Method and apparatus for sharps protection

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for protecting individuals from the sharp ends of medical objects following use on a patient. Such sharp objects include hypodermic needles, scalpel blades, cannulae, trocars, and the like. The invention utilizes a disposable protective cover for the used sharp. The protective cover is designed to surround and embed the sharp in a permanent cover that is blunt and will not permit further puncture or cutting with the sharp. In an embodiment, the protective cover also absorbs any fluids on or in the used sharp. A refillable or replaceable dispenser dispenses the protective covers at points of use. A disposable receptacle receives the used sharp embedded in the protective cover. When the receptacle is full, the entire receptacle may be discarded in a medical waste container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus adapted for entrapment of medical sharps comprising: 
 a shell having an upper portion and a lower portion;    an expandable hinge connecting the upper portion to the lower portion; and    a first pad affixed to an inside surface of the lower portion, the first pad comprising: 
 a first adhesive layer; and  
 a first gap-filling deformable layer disposed between the first adhesive layer and the inside surface of the lower portion;  
   wherein a medical sharp set on the first adhesive layer is trapped between the upper portion and the lower portion when the shell is closed.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pad further comprises a first absorbent layer disposed between the first adhesive layer and the inside surface of the lower portion.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first adhesive layer comprises openings to allow fluid to pass to the first absorbent layer.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first pad further comprises absorbent material.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cover strip over the first adhesive layer.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second pad affixed to an inside surface of the upper portion, the second pad comprising a second adhesive layer.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the second pad further comprises a second gap-filling deformable layer disposed between the second adhesive layer and the inside surface of the upper portion.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the second pad further comprises a second absorbent layer disposed between the second adhesive layer and the inside surface of the upper portion.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a cover strip over the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, the cover strip comprising a pull tab, wherein pulling the pull tab removes the cover strip from the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lower portion further comprises a puncture resistant lip wherein the lip substantially surrounds the inside surface of the lower portion.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the lip further comprises an opening to permit a non-sharp portion of the medical sharp to protrude out of the shell.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a lock to maintain closure of the shell.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  packaged in an aseptic package, wherein the aseptic packaged apparatus is sterilized.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the aseptic package is a double aseptic package.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shell comprises a polymer layer and a puncture resistant layer.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable hinge allows the upper portion to be parallel with the lower portion while the medical sharp with a thickness between approximately 0.1 inch and approximately 2 inches is embedded within the shell.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable hinge is a z-folded hinge.  
     
     
         18 . A method of disposal for a used medical sharp, the method comprising: 
 providing an open disposable sharps containment device at a point-of-use of a medical sharp;    placing the medical sharp onto the open disposable sharps containment device at the point-of-use, wherein the medical sharp comprises a sharp portion and a blunt portion;    closing the open disposable sharps containment device at the point-of-use, wherein the sharp portion of the medical sharp is embedded within the closed disposable containment device, and the blunt portion of the medical sharp protrudes from the closed disposable sharps containment device; and    transporting the closed disposable sharps containment device including the embedded medical sharp to a medical waste disposal container remotely located from the point-of-use of the medical sharp.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising preventing fluid leakage from the closed disposable sharps containment device having the embedded medical sharp.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising locking the closed containment device having the embedded medical sharp to prevent re-opening of the closed disposable sharps containment device and to prevent removal of the used medical sharp from the disposable containment device.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus adapted for entrapment of medical sharps comprising: 
 a means for adhering a sharp portion of a used medical sharp within a puncture resistant container;    a means to fill gaps between the sharp portion adhered within the puncture resistant container and the puncture resistant container;    a means to absorb fluids from the used medical sharp to prevent fluid leakage from the container; and    a means to lock the puncture resistant container containing the sharp portion of the used medical sharp in a closed position to prevent re-opening of the closed puncture resistant container, wherein the sharp portion of the used medical sharp is embedded within the puncture resistant container and a blunt portion of the used medical sharp protrudes from the container.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus adapted for entrapment of medical sharps at a point-of-use comprising: 
 a dispenser at a point-of-use of a medical sharp, the dispenser containing a plurality of medical sharp containment devices, wherein each medical sharp containment device comprises: 
 a bi-folded puncture resistant shell; and  
 at least one adhesive pad attached to the inside of the shell;  
   wherein the dispenser presents the medical sharp containment device to a user for placement of a used medical sharp therein, and wherein the dispenser presents a second medical sharp containment device only upon removal of a first medical sharp containment device.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein removal of the medical sharp containment device from the dispenser closes the medical sharp containment device and embeds the used medical sharp within the medical sharp containment device.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein closure of the medical sharp containment device around the used medical sharp occurs without the user touching the medical sharp containment device.  
     
     
         25 . A pad for entrapment of a medical sharp comprising: 
 an adhesive layer; and    a gap-filling deformable layer disposed below the adhesive layer, wherein the gap-filling deformable layer substantially deforms to a contour of a medical sharp to fill substantially all gaps around the contour of the medical sharp when the medical sharp is pressed into the adhesive layer.    
     
     
         26 . The pad of  claim 25  further comprising absorbent material disposed below the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         27 . The pad of  claim 26  wherein the adhesive layer comprises openings to permit fluids to flow to the absorbent material.  
     
     
         28 . The pad of  claim 25  further comprising a cover strip over the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         29 . The pad of  claim 25  wherein the gap-filling deformable layer comprises spun polyester.  
     
     
         30 . The pad of  claim 25  wherein the pad is affixed to a puncture-resistant support such that the adhesive is disposed on the side of the pad opposite the support.