WO1994024021A1

WO1994024021A1 - Container for transport and disposal of medical instruments

Info

Publication number: WO1994024021A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/003479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederick J. Sawaya
Original assignee: Specialized Health Products, Inc.
Priority date: 1993-04-12
Filing date: 1994-03-30
Publication date: 1994-10-27
Also published as: AU6495494A

Abstract

A container (20, 70, 90) is useful for both transport of new medical instruments (32), and disposal of used medical instruments (30). In a preferred embodiment, the container includes a pair of plates (22, 24, 72, 74), a first of which (24) pivots relative to the other. The second plate (22, 74) is selectively fixed to the container body to limit the opening of the container body when the container is to be utilized for disposal of used medical instruments. The second plate is typically not secured during transport such that it may be moved to provide a relatively large area of access for insertion or removal of medical instruments. Various embodiments of these features are disclosed.

Description

CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORT AND DISPOSAL

OF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application in general relates to a container which is both for transport of new medical instruments, and disposal of soiled or used medical instruments

In the prior art, containers have been developed to facilitate the disposal of used medical instruments.

Used instruments may be contaminated by bodily fluids of the patients, or for other reasons may require sanitary disposal.

Some improvements in the ability to transport the medical instruments, and associate them with the disposal containers would be transported in one type of container, and then must be associated with a disposal container after the instrument is used. A major concern of the container in the above patent is to reduce any excess carrying of soiled instruments by medical personnel. Since the transport and disposal containers are not associated, some carrying is required with the prior art.

In addition, disposal of non-medical items in some cases may also present some problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed embodiment of the present invention, a single container is utilized both for transport of the new medical instrument, and also for disposal of the used medical instrument. To this end, the container preferably has two types of openings to a container volume. A first of the openings is relatively restricted, and is useful for receiving a used medical instrument. A second of the opening is relatively large, and is useful for receiving and removing the new medical instruments from the container space.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the restricted opening is defined by two plates which extend laterally inwardly over the container space. An end of a first plate is received underneath the second. The first plate pivots relative to the container, such that one may place a used medical instrument on the first plate, pivot it downwardly, and allow that used medical instrument to fall into the container space. The restricted opening protects a user from contacting previously stored used medical instruments.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second plate remains relatively fixed during movement of the first plate. The second plate is selectively attached to the container to define the restricted opening. The second plate is preferably easily moveable relative to the container body, at least initially, to define the relatively large opening for removal of the new instruments.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, flaps are disposed at each longitudinal end of the second plate. The flaps may be pivoted relative to the container body, and secured to the container body to hold the second plate relative to the container. In various embodiments, a peg may extend from the flap through an opening in the container wall, a tab attached to a string on the second plate may extend through openings in both the flap and the container, or a separate tab may be extended through openings in both the flap and container. The flap may be received longitudinally inwardly or outwardly of the container wall, and further the container may be formed with a recess such that the flap is received in the recess, and the overall longitudinal dimension of the container is not increased.

In an alternative structure of the invention, the relatively large opening is defined by making the fixed plate snap onto, and be selectively removable from, the body of the container. Tabs on the fixed plate extend into openings in the body of the container.

In another feature of the present invention, the shipping container may be sold with a disposable unit. In this way, both a container for shipment of the medical instrument, and the container for disposal of the used medical instrument are associated with each other.

Non-medical items may be utilized with the inventive container. As examples batteries, industrial items, chemical items, cosmetics and computer software may be transported in the container and disposed in the same container. When used with medical or chemical products, the containers may contain an absorbent pad and chemical agents for neutralizing the items.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, of which the following is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a container according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a container according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view through a portion of the container illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing an alternative embodiment.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing yet another alternative embodiment.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing yet another alternative embodiment. Figure 7 is a view spaced 90 from that shown in Figure 3, and showing yet another alternative embodiment.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment. Figure 9 is an enlarged portion of the product illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A container 20 for both transport and disposal of medical instruments is illustrated in Figure 1. As is known in the art, a fixed plate 22 extends laterally inwardly from one wall of the container 20, and a pivoting plate 24 is received underneath fixed plate 22. A hinge 26, which may be a living hinge molded with plate 24, allows plate 24 to pivot relative to the body of the container. As shown in Figure 1, hinge 26 may be laterally inwardly from the corner 28 of the container 20. It should be understood that hinge 26 could alternatively be formed at corner 28.

When one wishes to dispose of a sharp medical instrument, such as syringes 30, one lays them on plate 24, and forces plate 24 downwardly relative to fixed plate 22. A restricted opening 31, shown in phantom, is then defined. The syringes 30 may fall through restricted opening 31 and into the interior 33 of the container. As shown in Figure 2, a new syringe 32 in a package may be transported within container space 33. At this time, the fixed plate 22 is still movable relative to the body of the container. As shown, flaps 36 are formed at each end of fixed plate 22, and have pegs 38 which are selectively attached to the sidewalls 39 of container 20 by being forced through holes 40. When a new syringe 32 is being transported within container space 33, it is preferred that the peg 38 is not forced through the opening 40. Rather, tape such as that shown schematically at 41 may secure the plates 22 and 24 to the body and sidewalls 39 of container 20.

The tape 41 may then be removed, syringes 32 may be removed from container space 33, and the pegs 38 forced through openings 40. Container 20 is then ready to be utilized as a disposal container. Preferably, peg 38 may be formed such that once it is forced into opening

40 it cannot be readily removed without destroying the flap or peg.

