Dissolvable medical sharps

Abstract

Embodiments of single-use medical devices, including medical sharps such as hypodermic needles and lancet blades, are described herein. Dissolvable sharps are destroyed by treatment with a weak acid, including a non-toxic weak acid typically found in households, allowing for safe disposal as household waste. Other components constituting the single-use, disposable medical devices disclosed herein include bioplastics and other compostable or rapidly biodegradable environmentally friendly materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 458,058, filed April 7, 2023, entitled "Single-Use Disposable Medical Device with Soluble Magnesium / Magnesium Alloy Sharps," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The disclosure herein relates to alternative structures for single-use disposable medical devices. Specifically, provided are a plurality of disposable medical devices comprising a sharp component configured to dissolve and facilitating disposal in an environmentally considerate manner.

Background Art

[0003] Single-use disposable medical devices designed for use by patients and caregivers at home are generally widespread. Many of these devices incorporate components commonly referred to as "sharps," which are metal parts with tips or blades configured to penetrate or cut the skin. This sharp component is attached to a larger device body made of other parts (usually plastic). This sharp component is formed from steel or other alloys containing nickel and chromium. Examples of such single-use disposable medical devices incorporating sharps include lancets for home blood glucose testing, pen needles for attachment to multi-dose pen injectors, single-use syringes and pre-filled syringes, disposable scalpels, and detachable needles (Luer-lock and Luer-slip) for syringes and infusion sets.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The surge in home healthcare over the past few decades has resulted in a massive and increasing annual generation of medical waste, including disposable sharps and plastic equipment bodies. Based on figures released by the International Diabetes Federation in 2021 and other publicly available data showing that diabetic patients tend to use an average of 1 to 3 needles per day, an estimated 15 to 20 billion disposable lancets, 20 to 30 billion disposable pen needles, and another 20 to 30 billion disposable syringes are used annually by patients and caregivers outside of healthcare facilities. Neither the plastic nor the metal can be recycled because metal sharps are typically fused with plastic support components such as needle hubs and lancet bodies. This enormous amount of medical waste ultimately ends up in landfills and widespread environmental pollution, increasing the global plastic waste burden and generally increasing environmental pollution.

[0005] Furthermore, contaminated sharp objects that have come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids pose an infection risk. This creates a risk of both infection and injury resulting from accidental skin punctures for family members, caregivers, and cleaning staff. For this reason, the disposal of medical sharp objects is strictly regulated. Proper and safe disposal requires that sharp objects be collected in designated, airtight plastic or metal “sharp object” containers. Sharp object containers must comply with specific labeling, handling, and transportation requirements for transport to treatment facilities designated for medical sharp object waste. Specific guidelines on the safe handling and disposal of used sharp objects are issued by manufacturers and federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Equipment instruction manuals usually warn of the dangers of disposing of them in household waste or recycling. However, many people find these requirements excessively burdensome. Survey data estimates that approximately one-third of diabetic patients receiving home insulin therapy dispose of used lancets, syringes with needles, pen needles, and other sharp objects in household waste or recycling.

[0006] In addition to these, hazardous disposal practices in the United States and Canada result in injuries to more than 850,000 people each year due to the dangerous disposal of household sharp objects. Hazardous disposal is not unique to the United States. Studies show that the rate of hazardous disposal exceeds 90% in China and 85% in India. Recent surveys have reported similar disposal rates in other parts of the world, including Africa, South America, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Europe. In many of these regions, safe disposal infrastructure is unavailable to most users, making the disposal of sharp objects as household waste the only viable option.

