US20110042253A1

US20110042253A1 - Sharps Container

Info

Publication number: US20110042253A1
Application number: US12/861,868
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathan Levine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-24
Filing date: 2010-08-24
Publication date: 2011-02-24

Abstract

The present invention provides a sharps container comprising a receptacle, wherein the receptacle having a floor and at least one wall and a side opening at one end of the receptacle, a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements, a ridge disposed at one end of the sharps retention insert proximal to the side opening, wherein the ridge is higher than the sharps retention insert, a securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface, and a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle. According to one aspect of the present invention, the securement device comprises at least one magnetic element secured to an exterior surface of the receptacle, and may further comprises a ferromagnetic support tray that is secured to the work surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/236,315, which was filed on Aug. 24, 2009, whose disclosure is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a container for “sharps” used in medical procedures, that is, sharp-tipped or sharp-edged implements such as needles, syringes, scalpel blades, and the like. Such containers are typically used by medical practitioners during medical procedures, to hold such “sharps” when they are not immediately being used.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

During medical or surgical procedures, it is known to place sharps implements in sharps holders when these implements are not immediately needed, for example, after they have been used. An important consideration pertaining to the design of sharps holders is safety, and in particular, minimising the risk that medical practitioner will receive injuries due to being pricked or cut by sharps implements.
A typical known sharps holder is in the form of a plastic box having a hinged lid, with a foam insert inside the box. Sharps implements can be stuck into the insert, to hold them in place when they are no longer needed. Typically, an adhesive strip is located on the bottom of the sharps holder to secure it to a sterile drape that covers the procedure tray. The box itself is not secured directly to the procedure tray.
Normally, in surgical procedures, sharps implements such as discarded surgical suture needles and scalpel blades, are discarded after use and are not re-used during the procedure. Therefore, it is usually not required to withdraw sharps implements from such foam inserts for the purposes of such re-use. Such sharps holders are therefore generally not adapted to resist pulling forces that would be caused by removal of sharps implements from the foam inserts. As they are secured to the drape and not the tray or table underneath, the drape tends to pull away from the tray or table when an attempt is made to withdraw the sharps implements.
However, in certain situations, for example, vascular access procedures, local anaesthesia, and many types of procedure performed by interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists and physicians performing minimally invasive procedures outside traditional operating rooms, sharps implements may be re-used during the procedure. They are thus commonly inserted into the foam inserts of the sharps holders and then later withdrawn for such re-use during the procedure. In addition, at the conclusion of procedures, sharps implements are typically individually withdrawn from the sharps holders for proper disposal. This withdrawing of the sharps implements from the sharps holders typically causes a pulling force to be exerted. Conventional sharps holders are typically only secured to the sterile drape and not the supporting procedure tray or table, and are not particularly suitable for resisting the pulling force. As a result, withdrawing sharps implements tend to lift the sterile drape off the tray or table, causing a tenting effect of the drape.
In addition, because the sharps holders are typically secured by the adhesive tapes to the sterile drapes, the drapes tend to be pulled up by the lifting of the sharps holders when the sharps implements are withdrawn. This often results in other items on the procedure tray, such as containers of saline, radiographic contrast, or other liquids, being tipped, or falling over, so that their contents are spilled.
To prevent this tenting effect of the sterile drape, medical staff may be tempted to hold a sharps container down while withdrawing sharps implements. However, this requires that the staff member to place her hand close to the sharps implements which may be contaminated with blood and other body fluids. This practice is potentially dangerous, because of the risk for an accidental cut or needle stick injury.
