WO1996025894A1 - Device for collecting medical waste material, particularly cutting, pointed and/or sharp waste material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for collecting medical waste material, particularly cutting, pointed and/or sharp waste material. The device is characterized in that it is essentially comprised of a receptacle having a bottom portion (1) and a top portion (2) for closing the bottom portion (1), said portions being assembled between each other by nesting and fixed in that position by welding or gluing or any other final assembly process, and it comprises a tamper-proof closure means (3) for closing the receptacle after it has been filled. The invention applies more particularly to the treatment of used objects in hospital, medical and paramedical fields.

Description

 Device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular sharp, sharp and / or sharp

The present invention relates to the treatment of objects and used materials in the hospital, medical, paramedical field as well as in private use, and relates to a device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular sharp, sharp and / or sharp . In the medical or paramedical field, there is a problem of recovering and disposing of used objects likely to cause wounds by cutting or pricking, as well as potentially unhealthy or unhygienic treatment products after use.

The products or objects generally classified as hazardous waste in the hospital, medical or paramedical field are needles, sutures, hematocrites, mounted syringes, syringes containing blood or used in chemotherapy, blades, scalpels, wire cutters, catheter mandrels, razors, cut perfusion needles, blood tubes, chemotherapy bottles and vials and non-empty blood and plasma bags, or any other soiled items.

The recovery and disposal of these products or objects must be carried out avoiding manual contact as much as possible, in order to prevent any risk of injury and therefore of contamination, these objects or products may be covered with blood or contaminated with other substances, medicinal or other, so that an injury to the hands or fingers through pricking or cutting devices can have serious consequences for the operator victim of such an incident.

To this end, different types of receptacles have been proposed for the reception of such objects or products, these receptacles being generally provided with either a means for introducing and cutting off a syringe needle or a blade. scalpels flush with its support body, this means essentially consisting of an opening for introducing the needle or the blade which can be closed automatically (FR-A-2 674 742, WO 92/05744), either by means of elongated introduction allowing the separation of the needle or the blade and its fall into the receptacle and a means of supplying the receptacle with larger products or objects, this supply means being in the form of an automatic closing valve (FR-A-2 494 231, EP-A-0 156 517, EP-A-0221 378, EP-A-0 611 167). After filling, these receptacles are incinerated.

The devices of the first type have, however, the disadvantage of only allowing the recovery of certain well-defined objects and of often being of relatively small size, so that their capacity is reduced and that their replacement must be carried out at relatively short intervals. short.

The second type of devices allow a larger volume of reception and the treatment of objects and products of more diverse natures, so that their use is more universal. In general, these existing devices are provided, in accordance with the regulations in force, with closing means preventing any manual access to the interior of the receptacle and, moreover, after complete filling of said receptacle, the closing means can be locked. irreversibly, in order to avoid any violation of said receptacle before incineration. To this end, the existing receptacles have locking devices for relatively complex closing means requiring, for their production, expensive tools, so that their cost price is high accordingly.

In addition, the receptacles for receiving such waste must have a high impact resistance as well as a good seal, in order to avoid any accidental pollution by overturning or by impact following a fall.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of existing receptacles of this type by providing a robust device, easy to use, tamper-evident and waterproof, ensuring the safety of the user. It relates, in fact, to a device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular cutting, pricking and / or cutting edges, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by a receptacle comprising a bottom part and an upper part for closing the the bottom part, these parts being assembled together by interlocking and fixed in this position by welding or gluing or by any other final assembly process, and by a tamper-proof means of closing the receptacle after it has been filled.

The invention will be better understood from the description below, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the upper closure portion of the receptacle; Figure 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, along AA of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view from the front of the bottom portion of the receptacle according to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 of the upper closure portion of the bottom portion of the receptacle; Figure 7 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the access door to the receptacle according to Figure 4; Figure 8 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the tamper-evident closure means of the receptacle according to Figure 4; Figure 9 is a partial sectional view, on a larger scale, showing the closure means according to Figure 8 in the tamper-evident position; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a support for the device according to the invention; Figure 1 1 shows an alternative embodiment of the support according to Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view, similar to those of Figures 10 and 11, of a support for the device according to the invention, and Figure 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention. In accordance with the invention and as shown more particularly, by way of examples, FIGS. 1, 4 of the appended drawings, the device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular cutting, pricking and / or cutting edges, essentially consists of a receptacle comprising a bottom part 1 and an upper part 2 for closing the bottom part 1 and by means 3 for tamper-proof closure of the receptacle after it has been filled.