[0007] Therefore, for at least the reasons mentioned above, metal "sharp" parts should be removed from medical devices that can be disposed of, reducing the risk of infection and physical injury, while also enabling the recycling of plastic parts, thereby reducing environmental plastic pollution and overcoming the other deficiencies described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This specification discloses embodiments of devices and methods incorporating soluble medical sharps to facilitate the safe disposal of single-use medical devices. The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more specific description of some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods, and from the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1A] This is a perspective view of a medical device equipped with a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 1B] This is a perspective view of a safety cap for connecting two medical devices. [Figure 1C] This is a perspective view of multiple medical devices linked together for disposal. [Figure 2A] This is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medical device containing a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 2B] Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a medical device containing a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 3A]This is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a medical device containing a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 3B] This is a partial cross-sectional view of different alternative embodiments of medical devices, including soluble medical sharps, incorporating an all-metal design. [Figure 3C] This is a perspective view of multiple medical devices stacked and combined for disposal. [Figure 4A] This is yet another embodiment of a medical device containing a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 4B] This is a cross-sectional view of the equipment shown in Figure 4A. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medical device equipped with a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medical device equipped with a soluble medical sharp object. [Figure 7] This is a diagram of a solvent for processing medical devices that contain soluble medical sharps. [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating a method for disposing of medical devices containing soluble medical sharps. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] This specification discloses various embodiments of single-use dissolvable medical devices incorporating a point or edge, i.e., a “sharp” metal component.

[0011] Non-limiting examples of soluble medical sharps include needles (solid or hollow) and blades such as lancets and scalpel blades. The medical sharp component of a medical device is formed from a metal or metal alloy that decomposes completely into a metal salt that dissolves in an aqueous solution of one or a combination of commonly available non-toxic, harmless, and drain-safe household liquids. After dissolution, the sharp object is effectively destroyed, no longer posing a risk of injury, and no special handling is required in accordance with government regulations or common-sense safety measures. In some embodiments, the remaining non-metallic component of a single-use medical device is formed from biodegradable plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") and high-density polyethylene ("HDPE"), which can be more easily recycled in conventional material recovery facilities; bioplastics such as compostable polyhydroxyalkanoates ("PHA"), polyhydroxybutyrate ("PHB"), and polylactic acid ("PLA"); and pulp and cellulose fiber materials such as bamboo, bagasse, sawdust, and dry or wet-molded cellulose fibers, which are sustainable, compostable, or otherwise rapidly decomposing. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a metal that can be repeatedly recycled, such as steel or aluminum, is used.

[0012] Examples of embodiments include single-use, disposable standard lancets, safety lancets, injection pen needles, Luer-lock needles and Luer-slip needles, syringes with integrated needles, and scalpels. These various embodiments incorporate soluble metal medical sharps manufactured from magnesium or magnesium-containing alloys.

[0013] In some embodiments, the sharp object is incorporated into a medical device using an alternative non-metallic, non-soluble support member that rapidly biodegrades and is more easily recycled, or a metallic support member that can be recycled repeatedly compared to conventional non-metallic plastic parts. Examples of metals that can be recycled multiple times include steel and aluminum. A disposal method using soluble medical sharp objects is provided, in which the sharp object is first introduced into a solvent to dissolve the metal parts, thereby eliminating the risk of injury by the sharp object. The undissolved non-metallic parts remaining in the used medical device are recovered from the solvent and safely disposed of as household waste, by recycling or composting, depending on the type of residue. The solvent can be stored for reuse or safely disposed of through a household septic tank or sewer.

[0014] Definition: As used herein, "pharmaceutical" means a composition, compound, agent, or other substance used for the treatment of a disease or condition.

[0015] As used herein, "distal" refers to the direction away from the more central part.

[0016] Details of the disposal system for soluble sharp objects are disclosed with reference to a plurality of drawings.

[0017] Figures 1-6 are examples of soluble medical sharp objects.

[0018] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a medical device equipped with a soluble medical sharp object. Figure 1B is a perspective view of a safety cap for connecting two medical devices, and Figure 1C is a perspective view of multiple medical devices connected for disposal. Figures 1A-C show an example of a medical device 100 in which a soluble medical sharp object 105 is incorporated into a support member 110. This medical device 100 is a disposable single-use lancet. This lancet is perhaps the most commonly used disposable single-use medical device equipped with a medical sharp object in the world and is used for daily blood glucose testing. The user grasps the support member 110 and typically pierces the skin with the sharp object 105 at the fingertips to collect a capillary blood sample and test the user's blood glucose level. In this example, the medical device 100, which is a lancet, needs to be safely disposed of after single use. Also shown is a slot 135, which is a groove that completely penetrates the support member 110, exposing a sharp object 105 to the action of the dissolving solvent at one or more points along its length within the part 110.