At the conclusion of the procedure, as an alternative to withdrawing each sharps implement from the sharps holder for disposal, the entire holder can be carried to a disposal location. However, because of the risk of a splash or needle stick injury, doing so may also be extremely dangerous, because the lid cannot be closed and secured with the sharps in it.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,005,590 (Eldridge et al), 5,195,538 (Eldridge et al), and 5,036,866 (Eldridge et al) disclose a retainer and method of producing a retainer which cooperates with either a magnetic surgical drape to hold instruments during surgical operations. The device described is a rectangular tray includes a wall which extends from the periphery of a base portion. The polypropylene base portion is thermally bonded to a thermoplastic rubber retainer to sandwich magnetic elements therebetween. The magnetic elements are magnetically attracted to a magnetic drape and thereby secure the retainer in any orientation with respect to the drape. The tray is for collecting surgical instruments and not adapted for receiving and temporarily holding sharps, i.e., it does not have a portion where sharps can be inserted and stored. Needles and other ferromagnetic sharps implements are placed on the floors of the trays, and are held in place by magnetic attraction. These implements, and especially needles, generally lie flat on the floors of the trays. Because of the magnetic forces exerted on them, they are particularly difficult to grasp. These trays are therefore not suitable for temporary storage of sharps implements during medical procedures. They are also not appropriate for storing sharps implements in a safe manner, as the tips of such implements are left exposed, thus increasing the risk of a needle-prick injury, or the like, occurring. The magnetic surgical drape the Eldridge devices are placed on is draped on the patient, but is not secured. Therefore, the Eldridge devices similarly can not resist an upward pulling force, and may be lifted off the patient together with the magnetic drape.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,658 (Eldridge et al) describes a magnetized flexible sheet that hold sharps implements in place. These implements lie flat against the surface of the sheet, attracted by magnets within the sheet, making it difficult to grasp them for further use.
A variation on this approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,109 (Sandel), which discloses a container having a base, and a lid hinged to the base. The container has a magnetic interior surface for holding needles, and can be opened out and laid flat to provide a working surface on both the base and lid surfaces. The side walls are shallow, and the container is disposable. Needles can lie flat on the surfaces, so as to be held in place by magnetic attraction by the interior surfaces. As a result, once again, such needles can be difficult to grasp for re-use during a procedure (although an embodiment of this container has shallow grooves or roughness on the surface to facilitate, to a limited extent, the grasping of the needles). In addition, while such a container is intended for holding surgical suture needles that have extremely low profiles, it is not intended for, nor could it be effectively or safely used for, sharps implements such as vascular/hypodermic needles which, because of their hubs and the syringes to which they may be attached, have much larger profiles. Such a container may also be used for surgical scalpel blades that are removed from their handles before being placed inside the container. However, scalpels used by interventional radiologists or cardiologists, and other practitioners, typically do not have removable blades and therefore, unless they are in the form of safety blades, would have to be placed together with their handles in the container. Once again, such a scalpel/handle combination would have a high profile for which the container in question would be unsuitable.
International (PCT) Patent Application having the publication number WO 2005/102180 (Atrion Medical Products) describes surgical devices known as “needle counters.” This application discloses such a device which has features in a container enabling the systematic arrangement of needles, to facilitate counting of the needles. This can assist in preventing needles from being inadvertently left in a patient. Such a device has a thin layer of adhesive or magnetic material within the container, for retaining needles flat against the bottom interior surface. A series of shallow troughs facilitate the gripping of such needles to enable them to be picked up. A small, thin piece of resilient foam is provided on the interior of the lid portion, where a needle may be temporarily located. Double-sided adhesive tape may be provided on an exterior surface of the base to assist in retaining it on a supporting surface.
Also known are needle-counter/container devices having foam inserts for holding needles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,326 (Sandel et al) discloses a device which is adapted to enable sharps implements such as scalpels or syringes to have their sharp or pointed ends embedded in a block of foam while these implements are positioned at a shallow angle. In addition, an interior surface of the device has a magnetic layer for retaining sharps implements such as needles so that they lie flat on a surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,609 (Spielmann et al) discloses a device which has a base having a magnetic interior surface and a lid with a magnetic exterior. A foam block in the base is provided for retaining syringe needles in a horizontal position with one side being free to facilitate grasping. However, this would not be suitable for retaining such sharps implements and preventing them from falling out of the device when it is moved.
