FR2767670A1 - Medical sharps disposal container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) is open topped, made from a metal such as aluminum, and has a lining (3) and cover (12) of a plastic material which melts at a temperature below the melting point of the container to enclose the sharps inside the container, rendering them harmless at the same time as they are sterilized. The plastic lining and covering are designed to melt at a temperature of 160 - 180 deg C and be chemically stable up to about 250 deg C, and made especially from polyethylene or polypropylene. The lining can be in the form of granules enclosed in a microperforated membrane, while the covering material (12) can be of loose granules or a sachet (20) of granules (21).

Description

 The present invention relates to a container for packaging medical waste and a method of packaging in such a container.

 The invention applies in particular to the packaging of medical waste produced in small quantities.

 Legislation tends to impose the treatment of medical waste before introducing it into conventional household waste collection circuits in order to avoid any contamination.

In particular, such treatment must on the one hand ensure sterilization of medical waste, and on the other hand, make the waste unrecognizable and non-dangerous, that is to say eliminate, for example, the risk of injury by pricking or cut with syringe needles or scalpels,
The object of the invention is to propose a container suitable for the treatment of medical waste produced in small quantities and making it possible to satisfy, in a simple and economical manner, the requirements mentioned above.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a container for packaging medical waste, characterized in that it comprises a metal tray for receiving medical waste and at least one lining arranged inside the tray and produced in a meltable material at a melting temperature lower than that of said tray to form, after heating the container to a temperature ensuring the sterilization of medical waste and the melting of said filling, a bread coating the sterilized waste.

According to particular embodiments, the container may include one or more of the following characteristics
- The material of said lining is fusible at a temperature between about 1600 C and 1800 C and chemically stable up to about 2500 C
the material of said lining is a plastic material, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene
- the tray is made of aluminum
- Said lining comprises a first lining internally covering at least the bottom of the tray and a second lining intended to be disposed above the medical waste
- The first lining is rigid, of thickness adapted to resist piercing by medical waste, and internally covers the bottom and at least partially the side walls of the tray
the first lining is formed by a layer of granules and by a microperforated membrane for retaining the granules in the bottom of the tray, this membrane being fixed in said tray
- the first filling is formed by a sachet of granules wrapped in a closed sheath, microperforated and fixed in said tray
- the membrane or sheath is fixed in the tray by crimping or by gluing or sealing
- the second filling is formed by granules in bulk intended to be poured on the medical waste contained in the tray
- the second lining is formed by at least one sachet of granules wrapped in a closed microperforated sheath, intended to be disposed above the medical waste contained in the tray
the second lining is formed by at least one sachet of granules wrapped in a closed microperforated sheath, fixed below a lid fixed on the tray, said lid being provided with an opening for filling said tray with medical waste ; and
- The second lining is formed at least by a cover fixed on the tray and comprising an opening for filling said tray with medical waste.

The invention finally relates to a method of packaging medical waste in a container as defined above, characterized in that
- the container is filled with medical waste,
- The container is heated for a time and at a temperature sufficient to ensure on the one hand, the sterilization of medical waste and, on the other hand, the melting of said lining to form in the metal tray a bread coating said sterilized medical waste.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1,
FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the container of FIG. 2 filled with medical waste, respectively ready to be treated and after treatment,
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a variant of the container of FIG. 2,
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a second embodiment of a container according to the invention,
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the container of FIG. 6 filled with medical waste and ready to be treated, and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating a variant of the container of FIG. 6.

 Figures 1 to 8 show a container 1 for packaging medical waste comprising a rigid container 2 and at least one lining 3 and 12 intended to coat the medical waste, as will be seen later.

 Generally, the lining 3 and 12 is made of a fusible material at a melting temperature lower than that of the tray 2.

 The lining material 3 and 12 is meltable at a temperature between approximately 1600C and 1800C and chemically stable up to approximately 2500C and it is made of plastic material in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.

 In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tray 2 has a body 4 in the form of a parallelepiped box, the side walls 5 of which are optionally extended by a peripheral rim 6 substantially parallel to the bottom 7 of the body 4.

 In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this first lining is formed by a first lining 3 having the shape of a rigid parallelepiped box housed in the body 4. The external dimensions of the first lining 3 correspond substantially to the internal dimensions of the body 4. Thus, the first lining 3 is continuous and internally covers the bottom 7 and the walls 5 of the body 4 over practically their entire height.

 A colored indicator 8, in the form of a printed label, is affixed to a surface of a wall 5 external to the container 1. This label 8 is a conventional label adapted to change color definitively when a temperature of approximately 1900 ° C. is reached.

 The body 4 of the tray 2 is made of thin aluminum foil, typically of thickness less than 0.5 mm.

