Dual Sharps Container with Collapsible Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disposal of used syringes and pen needles poses a health risk due to accidental needle sticks, especially in home settings where safe disposal practices are not standardized, and existing sharps containers are not efficiently designed for shipping and storage, leading to potential contamination and increased handling risks.
Innovation Solution
A dual-container system where a first container with a repositionable wall and one-way mechanism allows for safe storage and disposal of sharps, while a second container, initially collapsed for shipping, expands for dispensing unused sharps, reducing shipping volume and providing a space-efficient solution for both storage and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional sharps container is used for disposal, then safe disposal is achieved, but shipping and storage volume is excessive due to empty container penalties
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sharps disposal function into two separate containers: a first container for receiving and disposing of used sharps, and a second container for storing unused sharps. This segmentation allows each container to be optimized for its specific function and enables the second container to be collapsed when empty, eliminating empty container penalties during shipping while maintaining safe disposal capabilities in the first container.
Solution Approach 2:
The second container incorporates a collapsible structure that can transition between an expanded state for storing unused sharps and a collapsed state for space-efficient shipping and storage. This dynamic volume adjustment resolves the contradiction by reducing shipping volume while maintaining adequate storage capacity when needed.
2Volume of moving object
If a collapsed second container is used for shipping, then shipping volume is reduced, but dispensing unused sharps becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible second container includes a dispensing mechanism that operates effectively in both collapsed and expanded states. The mechanism is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing users to easily access and dispense unused sharps without complex operations, thus maintaining ease of operation despite the dynamic volume change.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing mechanism is designed to be user-friendly and self-explanatory, requiring minimal instruction or complex manipulation. Users can easily operate the mechanism to dispense sharps from the collapsed container, maintaining ease of operation while achieving reduced shipping volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If home disposal practices are informal using discarded containers, then storage flexibility is improved, but health safety deteriorates due to accidental needle sticks
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dedicated containers for different purposes (disposal vs. storage) that can be used in various settings including homes. The first container is specifically designed for safe disposal with features that prevent accidental sticks, while maintaining the flexibility to be used in different environments unlike rigid institutional protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs disposable sharps containers that are designed for single-use or limited-use scenarios, particularly suitable for home environments. These containers provide safe disposal capabilities without requiring institutional infrastructure, combining accessibility with safety through purpose-built design rather than repurposed containers.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to volumetrically efficient systems for distributing, storing, and dispensing a number of medical or laboratory sharps with subsequent safe disposal of the used sharps. The systems comprise first and second sharps containers configured such that the combined containers, as well as contained sharps, may be shipped in a volume approximately equivalent to the volume of one of the containers.