WO2010049452A1

WO2010049452A1 - Device for destroying needles for medical use

Info

Publication number: WO2010049452A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/064222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renato Laurora; Alberto Ruberti
Original assignee: Ruberti S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-10-29
Filing date: 2009-10-28
Publication date: 2010-05-06
Also published as: IT1391332B1; ITMO20080276A1

Abstract

A device (1) for destroying needles for medical use jointly associated with the end part of a supporting body (S), comprising: a base frame (2) and destruction means, which are connected to the base frame (2) and are adapted to receive and destroy a needle (A) associated with the end part of the supporting body (5). The device (1) further comprises means for the complete separation of the needle (A), which are connected to the base frame (2) and are adapted to break the end part of the supporting body (S) and to separate completely the needle (A) from the supporting body (S), means for the advancement of the needle (A) thus separated toward the destruction means being provided.

Description

DEVICE FOR DESTROYING NEEDLES FOR MEDICAL USE Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for destroying needles for medical use which are jointly associated with the end part of a supporting body.

Background Art

It is known that single-use instruments, such as syringes and the like, provided with needles for performing injections and surgical procedures, are used frequently in hospital facilities and surgeries. As a consequence of the use of these instruments, the problem of their disposal arises.

In particular, in order to prevent the needles associated with the end part of syringes from injuring or contaminating accidentally the operator who handles them, and in order to facilitate recovery of the respective materials, the syringes are disposed of separately with respect to the respective needles.

To perform this separate disposal, adapted devices are used which are adapted to destroy a portion of the needles that are associated with the end part of a syringe. These known devices generally utilize the principle of an electric arc to melt a part of the needle of a syringe, at the same time sterilizing the pouring metal.

More particularly, the needle associated with a syringe is introduced in the device and is melted progressively starting from its tip. The device further comprises cutting means, which cut the needle proximate to the end portion of the corresponding syringe.

A needle destruction device of the known type is disclosed in US 5545869.

These known types of needle destruction device are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that they do not allow complete destruction of the needle, since even after its melting, part of the needle remains attached to the end part of the syringe.

This entails a series of consequent problems, i.e., the end of the syringe is still sharp and therefore there is the risk that the operator might be accidentally injured or contaminated with the substance that has remained within the part of the needle that is attached to the syringe.

Moreover, the portion of the needle that remains attached to the syringe complicates subsequent disposal and recovery of the latter, since the needle is generally made of a material that is different from the material of the syringe and can contain traces of the liquid drawn from, or injected into, the patient.

Another drawback of known devices is that during the operation for destruction of the needle the syringe must be held by an operator, who may be accidentally struck by the escape of part of the liquid that is contained in the needle and is potentially dangerous.

Yet another drawback is that known devices have a limited field of application, since they can be used only for certain types of needle. These devices in fact are unable to cut needles characterized by a certain thickness, such as epidural needles. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the background art, by providing a device for destroying needles for medical use that allows to perform complete destruction of the needle associated with a supporting body, such as a syringe, preventing, after the destruction of the needle, a portion of said needle from remaining attached to the end part of the corresponding supporting body, thus allowing to perform simple and safe disposal of the supporting bodies and of the needles associated therewith.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for destroying needles that allows to ensure the safety of the operator during its operation, avoiding the risk that he or she might be contaminated by the liquid contained in the needle during the destruction thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for destroying needles that can process different types of needles regardless of their dimensions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and of relatively low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present device for destroying needles for medical use jointly associated with the end part of a supporting body, comprising:

- a base frame;

- destruction means, which are connected to said base frame and are adapted to receive and destroy the needle associated with the end part of a supporting body and characterized in that it comprises means for the complete separation of said needle, which are connected to said base frame and are adapted to break the end part of said supporting body and to separate completely said needle from said supporting body, means for the advancement of the needle thus separated toward said destruction means being provided.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for destroying needles for medical use, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 1 , with the syringe arranged inside the containment chamber, the guiding element in the first working configuration and the compression elements in a passive position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 1 with the syringe rested on the guiding element, the latter being in the first working configuration and the compression elements being in a passive position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 1, with the guiding element in the second working configuration and the compression elements in a passive position; Figure 5 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 1, with the guiding element in the second working configuration and the compression elements in the active position. Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a device for destroying needles for medical use jointly associated with the end part of a supporting body S.

