Methods and apparatus for collecting and disposing of sharps

Abstract

A receptacle for holding a meltable sharps container during a sterilization process in which the meltable sharps container and any contained sharps are heated. The receptacle includes a side wall and a bottom wall having respective interior surfaces defining a space for receiving the meltable sharps container. The receptacle also includes a plurality of recessed areas in the interior surface of the bottom wall, and a plurality of elevated areas on the interior surface of the bottom wall, whereby as the sharps container melts, material from the sharps container flows into the recessed areas and the elevated areas hold the contained sharps above the recessed areas, so as to inhibit the contained sharps from protruding through the melted sharps container.

1 . A receptacle for holding a meltable sharps container during a sterilization process in which the meltable sharps container and any contained sharps are heated, the receptacle comprising:
 a side wall and a bottom wall having respective interior surfaces defining a space for receiving the meltable sharps container;   a plurality of recessed areas in the interior surface of the bottom wall; and   a plurality of elevated areas on the interior surface of the bottom wall,   whereby as the sharps container melts, material from the sharps container flows into the recessed areas and the elevated areas hold the contained sharps above the recessed areas, so as to inhibit the contained sharps from protruding through the melted sharps container.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is made of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The receptacle of  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is made of a single piece of deep drawn metal. 
     
     
         4 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed areas and the plurality of elevated areas are formed using a stamping process. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal distance between adjacent elevated areas is approximately 0.5 inches such that a needle is able to be held by at least two of the elevated areas so as to inhibit the needle from entering the recessed areas. 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the difference in height between the elevated areas and the recessed areas is between approximately 0.04 inches and approximately 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elevated areas defines a crosshatch pattern on the interior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed areas defines a plurality of dimples in the interior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         9 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elevated areas defines a plurality of bumps on the interior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         10 . A sharps container to be at least partially melted to sterilize the sharps container and any contained sharps, the sharps container comprising:
 a body defining a space for receiving the sharps, and including an upper portion and a lower portion that melts at a slower rate than the upper portion such that as the sharps container is heated, the upper portion melts so as to flow around the sharps and the lower portion inhibits the sharps from protruding through the lower portion.   
     
     
         11 . The sharps container of  claim 10 , further comprising a cover positioned on the body and having a door to allow insertion of sharps into the space and to resist removal of the sharps from the space. 
     
     
         12 . The sharps container of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the cover melts at a slower rate than the upper portion such that as the sharps container is heated, and the portion of the cover inhibits the sharps from protruding through the portion of the cover. 
     
     
         13 . The sharps container of  claim 12 , wherein the portion of the cover is the door. 
     
     
         14 . The sharps container of  claim 10 , wherein the lower portion includes at least a portion of a bottom wall of the body. 
     
     
         15 . The sharps container of  claim 10 , wherein the lower portion is made of a thermosetting plastic including an additive to decrease the melting rate of the lower portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sharps container of  claim 10 , wherein the lower portion is made of a thermosetting plastic that is cross-linked using at least one of heat, pressure and radiation to inhibit the contained sharps from protruding though the lower portion. 
     
     
         17 . A method of collecting and disposing of sharps, the method comprising:
 providing a sharps container including a body having an upper portion and a lower portion;   collecting the sharps in the sharps container;   heating the sharps container in a receptacle such that the lower portion melts at a slower rate than the upper portion and thereby inhibits the sharps from protruding through the lower portion;   removing the melted sharps container from the receptacle; and   disposing of the melted sharps container and sharps.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the sharps container including a cover positioned on the body and having a door. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein heating the sharps container such that the door melts at a slower rate than the upper portion and descends toward the lower portion to cover the sharps so as to inhibit the sharps from protruding through the door. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein heating the body includes supporting the sharps on or above the lower portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein heating the body includes encapsulating the sharps with the upper portion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the sharps container made by an injection molding process. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the sharps container the lower portion is a preformed cup and the upper portion is molded to the lower portion.