Disposal device for sampling materials

Abstract

A disposal device for a medical test item such as a blood glucose test strip or a lancet, the device including an outer shell bounding an interior chamber, an opening through the shell in communication with the chamber, and a clip for securing the device to an external structure. Curved or angled panels, or flexible sections of the shell can be provided at or adjacent the opening to resist removal or discharge of contents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A disposal device comprising a housing surrounding an interior chamber, an opening through said housing, and means for resisting removal or discharge of items from the interior chamber through the opening.  
     
     
         2 . The disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said means for resisting removal or discharge of items from the interior chamber comprises a fin projecting into the interior chamber from adjacent said opening.  
     
     
         3 . The disposal device of  claim 2 , wherein said fin comprises a curved panel.  
     
     
         4 . The disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said means for resisting removal or discharge of items from the interior chamber comprises confronting opposed sides bounding said opening, at least one of said confronting opposed sides being flexible.  
     
     
         5 . The disposal device of  claim 4 , comprising first and second flexible opposed sides bounding the opening.  
     
     
         6 . The disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said means for resisting removal or discharge of items from the interior chamber comprises an obliquely angled panel of said housing adjacent the opening.  
     
     
         7 . A disposal device comprising a shell enclosing an interior chamber, and wherein an opening is provided through the shell to permit a disposed item to be deposited into the interior chamber, the shell further comprising a fin projecting into the interior chamber from adjacent the opening to resist removal or discharge of disposed items deposited into the interior chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The disposal device of  claim 7 , wherein the fin projecting into the interior chamber comprises a curved panel.  
     
     
         9 . The disposal device of  claim 7 , wherein the shell comprises a one-piece, unitary molding.  
     
     
         10 . The disposal device of  claim 9 , wherein the shell comprises at least one hingedly closable panel.  
     
     
         11 . The disposal device of  claim 10 , wherein upon assembly of the device, the at least one hingedly closable panel is permanently affixed in a closed configuration.  
     
     
         12 . The disposal device of  claim 7 , wherein the shell further comprises an attachment clip.  
     
     
         13 . The disposal device of  claim 7 , wherein the shell has external dimensions of less than about 75 mm×35 mm×35 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The disposal device of  claim 13 , wherein the shell has external dimensions of less than about 50 mm×25 mm×25 mm.  
     
     
         15 . A disposal device comprising a shell surrounding an interior chamber, wherein a slot is provided through the shell, said slot bounded by confronting first and second sides that flex to an open configuration to permit objects to pass through the slot into the interior chamber, and that return to a normally closed configuration under their own resilience to prevent discharge or removal of objects from the interior chamber through the slot.  
     
     
         16 . The disposal device of  claim 15 , wherein relief cuts are provided at first and second ends of the slot to enhance flexure of the confronting first and second sides.  
     
     
         17 . The disposal device of  claim 15 , wherein the shell comprises a one-piece, unitary molding.  
     
     
         18 . The disposal device of  claim 17 , wherein the shell comprises at least one hingedly closable panel.  
     
     
         19 . The disposal device of  claim 18 , wherein upon assembly of the device, the at least one hingedly closable panel is permanently affixed in a closed configuration.  
     
     
         20 . A disposal device comprising: 
 a housing having a top, a bottom, at least one sidewall, and a panel angled obliquely relative to the top and to the sidewall; and    an opening through said housing, said opening located through or adjacent the obliquely angled panel.