WO2012165971A1

WO2012165971A1 - Collecting device for pointy objects

Info

Publication number: WO2012165971A1
Application number: PCT/NO2012/050101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fritz FJELLAKER
Original assignee: Fjellaker Fritz
Priority date: 2011-05-31
Filing date: 2012-05-31
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Also published as: NO334478B1; NO20110793A1

Abstract

A collecting device (1) for pointy objects (7) comprising a collecting receptacle (2) with a first lid (3) provided with an opening (31), characterized in that the first lid (3) is provided with a friction lining (4) at least in a part of the edge portion of the opening (31) in such a way that the friction lining provides a counter force for the pointy object (7) which is led into the opening (31) and brought into contact with the friction lining (4), is described.

Description

COLLECTING DEVICE FOR POINTY OBJECTS

The invention relates to a collecting device for pointy objects. More particularly the invention relates to a collecting device comprising a receptacle with a lid provided with an opening, where the edge portion of the opening is provided with a friction lining functioning as a counter force for needles, cannulas or the like which are disengaged from a syringe, venflon or the like, and are deposited in the collecting device.

During work involving syringes and cannulas there is always a risk that personnel using these in their work, might prick themselves on the pointy object. Pointy objects of this kind are often, after use, contaminated with blood which might contain infectious materials of different kinds.

In the following, the pointy object will be exemplified as a needle even if the invention is not limited to needles, but also applies to cannulas and other forms of pointy objects, which for hygienic reasons must be deposited after use.

Collecting devices for used needles are known for example from Patent Document EP 0276150. The document describes a cylindrical receptacle with a slot wherein the needle is led and thereafter pulled off of the syringe.

In Patent Document NO 321581 a collecting device for pointy objects is described, where the collecting device is provided with a perforatable lid functioning as an interim storage for needles and cannulas before they are deposited in a receptacle. The receptacle is provided with a closeable opening which lets through a coupling half of the pointy object, but which blocks said coupling half from being discharged from the receptacle in such a way that the pointy object remains within the receptacle.

Patent Document US 4984686 describes a collecting device for pointy objects comprising a lid designed with an opening, where the opening has sidewalls sloping downwards with a 45 degree angle to the surface of the lid. The sloping sidewalls provide a counter force with a maximal momentum towards a coupling half on a syringe, for removal of a needle.

Common for the prior art solutions, whereof some are mentioned in the preceding, is that they have one or more of the disadvantages mentioned in the following.

Several subsequent operations are often needed in order to deposit a needle by means of prior art devices. Prior art devices might therefore be cumbersome to use. Some prior art devices consist of a multitude of different segments and loose members such that the structure and functionality of the device are not very robust. Prior art solutions are dependent upon the needle to be connected to a coupling half with a larger circumference than the actual needle. The coupling half will prevent said needle from being discharged from a receptacle or the like. The prior art devices are also not fluidtight, which results in a real risk of not having blood and infectious material from used needles and the like, kept properly.

The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the

disadvantages of prior art, or at least to present a useful alternative to prior art.

The object is obtained in characteristics stated in the description below and in the subsequent patent claims.

In a first aspect the invention relates to a collecting device for pointy objects comprising a collecting receptacle with a first lid provided with an opening, where the collecting device is characterized in that the first lid is provided with a friction lining at least in a part of the edge portion of the opening, where the friction lining provides a counter force for a pointy object which is led into the opening and brought into contact with the friction lining, so that the pointy object can be removed from a syringe and thereby fall down inside the collecting receptacle.

The collecting receptacle can for example be designed in, but are not limited to, plastic based materials of per se known kinds. The shape of the collecting receptacle is not restricted to a specific geometry, but might for instance be cylindrical or prismatic.

The collecting device comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a second lid movably connected to the first lid, where the second lid is arranged to be enabled to be moved between at least an open position and a closed position, and where the second lid in its closed position is covering the opening. This will prevent needles from being discharged from the collecting receptacle. Further, the second, movable lid will also be able to help in pushing a needle towards the friction lining in order to provide a larger counter force.

In a further, preferred embodiment the friction lining encloses the entire edge portion of the opening. This has for one thing the effect of sealing the collecting device so that blood and infectious materials in connection with needles, are sealed up inside of the collecting receptacle. The second lid is moved to its closed position, tightly over the opening, where the friction lining is sealing the interstice between the second lid and the opening in the first lid so that the collecting device becomes fluidtight.

In one embodiment the edge portion of the opening might be designed with at least one acute angle or angle sector. This will be particularly advantageous on depositing needles connected to a syringe through a coupling half. The coupling half can be positioned under the acute angle such that the first lid works as a counter force on depositing the needle.

