Safety sharps bagging apparatus
First Claim
1. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:
- an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition; and
whereby the medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sharps bagging apparatus has an access member with one or more conforming openings which conform to the profile of a retracted medical device to allow bagging collected retracted medical devices with a satisfactory degree of assurance that all or virtually all the devices are in the safe retracted condition. The access member is used with a collapsible disposal bag which may removably fill a disposal container or in one embodiment be fixedly secured to the access member. The access member is adapted to fit plastic or wire containers removably or lockedly. Sloping sides in the access member create a centering well which tends to center a retracted device and may include a triggering wall which can activate the retraction mechanism of an unretracted device. When the access member is provided with an attached collapsible bag, they can be stacked for economical transport and storage.
84 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:
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an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition; and
whereby the medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sham needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:
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an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
the access member having an upper surface and a lower surface separated by a thickness and includes a safety shield spaced under the conforming opening, depending from the access member said safety shield preventing passage of a medical device with a conforming profile from passing through the conforming opening in any orientation, unless it is in its safe condition; and
the conforming opening further including a “
T”
-shaped slot for receiving a radially enlarged part of a medical device and the safety shield includes a corresponding opening spaced below said slot to facilitate rolling movement of a medical device which enters the safety shield.
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12. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising;
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an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
wherein the access member has an upper surface and a lower surface separated by a thickness and includes a safety shield spaced under the conforming opening, depending from the access member;
wherein said safety shield comprises a shelf directly under the conforming opening and opposed barriers on opposite sides of the conforming opening; and
said safety shield preventing passage of a medical device with a conforming profile from passing through the conforming opening in any orientation, unless it is in its safe condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising;
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an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
said access member having sloping surfaces leading to the conforming opening in said access member, wherein a centering well is created which tends to cause a medical device with the conforming profile to automatically center itself in relation to the conforming opening and whereby the medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a needle, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:
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an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
the access member including a needle guard ahead of the front end of the conforming opening and whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.
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19. An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising
an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps; -
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
wherein the conforming opening is contained in an insert and the access member has an opening adapted to hold said insert thereby permitting a single access member to be used with different inserts having different conforming openings; and
whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:
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a container having an open side leading into an interior for receiving and collecting used retractable medical devices;
an access member positioned over said open side through which medical devices pass to reach the interior of the container;
the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of a medical device in its safe condition and leading into the interior of the container; and
whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification