Sharps container
The disclosure relates to a multifunctional sharps container having a first dispensing compartment for storing unused sharps and a second compartment for receiving used sharps. The first and second compartments are separated by a generally liquid impermeable partition fixed to the walls of the container. In addition, the first and second compartments are provided with apertures and structures for conveying the sharps, out of and into the compartments respectively, which are functional in at least two orientations of the container.
1. A multifunctional container for safe storage of medical or laboratory sharps comprising:
a first compartment and a second compartment and a flexible liquid impermeable partition therebetween,
wherein said flexible liquid impermeable partition is sealed to the multifunctional container along an entire perimeter of the flexible liquid impermeable partition in a manner which prevents liquid transfer between the first compartment and the second compartment;
said first compartment defines an internal storage space sized and configured to contain an initial quantity of one or more unused sharps, said initial quantity of one or more unused sharps selected from pen needles, hypodermic needles, and syringes with attached hypodermic needles being present within the first compartment at a first time,
wherein the first compartment further comprises a first aperture which may be opened to remove one or more unused sharp; and
said second compartment sized and configured to contain a quantity of used sharps substantially equal to the initial quantity of one or more unused sharps at a second time, said one or more used sharps selected from pen needles, hypodermic needles, and syringes with attached hypodermic needles,
wherein the second compartment further comprises a second aperture which has associated therewith a one-way mechanism configured and adapted to convey a used sharp from the exterior of the multifunctional container irreversibly into the interior of the second compartment,
wherein the flexible liquid impermeable partition is configured and adapted to flex or deform from a first position to a second position such that a volumetric ratio between the internal storage space and the unused pen needle or syringe needle storage space may adjust as the ratio of the volume of contained used sharps to the volume of contained unused sharps changes.
2. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the combined volumes of the first compartment and second compartment are at all times capable of containing the initial quantity of one or more unused sharps.
3. The multifunctional container of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the flexible liquid impermeable partition is adapted to move from the first position to the second position in response to a transfer of sharps from the first compartment to the second compartment.
4. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture of the first compartment allows removal of one unused sharp of the initial quantity of one or more unused sharps from the first compartment.
5. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture of the first compartment allows removal of more than one unused sharp of the initial quantity of one or more unused sharps from the first compartment.
6. The multifunctional container of claim 5 , wherein the first aperture of the first compartment allows removal of more than one unused sharp of the initial quantity of one or more unused sharps from the first compartment, said more than one unused sharps being packaged as a single unit.
7. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional container has two or more orientations in which the first aperture and second aperture are each functional for their recited function such that in each functional orientation of the two or more orientations, the first aperture is lower than the second aperture.
8. The multifunctional container of claim 7 , wherein a first portion of the flexible liquid impermeable partition is higher proximate the second aperture and a second portion of the flexible liquid impermeable partition is lower proximate the first aperture in each functional orientation of the two or more orientations.
9. The multifunctional container of claim 7 , wherein the second aperture is located at least partially in an uppermost surface of the multifunctional container in at least one of the two or more functional orientations of the two or more orientations.
10. The multifunctional container of claim 7 , wherein the second aperture is located at least partially in a lateral surface of the multifunctional container in at least one of the two or more functional orientations of the two or more orientations.
11. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture is configured to accept and facilitate removal of a hypodermic needle from one of an associated syringe and an injection pen.
12. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture is a rotating mechanism.
13. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture is a pivoting mechanism.
14. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture includes a sliding component.
15. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the one-way mechanism is configured to accept both used and unused sharps with a protective sheath in place and used and unused sharps which have no protective sheath.
16. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein said second compartment further comprises a liquid absorbent material having a liquid capacity of at least 0.002 gram per contained used sharp, the used sharp selected from pen needles, hypodermic needles, and syringes with attached hypodermic needles.
17. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein said second compartment further comprises a liquid absorbent material having a liquid capacity of at least 0.005 gram per contained used sharp, the used sharp selected from pen needles, hypodermic needles, and syringes with attached hypodermic needles.
18. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein said second compartment further comprises a liquid absorbent material having a liquid capacity of at least 0.01 gram per contained used sharp, the used sharp selected from pen needles, hypodermic needles, and syringes with attached hypodermic needles.
19. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the flexible liquid impermeable partition is elastic and may deform under pressure.
20. The multifunctional container of claim 1 , wherein the flexible liquid impermeable partition is provided with sufficient extra material to allow it to deflect between the first position in which the first compartment has a greater volume than the second compartment and the second position in which the second compartment has a greater volume than the first compartment.