Fluid Sample Container With Removable Tube Holder for Sharps Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sample collection containers generate excessive sharps waste and pose a risk of needle-stick injuries due to integrated finger grip luer adapters (FGLAs) that require disposal of the entire lid, increasing disposal costs and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with a removably coupled specimen collection tube holder that allows the holder to be separated from the lid, reducing sharps waste by enabling separate disposal and minimizing direct contact with potentially hazardous components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the FGLA is integrated into the container lid, then sample collection function is provided, but sharps waste volume increases and needle-stick injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the integrated FGLA assembly into separate components: the FGLA with needle is separated from the container lid. The FGLA can be attached to the lid only when needed for sample collection, and removed afterward for separate disposal in sharps containers. This segmentation allows the sample collection function to be maintained while significantly reducing the volume of sharps waste that requires special disposal.
2Ease of operation
If the FGLA is integrated into the container lid, then sample collection is enabled, but user safety deteriorates due to increased needle-stick injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the FGLA from the container lid, the invention allows the needle-containing component to be handled only during the brief moment of sample collection. After use, the FGLA can be immediately removed and disposed of in a sharps container, minimizing the time the needle is accessible and thereby reducing the risk of needle-stick injuries to patients and healthcare workers.
3Reliability
If the entire container lid is disposed of in sharps container, then complete safety is achieved, but disposal cost increases and service frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables selective disposal by separating the FGLA (containing the needle) from the container lid. Only the small FGLA component needs to be disposed of in expensive sharps containers, while the larger container lid can be disposed of through less costly regular medical waste channels. This dramatically reduces the volume of material requiring expensive sharps disposal services.
4Ease of operation
If the FGLA is non-removably integrated into the lid, then sample extraction is simplified, but device complexity increases due to integrated disposal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By making the FGLA removable from the container lid, the invention simplifies disposal management. The FGLA can be easily detached and placed in a sharps container, while the container lid is separated for different disposal pathways. This segmentation actually reduces the complexity of disposal management compared to integrating everything together, as each component can be handled according to its specific requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A container assembly including a collection container and a container lid couplable to the collection container. A specimen collection tube holder having an elongated receptacle formed therein is provided, the elongated receptacle being configured to receive a specimen collection tube. The specimen collection tube holder is removably couplable to a central portion of the container lid such that at least a portion of the elongated receptacle extends into the chamber of the collection container when the container lid is coupled to the collection container and the specimen collection tube holder is coupled to the container lid.