A first embodiment of the flap 36 is illustrated in

Figure 3. As shown, flap 36 includes an integrally molded peg 38 extending through opening 40. As also shown, a hinge 40 may be formed at the juncture between flap 36 and the top plate 32.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 4, wherein a string 46 molded with plate 22 carries peg 48. In this embodiment, an opening 44 is formed through flap

36, and peg 48 extends both through opening 44 and opening 40.

A further alternative is shown in Figure 5, wherein a separate peg 50 extends through the openings 40 and 44 in the sidewall 39, and flap 36, respectively.

As shown in Figure 6, flap 52 is received longitudinally inwardly of sidewall 39. Peg 54 extends through the opening 40 in sidewall 39. Figure 7 is a top view through an alternative embodiment. As shown, sidewall 36 has a recess 56 formed at its longitudinally outer surface. The flap 58 is received in this recess, and a peg 60 extends through opening 40 in the sidewall 39.

The above embodiments should not be construed as limiting, but rather show various types of securement devices which are utilizable to fix plate 22 relative to the body of the container. It should be appreciated that any means of securing the fix plate 22 relative to the body of the container. It should be appreciated that any means of securing the fixed plate 22 to the body of the container after removal of the new medical instruments could fall within the scope of this invention.

Further, various combinations of the separate peg, peg attached to a string, flaps inwardly or outwardly of the sidewall and other various features disclosed above such as the recess could be interchangeably utilized in combination.

Figure 8 shows yet another embodiment 70 wherein fixed plate 74 is releasably secured to the body of the container 75. Bosses 76 on body 75 include openings 78 which receive pegs 80 from the fixed plate 74. As shown in Figure 9, each opening 78 may include a central nipple 82 which is received within the peg 80 to provide a more secure connection. Figure 10 shows yet another embodiment 90 wherein a separate transport box 92 receives medical instruments such as snips 93. A separate disposal box 94 is attached to the top of transport box 92. In a method according to the present invention, a container is provided having a plurality of selectively utilizable openings. A first relatively large opening, such as is shown in Figure 2, is utilized to remove the original instruments from the container. A second relatively restricted opening is then defined for receipt of the soiled medical instruments, such as is shown in Figure 1. In the method according to the present invention, the items are initially stored in the container, the container is left in a state such that one would have access to the relatively large opening, and one then transports the new medical instruments. One then removes the new medical instruments through that restricted opening and into the container.

Alternatively, the container may be taken to a location where the used medical instruments may be sterilized and reused. As an example, one could cut the tabs and remove the instrument for sterilization.

As set forth in the various prior art references, the container may include various materials to decontaminate or neutralize the used medical instruments. This invention is useful not only with sharp medical instruments, but with other types of medical instruments that may require sanitary disposal. Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason the following claims should be studied in order to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A container for use with medical instruments comprising: a container body defining a volume, having a first opening, and adapted to transport medical instruments; and said container body having a second opening, and useful for disposal of used medical instruments.

2. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein a single container volume is utilizable for both the transport of the medical instruments, and the disposal of used medical instruments.

3. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first opening is selectively utilizable and relatively large for removal and insertion of medical instruments.

4. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein said container includes two plates extending laterally towards each other, with a first of said plates being pivotably biased against the second of said plates, and said relatively restricted opening being defined vertically between said plates, said pivotable first plate being pivoted relative to said second plate to provide access to said container volume for receipt of a used medical instrument.

5. A container as recited in claim 4, wherein flaps are disposed at longitudinal ends of said second plate, said flaps being selectively fixed to said container body to fix said second plate relative to the container body after the medical instruments have been removed.

6. A container as recited in claim 5, wherein said securement of said flap to said container is nonremovable.

7. A container as recited in claim 5, wherein said flap has a peg which extends through an opening in a sidewall of said container body to secure said flap, and consequently said second plate, to said container body.

8. A container as recited in claim 7, wherein said peg also extends through an opening in said flap, and is separate from both said flap and said container body.

9. A container as recited in claim 8, wherein a string is molded with said second plate and includes said peg at one end, said peg being inserted through openings in said flap and said sidewall to fix said second plate relative to said container body.

10. A container as recited in claim 7, wherein said flap is disposed longitudinally inwardly of said sidewall.

11. A container as recited in claim 7, wherein said flap is disposed longitudinally outwardly of said sidewall.

12. A container as recited in claim 4, wherein said second plate includes a plurality of posts, said posts being selectively inserted into openings in said container body to receive and secure said second plate relative to said container body.

13. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein said transport of said new medical instruments is in the first container, and the disposal of said medical instruments is in a second container associated with said first container.

14. A method of transporting and disposing of medical instruments comprising:

1) defining a container body having two openings, with a first relatively large opening being useful for insertion of medical instruments, and removal of the medical instruments, and a second relatively restricted opening being useful for receipt of used medical instruments for disposal thereof;

2) inserting medical instruments through said relatively large opening, and transporting said medical instruments within said container; 3) removing said medical instruments through said relatively large opening after the transport of step 2) ; and

4) disposing of used medical instruments through said restricted openings.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said container is reconfigured after the removal of step 3) such that said relatively large opening is no longer available, and only said relatively restricted opening is available.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the reconfiguration includes forcing a peg through an opening to secure portions of said container.

17. A container comprising: a container body defining a space; plates formed along longitudinal sides of said container body, said plates having longitudinal ends movable relative to said container body, a first of said plates being pivotable about a longitudinal axis relative to a second said plate to provide access to said interior of said container body; both of said plates being movable relative to said container space to provide a relatively large area of access to said container space for insertion of new item, and removal thereof; and said second plate may be selectively fixed to said container body such that only a restricted opening is provided to said container space for disposal of items.

18. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein said second opening is relatively restricted for receipt of the used medical instruments.