Needle counter devices are available from Covidien, Kendall division, under the “Devon” brand (http://www.kendall-ltp.coin/Kendall-LTP/pageBuilder.aspx?topicID=145338&breadcrumbs=143560:0, last accessed Aug. 23, 2010). These include a shallow container having a base and a lid, each with a magnetic surface and shallow foam material inside each of the base and lid. There is an adhesive tab on an outside surface for securing the container to a work surface. Needles can be stuck into the foam to minimize risk of needle-stick injuries, but the foam is too shallow to act as a suitable rest for the needles. Such devices have been adopted by many physicians and hospitals to function as temporary “needle holders” and repositories prior to permanent disposal—in particular for sharps implements such as large vascular access, biopsy and hypodermic needles, and scalpels. However, as a result of their design, and as their name implies, these devices were not designed for, and are not particularly suited to, this use.
It is an object of this invention to provide a sharps holder that will avoid or reduce the disadvantages of previously known sharps holders, or that provides a useful alternative, and which may be suitable for use during procedures performed in locations other than in conventional operating rooms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sharps container comprising a receptacle, wherein the receptacle having a floor and at least one wall, and a side opening at one end of the receptacle, a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements, a ridge disposed at one end of the sharps retention insert proximal to the side opening, wherein the ridge is higher than the sharps retention insert, a securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface; and a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the securement device is a magnetic attachment device disposed on the receptacle for magnetically and releasably securing the container. In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic attachment device comprises at least one magnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic attachment device comprises a plurality of spaced-apart magnets.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the magnetic attachment device further comprises a ferromagnetic support tray, wherein the receptacle is secured to the support tray, and the support tray is secured directly to a work surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the sharps retention insert extends across only a portion of the floor. According to another aspect of the present invention, the sharps retention insert is of non-coring foam material.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, at least one of the receptacle and the lid comprises a mechanism adapted for releasably securing the lid to the receptacle to retain the lid in the closed position.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle comprising walls defining all but one side of the interior space, the side opening being at the one side.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the ridge is resiliently deformable. According to another aspect of the present invention, the ridge is of foam material.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the receptacle is of plastics material. According to another aspect of the present invention, the lid is of plastics material.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the support tray is secured to the working surface through adhesive. In one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive is constituted by at least one adhesive element bonded to an exterior surface of the ferromagnetic support tray. In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one adhesive element comprising an adhesive strip.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the magnetic attachment device comprising at least one ferromagnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle, and a magnetic support tray having at least one magnetic element, wherein the support tray is secured directly to the work surface, and the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle.
The present invention also provides a method of supporting a sharps container for use, the method comprising providing a sharps container system comprising a securement device comprising a ferromagnetic support tray, placing the ferromagnetic support on a work surface so that the ferromagnetic support is releasably secured to the work surface by the attachment device, draping a surgical drape over the ferromagnetic support, and positioning the receptacle on the surgical drape such that it is supported by the ferromagnetic support tray.
In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “comprising” has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of “including at least” rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of “consisting only of”. The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as “comprise”, “comprises” and so on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be discussed by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a sharps container according to an embodiment of the invention in an opened position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a sharps container according to an embodiment of the invention in an closed position;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view, from the rear and below, of a sharps container according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view, from the front and above, of the sharps container according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrating exemplary sharp implements stuck to the sharps retention insert;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view, from the front and above, of the sharps container of FIG. 2A in a partially closed position;