[0019] Figures 1B-C also show the safety cap 136. In some embodiments, the safety cap 136 connects multiple medical devices 100 for safe storage and convenience. In some embodiments, the safety cap 136 is formed of biodegradable plastic or multiple-recyclable metal.

[0020] Figure 2A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a medical device comprising a soluble medical sharp object, and Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a medical device comprising the soluble medical sharp object shown in Figure 2A. Figures 2A and 2B show a medical device 100 comprising a safety lancet. The safety lancet comprises a medical sharp object 105 mounted within a support member 110 and other components including an actuator mechanism with a cap 1102 and a spring 139. The device 100 includes the soluble sharp object 105 housed within the support member 110, as shown in cross-section in Figure 2B. In some embodiments, the housing 1101 is also a form of the support member 110. Exemplary embodiments, and several other embodiments of the device 100, further comprise other metal components that are not medical sharp objects, such as a spring 139. The actuator mechanism including the spring 139 is incorporated into various embodiments of the single-use medical device 100, including the safety lancet and other auto-injector devices shown in Figures 2A-B. Figure 2A shows the device 100 coated with a barrier coating 160. The barrier coating 160 serves to protect the support member 110 of the device 100 from contamination by potentially infectious blood or other bodily fluids, and will be described in more detail below following the description of the drawings. In some embodiments, but not all, the barrier coating 160 is applied to the support member 110 of any of the embodiments of the device 100 described herein before use of the device 100.

[0021] In some embodiments, the spring 139 is formed from magnesium or a magnesium alloy. In some embodiments, the magnesium alloy constituting the spring 139 is the same alloy constituting the medical sharpener 105. In some embodiments, the sharpener 105 and the spring 139 are formed from magnesium alloys having different magnesium concentrations ranging from at least 80% to about 100%. Some embodiments of the device 100 other than the exemplary safety lancet shown in Figures 2A-B include a spring 139 formed from a soluble magnesium-containing alloy.

[0022] Figure 3A is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a medical device having a soluble medical sharpener. Figure 3B is a partial cross-sectional view of a different alternative embodiment of a medical device having a soluble medical sharpener incorporating an all-metal design. Figure 3C is a perspective view of multiple medical devices stacked and joined together for disposal. Figures 3A and 3C show a pen-needle shaped medical device 100 having a soluble medical sharpener 105 and a support member 110. Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device 100 incorporating an all-metal design. Since the support member 110 is formed of magnesium or a magnesium alloy, the entire device 100 shown in Figure 3B can be dissolved in solvent 120 without the support member 110 being disposed of, composted, or recycled. Figure 3C shows three devices 100 stacked and joined together, with component 110 as the upper device forming a cap for the sharpener 105 of the stacked, lower devices. Pen needle devices are commonly used with multi-dose pen injectors, such as those typically used for home insulin injection in the treatment of diabetes. In some embodiments, the sharp object 105 is formed from a hollow magnesium or magnesium alloy needle and is fixedly coupled to a support member 110 hub made of rapidly biodegradable plastic or multiple-recyclable metal.

[0023] Figure 4A is yet another embodiment of a medical device including a soluble medical sharp object, and Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 4A. Figures 4A and 4B show a medical device 100 in the form of a Luer slip needle including a soluble medical sharp object 105. A hollow magnesium or magnesium alloy needle forms the sharp object 105, which is fixed to a needle hub portion 140 formed from a support member 110. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 4B, the support member 110 is formed integrally with the hub portion 140 in this embodiment and in other embodiments of the device 100. The hub portion 140 is conical and dimensional according to the international standard for Luer needle hub coupling design for coupling to standard syringes, fluid tubes, or other related devices for handling or delivering liquid pharmaceuticals, intravenous fluids, etc.

[0024] Figure 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medical device equipped with a soluble medical sharp object. Figure 5 shows a device 100 having a soluble sharp object 105 and a plurality of support members 110. In this embodiment and in some embodiments, the device 110 is a single-use syringe. In some embodiments, the device 100 is a pre-filled syringe, which is delivered from a pharmacy containing a “pre-filled” liquid medicine for injection. The needle forming the medical sharp object 105 is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy in some embodiments and is fixed to the support member 110 as shown in the figure to form an integrated device. Integrated syringe needle devices are often used by diabetic patients for insulin self-injection and, in some embodiments, are used in combination with other medicines to treat symptoms of other therapies.

