Needle removal/containment and transport apparatus for safe storage and disposal of hypodermic needles/syringe assemblies

• US 5,183,156 A
• Filed: 06/15/1992
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Bruno
• Original Assignee: John Bruno
• Inventors: Bruno, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/899,103
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 206/363, 206/364, 206/365, 206/366, 206/370, 206/438, 206/563, 220/908, 604/192, 604/263
• US Class Current: 206/366
• 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: Y10S 220/908 Trash container

Abstract

A needle removal and storage device comprising a plate member attachable to a suitable container. The plate member is formed with a an engaging slot defined by a pair of opposed finger members. The engaging slot is laterally aligned with a receiving slot disposed at an elevation generally higher with respect thereto. The needle hub is slidably translated through the engaging slot into engagement with the finger members whereupon the syringe can be disengaged from the needle. The disengaged needle and syringe are then removed from the engaging slot and translated into the receiving slot such that the needle hub is disposed on the underside of the plate member permitting the needle to drop into the container. In the event the needle has not been fully unthreaded from the syringe or in the case of a multi-sample needle where the needle can hang-up within the syringe, the needle hub will engage the underside of the plate member in response to upward forces applied to the syringe to act as a stop preventing the needle from being pulled out of the removal device.

Claims

1. A needle removal and storage device adapted to disengage hypodermic needles attached to a syringe body via a needle a hub member, and to be connected to a storage container providing entry means to collect and store the used needle implements for disposal, comprising:

a base plate member connectable to said container and providing a receiving slot formed thereinto;

a needle engaging member formed along a second plate attached to said base plate member, said second plate angled towards the interior of said container, wherein said needle engaging member comprises a pair of opposed finger members integrated with said second plate to define a engaging slot disposed generally opposite said receiving slot in lateral alignment therewith, the entrance into said engaging slot being at a generally lower elevation than that of said receiver slot;

said needle hub member slidably translatable into engagement with said finger members such that said syringe body may be attached from said hub member, wherein said detached needle and syringe is translatable out of said engaging slot back towards said receiving slot such that said hub member is disposed below said base plate member, permitting said needle to drop into said container through said entry means, said hub member engagable with the underside of said base plate member in response to upward pulling forces applied to said syringe body to ensure complete detachment of said need and syringe body.

2. A needle removal device according to claim 1, wherein said plate member and needle engaging member are fabricated from an injection-molded thermoplastic material.

3. A needle removal device according to claim 1, wherein said plate member and needle engaging member are fabricated from a metal alloy.

4. A needle removal device according to claim 1, wherein said needle engaging member is canted downwardly with respect to said plate member.

5. A needle removal device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving slot has a generally U-shaped configuration and said engaging slot is formed with contiguous receiving and engaging portions.

6. A needle removal device according to claim 5, wherein said receiving portion of said engaging slot has a generally rectangular configuration.

7. A needle removal device according to claim 6, wherein said engaging portion of said engaging slot has a generally U-shaped configuration.

8. A needle removal and storage device formed from an injection-molded thermoplastic material adapted to disengage hypodermic needles attached to a syringe body via a needle hub member, and to be connected to a storage container providing entry means to collect and store the used needle implements for disposal, comprising:

a base plate member connectable to said container and providing generally U-shaped first receiving slot means;

a needle engaging member formed in a second plate integral with said base plate member and recessed towards the interior of said container, said needle engaging member comprising a pair of opposed finger members integrated with said second plate to define second slot means disposed generally opposite said first receiving slot means in lateral alignment therewith, the entrance than that of said first slot means, said second slot means providing a generally rectangular receiving slot portion adjacent said first slot means and a contiguous generally U-shaped engaging slot portion;

said needle hub member slidably translatable through and receiving slot portion into engagement with said finger members such that said syringe body may be detached from said hub member, said detached needle and syringe translatable out of said engaging slot portion, through said receiving slot portion, thence into said first receiving slot means such that said hub member is disposed below said base plate member permitting said needle to drop into said container through said first entry means, said hub member engagable with the underside of said base plate member in response to upward pulling forces applied to said syringe body to ensure complete detachment of said needle and syringe body.

9. A needle removal device according to claim 8, wherein said needle engaging member is canted downwardly with respect to said plate member.

10. A needle removal device according to claim 8, wherein said needle engaging member is recessed into said plate member substantially in parallel therewith via a continuous sidewall member connecting said plate member to said needle engaging member.

11. A needle removal and storage device adapted to disengage hypodermic needles attached to a syringe body via a needle hub member, and to be connected to a storage container providing entry means to collect and store the used needle implements for disposal, comprising:

a base plate member connectable to said container and providing receiving slot formed thereinto;

a second plate member connected to said base plate member by a continuous vertical side wall recessed into the interior of said container, said second plate member defining a needle engaging member integral with said second plate member, said needle engaging member comprising a pair of opposed finger members integrated with said second plate member to define an engaging slot disposed generally opposite said receiving slot in lateral alignment therewith, the entrance into said engaging slot being at a generally lower elevation than that of said receiving slot;

said needle hub slidably translatable into engagement with said finger members such that said syringe body may be detached from said hub member, said needle and syringe translatable out of said engaging slot, thence into said receiving slot such that said hub member is disposed below said base plate member permitting said needle to drop into said container through said entry means, said hub member engagable with the underside of said base plate member in response to upward pulling forces applied to said syringe body to ensure complete detachment of said needle and syringe body.