FIG. 2C is a cross section view of the sharps container of FIG. 2A in a closed position;

FIG. 2D illustrates the sharps container of FIG. 2A in a closed position being disposed in a sharps disposal container;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a ferromagnetic support tray according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view, from the rear and below, of the ferromagnetic support tray of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded view, from the front and above, illustrating a sharps contain system according to an embodiment of the present invention ready to be secured to a work surface; and

FIG. 4B is a perspective exploded view, from the front and above, illustrating the sharps contain system of FIG. 4A secured to a work surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The words “front” and “rear” refer to directions closer to and away from, respectively, a medical practitioner operating a sharps container according to the present invention.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sharps container comprising: a receptacle; a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements that have been stuck into the retention insert; and securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface when a surgical drape is disposed between the container and work surface preventing direct contact between the container and work surface.
In one embodiment, the securement device is a magnetic attachment device disposed on the receptacle for magnetically and releasably securing the container to the work surface through the sterile drape. This particular embodiment can be releasably secured to a working surface made of ferromagnetic materials. If the work surface is not ferromagnetic, an support tray comprising a ferromagnetic flat surface may be placed on top of the working surface and facilitate the releasable securement of the sharps container. The sharps receptacle can then be secured to the support tray with the sterile drape interposed between the two. This support tray may be secured directly to the working surface by means of adhesive pads or strips. Alternatively, the support tray may be secured to the working surface using suction cups or other appropriate means. In addition, the support tray may comprise a weighted base.
In another embodiment, the securement device may be a first clip component joined to the receptacle and adapted to interact with a second, operationally complementary clip component on the work surface for releasably securing the container to the work surface when a portion of the surgical drape is disposed between the first and second clip components thereby preventing contact between them. The second operationally complementary clip is secured directly to the tray/table by means of adhesive pads or strips, or any other appropriate means.
In one embodiment, the sharps retention insert is resiliently deformable. In this case, the sharps retention insert is preferably of non-coring foam material.
In one embodiment, the magnetic attachment device comprises at least one magnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle.
In one embodiment, the magnetic attachment device comprises a plurality of magnetic feet. Preferably, the receptacle comprises a substantially rectangular lower exterior surface, and a respective magnetic foot adjacent each of the four corners of the lower exterior surface.
In one embodiment, the sharps container comprises a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle. Preferably, the lid is attached to the receptacle by at least one hinge, whereby the lid is rotatable relative to the receptacle between a closed position in which the lid at least partially closes the receptacle, and an open position in which the lid extends away from the receptacle. The lid is preferably adapted to extend laterally relative to the receptacle when the lid is in the open position.
In one embodiment, at least one of the receptacle and the lid comprises a catch means adapted for releasably securing the lid to the receptacle to retain the lid in the closed position.
In one embodiment, the receptacle has a floor which defines a bottom of an interior space of the receptacle, and the sharps retention insert extends across a portion only of the floor with an adjacent portion of the floor being free of the sharps retention insert.
In one embodiment, when the lid is in the closed position, the container has a side opening. Preferably, the receptacle comprises walls defining all but one side of the interior space, the side opening being at the one side.
Preferably, the sharps retention insert is spaced from the side opening, with the adjacent portion of the floor being disposed between the sharps retention insert and the side opening.
In one embodiment, the sharps container comprises a ridge extending across at least part of the adjacent portion of the floor, with the ridge preferably being higher than the sharps retention insert. In a preferred embodiment, the ridge is resiliently deformable. In this case, the ridge is preferably of foam material.
In one embodiment, the ridge extends so as to divide the adjacent portion of the floor into two parts, one part being immediately adjacent the sharps retention insert and the other part being spaced from the sharps retention insert by the one part and the ridge, and being immediately adjacent to the side opening.
In another embodiment, the ridge is placed adjacent to the retention insert and flush to the side opening.
In a preferred embodiment, when the lid is in the closed position, the lid and the sharps retention insert define a space between them.
The receptacle is preferably of plastics material, and the lid is also preferably of plastics material.
In one embodiment, the sharps retention insert is at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) in thickness.
The present invention also provides a sharps container system comprising: a sharps container; and a ferromagnetic support for supporting the container, the ferromagnetic support comprising attachment device for releasably attaching the ferromagnetic support to a work surface.
In one embodiment, the attachment device comprises adhesive which is bonded to the ferromagnetic support. Preferably, the adhesive is constituted by at least one adhesive element bonded to the ferromagnetic support. Each adhesive element is preferably constituted by an adhesive strip.