[0025] Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a medical device equipped with a dissolvable medical sharpener. Figure 6 shows a device 100 having a dissolvable sharpener 105 and a support member 110. The device 110 is a single-use scalpel in this embodiment and in some embodiments. The integral blade forming the dissolvable sharpener 105 is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy with a total magnesium content of about 80% to about 100%. Single-use scalpels are commonly used for minor medical procedures both inside and outside hospitals. In some embodiments, the support member 110 includes a handle which may be formed of rapidly biodegradable plastic or a metal that can be recycled multiple times.

[0026] Figure 7 is a diagram of a solvent for processing medical devices containing soluble medical sharps. Figure 7 shows solvent 120, the properties of which are discussed in detail herein. Medical devices 100 of any embodiment shown in Figures 1-6 and discussed herein can be disposed of after a single use by immersing the entire portion of the medical sharps 105 contained in the device 100 in liquid solvent 120. After use, the single-use device 100 is immersed in liquid solvent 120, which is non-toxic, harmless, and safe for wastewater, capable of decomposing the sharps 105. Once the solvent 120 has dissolved the sharps 105 and enough time has elapsed that there is no longer a sharps hazard, the remaining portion of the device 100, including the support member 110, can be disposed of as ordinary household waste by throwing it in the trash, recycling it, or composting it if the parts 110 are formed using appropriate compostable materials. Solvent 120 can also be safely stored for future use or disposed of according to general household recommended practices. Typically, solvent 120 is safe for wastewater and is disposed of through household sewers or septic tanks.

[0027] The dissolvable sharp object disposal method utilizes a solvent 120 and a medical sharp object 105 formed from a metal alloy that dissolves in the solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent 120 is a weak acid with a pH of about 2.0 to about 3.0. Non-limiting examples of compounds suitable for use as solvent 120 include household vinegar containing a 4-6% aqueous solution of acetic acid with a pH of about 2.3 to 2.5. Lemon juice, lime juice, and cranberry juice all have a pH of about 2.0 to about 2.5, although this varies depending on the citric acid concentration in the juice. The use of other non-toxic weak acids with a pH of about 2.0 to about 3.0 is also considered within the scope of the methods disclosed herein.

[0028] In some embodiments, solvent 120 is a weak acid with a pH of about 3.0 to about 4.0. A non-limiting example is a food product sold as "soda water," which is carbonated water with a higher pH than the household vinegars and citrus juices mentioned herein, but is acidic enough to dissolve magnesium and magnesium alloys within about 24 hours.

[0029] Various alloy compositions containing magnesium are suitable for forming medical sharps 105 in the embodiments discussed herein and several other embodiments, as long as the alloy contains magnesium at a concentration of at least about 80%. In some embodiments, the magnesium concentration of the alloy is about 80% to about 85%. In some embodiments, the magnesium concentration of the alloy is about 85% to about 90%. In some embodiments, the magnesium concentration of the alloy is about 90% to about 95%. In some embodiments, the magnesium concentration of the alloy is greater than about 95%.

[0030] Other metals known to rapidly decompose in weak acids with a pH of approximately 2.0 to 4.0 (i.e., dissolve within approximately 24 hours) can be incorporated into magnesium-containing alloys, but their relative amount should be less than approximately 20% of the total composition. Incorporating other metals in relative amounts exceeding approximately 20% of the total alloy composition reduces the relative amount of magnesium accordingly to less than approximately 80%, resulting in an effect of extending the sharp object dissolution time beyond 24 hours. Zinc is an example of a metal that reacts with weak acids, but its reaction rate is two to three orders of magnitude slower than magnesium, making it unsuitable for equipment incorporating soluble sharp object components. Dissolution times exceeding approximately 24 hours are considered inconvenient for some users, leading to a greater tendency to dispose of sharp objects as household waste and a decrease in usage frequency. Decomposition, even with incomplete dissolution, is acceptable as long as the sharp object 105 is substantially destroyed.

