System for containing medical waste with a bag and machine for producing said bag

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for containing medical waste with a bag and a machine for producing said bag. It relates to a reusable, hermetically sealed, metal container for medical waste, with a bag and locks or latches, which prevent the lid from being opened until the waste inside the same has been sterilized by the pressurized steam of an autoclave. It also relates to said plastic bag made up of two or more layers of different physical properties, configured into a single body. Said bag is housed inside the aforementioned hermetically sealed container. It also relates to a machine for producing these bags with a winder, folder and several sealers using heat resistance inserted into conveyer belts.

Claims

1. A system for containing medical waste with an opening for sterilization, of those commonly used for the heating and sterilization inside a oven, characterized in that it comprises a container and a lid, a double-layered bag housed inside the container and a mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the container; the container having a threaded upper edge; the lid being provided with a rubber seal that makes the container airtight and a central inner shaft located in an axial position and arrangement and a spring that runs the length of, and concentric to, said central inner shaft and arranged on the downward side of the lid oriented towards the container, with a pushing piece on the free end of the spring and the central inner shaft being insertable in the bag; and the bag being double-layered made up of two sub-bags, one of which is housed inside the other, both sub-bags being sealed at the lateral contours thereof at the opening thereof, an inner sub-bag being made of LDPE heat shrink material and the other outer sub-bag made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material; and the opening and closing mechanism of the lid of the container having opening and closing capability in accordance with the heat experienced inside the oven.

2. The system for containing medical waste with an opening for sterilization according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing mechanism of the lid of the container comprises two metal rods in a vertical arrangement, two holes in the upper region of the wall of the container, two lower latches-openings on the lid, another two circular latches also on the lid, and a stop on the periphery of the container on the upper region and adjacent to the upper threaded edge of the same container; said metal rods arranged diametrically opposite on the wall of the container and contiguous on the upper end to the holes of the container and secured and fastened at the lower end thereof on the inner vertical wall of the lower region of the container, and said metal rods having the greater part of the longitudinal extension thereof separated and without making contact with said inner vertical wall of the container, also being provided with protrusions on the upper end thereof of suitable dimensions for the passage thereof through the contiguous hole of the wall of the container and also provided with a suitable flexibility to move close to the inner vertical wall of the container when they are subjected to the necessary force; and the two lower latches-openings diametrically opposite and fixed to the lid, and the other two circular locks also diametrically opposite and fixed to the lid and at a higher position in relation to the two latches-openings and both pairs of elements separated by an angle approximately 20 degrees from a plan view of the lid.

Description

(1) For a greater understanding of the invention, drawings of an embodiment object of the present invention are attached as an explanatory, non-limiting example thereof.

(2) FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the container according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows two schematic views of two possible embodiments of the bag according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of different mechanical elements for opening and closing the container according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a part of the lid of the container, on the inner part thereof.

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the lid of the container, seen from below.

(7) FIG. 6 is a view of the container, full, wherein neither the bag nor the lid has been shown in order to be able to observe the content thereof.

(8) FIG. 7 is a view of the container, without the lid, and the bag object of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is a view of the container, with the lid closed, in which the container has been partially cut to be able to see inside the same.

(10) FIG. 9 is likewise a partial cross-sectional view of the system object of the present invention, with the lid in the open position.

(11) FIGS. 10 to 17 show the opening and closing process of the system object of the present invention.

(12) FIGS. 18 and 19 show the container, bag and lid of the container in different positions.

(13) FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a cross section of the linear laminar assembly in a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(15) FIGS. 22 and 23 are schematic views of the roller systems in a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 24 shows views of successive sequences of the sealing process in a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 25 is a schematic view of a laminar strip which results from the sealing process in a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(18) FIGS. 26 and 27 are schematic views and from different perspectives of a plastic double-layered bag resulting from a preferred embodiment of the machine for producing plastic double-layered bags of the present invention.

(19) In a first modality, in the present invention a metal container is described that is made up of two bodies, a lid (2) and a vat (1) (FIG. 1). Inside the container a double-layered plastic bag (3) is placed, into which medical waste is placed. The first inner layer of the plastic bag is made up of LDPE heat shrink material (31) and the second outer layer is made up of HDPE (32) (FIG. 2).

(20) Once the waste is placed in the double-layered bag (FIG. 6), the bag is then closed by the first LDPE heat shrink layer (FIG. 7); the second layer of the HDPE bag will be fixed in the initial open position thereof. The lid is screwed on the container, the bag of the first LDPE layer (FIG. 8) compressing the spring, and in turn, since this first layer is in contact with the metal rods (11a and 11b), they will pivot or oscillate toward the outside of the vat, obstructing the exit of the latches (22) of the lid as indicated in FIG. 13.