In a preferred embodiment the friction lining can be an elastomer. It might for example be a rubber based material.

In one embodiment, the collecting receptacle may be provided with one or more permanent magnets. This will have the advantage that for instance emergency medical technicians or other medical personnel could place the collecting device on the vehicle body during medical intervention.

A non-restrictive example of a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the

accompanying drawings, is described in the following, where:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an open collecting device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a closed collecting device according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a front view of a second lid;

Figure 4 shows a front view of a first lid;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the first lid;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the second lid movably connected to the first lid; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the friction lining in a larger scale;

Figure 8 shows a side view of a syringe with needle without coupling half; and

Figure 9 shows a side view of a syringe with needle with coupling half.

In the following the reference numeral 1 indicates a collecting device according to the invention. The Figures 1 and 2 show the collecting device 1 comprising a collecting receptacle 2 with a first lid 3 designed with a polygonal opening 31. The receptacle 2 is designed as a prism with a rectangular base with rounded corners. The collecting device 1 is further provided with a second lid 5, movably connected to the first lid 3 between an open position, Figure 1, and a closed position, Figure 2, where the second lid 5 covers the opening 31. The edge portion of the opening 31 is covered with a friction lining 4, see Figures 1, 5 and 7. The friction lining 4 is showed covering the entire edge portion of the opening 31, both the inner, vertical edge and further on to cover a part on the first lid 3. The friction lining 4 will thereby be able to function both as counter force in removing needles 7 from syringes 8, and as a sealing means in the interstice between the second lid 5 and the opening 31 in such a way that the collecting device 1 is sealed when the second lid 5 is moved to its closed position.

A corner of the polygonal opening 31 is shaped with an acute angle 311. On the Figures, the acute angle 311 is covered with a friction lining 4 with a corresponding acute angle 411. This will further contribute to simplification of the process of depositing needles 7 and the like. The acute angle 311 will be particularly appropriate on depositing needles 7 connected to a syringe 8 through a coupling half 9, see Figure 9, as the coupling half can be placed by the acute angle 311 on the underside of the first lid 3 such that the first lid 3 functions as a counter force for the coupling half 9. An operator, who will typically be medical personnel, pulls the syringe 8 approximately vertically upwards from the collecting device 1 such that the needle 7 loosens from the syringe 8 and falls down inside of the collecting receptacle 2 together with the coupling half 9.

For needles 7 directly coupled to a syringe 8 without a coupling half 9, see Figure 8, it would be appropriate to move the second lid 5 in towards the needle 7 so that an edge portion 51 of the lid 5 pushes the needle 7 towards the friction lining 4 and this way provides a greater counter force. The operation with depositing the needle 7 is like mentioned before when it comes to syringes 8 with coupling half 9, but the second, movable lid 5 has to be moved back towards its open position in order for the needle 7 to fall down inside of the collecting receptacle 2. The Figures 3 and 4 show a side view of the first lid 3 and the second lid 5, respectively. The second lid 5 is designed with a hook 55 arranged to interlock with a projection 35 on the first lid 3. The second lid 5 can be moved relatively to the first lid 3 by pulling the second lid 5 in a slide track 37 on the first lid 3, while the hook 55 and the projection 35 cause the two lids 3,5 to be moved relatively to each other in an axial direction. Further, the first lid 3 is designed with a cut out 33. A flexible pin 53 is arranged to be able to interlock with the cut out 33 in order to lock the second lid 5 to the first lid 3 when the second lid 5 is moved to a locked position so that the collecting device 1 is sealed.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Collecting device (1) for pointy objects (7) comprising a collecting receptacle

(2) with a first lid (3) provided with an opening (31)

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first lid (3) is provided with a friction lining (4) in at least a part of the edge portion of the opening (31), the friction lining (4) provides a counter force for a pointy object (7) which is led into the opening (31) and brought into contact with the friction lining (4), in such a way that the pointy object (7) can be removed from a syringe (8) and thereby fall down inside of the collecting receptacle (2).

2. Collecting device (1) in accordance with Claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the collecting device (2) further comprises a second lid (5) movably connected to the first lid (3), where the second lid (5) is movable between at least an open position and a closed position, and where the second lid (5) in its closed position covers the opening (31).

3. Collecting device (1) in accordance with Claim 1 or 2

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the friction lining (4) in the first lid

(3) covers the entire edge portion of the opening.

4. Collecting device (1) in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the edge portion of the opening (31) is designed with at least one acute angle (311) or an angle sector (311).

5. Collecting device (1) in accordance with any of the preceding claims

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the friction lining (4) is an elastomer.

6. Collecting device (1) in accordance with any of the preceding claims

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the collecting receptacle (2) is provided with one or more permanent magnets.