of any existing diameters from syringes.

Needles are removed from Luer Lock syringes in a similar way: the needle is inserted into the center of the hole and placed under the slot. Next, after engaging the needle connector with the edges of the slot, making circular movements of the syringe, unscrew the needle from the tip of the syringe.

After the device is filled with the required number of needles, it is transferred to the stage of disinfection and disposal using the thermal effect method. Devices placed in the thermal chamber are heated to 100°C (disinfection temperature) and higher. In this case, expanded polystyrene (or other thermoplastic polymer material) softens under the influence of temperature, deforms and shrinks (shown in Fig. 2), binding the needles placed in it into a monolith. Thermal agglomeration of the material of the device itself and the needles placed in it during the thermal disinfection process eliminates the possibility of removing needles and, accordingly, reuse, which is a mandatory requirement of SanPiN 2.1.7.2790-10. The deformed needle stripper plate additionally covers and binds the needle connectors. There is no need for grinding operations using a shredder or other devices for mechanical destruction of medical waste. The resulting waste, in accordance with the Federal Law of June 24, 1998 N 89-FZ “On Production and Consumption Waste,” can be transported to solid household and municipal waste landfills.”

The device has the simplest design for manufacturing and is effective in use.

Claims (2)

1. A device for collecting and recycling used medical needles, characterized in that it includes a block made of foamed thermoplastic polymer material and a needle-removal plate fixed to it, made of polymer material and having holes of variable cross-section. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the block is made of polystyrene foam.