The bottom part 1 and the upper part 2 are advantageously made so as to be able to be assembled together by interlocking and to be able to be fixed in this position by welding or by gluing or any other final assembly process (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6).

On its front face, preferably on the bottom part 1, the receptacle is provided with a carrying arrangement 4 integrated in a housing corresponding to the outer wall of said bottom portion 1 (Figure 5). Such an arrangement 4 can be in the form of a handle or the like and is intended to facilitate the transport of the entire device according to the invention.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the arrangement 4 can be an integral part of the bottom part 1 via a plastic connection. In such a case, the arrangement 4 is produced in a single piece with the bottom part 1. Of course, the dimensions of the arrangement 4 are established as a function of the volume.

The upper face of the upper closing part 2 of the bottom part 1 has a slight inclination relative to the horizontal along an ascending slope from the front of the receptacle towards the rear of the receptacle.

According to a characteristic of the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper part 2 for closing the bottom part 1 of the receptacle is provided, on the one hand, with an orifice 5 for depositing waste from large volume opening directly into the interior of the receptacle and, on the other hand, of at least one opening 6 for uncoupling needles or the like extending near an edge of the orifice 5 for depositing waste and also opening into the interior space of the receptacle, at least one needle cap support 7 in the form of a blind conical orifice being provided on the upper face of the upper closure part 2, outside the space d 'Access to the orifice 5 for depositing the waste, which is closed during its transport and after its filling by the means 3 of tamper-evident closure.

The orifice 5 for depositing large-volume waste, opening directly into the interior space of the receptacle, is advantageously constituted by two curved walls 8 and 9, inclined in opposite directions, one of which, 8, is convex and the l other, 9, is concave, these walls cooperating to determine a waste passage slot preventing any passage of the fingers, the convex curved wall 8 being provided at each end with a rectilinear wall 10 extending over its entire height and up to 'to the concave wall 9. Thus, any penetration of the user's fingers inside the receptacle is prevented.

According to another characteristic of the invention, it is also possible to provide, as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, that the access space to the orifice 5 is further equipped with an opening 12 of unscrewing a transfusion needle constituted in the form of an oblong hole provided on an edge of teeth 13. Thus, a needle can be unscrewed by a simple translational movement of its edge along the teeth 13 of the opening 12. The tamper-evident closure means 3 consists of a cover 14 which can be folded down on an external wall of the upper closure part 2 of the receptacle, in its open position, and which is housed, in the closed position, in a recess 15 forming the access space to the orifice 5 for depositing the waste and which has a corresponding section, said cover 14 being provided, on the one hand, with a gripping tab 16 cooperating with a retaining lug 17 provided in said clearance 15 and, on the other hand, folding locking tabs 18 intended to cooperate with holes of corresponding section 19 provided in the clearance 15. Thus, the gripping tab 16 allows temporary closure of the device between two uses, maintaining the cover 14 in the folded position above the orifice 5 and the opening 6 for uncoupling the needles.

According to a characteristic of the invention, each folding locking tab 18 advantageously has a portion 22 projecting from the underside of the cover 14, the section of the tab 18 at this projection 22 being slightly greater than that of the holes corresponding reception 19 (Figure 9).

This forced penetration of the tab 18 into the hole 19 results from the slightly larger dimension of the tab 18 at the level of the protruding part 22. Consequently, after insertion of the tab 18 into the hole 19, extraction without destruction does not is no longer possible and the cover 14 is permanently locked on the upper closing part 2.

To this end, the folding locking tabs 18 are advantageously provided on either side of the free end of the cover 14 and are connected, on the one hand, to the edges of this end by breakable fasteners 20 and, on the other hand, to the cover 14 by a film hinge 21, a space remaining between the film hinge 21 and the frangible fastener 20 of each tab 18 (Figures 8 and 9). Thus, after breakage of the fastener 20, the tab 18 can be folded around the film hinge 21 and brought in front of the corresponding hole 19, then, by slight pressure, be forced into said hole 19.

As shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, the cover 14 is advantageously provided, on its edge opposite to that carrying the gripping tab 16 of a plastic hinge 35 cooperating with the edge of the upper face of the upper part 2 of closure of the bottom part 1 along the clearance 15.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, and as also shown in FIG. 8, in dotted lines, the cover 14 forming the means 3 of tamper-evident closure can be provided, on the edges of its side opposite to that carrying the gripping tab 16, with two ends of axis 23 providing a pivot axis of the cover 14 on the upper closure part 2. In such a case in figure, the axis ends 23 cooperate with snap bearings provided on the upper closure part 2.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the clearance 15 forming the access space to the orifice 5 for depositing the waste has wall elements extending obliquely from the upper face of the upper closure part 2 towards said orifice 5 for depositing waste. Thus, any substance falling on the clearance 15 is automatically evacuated in the direction of the orifice 5 and through the latter in the receiving receptacle.

The device according to the invention is advantageously provided, in addition, as shown in FIG. 1, on the bottom wall of its bottom 1, with a means 24 for fixing on a support 25 (FIGS. 10 to 12) for securing with mobile or fixed holding means, such as a wall, a trolley, or the like. This fixing means 24 is preferably formed in the form of at least one dovetail slide or the like.

The support 25, shown more particularly in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings, is in the form of a molded base provided on its upper face, on the one hand, with slides 26 cooperating with those, 24, of the bottom part 1 and, on the other hand, an elastic locking tab 27 provided with a lug 28 intended to cooperate with a recess of corresponding shape provided under the bottom part 1 of the receptacle, said base being further provided with at least one means 29 for securing to a fixed or mobile holding means, in the form of a fixing hole by screw or hook, or the like. Thus, the recovery device and the support can be fixedly fixed to a table, a trolley or the like, so that the device can be used with one hand, that is to say that, for example, a needle syringe can be removed with one hand without the operator having to hold the receptacle with the other hand. This results in significantly improved safety with regard to injuries or accidental contamination.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings, the base forming the support 25 is provided with a vertical wall 30 for supporting the receptacle formed by the bottom part 1 and the upper part 2 and for fixing to a wall or a mobile means of transport, this vertical wall 30 being provided with at least one device 31 for fixing to a vertical element, such as a hole for passing a screw, a hook or the like, or a means of rapid fixing by form cooperation, of the quarter-turn type.

Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings shows another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which, on the side opposite to that resting against the waste reception receptacle, the vertical wall 30 of the support 25 is provided, on the one hand , at least one tab 31 allowing it to be hung on a wall or on a means of transport, by screwing or by form cooperation and, on the other hand, of housings 32 for receiving bottles of fresh products, of packed needles or others. Thus, the device with its support can find regular use with medical, paramedical or hospital staff by simultaneously ensuring the storage of fresh products or unused items and the receipt and decommissioning of all used items and products.

Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings show an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the orifice 5 for depositing large-volume waste, provided at the upper part 2 for closing the bottom part 1 of the receptacle, opens out in a space 33 of larger section, closed by an automatic tilting hatch 34.

This space 33 is delimited by a wall, the opening of which opens inside the receptacle extends in an inclined plane opposite that of the upper face of the upper closing part 2 of the bottom part 1 (Figures 4 and 6).

In this embodiment and as shown more particularly in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, the two ends of axis 23, provided on the edges of the side of the cover 14 opposite to that carrying the gripping tab 16, produce, with on the one hand, the pivot axis of said cover 14 forming the tamper-evident closure means 3 in its closed position and, on the other hand, its guidance and reception in a housing 36 provided in the bottom 1 and upper 2 parts of the receptacle waste reception (Figures 5 and 6), in the open position of said cover 14.

The housing 36 for guiding and receiving the cover 14 is advantageously produced by means of a double wall 37 of the bottom part 1 and of the upper part 2 for closing said bottom part 1, the height of which is limited, by one or more connecting ribs, so that the end of the cover 14 slightly protrudes from the upper face of the upper part 2 for closing the bottom part 1 (FIGS. 4 to 6), vertical grooves, not shown , being provided laterally to guide the axis ends 23 of the cover 14. Thus, the cover 14 is continuously accessible for maneuvering by means of its gripping tab 16.

