WO2004101035A1

WO2004101035A1 - Device for handling syringe needles

Info

Publication number: WO2004101035A1
Application number: PCT/FI2004/000282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seppo Leino
Original assignee: Asimax Oy
Priority date: 2003-05-15
Filing date: 2004-05-12
Publication date: 2004-11-25
Also published as: FI20030725A; FI20030725A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for destroying hypodermic syringes or similar by cutting their needles, including a body (2), in which there is a system of cutting blades, which includes a cutting blade (19) moved with the aid of an operating handle (4), and a receptacle (3) detachably attached to the body (2), in which it is intended to collect the cut needles. On the side of the receptacle (3) nearest the blade (19), there is a closing device (16) for closing the opening the opening in the receptacle, with the aid of an operating device (5) located on the outside of the device (1). The closing device (16) is of a sliding type and is moved back and forwards with the aid of the operating device (5) and the operating lever (12), to close/open the opening (17, 18) leading to the receptacle (3).

Description

Device for Handling Syringe Needles

The present invention relates to a device for handling syringe needles, particularly hypodermic syringe needles used for injections, and more specifically a device, with the aid of which the needles and, if desired, disposable syringes can be disabled safely.

Syringe needles do not, as such, belong in the category of mixed waste. After an injection or similar operation, needles contain blood or other material that is dangerously infectious in certain circumstances. Even the sharpness of a needle itself can be a safety risk, or at least can lead to an unpleasant experience.

Numerous devices have been developed for disabling and destroying needles and collecting them. One such device is disclosed in US patent number

4,035,911 , which presents a handheld device, which permits needles to be cut and collected in a receptacle. Cutting takes place by pressing a handgrip, when a blade attached to the grip and moving between two fixed plate-like blades performs the cutting. In all three blades there are openings, which when set in line, form a through opening for the needle. The entire device is disposable, i.e. it is disposed of once the receptacle is full. This makes it quite expensive to use.

The above solution has elements for the functional handling of needles. However, in order to bring the needle into the position for cutting, it uses only a simple hole in an otherwise essentially flat surface. In such a case, it is obvious that there is a relatively large possibility that the needle may slip into the hand of the person holding the device, while they are trying to find the hole. The device therefore does not meet the criterion for safety.

Another drawback is that there is no retention other than the holding force of the blades. This is only momentary, so that the needle or syringe must be held the whole time, as otherwise cutting the needle will cause the base of the needle to fly out of the device. Holding the device otherwise at the wrong angle can also cause the needle to fall out of the cutting position.

A more highly developed version of the device for handling needles is also known, in which there is a guide for the needle when inserting it into the cutter. The aforementioned solution also includes a device, which holds the needle in place during cutting, so that it cannot move unintentionally.

As stated above, one problem that is not considered in the aforesaid solutions is the fact that the receptacle, into which the cut needles fall, is a possible source of infection. Thus a needle or drop of liquid such as blood, which has entered the receptacle along with the needles, can fall out of the receptacle, particularly if it is turned upside-down while it is still attached to the body of the device. In certain circumstances, there is then a danger of infection, or at least of getting unpleasant splashes on one's hands.

The present invention is intended to create a device, which will eliminate the drawbacks of devices of the prior art of the title and with the aid of which the cutting of a needle and the retention of the cut parts and associated products in the receptacle are certain and safe. The device according to the invention has other advantageous properties.

The aforementioned and other benefits and advantages of the invention are achieved in the manner described as characteristic in the accompanying Claims.

The invention is examined in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention.

Thus, Figure 1 shows a 'transparent' side view of the device according to the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a side view of one embodiment of the device of the invention. Reference is first made to Figure 2, which shows a side view of one device 1 according to the invention. Thus, the device 1 is formed of a body, which is of a suitably sturdy material, a receptacle 3, for collecting the cut needles, a cover 6, which can be rotated between open and closed positions, an operating handle 4, which is used to create the force needed to cut the needles, and a locking device 5, which has two functions, as will be explained below. Reference number 7 shows one alternative way of creating locking between the components 4 and 5.

As illustrated by the double-ended arrow, the locking device 5 moves upwards and downwards, so that the locking lugs 7 lock and correspondingly open to permit the device to be used.

Only the lower part of the receptacle 3 is visible here, the main part of the receptacle being inside the body 2. The receptacle 3 can be easily detached and disposed of and a new receptacle just as easily pushed into place inside the body 2, into which it locks. Any known method at all can be used for locking, some form of 'click locking' being easily implemented.

In Figure 1 , the same reference numbers as in Figure 2 are used for the components. Now, however, numerous additional components can be seen in the device, the functions of which are described in the following. In Figure 1 , the device is in the closed position, the cover 6 is closed and the operating handle 4 locked in position, as shown in Figure 2.