The supporting body S with which a needle A used in the medical- surgical field is associated can be constituted preferably but not exclusively by a syringe or by a hood associated detachably with the end of a syringe. The device 1 comprises a base frame 2 and destruction means which are connected to the frame 2 and are adapted to receive and destroy the needle A associated with the end part of the supporting body S.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the frame 2 forms a substantially hollow body, inside which the means for the destruction of the needle A are arranged. The frame 2 has at least one opening 3 for insertion of the end part of the supporting body S.

More particularly, in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the destruction means are of the electrically conducting type and comprise at least one pair of contrarotating electrification rollers 5, between which it is possible to interpose the needle A, and at least one electrode 6, which also can be actuated so as to rotate about its own axis.

The rollers 5 and the electrode 6 are rotationally actuated respectively by means of a toothed belt drive system, which is not visible in detail in the figures and is driven by a first electric motor 30, shown in cross-section, and by a pair of gears 18 and 19 with concurrent axes, which are rotationally actuated by a second electric motor 20.

One of the two rollers 5 and the electrode 6 are connected to the poles of a current source, not visible in the figures, and are therefore charged with a mutually opposite sign, so that the needle A, by making contact with both of them, short-circuits them and is melted by the current that passes through it.

Below the rollers 5 and the electrode 6 there is a tray 10, which can be extracted from outside and is adapted to collect the residues of the needle A produced by its melting. The device 1 further comprises a graphite rod, not visible in the figures, which is arranged in contact with the electrode 6 in order to facilitate short-circuiting with the rollers 5.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises means for complete separation of the needle A which are connected to the frame 2 and are adapted to break the end part of the supporting body S and to separate completely the needle A from the supporting body.

According to the invention, there are further means for the advancement of the needle A thus separated from the end part of the supporting body S toward the destruction means. Conveniently, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the advancement means are constituted by the contrarotating rollers 5, which are adapted to entrain by friction the needle A toward the electrode 6, which is arranged downstream of the rollers 5 in the direction of advancement of the needle A. Preferably, the means for complete separation are contained within the hollow body formed by the frame 2.

Advantageously, the means for complete separation comprise at least one pair of compression elements 7, which form respective compression surfaces 7a which face each other and can move alternately toward and away from each other respectively for engagement and disengagement with the supporting body S.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the compression surfaces 7a have a toothed profile that is adapted to make contact with the end part of the supporting body S. More particularly, the compression elements 7 can move alternately between at least one passive position, in which the compression surfaces 7a are mutually spaced in order to allow the positioning between them of the end part of the supporting body S, and at least one active position, in which the compression surfaces 7a are mutually closer with respect to the passive position in order to compress the end part of the supporting body S.

Preferably, the device 1 comprises means for traction of the needle A, which are adapted to separate the latter completely from the supporting body S after the movement of the compression elements 7 to the active position. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the traction means are constituted by the electrification rollers 5.

Advantageously, the frame 2 forms at least one reference surface 8, which can be engaged by the supporting body S in order to position its end part at the separation means.

The device 1 further comprises sensor means, which are adapted to detect the position of the end part of the supporting body S with respect to the separation means.

More particularly, the sensor means are activated as a consequence of the engagement of the supporting body S with the reference surface 8.

The sensor means are further functionally connected to the compression elements 7 in order to move them toward each other so as to bring them into the active position.

The compression elements 7 are moved by means of a gear-type transmission system, which is not shown in detail in the figures and is actuated by a third electric motor 21. Advantageously, the device 1 comprises at least one element 9 for guiding the supporting body S that is connected to the frame 2.

More particularly, the guiding element 9 has a first abutment 9a, which substantially faces the reference surface 8, and a second abutment 9b, which is opposite to the first abutment 9a and can be engaged by the supporting body S in its approach toward the separation means.

The guiding element 9 can move, as a consequence of the engagement of the supporting body S with the second abutment 9b, between a first working configuration, in which the first abutment 9a is spaced from the reference surface 8, and a second working configuration, in which the first abutment 9a rests against the reference surface 8.