 The lining 3 has a thickness of between approximately 2 and 4 mm.

 The internal dimensions of the lining 3 are such that the container 1 offers a reception volume of between 1 and 2 liters.

 In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, after having deposited the medical waste 24 in the container 1, a second lining 12 is deposited on this medical waste 24.

 This second lining 12 is a bag 20 of granules 21 contained in a closed microperforated sheath 22 made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

 FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the container 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this variant, the container 1 also comprises a rectangular cover 9, the peripheral edge 10 of which is fixed to the tray 2 by crimping using the rim 6.

 This cover 9 is crossed by a central opening 11 enabling the container 1 to be filled with medical waste.

 The cover 9 constitutes the second lining 12 of the container 1.

 The thickness of this cover 9 is adapted to provide additional material and coating.

 FIG. 6 represents a second embodiment of a container according to the invention, distinguished from the container 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 by the following.

 The bottom 7 of the tray 2 is stepped and has a deeper first rectangular central part 13 surrounded by a second shallower peripheral part 14 connected to the walls 5. The part 13 covers practically the entire surface of the bottom 7 and it is connected to the part 13 by side walls 15 of low height which define, with part 13, a cavity 16 substantially parallelepiped.

 The first lining 3 of this second embodiment comprises on the one hand a layer 17 of granules housed in the cavity 16, and on the other hand a film or membrane 18 of polyethylene or polypropylene closing the cavity 16. This membrane 18 is microperforated. It is fixed for example by gluing or crimping or sealing its peripheral edge 19 on the surface of the part 14 inside the container 1.

 The bottom 7 and the side walls 5 of the tray 2 have a thickness greater than that of the tray 2 of the first embodiment, in particular between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, adapted to resist piercing by medical waste.

 In a variant not shown of the container 1 of FIG. 6, the first lining 3 may consist of a bag of granules contained in a closed microperforated sheath of polyethylene or polypropylene, housed in the cavity 16 and fixed, for example by gluing, in part 13 of the bottom 7.

 Figure 8 illustrates a variant of the container 1 of Figure 6, the container 1 further comprising a rectangular cover 9 similar to the cover 9 of Figure 5, and whose peripheral edge 10 is fixed to the tray 2 by crimping to ledge aid 6.

 In this embodiment, the second lining 12 is constituted, on the one hand, by the cover 9 and, on the other hand, by bags 20 of granules 21 wrapped in one or more closed and microperforated sheaths 22, fixed, by example by gluing, on the lower wall 23 of the cover 15, on either side of the opening 11.

 To condition medical waste with the container according to the invention, the latter is filled with medical waste, then the container is heated for a time and at a temperature sufficient to ensure on the one hand the sterilization of the waste, and on the other hand the melting of the lining of the container to form in the tray a bread coating the sterilized waste.

 Waste 24 includes, for example, syringes, scalpels and compresses.

In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 3, the practitioner deposits the medical waste 24 in the container 1, then deposits on this medical waste 24 the second lining 12 consisting of at least one sachet 20 of granules 21
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the practitioner deposits the medical waste 24 in the container 1 by introducing it through the opening 11 made in the cover 9.

 In the embodiment represented in FIG. 7, the practitioner deposits the medical waste 24 in the container 1, then pours on this medical waste 24 granules 26 in bulk which constitute the second lining 12.

 The practitioner then subjects the container 1 filled with medical waste to a heat treatment, typically at 2000 ° C. for approximately two hours.

 This heat treatment makes it possible on the one hand to ensure the sterilization of the waste contained in the container 1, and on the other hand to cause the melting of the linings 3 and 12 which come to coat the medical waste 24 by forming, after cooling, a loaf rigid 25 (FIG. 4) thick enough to make the waste 24 unrecognizable and non-dangerous. The indicator 8 has changed color, thus indicating that the sterilization temperature has been reached.

 The container thus treated can then be introduced into conventional circuits for collecting household waste.

 Control 8 makes it possible to check in a simple manner that the sterilization temperature, here 1900 C, has been reached during the heat treatment. If this is not the case, the practitioner can subject the container 1 to a new heat treatment.

 The linings 3 and 12 being made of polyethylene or polypropylene, the bread 25 can easily undergo several successive heat treatments since it is made of a thermoplastic material which has a chemical stability temperature of approximately 2500 C.

 Preferably, polyethylene without adjuvant is used to obtain such chemical stability.

 The melting temperature of the linings 3 and 12 is around 1600 ° C., which ensures correct melting of these during the heat treatment and good coating of the waste 24.

 Aluminum having a melting temperature (about 6600 C) much higher than that of the linings 3 and 12, the body 4 remains rigid and thus ensures good retention of the molten polyethylene and of the waste 24 during the heat treatment.