The invention further provides a method of supporting a sharps container for use, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sharps container according to the first aspect of the invention; and positioning the receptacle such that it is supported by and releasably secured to the work surface.
In one embodiment, the step of positioning the receptacle comprises positioning the receptacle on a surgical drape that has been draped on the work surface. Preferably, the method comprises the step, prior to the step of positioning the receptacle, of draping the surgical drape on the work surface.
Additionally, the present invention provides a method of supporting a sharps container for use, the method comprising: providing a sharps container system according to the second aspect of the invention; placing the ferromagnetic support on a work surface so that the ferromagnetic support is releasably secured to the work surface by the attachment device; and positioning the receptacle such that it is supported by the ferromagnetic support.
In one embodiment, the step of positioning the receptacle comprises positioning the receptacle on a surgical drape that has been draped over the ferromagnetic support. Preferably, the method comprises the step, after the step of placing the ferromagnetic support, and prior to the step of positioning the receptacle, of draping the surgical drape over the ferromagnetic support.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1A-C a sharps container 10 which includes a receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The sharps container 10 is preferably of plastics material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, although in other embodiments it may be of metal, such as stainless steel, or aluminium, or combinations of such materials.
The receptacle has a rectangular floor, as well as a first side wall 18, a second side wall 20 and one rear wall 22 extending upwards from respective edges of the floor. It will be noted that, in this particular embodiment, there is no wall at the front 24 of the receptacle. The floor and walls 18, 20, 22 partly define the interior of the receptacle 12.
In the embodiment shown, the receptacle 12 includes four feet 26 extending downwards from the lower surface 28 of the floor. The feet 26 are preferably positioned at the four corners of the receptacle 12. Each foot 26 has a recess 30 and includes a magnetic pad 32 in each recess.
Disposed in the receptacle 12 is an insert 34 preferably made of a resiliently compressible foam material. More preferably, the foam material is a non-coring, soft foam. In an embodiment, the sharps retention insert 34 extends a portion of the floor of the receptacle. In a particular embodiment, the sharps retention insert 34 extends approximately half of the surface area of the floor proximal to the rear wall 22, leaving a part of the floor free from the retention insert 34. The thickness of the insert 34 can vary from embodiment to embodiment depending on the particular requirements. It is typically about 1 cm thick. The upper surface of the foam insert 34 is typically at a level below the upper extremity of the receptacle 12.
Adjacent to, but spaced from, the insert 34, there is provided a ridge 38. Preferably, the ridge 38 may be make a soft deformable material, as an example, within limitation, a soft foam. The ridge 38 may also be of the same resiliently compressible foam material as the insert 34. It will be noted that the ridge 38 is disposed between the insert 34 and the front opening 24 of the receptacle 12. The ridge 38 extends from the first side wall 18 to the second side wall 20. In the embodiment shown, the ridge 38 is placed flush to the front opening 24 of the receptacle 12. In another embodiment, the ridge may be placed at a distance from the front opening 24, so as to leave a space on either side of the ridge 38. The top surface of the ridge 38 is slightly higher than the top surface of the insert 34, as shown in FIG. 1A.
In the embodiment shown, the lid 14 has a top 50, as well as a first side wall 52, a second side wall 54 and a rear wall 56, extending downwards from respective edges of the top. There is no wall at the front side 54 of the lid 14, this front opening 54 of the lid 14 corresponding to the front opening 24 of the receptacle 12 at which there is no receptacle wall. Accordingly, as will be discussed further below, when the lid 14 is in place on the receptacle 12, the front sides 24 and 58 of the receptacle and lid, respectively, at which there are no wall, form an front opening into the container 10. Instead, the ridge 38 of the receptacle 12, and alternatively ridges 38 and 58 of both the receptacle 12 and the lid 14, respectively, occludes the front opening 24 and 54, serving the functional equivalent of a front wall.
The lid 14 may also contain a ridge 58 at a position corresponding to the ridge 38 of the receptacle 12. Preferably, the ridge 38 of the receptacle is flush with the walls 18 20 22 of the receptacle 12, and the ridge 58 of the lid 14 is flush with the walls 52 54 56 of the lid 14. In this embodiment, when the lid 14 is closed on the receptacle 12, the ridge 58 of the lid and ridge 38 of the receptacle 12 essentially occludes the side openings 24 38 of sharps container 10.
In the embodiment shown, the receptacle 12 comprises hinges 46 and 48 on the exterior of its back wall 18. The lid 14 also comprises corresponding hinges 66 and 68 on its rear wall 52. The receptacle 12 and the lid may be pivotally connected via the hinges 46 48 66 68. The receptacle 12 comprises a locking mechanism 44, and the lid comprises a corresponding locking mechanism 64. In this example, the locking mechanism 64 on the second side wall 18 of the lid 12 is a tab, which engages the locking mechanism 44 on the front wall of the receptacle 12. When the lid 14 is closed on the receptacle 12, the hinges 46 48 66 68 and the locking mechanism 44 64 secures the lid 14 to the receptacle 12.
The sharps container 10 is used to hold medical sharps when they are not being used by medical practitioners, such as doctors performing operations or other medical or surgical procedures. Commonly, sharps implements such as syringes, needles, scalpels and so on, are put aside once they have been used, for safe disposal. In some cases, however, they are put aside to await re-use during a procedure.