Conveniently, the sensor means are activated with the guiding element 9 in the second working configuration and are constituted by a pair of contacts arranged respectively on the reference surface 8 and on the first abutment 9a. Preferably, the device 1 comprises elastic means 12, for example one or more helical springs, which are interposed between the frame 2 and the guiding element 9 and are adapted to contrast the movement of the guiding element toward the second working configuration.

More particularly, the frame 2 comprises a fixed framework 2a, a first ring 2b which is screwed onto the framework 2a and has a pair of recesses for accommodating the elastic means 12, and a second ring 2c, which also is associated detachably with the framework 2a and can be accessed from the outside.

The guiding element 9 is arranged proximate to the opening 3, between the first ring 2b and the second ring 2c, and is provided with a through hole 13 which is substantially aligned with such opening and forms an accommodation seat 4 for supporting the supporting body S.

The second abutment 9b is conveniently formed by the portion of the guiding element 9 that delimits the hole 13. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the device 1 comprises at least one closure element 14, which is associated externally with the frame 2 and can move alternately between an open configuration, in which it allows the insertion/extraction of the supporting body S in/from the opening 3, and a closed configuration, in which it forms a closed chamber 15 for containment of the supporting body S, the supporting body S being inserted in the opening 3 and being supported by the accommodation seat 4, which is delimited by the frame 2 and by the closure element.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises means for detecting the configuration of the closure element 14, which are functionally associated with an electronic control unit, which is not visible in the figures and in turn is functionally connected to at least one between the destruction means and the separation means.

More particularly, the electronic control unit is adapted to deactivate at least one between the destruction means and the separation means with the closure element 14 arranged in the open configuration, for example inhibiting the power supply respectively of the first and second electric motors 30 and 20.

The device 1 further comprises control means, for example one or more buttons arranged on the outer surface of the frame 2 and functionally connected to the electronic control unit to actuate the destruction means.

As an alternative, the electronic control unit activates automatically the destruction means with the closure element 14 in the closed configuration. The operation of the device according to the present invention is as follows.

An operator inserts the supporting body S, and more particularly its end part, in the opening 3 through the hole 13 until it engages with the second abutment 9b. In this position, shown in Figure 3, the needle A is interposed between the rollers 5 and the guiding element 9 is in the first working position. The supporting body S is supported by the accommodation seat 4.

After therefore inserting the supporting body S in the opening 3, the operator moves the closure element 14 to the closed configuration. This configuration is detected by the sensing means, which send a corresponding electrical signal to the electronically controlled unit.

At this point, the destruction means are activated by acting on the control means or, as an alternative, automatically by means of the electronic control unit when the sensing means identify the closed configuration of the closure element 14.

More particularly, the rotary actuation of the rollers 5 about their respective axes causes a traction on the needle A, which is thus moved toward the electrode 6, which also is actuated so as to rotate about its own axis. When the needle A comes into contact with the electrode 6, the electric arc that is generated melts the portion of the needle that is arranged between the rollers 5 and the electrode 6.

The traction of the rollers 5 entails the consequent advancement of the supporting body S, which by pressing on the second abutment 9b moves the guiding element 9 toward the second working position, as shown in

Figure 4.

During the advancement of the supporting body S, and therefore of the guiding element 9, the compression elements 7 are in a passive position, so as to allow the advancement of the end part of the supporting body S through the opening 3. When the guiding element 9 reaches the second working position, the resting of the first abutment 9a on the reference surface 8 activates the contacts arranged between them, which actuate for translational motion the compression elements 7. The compression elements 7 thus move into the active position, as shown in Figure 5, in which their compression surfaces 7a make contact with the end part of the supporting body S, crushing it.

The compression action applied by the compression elements 7 breaks the end part of the supporting body S and consequently separates the part of the needle A associated therewith.

The continuing traction applied by the rollers 5 then facilitates complete separation of the needle A from the supporting body S, since some regions of the needle A may have remained attached to the end part of the supporting body even after the breakage of such part. The needle A thus separated is drawn by the rollers 5 toward the electrode 6 so that the last remaining part of the needle is melted as well.

After the breakage of the end part of the supporting body S, the compression elements 7 then return to the passive position, accordingly disengaging themselves from the end part of the supporting body. The supporting body S, which as a consequence of the separation of the needle A is no longer affected by the traction applied by the rollers 5, is pushed toward the outside of the frame 2 by the guiding element 9, which returns to the second working configuration due to the action of the elastic means 12. Once the melting of the needle A has been completed, it is possible to collect the residues of the melting process by extracting the tray 10 and to extract the supporting body S, moving the closure element to the open configuration.