(21) The placement of the lid on the vat, allows the screwing and hermetic sealing thereof. This is achieved since on the periphery of the lid two lower fixed opposite latches (21) and another two intermediate opposite circular latches (22) are housed (FIGS. 4 and 5). The first lower latches of the lid (21) slide through the entrance of the metal rods 11a and 11b of the vat as shown in FIG. 10, and the same will rotate in a clockwise direction 20 degrees. The lid will then lower a few centimeters until the latches 22 also enter through the entrance of the metal rods 11a and 11b (FIG. 11). The lid will then rotate 160 degrees in a clockwise direction, the round latches 22 screwing into the thread of the upper edge of the vat FIG. 12, until reaching the stop 13 as shown in FIG. 13. At this moment, by the effect of the thread between the lid and the vat, the container will remain hermetically closed by the silicone rubber piece (26) as shown in FIGS. 8 and 13.

(22) Since the waste contained inside the first layer of the LDPE bag is pressed by the action of the spring of the lid (24), the metal rods (11a and 11b) will be oscillated outwardly by the pressure of the bag in a closed position (FIGS. 14 and 14a).

(23) This closed positions prevents the lid (2) from opening, while the rods (11a and 11b) are in this mode (FIG. 13).

(24) By the autoclave sterilizing the waste with pressurized steam and with the high temperature inside of the chamber of the autoclave, the bag of the first LDPE layer housed inside the container will compress by the heat shrink memory in diameter, causing the metal rods (11a-11b) that are in contact with the same to oscillate or pivot towards the inside of the vat, since the bag will no longer press the metal rods, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

(25) Once the metal rods pivot toward the inside of the vat, the lid with its round intermediate latches (22) will be released and by the action of the spring of the lid, the same will move upwards, until the lower and opposite latches (21) are anchored in the lower part of the thread of the upper edge of the vat FIG. 16. This allows the steam of the autoclave to enter inside the container through the upper holes of the lid (31), since there is no hermetic seal, thereby allowing the sterilization of the waste contained in the inner bag of the vat to take place.

(26) A particle filter is housed in the upper part, which does not allow solid waste inside the bag to exit.

(27) Once the sterilization cycle of the autoclave has finished, the container is then extracted from the chamber of the autoclave. We then rotate the lid 20 degrees in a counterclockwise direction to release the lower latch from the lid (21) FIG. 17; since this latch prevents the opening of the lid given that they are anchored to the lower part of the thread of the upper edge of the vat when the intermediate latches were previously released (22) FIG. 17.

(28) Anchored inside the lid is a metal shaft (23) on which a spring (24) moves coupled to a piece that is also metal and acts as a pusher (25) FIG. 5. The bags of the waste are anchored to the rod of the metal shaft on which the spring moves, since this shaft is inserted in the bag, (FIGS. 17 and 18).

(29) The spring of the lid will end up expelling the bag of the compressed waste by the action of the metal piece of the pusher (25), the shaft (23) being released (FIG. 19).

(30) In a second modality, the present invention describes a double-layered bag (3) (FIG. 2), the properties of which are:

(31) 1. In the inner layer thereof, that of compressing the waste given that the composition of the raw material thereof is LDPE heat shrink material (31), and by receiving heat and increase the temperature thereof, it has the physical properties of compressing and returning to the initial state of production thereof (it has heat shrink memory) and this way compresses to of the initial volume thereof, or that of the waste it contains inside the same. 2. On the outer layer of the bag made up of high-density polypropylene (HDPE) (32), it prevents the liquids formed inside the same from spilling into the container, keeping it clean. This outer layer has the purpose of being sealed with the rubber piece (26) of the lid of the container, such that it provides a hermetic seal between the bag and the lid (FIG. 8).

(32) Placed inside this bag (23) is the medical waste, such as gauze, gloves, infected plastic pieces, infectious materials, etc. (FIG. 6, 26, 27).

(33) Both layers of the two bags are heat sealed on the sides thereof, joining them into a single body as shown in FIGS. 2, 20 and 27.

(34) In a third modality, the present invention describes a series of rollers (218), which by being anchored in different positions, allow two layers of a different chemical composition to be joined, wherein the first inner layer or first inner sheet 101 of the plastic bag is made up of LDPE heat shrink material and the second outer layer or second sheet 102 is made up of HDPE (FIG. 25). Once the two layers are joined, they will form a plastic sheet which, after having passed through the sealer (219) FIG. 20, will end up forming the double-layered bags (107) (FIG. 25).

