Patent ID: 6332534
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: A61B,A61M,B65D

Abstract:
A system for the safe disposal of sharp instruments, comprising:a container having an upper body portion and a lower body portion, each with first and second ends, secured together at their respective first ends to define a hollow interior;a frangible membrane extending across the interior of the container, between the secured-together first ends of the upper and lower body portions, separating the interior into a first fluid-tight compartment and a second fluid-tight compartment, said second fluid-tight compartment being in said lower body portion;a hardenable liquid substance in the first compartment, and an accelerator in the second compartment;at least one protuberance extending upwardly in said second compartment, occupying a part of the volume of said second compartment, and defining a large surface area, whereby less hardenable substance is required in order to effectively encapsulate said sharp instrument and an enhanced mechanical bond is achieved between the hardenable substance, the sharp instrument, and the container; anda penetrable wall extending across the second end of the upper body portion, so that a sharp instrument may be penetrated through the wall into the container and into contact with the frangible membrane to fracture the membrane and permit rapid admixing of the hardenable substance and the accelerator to cause a reaction to harden the hardenable substance and capture the instrument, rendering the instrument incapable of further use.