Sharps Container with Segmented Compartments and Rotatable Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
The safe and organized disposal of used syringes and pen needles in both healthcare settings and private homes is inadequate, leading to risks of accidental needle sticks and disease transmission, as current disposal practices are not consistently followed and lack standardization, especially for diabetics who frequently administer insulin.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional sharps container designed for safe storage and disposal, featuring separate compartments for unused and used sharps, a liquid-impermeable partition, and adaptable orientations to fit various storage locations, with mechanisms for convenient dispensing and receiving sharps, including one-way apertures and mechanisms to prevent accidental handling of used needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate compartments for unused and used sharps are implemented, then safety and organization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sharps container is divided into separate compartments: a first compartment for receiving used sharps and a second compartment for storing unused sharps. This segmentation allows for organized storage and disposal, preventing contamination and accidental exposure while maintaining a manageable single-unit device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the container is designed to fit various storage locations with adaptable orientations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a rotatable component that enables it to be positioned in different orientations (e.g., vertical or horizontal) to adapt to various storage locations. This dynamic positioning capability allows the container to fit different spatial configurations without requiring multiple specialized designs, maintaining simplicity through a single adaptable structure.
3Reliability
If one-way mechanisms are implemented to prevent accidental handling of used needles, then safety is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The used sharps are extracted from the first compartment into a separate, isolated space within the container through a one-way mechanism. This extraction process allows used needles to be automatically contained and separated from unused sharps, preventing accidental handling while maintaining straightforward operation through automatic containment rather than complex manual procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a multifunctional sharps container having a first dispensing compartment for storing unused sharps and a second compartment for receiving used sharps. The first and second compartments are separated by a generally liquid impermeable partition fixed to the walls of the container. In addition, the first and second compartments are provided with apertures and structures for conveying the sharps, out of and into the compartments respectively, which are functional in at least two orientations of the container.