US 5,372,252 A · Apparatus and method for disposing medical instruments

Abstract

A disposal assembly (10) includes a base (14) and four walls (20) extending perpendicularly out therefrom defining a hollow interior (22) partially filled with a plurality of layers. The bottom-most layer (38) is fabricated of styrofoam which, along with the tapered cylinders (28) and hydrostatic pressure, secures the medical instruments (12) therein. A layer of dry disinfectant (36) covers the styrofoam (38). A layer of sponge (34) directly covers the dry disinfectant (36). When fluid is injected into the dry disinfectant (36) to create a disinfectant solution, the sponge (34) absorbs the solution and distributes it across the entire cross section of the disposal assembly (10). A semi-viscous material (40) seals the disinfectant solution and the infected portions (26) of the medical instruments (12) in an anaerobic environment. The fluid is inserted into the dry disinfectant layer (36) by inserting a needle (50) through a hole (46) in the top plate (24) and through the semi-viscous ( 40) and sponge (34) layers. The needle (50) is stopped in the proper place, i.e., at the dry disinfectant layer (34), by a needle stop (54). A cap (56) is locked to the four walls (20) after the disposal assembly (10) is full.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A disposal assembly (10) for disposing medical instruments (12) after the use thereof, said disposal assembly (10) comprising:

a base (14) having a horizontal floor (18) and a wall (20) extending upwardly away from said horizontal floor (18);
a receiving plate (24) fixedly secured to said wall (20) and adapted to receive medical instruments (12) having infected portions (26) therein;
a disinfecting means (32) disposed between said receiving plate (24) and said base (14) for disinfecting infected portions (26) of medical instruments (12);
a styrofoam block (38) disposed above said base (14) for securing medical instruments (12) in said disposal assembly (10);
a seal (40) to seal infected portions (26) of medical instruments (12) and said disinfecting means (32) from air located above said seal (40);
fluid inserting means (44) adapted to receive a fluid inserting apparatus (48) for inserting fluid into said disposal assembly (10) between said horizontal floor (18) and said seal (40) such that said seal (40) continues to seal the infected portions (26) and said disinfecting means (32) after the fluid has been inserted below the seal;
and
a stop (54) adapted to position a said fluid injecting apparatus (48) adjacent said disinfecting means (32) such that the fluid injected by the fluid injecting apparatus (48) activates said disinfecting means (32).

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for disposing medical instruments

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for disposing medical instruments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10