Patent ID: 8113349

Claim:
A sharps dispensing and disposal system, which comprises: a sharps dispensing container dimensioned to be positioned upright on a support surface to define a lower end and an upper end, the dispensing container having a dispensing outlet adjacent the lower end thereof; a sharps disposal container at least partially disposed within the dispensing container and being dimensioned and arranged within the dispensing container to define a chamber between the dispensing container and the disposal container at least partially surrounding the disposal container and including a portion extending below a bottom of the disposal container, the disposal container defining an opening for receiving contaminated sharps, the disposal container being mounted in suspended relation within the dispensing container and supported within the dispensing container in a manner to permit movement of the disposal container relative to the dispensing container; an elastic member disposed between the dispensing container and the disposal container, the elastic member dimensioned to permit movement of the disposal container relative to the dispensing container; and a plurality of sterile sharps disposed within the chamber for dispensing through the dispensing outlet of the dispensing container.