The sharps container 10 is placed for use on a work surface 70 such as a table or surgical tray, and the lid 14 is rotated to its open position, so that it extends laterally from the receptacle 12.
In medical or surgical environments, the work surfaces 70 are typically covered by sterile surgical drapes 72, and the sharps container 10 will therefore typically be placed on top of such a drape. Where the work surface 70 is ferromagnetic, the magnetic pads 32 will exert magnetic attraction forces on the work surface, even via the drape 72, to secure the sharps container 10 to the work surface.
The sharps implements can be placed so that their sharp edges or pointed ends penetrate the foam insert 34 in the receptacle 12, and so that these implements extend from such sharp edges or pointed ends, over the ridge 38, and protrude beyond the open side 24 of the receptacle. This is illustrated in FIG. 2A where a syringe 75 is shown in such a position, with an attached needle 76 of the syringe shown inserted into the foam insert 34. By positioning the sharps implements in this manner, they can rest on the ridge 38 which assists in supporting them at an acute angle to the horizontal. The fact that the ridge 38 is slightly higher than the top of the foam insert 34 assists in keeping the needle of the syringe at a favourable downward angle for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also, the weight of the syringe 75 rests largely on the ridge 38, which effectively prevents bending of the needle 76. The deformable material of the ridge 38 will also assist in securing the sharps devices for disposal once the lid has been closed.
Frictional forces between the sharp edges or pointed ends of the sharps implements and the foam insert 34 assist in retaining these edges or points in place.
When the sharps implements are placed in this manner, their sharp edges or pointed ends are kept out of harm's way by being at least partly embedded in the foam insert 34 and this assists in preventing inadvertent injuries, such as cuts and needle-pricks, to medical staff.
In addition, by being supported at such an angle, the ends of such sharps implements opposite the ends that are inserted into the foam insert 34 can be easily gripped. This allows the implements to be safely picked up and withdrawn from the foam insert 34 either for re-use during a procedure or for disposal, depending on the circumstances.
When such sharps implements are picked up and withdrawn from the foam insert 34, the frictional engagement between the sharp edges or pointed ends of such implements and the foam insert 34 causes a lifting force to be exerted on the insert and hence on the container 10. However, where the work surface 70 on which the sharps container 10 is placed is ferromagnetic, then as mentioned above, the magnetic pads 32 will secure the container to the work surface by magnetic attraction. Thus, despite such lifting forces being exerted on the container 10, the container should remain in place on the work surface due to the securement by the magnetic pads 32.
When the sharps container 10 is in use, the lid 14 is typically in its open, lay-flat position. It thus provides a useful place to deposit non-sharps items or substances such as ultra-sound gel.
As mentioned above, the sharps implements can be placed with their sharp edges or pointed ends penetrating the foam insert 34 and so that their other ends protrude beyond the side 24 of the receptacle 12. As that side is an open side of the sharps container 10 as described above, the lid 14 can be moved into its closed position on the receptacle 12, even when such sharps implements are extending in this matter. Indeed, even when there are a number of sharps implements placed in the receptacle 10 with their sharp edges or pointed ends inserted into the foam insert 34, the lid 14 can be moved to its closed position as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The nature of the ridge 38 being easily deformable assists in securing sharps implements in place. In addition, together with the greater height of the ridge 38 relative to the foam insert 34, also minimises the chance that an inserted needle or other thin sharps implement will bend.
The non-coring nature of the foam minimises the chance that parts of the foam will form a core which is retained within, for example, the hollow of a needle, which would most likely cause that core to be undesirably torn from the remainder of the foam insert 34.
The compressibility of the insert 34 and ridge 38, by allowing sharps implements to be embedded therein, allows the receptacle 12 to be of a lesser depth than would be the case if the insert and ridge were not compressible. Indeed, the compressibility allows the lid 14 to be moved to its closed position on the receptacle 12 even when the sharps implements are protruding well above the height or length of the receptacle 12.
In this case, when the lid 14 is moved to its closed position on the receptacle 12, the lid presses down on these sharps implements protruding from the receptacle, thus causing the foam material of the ridge 38, to be compressed. This results in the sharps implements effectively being embedded between the lid 14 and ridge 38. The ridge 38 thus deforms to match the contours of the sharps implements so that these implements are effectively partly cocooned by the ridge 38. This cocooning effect facilitates the secure holding of the sharps implements (FIG. 2C). The embodiment shown also comprises the optional ridge 58 in the lid 14, which is made of similar deformable material as the ridge 38 of the receptacle 12. When the lid 14 is in the closed position, the ridges 38 and 58 together secure the sharps implements in place.
When the sharps container 10 is no longer needed, for example because there is no more space for additional sharps implements, or because a surgical procedure has been completed, the entire container can be safely disposed of with the sharps implements still inside it by moving the lid 14 to its closed position and then carrying the whole container to a safe-disposal location (FIG. 2D). The closed lid 14 then serves to protect the person carrying the sharps container 10 by shielding that person from the sharp edges or pointed tips of the sharps implements in the container.
