Safety sharps bagging apparatus

An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sham needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:

• an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
• the access member having an upper surface and a lower surface separated by a thickness and includes a safety shield spaced under the conforming opening, depending from the access member said safety shield preventing passage of a medical device with a conforming profile from passing through the conforming opening in any orientation, unless it is in its safe condition;
• and
• the conforming opening further including a “T”-shaped slot for receiving a radially enlarged part of a medical device and the safety shield includes a corresponding opening spaced below said slot to facilitate rolling movement of a medical device which enters the safety shield.

An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising;

• an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
• wherein the access member has an upper surface and a lower surface separated by a thickness and includes a safety shield spaced under the conforming opening, depending from the access member;
• wherein said safety shield comprises a shelf directly under the conforming opening and opposed barriers on opposite sides of the conforming opening;
• and
• said safety shield preventing passage of a medical device with a conforming profile from passing through the conforming opening in any orientation, unless it is in its safe condition.

An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising;

• an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
• said access member having sloping surfaces leading to the conforming opening in said access member, wherein a centering well is created which tends to cause a medical device with the conforming profile to automatically center itself in relation to the conforming opening and
• whereby the medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.

An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a needle, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:

• an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
• the access member including a needle guard ahead of the front end of the conforming opening and
• whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.

An access member for a sharps disposal container for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising

• an access member adapted for use with a disposal container for sharps;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of the medical device in its safe condition;
• wherein the conforming opening is contained in an insert and the access member has an opening adapted to hold said insert thereby permitting a single access member to be used with different inserts having different conforming openings;
• and
• whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.

Apparatus for safe disposal of a medical device having a sharp needle or blade, wherein the profile of the medical device in its safe condition is different than the profile of the medical device in its unsafe condition, comprising:

• a container having an open side leading into an interior for receiving and collecting used retractable medical devices;
• an access member positioned over said open side through which medical devices pass to reach the interior of the container;
• the access member having a conforming opening therein conforming to the profile of a medical device in its safe condition and leading into the interior of the container;
• and
• whereby the retractable medical device will pass through the conforming opening in the access member only in the safe condition of the medical device.