The automatic tilting hatch 34, shown more particularly in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, is advantageously in the form of a plate provided with an eccentric pivot shaft 34 'and, on the part of the plate extending on the side of the 'eccentric shaft 34', with a counterweight 34 ", the eccentric pivot shaft 34 'being mounted in line with the wall, delimiting the space extending under the orifice 5 for depositing waste, opposite that s extending near the cover 14 forming the tamper-evident closure means 3. Thus, the hatch 34 is continuously held against the lower opening of the space 33, a deposit of waste having the consequence of opening said hatch 34 to allow sliding of waste inside the receptacle, the counterweight 34 "automatically recalling said hatch 34 in the closed position after the passage of waste. If the waste deposited on the hatch, such as hypodermic needles or the like, is not heavy enough to open the latter, it suffices, for example, to put the protective cap back on the syringe without the needle and to push back the said needle hatch 34 with said cap.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide feet with the bottom part 1 of the waste reception receptacle. Such an embodiment is particularly suitable for large capacity devices.

Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the bottom part 1 of the receptacle is connected to the upper part 2 for closing the bottom part 1 by means of a film hinge 38, said upper part simultaneously forming the means 3 for tamper-proof closure of the receptacle after filling.

For this purpose, the upper closure part 2 is provided, on its edge opposite to that of connection by the film hinge 38 at the bottom 1, with locking tabs 39 provided with appendices 40 intended to cooperate with correspondingly-shaped openings provided near the upper edge of the bottom part 1, by pressing down said appendages 40.

In this embodiment, the locking tabs 39 are secured to the corresponding edge of the upper closure part 2 by a film hinge 41 and, at their end opposite to the film hinge 41, by means of a breakable fastener 42. Thus, after complete filling of the container and folding down of part 2 on part 1 and breaking of the fasteners 42, the appendages 40 of said tabs 39 can be forced into the corresponding holes making the assembly inviolable. The embodiment according to FIG. 13 is more particularly suitable for a pocket device for personal use and the accessory elements are produced in a manner analogous to that of the devices according to FIGS. 1 to 7. The device according to the invention can be made so as to present a volume adapted to the needs, namely in the form of a pocket device or a device of greater capacity to carry or handle by additional means and is preferably made of a molded synthetic material by injection allowing easy assembly of the different parts. This synthetic material will preferably be polypropylene.

Likewise, the cover 14 and possibly the hatch 34 are preferably produced by injection of a rigid synthetic material of the same type.