The ridge 38 facilitates the safe enclosure of parts of the sharps implements in the sharps container 10 by effectively enabling these implements to be clamped in place between the lid 14 and the ridge 38 in the receptacle 12, and more desirably between ridge 58 in the lid 14 and ridge 38 in the receptacle 12.
In one alternative embodiment, the foam insert 34 is spaced from the front open side of the sharps container 10 (constituted by the front 24 of the receptacle 12 and the front 58 of the lid 14) serves to add a significant aspect of safety to the container. This is because the sharp edges or pointed ends of the sharps implements are maintained well away from that open front of the container 10, which minimises the chance of contact between such sharp edges or pointed ends and the person carrying the closed container for disposal.
In the event that the work surface 70 on which the sharps container 10 is to be placed for use is non-ferromagnetic, then it will be appreciated that the magnetic pads themselves 32 cannot be used to secure the container directly to the work surface. In this event, a sharps container system 80, as described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, can be used.
In the embodiment shown, the container system 80 includes the sharps container 10 and a ferromagnetic support tray 82. The support tray 82 may have a narrow plastic rim. The support tray 82 is sized so as to protrude only slightly beyond the lateral extremities of the container 10.
The support tray 82 has one or more suitably placed adhesive elements 84 such as strips or pads on its under-surface 86, which enable the tray to be adhered to the non-ferromagnetic work surface 70 on which the sharps container 10 is to be supported. Microsuction adhesive may be used for the adhesive elements 84 as with more conventional removable adhesives. The adhesive elements 84 may be cover by a protective sheet 85 before use.
In use, the support tray 82 is secured to the work surface 70 by means of the adhesive elements 84, and the sharps container 10 is placed on the support tray. The magnetic elements 32 of the sharps container 10 secure the container to the support tray 82, and, because the tray is adhered to the work surface 70, the container is effectively also then secured to the work surface. The support tray 82 may be secured the work surface 70 through any suitable means, which may include mechanical devices such suction cups, clips, or other locking mechanism. In addition, the support tray maybe weighted and have a high fiction material, such as rubber attached to its under surface 86.
In one embodiment, the support tray 82 is provided with a raised rim 88. This can assist in retaining the sharps container 10 in place, and in preventing it from sliding off the support tray 82, especially in the event that the container is inadvertently knocked sideways.
In the event that a surgical drape 72 is to be used, then as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the support tray 82 can be placed directly on the work surface 70 and bonded to it by the adhesive elements 84. The drape 72 can then be extended over the support tray 82, with the sharps container 10 placed on the drape. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements 32 and the support tray 82 acts via the drape 72 so that the sharps container 10 can be effectively secured to the work surface 70 even when a drape is used.
The adhesive elements 84 of the support tray 82 are preferably of such a nature that they allow the tray to be detached from the work surface 70, for example to enable cleaning of the tray and surface.
Alternatively, the support tray 82 may be made from a magnetic material, i.e., the flat surface of the support tray 82 may contain one or more magnets. The bottom of the receptacle 12 may be affixed with one or more pieces of ferromagnetic material. In this alternative embodiment, the support tray is affixed to the working surface 70 with adhesive or any other suitable means, surgical drape is placed over the support tray, and the sharps container 10 is attracted to and secured to the support tray 82.
In another embodiment of the invention, instead of having magnetic pads for magnetically retaining the container 10 in place as described above, suitable clips can be used. The clips are adapted to engage with complementary clip formations provided on the work surface. In this embodiment, when the container is placed on the work surface, the portions of the drape 72 adjacent to the clips is forced into the clip formations by the clips. The clips and clip formations can nevertheless effectively engage each other with the portion of the drape disposed in between. Thus, the drape prevents undesirable contact between the container and the receptacle, but does not prevent securement of the container to the work surface.
In a case where the work surface is not provided with such clip formations, a support tray similar to the tray 82 can be used. In this case, there is no requirement that the support tray be of ferromagnetic material as the attachment to the container is not by magnetic attraction. Rather, the support tray is provided with the clip formations. In all other respects, the support tray can be similar to the tray 82 (including the manner in which it is attached to the work surface).
Although the invention has been described above in relation to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those particular embodiments but may be embodied in many other forms.
For example, the foam insert 34 may be provided with suitable markings such as lines, numbers or letters, to assist medical practitioner in inserting sharps implements into the insert in desired positions or orders. One example is to have a series of suitably placed numbers on the foam insert to assist in counting sharps implements to ensure that all such implements that have been used are accounted for.
In addition, the sharps container 10 is preferably of a bright colour such as red so that it is easily noticeable by medical staff. In light of the dangerous sharps implements that may be held in the container, the bright colour may be advantageous in encouraging caution by such staff when they are in proximity to the container.
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general inventive concept.

