초록 ▼

Devices and methods are disclosed for protecting individuals from the sharp ends of medical objects following use on a patient. Such sharp objects include hypodermic needles, scalpel blades, cannulae, trocars, and the like. The invention utilizes a disposable protective cover for the used sharp. The

Devices and methods are disclosed for protecting individuals from the sharp ends of medical objects following use on a patient. Such sharp objects include hypodermic needles, scalpel blades, cannulae, trocars, and the like. The invention utilizes a disposable protective cover for the used sharp. The protective cover is designed to surround and embed the sharp in a permanent cover that is blunt and will not permit further puncture or cutting with the sharp. In an embodiment, the protective cover also absorbs any fluids on or in the used sharp and prevents any fluids from escaping the protective cover. The sharp cover is configured to irreversibly lock, once closed. A refillable or replaceable dispenser dispenses the protective covers at points of use. A disposable receptacle receives the used sharp embedded in the protective cover. When the receptacle is full, the entire receptacle may be discarded in a medical waste container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method to entrap and dispose of contaminated medical sharps comprising the steps of: providing a shell defining a sealed volume, wherein the shell comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, a pre-defined hinge separating the upper portion and the lower portion, and a plurality of non-hinge ed

1. A method to entrap and dispose of contaminated medical sharps comprising the steps of: providing a shell defining a sealed volume, wherein the shell comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, a pre-defined hinge separating the upper portion and the lower portion, and a plurality of non-hinge edges, wherein the shell provides a primary barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps;inserting a used, contaminated medical sharp into a layer of foam affixed to an interior of the shell;closing the upper portion of the shell against the lower portion of the shell to provide a raised barrier across at least two non-hinge edges of the close shell, and the lower portion of the closed shell along the least two non-hinge edges to prevent the used, contaminated medical sharp from puncturing through the interface between the upper portion and the lower portion of the closed shell;allowing a blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp to project out of the shell through a window;sealing the blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp in a region of the window such that liquid cannot escape the sealed volume;sealing the perimeter of the shell in the region where the window is not located; andadhering the used, contaminated medical sharp to the interior of the shell; irreversibly locking the upper portion of the shell to the lower portion of the shell;wherein the shell protects against injury due to the sharp end of the used, contaminated medical sharp. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the shell at the point of use of the medical sharp in the medical setting. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the shell is provided in settings outside the hospital or traditional medical center. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing a cover strip substantially protecting an adhesive layer within the shell. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a core region of open-cell foam. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a secondary puncture-resistant barrier inside the shell. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing a first sharp structure from a second sharp structure, wherein both the first and second sharp structures comprise the used, contaminated medical sharp. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of counting the used, contaminated medical sharps using a counting area comprised within the shell. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the counting area comprises an imprinted label on one or more foam pads. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a sealing receiver along at least two non-hinge edges of the sealed volume, and the lower portion comprises a sealing flange along the at least two non-hinge edges of the sealed volume. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the sealing receiver and the sealing flange provide the raised barrier when the shell is closed. 12. A method to entrap and dispose of contaminated medical sharps comprising the steps of: providing a shell defining a sealed volume, wherein the shell comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, a pre-defined hinge separating the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the shell is puncture resistant to medical sharps;providing a barrier wherein the barrier is raised to protrude approximately perpendicularly from a surface of the shell, a portion of the barrier separating the pre-defined hinge from a portion of the shell;inserting a used, contaminated medical sharp into a layer of foam affixed to the shell;closing the upper portion of the shell against the lower portion of the shell;restricting the used, contaminated medical sharp from puncturing through an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion of the closed shell, wherein the barrier restricts puncture of the used, contaminated medical sharp through the interface;projecting a blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp beyond a perimeter of the shell through a pre-defined window;sealing the blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp in a region of the pre-defined window such that liquid cannot escape the sealed volume;sealing a perimeter of the shell at least in a region of the perimeter distal to the pre-defined window;adhering the used, contaminated medical sharp to an interior of the shell;irreversibly locking the upper portion of the shell to the lower portion of the shell; anddisposing of the used, contaminated medical sharp, with its sharp end trapped within the shell, into hospital medical waste. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing a second barrier across the interface between the upper portion and the lower portion on an edge of the shell opposite the pre-defined window. 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a second barrier across the interface between the upper portion and the lower portion along an edge opposite the pre-defined hinge. 15. A method to entrap and dispose of contaminated medical sharps comprising the steps of: providing a shell defining a sealed volume, wherein the shell comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, a pre-defined hinge separating the upper portion and the lower portion, and a window, wherein the shell is puncture resistant to medical sharps, wherein one of the upper portion and the lower portion comprises a sealing receiver along at least an edge of the shell opposite the window, and the other of the upper portion and the lower portion comprises a sealing flange along the at least the edge of the shell opposite the window;inserting a used, contaminated medical sharp into a layer of foam affixed to the shell;allowing a blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp to project out of the shell through the window;closing the upper portion of the shell against the lower portion of the shell to provide a raised barrier across the at least the edge of the shell opposite the window, wherein the sealing flange intermeshes within the sealing receiver when the shell is closed to form the raised barrier that extends across an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion of the shell to prevent the used, contaminated medical sharp from puncturing through the interface;adhering the used, contaminated medical sharp to the interior of the shell;sealing the blunt end of the used, contaminated medical sharp in the region of the window such that liquid cannot escape the sealed volume;sealing the perimeter of the shell in a region where the window is not located;irreversibly locking the upper portion of the shell to the lower portion of the shell; anddisposing of the used, contaminated medical sharp, with its sharp end trapped within the shell into hospital medical waste;wherein the shell comprises a primary barrier against being injured with the sharp end of the used, contaminated medical sharp. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the shell provides a first barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the sealing flange comprises a first wall opposite a second wall and the sealing receiver comprises a third wall opposite a fourth wall, wherein the first wall provides a second barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second wall provides a third barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the third wall provides a fourth barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps and the fourth wall provides a fifth barrier which is puncture resistant to medical sharps. 20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the set of affixing the shell into, or providing the shell integral with, a sterile procedure tray.