SYRINGE DISPOSAL DEVICE

• US 20090255838A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASP Rights Management Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ASP Rights Management Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Clarke, Nicholas Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/321 Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles

Abstract

The present invention discloses a syringe disposal device (10) for a single syringe (1) having an elongate body (2) with a needle (3) at one end and a finger engageable flange (4) at its other end. The device (10) comprises an elongate enclosed sheath (12) having a closed tip (14) at one end and a cuff (16) at the other end. A syringe detention device (26) is located adjacent the cuff (16) and has at least one inclined sloping surface (28) each of which has a frangible portion (31) rupturable by the syringe flange (4) passing the surface (28) to convert the sloping surface (28) into a cantilevered strip (28A).

Claims

1. A syringe disposal device for a single syringe having an elongate body with a needle at one end and a finger engageable flange at its other end, said device comprising an elongate enclosed sheath having a closed tip at one end and a syringe body receiving opening at the other end, wherein a syringe retaining means is located adjacent said opening and comprises at least one inclined sloping surface each of which has a frangible portion rupturable by said syringe flange passing said surface to convert each said sloping surface into a cantilevered strip. The device as defined in claim 1 and having a pair of opposed, mutually inclined said sloping surfaces, said rupturable portions being ruptured by said syringe flange passing between said pair of surfaces.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 and having a pair of opposed, mutually inclined said sloping surfaces, said rupturable portions being ruptured by said syringe flange passing between said pair of surfaces.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frangible portion comprises a line of weakness.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein each said line of weakness comprises a groove.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each said sloping surface is aligned with an opening through which a mould pin is extracted after moulding said device.

6. A syringe disposal device for a single syringe having an elongate body with a needle at one end and a finger engageable flange at its other end, said device comprising an elongate enclosed sheath having a closed tip at one end and a syringe body receiving opening at the other end, with a syringe retaining means located adjacent said opening, wherein said sheath has a wall thickness which increases from said opening towards said tip.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein the interior of said sheath is smooth and unstepped.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein the tip of said sheath interior is substantially hemispherical.

9. A method of disposing of an individual syringe, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting the tip of the needle of said syringe into the opening of said device as defined above,

(i) inserting the tip of the needle of said syringe into the opening of said device as defined above;

(ii) continuing said insertion until said needle tip engages said sheath closed tip and is permanently deflected thereby; and

(iii) continuing said insertion until said syringe finger engageable flange is engaged with said syringe retaining means.