Any traces of the liquid that are present in the end part of the supporting body S after its use are burnt during the melting of the needle A due to the high temperatures that are reached.

In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that it allows to separate completely the needle from the corresponding supporting body by breaking its end part, thus facilitating the subsequent disposal operations and ensuring the safety of the operator both during the operation for destroying the needle and during the disposal.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MO2008A000276 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device (1) for the destruction of needles for medical use jointly associated with the end part of a supporting body, comprising:

- a base frame (2); - destruction means, which are connected to said base frame (2) and are adapted to receive and destroy a needle (A) associated with the end part of a supporting body (S) and characterized in that it comprises means for the complete separation of said needle (A), which are connected to said base frame (2) and are adapted to break the end part of said supporting body (S) and to separate completely said needle (A) from said supporting body, means for the advancement of the needle (A) thus separated toward said destruction means being provided.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for complete separation comprise at least one pair of compression elements (7) which form respective mutually facing compression surfaces (7a), said compression elements (7) being movable alternately toward and away from each other, respectively for engagement and disengagement with the end part of said supporting body (S), between at least one passive position, in which said compression surfaces (7a) are mutually spaced to allow the positioning between them of the end part of said supporting body (S), and at least one active position, in which said compression surfaces (7a) are mutually closer with respect to said passive position in order to compress the end part of said supporting body (S).

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for pulling said needle (A) which are adapted to detach the latter completely from said supporting body (S) after the movement of said compression elements (7) into said active position.

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said destruction means are of the electrically conducting type and comprise at least one pair of contrarotating electrification rollers (5), between which it is possible to interpose said needle (A), and at least one electrode (6), said needle (A) short-circuiting said rollers (5) and said electrode (6) and being melted by the current that flows through said needle, said traction means being constituted by said rollers (5).

5. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base frame (2) forms at least one reference surface (8), which can be engaged by said supporting body (S) in order to position its end part at said separation means.

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises sensor means which are adapted to detect the position of the end part of said supporting body (S) with respect to said separation means, said sensor means being activated as a consequence of the engagement of said supporting body (S) with said reference surface (8).

7. The device (1) according to claims 2 and 6, characterized in that said sensor means are adapted to move said compression elements (7) in order to move them into said active position.

8. The device according to claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one guiding element (9), which is connected to said base frame (2) and has a first abutment (9a) which substantially faces said reference surface (8) and a second abutment (9b) which is substantially opposite with respect to said first abutment (9a) and can be engaged by said supporting body (S) in its approach toward said separation means, said guiding element (9) being movable, due to the engagement of said supporting body (S) with said second abutment (9b), between a first working configuration, in which said first abutment (9a) is spaced from said reference surface (8), and a second working configuration, in which said first abutment (9a) rests against said reference surface (8), said sensor means being activatable with said guiding element (9) in said second working configuration.

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (12), which are interposed between said base frame (2) and said guiding element (9) and are adapted to contrast the movement of said guiding element toward said second working configuration.

10. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base frame (2) forms a substantially hollow body, which contains said separation means and has at least one opening (3) for the insertion of the end part of said supporting body (S).

11. The device (1) according to claim 8 or 9 and claim 10, characterized in that said guiding element (9) is arranged proximate to said opening (3) and has a through hole (13), which is substantially aligned with said opening and forms an accommodation seat (4) for supporting said supporting body (S), said second abutment (9b) being formed by the portion of said guiding element (9) that delimits said hole (13).

12. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one closure element (14) which is associated externally with respect to said base frame (2) and can move alternately between an open configuration, in which it allows the insertion/extraction of said supporting body (S) in/from said opening (3), and a closed configuration, in which it forms a closed chamber (15) for containment of said supporting body (S), which is delimited by said base frame (2) and by said closure element.

13. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for detecting the configuration of said closure element (14) and in that it comprises an electronic control unit which is functionally connected to said sensing means and to at least one between said destruction means and said complete separation means, said electronic control unit deactivating at least one between said destruction means and said complete separation means with said closure element (14) in said open configuration.