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US-12616497-B2 - Scalpel blade container

US12616497B2US 12616497 B2US12616497 B2US 12616497B2US-12616497-B2

Abstract

The invention resides in a scalpel blade container for containing removed scalpel blades. The container has a hollow body having an internal space with a first section in which a scalpel blade remover is able to be positioned and a second section in which removed scalpel blades can be contained. A backflow preventer is provided that separates the first section and the second section and allows removed scalpel blades to pass from the first section to the second section but prevents removed scalpel blades from passing from the second section back into the first section.

Inventors

  • Michael Sinnott

Assignees

  • SMARTSTREAM PTY LTD

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240206
Priority Date
20210806

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A scalpel blade container for containing removed scalpel blades, the scalpel blade container comprising: a hollow body having an internal space; a first section of the internal space of the hollow body in which an automatically operated scalpel blade remover is able to be positioned; a second section of the internal space of the hollow body in which removed scalpel blades are able to be contained; and a backflow preventer mounted in the hollow body separating the first section of the internal space of the body and the second section of the internal space of the body; wherein the backflow preventer allows scalpel blades removed by the automatically operated scalpel blade remover to pass from the first section of the internal space to the second section of the internal space but prevents the removed scalpel blades from passing from the second section of the internal space back into the first section of the internal space and, consequently prevents a removed scalpel blade from interfering with the automatically operated scalpel blade remover, including any ancillary functions of the automatically operated scalpel blade remover including a counting device and/or a shut-off mechanism, or escaping the scalpel blade container.
  2. 2 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the scalpel blade remover is mounted within the first section of the internal space.
  3. 3 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the scalpel blade remover is removably mounted to the body.
  4. 4 . The scalpel blade container of claim 2 , wherein the scalpel blade remover is fixed to the body.
  5. 5 . The scalpel blade container of claim 2 , wherein the scalpel blade remover is located within an upper portion of the internal space of the body, the upper portion of the internal space of the body also being the first section of the internal space.
  6. 6 . The scalpel blade container of claim 2 , wherein the backflow preventer at least partially surrounds the scalpel blade remover.
  7. 7 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the internal space of the body is used to hold the removed scalpel blades, the lower portion of the internal space of the body also being the second section of the internal space.
  8. 8 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer comprises at least one backflow partition.
  9. 9 . The scalpel blade container of claim 8 , wherein the at least one backflow partition is immovable once located within the hollow of the body.
  10. 10 . The scalpel blade container of claim 8 , wherein the at least one backflow partition is integrally formed with the body.
  11. 11 . The scalpel blade container of claim 8 , wherein the at least one backflow partition is fitted separately.
  12. 12 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer is made from different material than that of the body.
  13. 13 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer includes one or more openings to allow the removed scalpel blades to pass from the first section to the second section.
  14. 14 . The scalpel blade container of claim 13 , wherein the backflow preventer includes an orientation device to orientate the removed scalpel blade in a desired orientation to pass through the one or more openings of the backflow preventer.
  15. 15 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer comprises a funnel.
  16. 16 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer comprises a labyrinth, tortuous path or maze.
  17. 17 . The scalpel blade container of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer is used to stabilise the scalpel blade remover.
  18. 18 . A scalpel blade remover able to be positioned within a scalpel blade removal container, the scalpel blade remover including: a mechanism to automatically remove a scalpel blade from a scalpel handle of a scalpel; and a backflow preventer attached to the mechanism; wherein the backflow preventer is configured to separate an internal space of the removal container into a first section in which the scalpel blade remover is able to be positioned and a second section in which removed scalpel blades are able to be collected and allows the removed scalpel blades from the mechanism to pass from a first side of the backflow preventer to a second side of the backflow preventer but prevent the removed scalpel blades from passing from the second side of the backflow preventer to the first side of the backflow preventer, and consequently prevents a removed scalpel blade from interfering with the mechanism, including any ancillary functions such as a counting device and/or a shut-off mechanism, or escaping the scalpel blade removal container.