[0031] Magnesium alloys generally have lower tensile strength and ductility compared to stainless steel alloys used in the manufacture of conventional lancets, needles, scalpels, and other single-use medical sharps. However, magnesium and magnesium alloys are suitable for medical applications due to their low density and modulus, biodegradability, and demonstrated biological and biomechanical compatibility. Magnesium and its alloys are non-toxic and are incorporated into many implantable medical devices, including cardiovascular stents and orthopedic implants.

[0032] Figure 8 shows a method for disposing of medical devices containing soluble medical sharps. The method 200 shown in Figure 8 includes a step 210 of using a single-use medical device having soluble sharps, an immersion step 220 of placing the soluble sharp portion of the used medical device into a solvent containing a weak acid with a pH of approximately 2.0 to approximately 4.0, and a disposal step of disposing of the undissolved support members of the medical device in an environmentally friendly manner, such as recycling or composting.

[0033] By dissolving metal sharps in single-use, disposable medical devices used outside of healthcare facilities with a mild household acid such as vinegar, the need for separate sharps disposal containers is eliminated. Any remaining undissolved components of the medical device can be disposed of using readily available household methods, such as regular household waste. Furthermore, because vinegar also acts as a cleaning and mild disinfectant, any remaining undissolved components can be disposed of in more environmentally friendly ways, such as recycling or composting. These components can also be reused in the medical device manufacturing process.

[0034] If, after soaking in vinegar, the risk of contamination remains and it is determined that the undissolved components cannot be recycled, disposal methods may include a secondary cleaning and disinfection step using a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or other commonly available household, harmless, non-toxic, and drain-safe cleaning and disinfecting agents.

[0035] As an alternative to secondary cleaning and disinfection processes, the remaining non-soluble support components can be coated with a weakly acid-soluble barrier coating during the manufacturing process. Examples of barrier coatings include waxes such as carnauba wax and beeswax, and chitosan. The barrier coating isolates the medical device support components 110 from potentially infectious biological fluids encountered during the use of the medical device 100. By dissolving the barrier coating with a solvent 120 simultaneously with medical sharps 105, the support components 110 can be disposed of in a more environmentally friendly manner or reused in the medical device manufacturing process.

[0036] Because undissolved parts can be safely returned to the manufacturing process, the material for non-dissolved parts can be selected more appropriately. The recyclability of plastics commonly used in medical sharps has not been a design consideration until now. In some of the embodiments presented herein, it is now possible to consider plastics with higher recyclability in the design. PET, particularly clear PET, and HDPE are examples of more recyclable plastics, which have been shown to pass through more recycling loops before their mechanical properties deteriorate significantly. Clear PET is a preferred material for food and beverage bottlers and can be easily collected at most municipal material collection facilities. Many bottlers are working to increase the use of recycled PET in their products. Many support members 110, including lancet bodies, lancet caps, safety lancet housings, needle bodies and plungers, pen needle hub portions 140, Luer slip needle hub portions 140, syringes with integrated needle hub portions 140, syringe barrels and plungers, and scalpel handles, are all examples of support members 110 that can be manufactured from PET or HDPE. A further advantage of transparent PET is that users of the device 100 can visually confirm that the medical sharps 105 have dissolved sufficiently in the solvent 120 and can be disposed of as ordinary, harmless household waste.

[0037] Regardless of the choice of material forming the support member 110, in some embodiments, a resin symbol is displayed to guide classification in a material recovery facility. The resin symbol is typically embossed on the plastic part 110, as shown, for example, on the lancet safety cap 1102 in Figure 2A.

[0038] The support members 110 in the embodiments described herein are generally small and are at risk of falling through the standard screen size of sorting screens used in material recovery facilities. Therefore, in some embodiments, features for connecting the non-dissolving support members 110 can be incorporated to achieve an overall dimension large enough to pass through the sorting process. A safety cap 136, as shown in Figure 1B, is characterized by having two caps and is capable of receiving the ends of two lancet bodies, as shown in Figure 1C. This allows used lancets to be connected, as shown in Figure 1C, and can form a total volume large enough to meet the size criteria for screening in a material recovery facility. Similarly, Figures 3A-C show a device 100 with a pen needle having an annular snap-fit ​​feature. In this device, in a stack of connected used pen caps, a male rim located on the upper outer surface of a first lower pen cap in the stack fits into a female groove located on the lower inner surface of a second upper pen cap. Figure 3C shows three used pen needle hubs stacked to achieve dimensions sufficient to meet the size criteria for screening in a material recovery facility.

