Special receptacle or package – For a tool – Body treatment
Patent
1996-09-23
1998-11-03
Fidei, David T.
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
Body treatment
206 15, B65D 8310
Patent
active
058295887
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to sharps containers of the reusable and disposable type and in particular but not limited to a reusable sharps container disposable liner combination for use in the disposal of medical sharps including scalpels and hypodermic needles.
BACKGROUND ART
Sharps related accidents occur in a clinical environment. Medical staff have been infected with the HIV virus and the Hepatitis B virus through needle stick injuries.
With a growing concern over needle stick and other sharps related injuries safe systematic disposal of sharps has become a requirement when handling sharps in a clinical situation.
It is now common to use a special container for holding sharps and when the container is full, it is disposed of along with the sharps inside. The benefit of these types of containers is that they are usually designed so that once sealed, the container cannot be reopened. This means that disposal can be carried out without risk to waste disposal staff.
The main disadvantage with these containers is the expense associated with buying a new container once an existing container is full. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this problem.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention resides in a reusable sharps container comprising a hollow outer container body and a disposable liner located inside the hollow body to hold sharps, the body having an openable closure means so that the liner can be replaced and a mouth with a co-operating lid so that sharps can pass through the mouth and travel into the liner, the lid being used to close the mouth. The lid can be fitted to the reusable container or to the liner in order to close the mouth. The openable closure means of the container is fitted to the container body below the liner so that when the openable closure means is open, the liner is automatically discharged from the container body.
The container body is preferably moulded or otherwise formed from plastic material, although any suitable material can be employed. The openable closure means is preferably lockable so that unauthorized access is inhibited. The closure means is typically a trap door preferably in the form of a slidable drawer. The closure means can be equipped with a sump. The reusable container is preferably braced at its base to inhibit flexing of the container and to thereby avoid accidental dislodgment of the closure means.
In a preferred form where the lid is secured to the reusable container, the mouth includes a socket means and the lid comprises a plug means which fits into the socket, the lid having release means so that the lid can be released from inside the container body but not from the outside. The lid can have any kind of plug-in retention means including a resistance fit, bayonet type coupling, or the lid can have a clip action release means.
The mouth typically employs a sharps removal means to aid removal of sharps from separately disposable non-sharps. Typically, a notch or other needle gripping means is provided for removing hypodermic needles from syringes.
The container preferably includes a sharps level indicator to give an indication of when it is necessary to change the liner. The level indicator is preferably in the form of a protruding portion or funnel which extends inside the liner or is formed as part of the liner. The protruding portion or funnel typically occupies space that would otherwise be occupied by sharps so that the liner is never full to overflowing. The protruding portion or funnel is typically in the form of a tapered wall depending down from the lid and into the container body and thereby into the liner. The protruding portion or funnel preferably includes a releasable container body attachment means so that the protruding portion or funnel can be removed for cleaning purposes. It is most preferably only operable from the inside.
The liner can be any suitable means for holding the sharps and is typically a disposable hollow plastic or cardboard container having a narro
REFERENCES:
patent: 2710491 (1955-06-01), Carlson
patent: 3964630 (1976-06-01), Getz
patent: 4715498 (1987-12-01), Hanifl
patent: 4863052 (1989-09-01), Lambert
patent: 4972950 (1990-11-01), Shillington
patent: 5178322 (1993-01-01), Shillington
Fidei David T.
Lam Nhan T.
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