The cover 14 is intended to ensure the inviolability of the device after filling during transport and until it is incinerated.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to produce a device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular sharp, sharp and / or sharp. This device can be used as a disposable incinerable receptacle, of low cost price and satisfying the safety standards in force, both with regard to the environment and the protection of persons against any risk of infection or contamination.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. Device for the recovery of medical waste, in particular sharp, sharp and / or sharp, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by a receptacle comprising a bottom part (1) and an upper part (2) for closing the bottom part (1), these parts being assembled together by interlocking and fixed in this position by welding or by gluing or any other final assembly process, and by means (3) of tamper-proof closure of the receptacle after filling . 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper face of the upper closing part (2) of the bottom part (1) has a slight inclination relative to the horizontal along an ascending slope from the front of the receptacle toward the rear of the receptacle. 3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the upper part (2) for closing the bottom part (1) of the receptacle is provided, on the one hand, with an orifice ( 5) for depositing waste of large volume opening directly into the interior space of the receptacle and, on the other hand, at least one opening (6) for uncoupling needles or the like extending near an edge of the orifice (5) for depositing waste and also opening into the interior space of the receptacle, at least one needle cap support (7) in the form of a blind conical orifice being provided on the upper face of the part upper closure (2), outside the access space to the orifice (5) for depositing the waste, which is closed during its transport and after its filling by the tamper-evident closure means (3). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the orifice (5) for depositing large volumes of waste, opening directly into the interior space of the receptacle, is advantageously constituted by two curved walls (8 and 9), inclined in opposite directions, one of which (8) is convex and the other of which (9) is concave, these walls cooperating to determine a waste passage slot preventing any passage of the fingers, the convex curved wall (8 ) being provided at each end with a rectilinear wall (10) extending over its entire height and up to the concave wall (9). 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the access space to the orifice (5) for depositing waste is further equipped with an opening (12) of unscrewing a transfusion needle constituted in the form of an oblong hole provided on an edge of teeth (13). 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5, characterized in that the means (3) of tamper-evident closure consists of a cover (14) which can be folded down on an external wall of the upper part of closure (2) of the receptacle, in its open position, which is housed, in the closed position, in a recess (15) forming the access space to the orifice (5) for depositing waste and which has a corresponding section, said cover (14) being provided, on the one hand, with a gripping tab (16) cooperating with a retaining lug (17) provided in said clearance (15) and, on the other hand, with tabs folding locks (18) intended to cooperate with corresponding section holes (19) provided in the clearance (15). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each folding locking tab (18) has a part (22) projecting from the underside of the cover (14), the section of the tab (18) at level of this projection (22) being slightly higher than that of the corresponding receiving holes (19). 8. Device according to any one of claims 1, 3, 6 and 7, characterized in that the cover (14) is provided on its edge opposite to that carrying the gripping tab (16) with a plastic hinge ( 35) cooperating with the edge of the upper face of the upper part (2) for closing the bottom part (1) along the clearance (15). 9. Device according to any one of claims 1, 3, 6 and 7, characterized in that the cover (14) forming the means (3) of tamper-evident closure has, on the edges of its side opposite to that carrying the gripping tab (16), two ends of axis (23) providing the pivot axis of the cover (14) on the upper closing part (2). 10. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the clearance (15) forming the access space to the orifice (5) for depositing waste has wall elements extending obliquely from the upper face of the upper closure part (2) in the direction of said orifice (5) for depositing waste. 11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further provided on the bottom wall of its bottom (1) with a means (24) for fixing on a support (25) for securing with mobile or fixed holding means, such as a wall, a trolley, or the like. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the fixing means (24) consists of at least one dovetail slide or the like. 13. Device according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the support (25) is in the form of a molded base provided on its upper face, on the one hand, of slides (26) cooperating with those (24) of the bottom part (1) and, on the other hand, of an elastic locking tab (27) provided with a lug (28) intended to cooperate with a recess of corresponding corresponding shape provided under the bottom part (1) of the receptacle, said base being provided, in addition, with at least one means (29) for securing to a fixed or mobile holding means, in the form of a fixing hole with screws or hook, or the like. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the base forming the support (25) is provided with a vertical wall (30) supporting the receptacle formed by the bottom part (1) and the upper part ( 2) and for fixing to a wall or a mobile means of transport, this vertical wall (30) being provided with at least one device (31) for fixing to a vertical element, such as a hole for the passage of a screw , a hook or the like, or a quick fixing means by shape cooperation, of the quarter-turn type. 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that, on the side opposite to that resting against the waste reception receptacle, the vertical wall (30) of the support (25) is provided, on the one hand, with '' at least one tab (31) allowing it to be hung on a wall or on a means of transport, by screwing or by form cooperation and, on the other hand, of housings (32) for receiving bottles of fresh products, wrapped needles or other. 16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two ends of pins (23), provided on the edges of the side of the cover (14) opposite to that carrying the gripping tab (16 ), realize, on the one hand, the pivot axis of said cover (14) forming the tamper-evident closure means (3) in its closed position and, on the other hand, its guidance and its reception in a housing (36 ) provided in the bottom (1) and upper (2) parts of the waste reception receptacle in the open position of said cover (14). 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing (36) for guiding and receiving the cover (14) is advantageously produced by means of a double wall (37) of the bottom part (1) and of the upper part (2) for closing said bottom part (1), the height of which is limited, by one or more connecting ribs, so that the end of the cover (14) protrudes slightly outside the face upper part of the upper part (2) for closing the bottom part (1), vertical grooves being laterally provided to guide the ends of the axle (23) of the cover (14). 18. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom part (1) of the receptacle is connected to the upper part (2) for closing the bottom part (1) by means of a film hinge (38 ), said upper part simultaneously forming the means (3) for inviolably closing the receptacle after it has been filled. 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the upper closure part (2) is provided, on its edge opposite to that of connection by the film hinge (38) at the bottom (1), with locking tabs ( 39) provided with appendages (40) intended to cooperate with correspondingly shaped openings provided near the upper edge of the bottom part (1), by force-pressing of said appendages (40). 20. Device according to any one of claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the locking tabs (39) are secured to the corresponding edge of the upper closing part (2) by a film hinge (41) and, at their end opposite to the film hinge (41), by means of a breakable fastener (42). 21. Device according to any one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that the locking tabs (39) are secured to the corresponding edge of the upper closure part (2) by a film hinge (41) and, at their end opposite to the film hinge (41), by means of a breakable fastener (42). 22. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle is provided, on its front face, preferably on the bottom part (1), with a carrying arrangement (4) integrated in a corresponding housing of the external wall of said bottom part (1), the arrangement (4) being in the form of a handle or the like and being an integral part of the bottom part (1) by means of a plastic connection.