The devices is operated as follows. The device is opened from the closed position by sliding the locking device's operating device 5 downwards, so that the handle 4 disengages from the lock and is pressed by the spring 10 to turn around the pivot 9 to the starting position. Sliding the locking device's operating device 5 downwards also causes the pin 11 connected to it to move downwards and simultaneously turn the plate-like component 12 to a second position, which is outlined by a broken line in Figure 1. The pin 11 moves on the slot 13 of the plate 12, which movement causes the plate 12 to rotate around its shaft 14. In the lower edge of the plate-like component 12 (in Figure 1) there is a pin-like component, which connects with a recess in the closing device 16 of the receptacle 3. Moving the catch 5 thus causes the closing device 16 to move laterally, so that the hole 17 in the closing device 16 aligns itself with the corresponding hole 18 in the upper surface of the receptacle, so that a channel into the receptacle is opened for the needle, when the syringe to be destroyed is set in place from above for cutting the needle.

In the figure, reference number 24 marks a piece made from flexible material, which is a permanent part of the receptacle 3. This component 24 is intended to create a spring force that will keep the receptacle 3 closed, even when detached from the device. The needle channel is only open when the device is ready for use for cutting a needle, when the handle 4 is 'open' in the starting position.

Obviously, the spring force closing the receptacle can be created in any of many known ways. The spring can be a compressed and expandable rubber or plastic-based piece like that shown, or, for instance, a metal spring.

When the handle 4 moves to its starting position, the spring 10 presses the moving part 19 of the cutting blade towards the handle and simultaneously moves the retention device 21 , lying between the handle 4 and the blade 19 and pivoted around the shaft 20, to the position shown by the broken line. In between, there is also a roller-like component 22, which transmits the force and is attached to the cutting blade 19 and which, in the cutting stage, transmits the force from the handle 4 to the cutting blade 19 and the lever 21 , against the tension of the spring 20.

The channel to the receptacle 3 is now open, the cover 6 turned to the side, and the handle 4 in the outer position. At this stage, the syringe to be destroyed is pushed from above into the bottom of the conical recess 8, so that the needle penetrates downwards into the receptacle 3. The handle 4 is now pressed, so that it begins to rotate around the pivot 9 towards the body of the device 1. The roller 22 simultaneously presses the lever 21 , which turns to hold the needle by its base. Simultaneously, the moving blade 19 cuts the needle as the pressure continues. The cut part falls into the receptacle 3. At this stage, the syringe part can be detached from the needle, which remains firmly in place, thanks to the lever 21. The handle 4 is still kept in the open position, allowing the base part of the needle to be removed from the recess 6. The handle is pressed shut, the locking 7 is engaged by sliding the component 5 upwards, so that the receptacle 3 simultaneously closes as the closing component slides transversely and the device 1 is closed to be leak-proof and can be even be put into a pocket.

An additional property of the device according to the invention is the cutting/puncturing component 23 formed in the free end of the handle 4, which the aid of which the base part of the syringe can be destroyed by making a hole/cut in it, by placing the cone of the base part of the cylinder in the recess formed in the end/cover of the receptacle 3 and pressing the cutter 23 sidewards into the cone of the base part of the cylinder.

The device according to the invention is easy to use, versatile, and simple. It is sufficiently small in size to be able to be taken anywhere. It purchase price is also such that it can also be acquired for temporary use. The device is hygienic and no health risks are associated with its use. The receptacle 3 can be put into garbage going to landfill, and thus requires no other special measures.

The invention is examined above with reference to only one well regarded embodiment. It is obvious that many variations are possible, while nevertheless remaining within the scope of protection defined by the inventive idea and the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. A device (1 ) for destroying hypodermic syringes or similar by cutting their needles, including a body (2), in which there is a system of cutting blades, which includes a cutting blade (19) moved with the aid of an operating handle (4), and a receptacle (3) detachably attached to the body (2), in which it is intended to collect the cut needles, characterized in that, on the side of the receptacle (3) nearest the blade (19), there is a closing device (16) for closing the opening in the receptacle, with the aid of an operating device (5) located on the outside of the device (1 ).

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closing device (16) is of a sliding type and is moved back and forwards with the aid of the operating device (5) and the operating lever (12), to close/open the opening (17, 18) leading to the receptacle (3).

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the receptacle (3) there is a spring mechanism (24) for keeping the receptacle closed also when it is detached from the device.

4. A device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the device (1) also includes a lever (21 ) operated by the operating handle (4), the intention of which is to hold the needle/syringe in place during the cutting of the needle and, if necessary, the detaching of the syringe part.

5. A device according to any of the above Claims, characterized in that the device (1) can be closed using a cover (6).

6. A device according to any of the above Claims, characterized in that the operating handle (4) includes, at its free end, a puncturing component (23), for breaking the cone of the base part of the syringe.

7. A device according to any of the above Claims, characterized in that the operating handle (4) and the operating device (5) include a locking mechanism for locking the device (1 ) into the storage position, in which the receptacle (3) is closed using the closing device (16).