# US 9,750,573 B2 · Sharps container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,573 B2 - Document ID: US9750573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/579,379 - Filed: 2014-12-22 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-08 - Assignees: Ultimed, Inc. - Applicants: Ultimed, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas E. Erickson; James J. Erickson; Thomas Sauro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750573B2 ## CPC - A61B 50/362: {for sharps} - A61B 50/3001: {for sharps} - A61M 5/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. packages for syringes or needles or kits for diabetics} - A61M 5/3205: {Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles (for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00)} - A61B 2050/0057: {about a transverse axis in the lid plane} - A61B 2050/3004: {containing desiccant means, e.g. desiccant pouches} - A61B 2050/3008: {having multiple compartments} - A61B 2050/364: {having additional means for destroying used sharps} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The multifunctional container of claim 1, wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture is a rotating mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The multifunctional container of claim 1, wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture is a pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The multifunctional container of claim 1, wherein the one-way mechanism associated with the second aperture includes a sliding component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The multifunctional container of claim 1, wherein the flexible liquid impermeable partition is elastic and may deform under pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) 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.