  19. 19 . The scalpel blade remover of claim 18 , wherein the backflow preventer comprises a partition.
  20. 20 . The scalpel blade remover of claim 19 , wherein a first side of the partition is the first section of the internal space of the removal container and a second side of the partition is the second section of the internal space of the removal container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a scalpel blade container. In particular, the invention relates to a scalpel blade container associated with a scalpel blade remover and will be described in this context. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Scalpels are used throughout the world for a variety of medical and non medical procedures. A scalpel normally includes a scalpel handle that is fitted with a removable scalpel blade. After a scalpel has been used, the scalpel blade must be removed from the scalpel handle, the scalpel handle cleaned and a new scalpel blade placed on the scalpel handle. The scalpel blade is usually supplied sterile and the scalpel handle can be used in either a sterile or non-sterile field. The process of both removing and replacing a scalpel blade on a handle is not without risk. In the past fingers, forceps or needle holders were typically used for this process, and a user can easily cut themselves. This is particularly dangerous when the scalpel blade has been used and is covered in a patient's blood or other bodily fluids. Further once a scalpel blade is removed it can still cause injury to downstream workers such as wards persons, porters and laundry staff if the scalpel blade is not immediately contained. Scalpel blade removers are commonly used in hospitals and multiple other medical settings and non-medical industries to safely remove scalpel blades from scalpel handles. Such scalpel blade removers may be manually operated, with the user having to perform a particular manoeuvre or sequence of actions to remove the scalpel blade, or automatically operated, wherein the user can more simply insert the scalpel blade into the remover which then removes the blade. Some scalpel blade removers have a scalpel blade container that can capture the removed scalpel blades and enclose them securely and safely to avoid injury. The scalpel container and its contents can then be disposed of safely, for example by a designated sharps waste management company. Automatic scalpel blade removers may be mechanically operated or powered. Such scalpel blade removers usually comprises a mechanism configured to remove the scalpel blade from the scalpel handle in a single step for the user (e.g. insertion of the blade portion of a scalpel into the remover). They are designed for precise movement that is able to be repeated to ensure the reliable, safe removal of a scalpel blade from a scalpel handle. Any interference of the mechanism of the scalpel blade remover may impair the action of the device and may cause ineffective operation. In a worst-case scenario, jamming of the device will render it ineffective, preventing a scalpel blade from being removed from the scalpel handle. This will also put the user at risk of suffering an injury. Known scalpel blade removers associated with a container are susceptible to having the removed blades jostled about during delivery, logistics, use, handling, or relocation. This may cause the removed blades to become stuck and obstruct the operation of the mechanism of the scalpel blade remover. A disposed blade may even be able to exit the apparatus, posing a serious injury and contamination risk. When an obstruction to the mechanism occurs, this will generally lead to discarding the scalpel blade remover with the associated scalpel blade container prematurely. Attempting to remove the jammed scalpel blade from the scalpel blade container is both difficult and dangerous, putting the user at risk of injury. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate the abovementioned problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a scalpel blade container for containing removed scalpel blades, the scalpel blade container comprising: a hollow body having an internal space;a first section of the internal space of the hollow body in which an automatically operated scalpel blade remover is able to be positioned;a second section of the internal space of the hollow body in which removed scalpel blades are able to be contained; anda backflow preventer mounted in the hollow body separating the first section of the internal space of the body and the second section of the internal space of the body;wherein the backflow preventer allows scalpel blades removed by the automatically operated scalpel blade remover to pass from the first section of the internal space to the second section of the internal space but prevents removed scalpel blades from passing from the second section of the internal space back into the first section of the internal space, and consequently prevents a removed scalpel blade from interfering with the automatically operated scalpel blade remover or escaping the scalpel blade container. The body can be of any desired shape. Typically, the body is made of at least one plastic material. The pla