Claims

1. A sharps container comprising:

a receptacle, wherein the receptacle having a floor and at least one wall, and a front opening at one end of the receptacle;

a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements;

a ridge disposed at one end of the sharps retention insert proximal to the front opening, wherein the ridge is higher than the sharps retention insert;

a securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface; and

a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle.

2. The sharps container of claim 1, wherein the securement device is a magnetic attachment device disposed on the receptacle for magnetically and releasably securing the container.

3. The sharps container of claim 2, wherein the magnetic attachment device comprises at least one magnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle.

4. The sharps container of claim 3, wherein the magnetic attachment device comprises a plurality of spaced-apart magnets.

5. The sharps container of claim 3, wherein the magnetic attachment device further comprising a ferromagnetic support tray, wherein the receptacle is secured to the support tray, and the support tray is secured directly to a work surface.

6. The sharps container of claim 5, wherein the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle.

7. The sharps container of claims 1, wherein the sharps retention insert extends across a portion of the floor.

8. The sharps container of claim 1, wherein the sharps retention insert is of non-coring foam material.

9. The sharps container of claim 1, at least one of the receptacle and the lid comprises a mechanism adapted for releasably securing the lid to the receptacle to retain the lid in the closed position.

10. The sharps container of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprising walls defining all but one side of the interior space, the front opening being at the one side.

11. The sharps container of claim 1, wherein the ridge is resiliently deformable.

12. The sharps container of claim 1, wherein the ridge is of foam material.

13. The sharps container of claims 1, wherein the receptacle is of plastics material.

14. The sharps container of claims 1, wherein the lid is of plastics material.

15. The sharps container system of claim 5, wherein the support tray is secured to the working surface through adhesive.

16. The sharps container system of claim 15, wherein the adhesive comprises microsuction adhesive.

17. The sharps container system of claim 15, wherein the adhesive is constituted by at least one adhesive element bonded to an exterior surface of the ferromagnetic support tray.

18. The sharps container system of claim 17, wherein the at least one adhesive element comprising an adhesive strip.

19. The sharps container of claim 2, wherein the magnetic attachment device comprising:

at least one ferromagnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle; and

a magnetic support tray having at least one magnetic element, wherein the support tray is secured directly to the work surface, and the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle.

20. A method of supporting a sharps container for use, the method comprising:

providing a sharps container according to claims 5;

placing the ferromagnetic support on a work surface so that the ferromagnetic support is releasably secured to the work surface;

draping a surgical drape over the ferromagnetic support and the work surface; and

positioning the receptacle on the surgical drape such that it is supported by the ferromagnetic support tray.