 Thus, the rigid adjective used to characterize the tray 2 must be understood in the sense that the rigidity of the body 4 is sufficient to ensure such retention, the tray 2 can however be easily deformable by hand.

 In the case where the second lining 12 is formed by granules placed in a microperforated membrane, the microperforation of this membrane makes it possible to prevent the sachet 20 from bursting during heating.

 In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thickness of the lining 3 before heating is sufficient to prevent pungent and / or cutting waste, such as syringes or scalpels, from passing through the walls of container 1 and risk being injure the practitioner.

 This characteristic makes it possible to limit the thickness of the tray 2 used.

 The container 1 of FIG. 5 makes it possible to dispense with the laying of a second additional lining on the medical waste contained in the container 1 before heat treatment, this second lining being constituted by the cover 9.

 In fact, after filling the container 1, the practitioner directly subjects it to heat treatment, the cover 9 melting and thus participating in the coating of medical waste 24.

 The container 1 of FIG. 8 simplifies in a similar manner to the container of FIG. 5, the method for treating medical waste, the cover 9 and the sachets 20 forming the second lining 12.

 The label 8 can, of course, be replaced by printing with an ink suitable for changing color at the sterilization temperature or at another chosen temperature.

 The heat treatment is preferably carried out by a device of small dimensions, possibly transportable by the practitioner for the home treatment of patients. Such an apparatus comprises an oven provided with a door or an access hatch, in which the container 1 is placed to be filled with medical waste and subsequently heat treated.

 Preferably, the opening of the door or the hatch is controlled by the foot and this is accompanied, if necessary, by a displacement of the container 1 to make it accessible to the practitioner who wants to fill it and / or s' seize it to introduce it into the household waste collection circuit.

 In the case of a door oven, a conventional system for removing products to be heated from a household oven can be used.

 The foot control of the opening of the oven allows the practitioner to keep his hands free to handle medical waste.

 The oven can of course be replaced by any other heating means, for example conduction heating means of the fryer type provided with suitable means for piloting and controlling the heat treatment.

 In general, the container according to the invention allows packaging of medical waste that is simple, economical and particularly suitable for the treatment of medical waste produced in small quantities.

Claims (14)

 1. Container (1) for packaging medical waste, characterized in that it comprises a metal tray (2) for receiving medical waste (24) and at least one lining (3, 12) disposed inside the tray (2) and made of a fusible material at a melting temperature lower than that of said tray (2) to form, after heating the container (1) to a temperature ensuring the sterilization of medical waste (24) and the melting of said filling (3, 12), a bread (25) coating the sterilized waste.  2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of said lining (3, 12) is fusible at a temperature between about 1600 C and 1800 C and chemically stable up to about 2500 C.  3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material of said lining (3, 12) is a plastic, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.  4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tray (2) is made of aluminum.  5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said lining comprises a first lining (3) internally covering at least the bottom (7) of the tray (2) and a second lining (12) intended to be disposed above medical waste (24).  6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the first lining (3) is rigid, of thickness adapted to resist piercing by medical waste, and internally covers the bottom (7) and at least partly the side walls (5) of the tray (2).  7. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the first lining (3) is formed by a layer (17) of granules and by a microperforated membrane (18) for retaining the granules in the bottom (7) of the tray, this membrane (18) being fixed in said tray.  8. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the first lining (3) is formed by a bag of granules wrapped in a closed sheath, microperforated and fixed in said tray.  9. Container according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the membrane (18) or the sheath is fixed in the tray by crimping or by gluing or sealing.  10. Container according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the second lining (12) is formed by granules (26) in bulk intended to be poured on the medical waste (24) contained in the tray ( 2).  11. Container according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the second lining (12) is formed by at least one sachet (20) of granules (21) wrapped in a closed microperforated sheath (22), intended to be placed above the medical waste contained in the tray.  12. Container according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the second lining (12) is formed by at least one sachet (20) of granules (21) wrapped in a closed microperforated sheath (22), fixed below a cover (9) fixed to the tray (2), said cover (9) being provided with an opening (11) for filling said tray with medical waste.  13. Container according to any one of claims 5 to 9 and 12, characterized in that the second lining (12) is formed at least by a cover (9) fixed on the tray (2) and having an opening (11) filling said tray with medical waste.  14. A method of packaging medical waste in a container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  - the container (1) is filled with medical waste (24),  - The container (1) is heated for a time and at a temperature sufficient to ensure on the one hand, the sterilization of medical waste (24) and, on the other hand, the melting of said lining (3, 12) to form in the metal tray (2) a loaf (25) coating said sterilized medical waste (24).