[0039] In many embodiments disclosed herein, the non-soluble component 110 may be composed of compostable and renewable bioplastics such as PLA, PHA, or PHB. Alternatively, the non-soluble component may be composed of renewable, recyclable, or compostable pulp or other cellulose fibers such as bagasse, bamboo, or sawdust. Common molding techniques for cellulose fibers used in the manufacture of non-soluble components include compression molding, wet molding, and dry molding.

[0040] Alternatively, the non-meltable components of the embodiment may be made of a metal that can be recycled multiple times. Metals such as steel alloys and aluminum have the advantage of being able to go through multiple recycling loops.

[0041] Alternatively, the non-soluble components of the embodiment may be formed from advanced ceramics such as silicon nitride, zirconia, or alumina. The use of advanced ceramics allows the non-soluble support member 110 to be reused in the manufacturing process of the device 100. Ceramics are highly durable and can withstand high temperatures. The non-soluble support member 110 can be returned to the manufacturer, cleaned and inspected, and then reintegrated into the manufacturing process.

[0042] Some embodiments of the apparatus 100 are formed entirely from a soluble metal. An all-metal lancet may include a soluble metal body. An all-metal pen needle may include an inner hub portion 120 and a body portion made of soluble metal. The fact that the apparatus 100 is composed entirely of a soluble metal has the advantage of eliminating the need for a post-use disposal step after dissolution in the solvent 120.

[0043] In embodiments of the apparatus 100 that include multiple non-soluble parts made from two or more materials, the apparatus 100 may include a soluble metal mechanism that allows the apparatus to be disassembled only after the soluble metal has decomposed. Figures 2A-B show the apparatus 100 including a safety lancet with a housing and a cap. Annular grooves provided on the outer surface of the housing and the inner surface of the cap are provided with a retaining ring made of the same soluble metal as the sharp object 105. Slots in the cap facilitate exposure of the retaining ring to the solvent 120. After the metal parts of the sharp object 105 have been dissolved by the solvent 120, the cap can be removed from the housing, and non-soluble internal parts such as the needle body, plunger, and spring 139 included in the actuator mechanism and needle retraction mechanism can be removed and recycled separately.

[0044] Several embodiments of soluble medical sharp instruments and methods for disposal have been presented. The embodiments and examples described herein are provided to best illustrate the present invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to manufacture and use the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the above description and examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. The description is not exhaustive and does not limit the present invention to the disclosed forms. In view of the above teachings, many modifications and changes are possible.

Claims

1. A single-use, disposable medical device comprising a magnesium-containing soluble medical sharp object and a non-soluble support member, By immersing the aforementioned soluble medical sharp object in a weak acid, the soluble medical sharp object is decomposed. A medical device characterized in that the medical sharp object is dissolved or substantially destroyed, separated from the non-dissolvable support member, and safely disposed of as household waste.

2. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnesium makes up about 80% or more of the total composition of the medical sharp object.

3. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-soluble support member includes a bioplastic.

4. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device is a lancet.

5. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device is a pen needle.

6. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device is a pre-filled syringe.

7. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device is a scalpel.

8. A medical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical device is a Luer slip needle.

9. A medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a soluble blocking coating disposed on a non-soluble support member.

10. A method for disposing of single-use medical devices having soluble sharp objects, A step of using a single-use medical device having a soluble sharp object, The steps include placing soluble sharp objects from used medical devices into a solvent containing a weak acid, Steps for disposing of undissolved support members of medical devices and A method characterized by comprising:

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the pH of the weak acid is about 2.0 to about 3.

0.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the pH of the weak acid is about 3.0 to about 4.

0.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the weak acid is selected from the group consisting of lemon juice, lime juice, and cranberry juice.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the weak acid is household vinegar.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the weak acid is soda water.

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