(35) Said machine (FIGS. 20 and 22) make two conveyor belts (164, 165) rotate by means of rollers (221), to which several sealers using heat resistance are anchored (106), which by making contact with the plastic sheet (105), will seal the different layers and provide a double-layered bag in a single body. The sealers will be double and will be located on two conveyor belts to thereby seal the bags on the two faces thereof and thus achieve greater contact and heat to melt the different layers of the bags in the shortest time possible (FIG. 29).

(36) More specifically, as schematically shown in FIG. 25, the machine for producing double-layered plastic bags of the present invention comprises unrolled supply means 111 of a first sheet 101 that is made of a first plastic material and unrolled supply means 122 of a second sheet 102 that is made of a second plastic material.

(37) In this preferred embodiment, the first sheet 101 is made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) heat shrink material and the second sheet 102 is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

(38) Moreover, the machine for producing double-layered plastic bags of the invention also comprises positioning means 133 of the two previously mentioned sheets 101, 102, already known in the state of the art.

(39) Said positioning means 133 receive the first sheet 101 and the second sheet 102 in a continuous and unrolled manner from the same unrolled means 111, 122, respectively, and are capable of folding, bending and converting the position of said two sheets 101, 102, into a linear, folded and continuous arrangement in the resulting linear laminar assembly 103.

(40) Said resulting linear laminar assembly 103 is made up of two central sheets 131, contiguous and overlapping resulting from a bending and folding on of the first sheet 101 over itself, and by another two outer sheets 132 resulting from another bending and folding of the second sheet 102 over itself, the two outer sheets 132 being arranged one on each side and contiguous to the other two central sheets 131, such as that which is schematically shown in FIG. 20 in a cross-sectional view of the linear laminar assembly 103.

(41) The arrangement described implies that in the linear laminar assembly 103, the two central sheets 131 are made of low-density polypropylene (LDPE) heat shrink material and the two outer sheets 132 are made of high-density polypropylene (HDPE).

(42) The machine for producing double-layered plastic bags of the invention also comprises two rotating roller systems 144, 155 symmetrically arranged, respectively, above and below the aforementioned resulting linear laminar assembly 103 when it comes out of the positioning means 133, as schematically shown in FIGS. 25 and 27.

(43) Each rotating roller system 144, 155 in turn comprises a conveyor belt 164, 165, respectively, of a continuous strip arranged and installed in each roller system 144, 155 and actuated in the movement thereof by the same.

(44) The conveyor belts 164, 165 therefore are also in a symmetric position on top of and below the aforementioned resulting linear laminar assembly 103, such that a section of the continuous cyclical movement in the roller system 144, 155 is parallel and adjacent to said resulting linear laminar assembly 102, as also shown schematically in FIG. 28.

(45) A plurality of electric heat sealers 106 are inserted in the conveyor belts 164, 165, and therefore are movable with the same and also are symmetrically arranged above and below the aforementioned resulting linear assembly 103 that enters in the roller system 144, 155.

(46) As shown in FIG. 28 and also in the successive sequences of FIG. 29, the heat sealers 106 are arranged on each conveyor belt 164, 165 such that in a section of the movement thereof they are in an adjacent and contiguous position with the others from the different conveyor belts 164, 165.

(47) This takes place when, as a result of continuous and cyclical movement of the conveyor belts 164, 165, said heat sealers 106 move along the section of continuous cyclical movement of the conveyor belts 164, 165 which is parallel and adjacent to the linear laminar assembly 103 which enters in the roller systems 144, 155 as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.

(48) This arrangement described makes it possible so that in said section the heat sealers 106 simultaneously make contact with the linear laminar assembly 103 that enters in the roller systems 144, 155 and from each one of the opposite sides of the same linear laminar assembly 103.

(49) Said frontal coincidence ensures contact of the different sheets 131, 132 that make up the linear laminar assembly 103 under the action of the pressing of the heat sealers 106 themselves, when the same move along the section of the continuous cyclical movement of the conveyor bets 164, 165, which is parallel and adjacent to the linear laminar assembly 113 that enters in the roller systems 144, 155.

(50) At the same time, the heating of the heat sealers 106 carries out the sealing of the portions in contact with the sheets 131, 132 of the linear assembly 103 under the effect of the pressure of the heat sealers 106 themselves, as can be seen in the sequential representation of FIG. 29.

(51) As a result of the same, a resulting laminar strip 107 indicated in FIG. 3 and in the final sequence of FIG. 5, is obtained, also represented in FIG. 6.

(52) Said laminar strip 107 is subsequently easily separated and individualized in different double-layered bags 108 shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, with an inner layer 181 of low-density polypropylene (LDPE) heat shrink material, and an outer layer 182 of high-density polypropylene (HDPE), which respectively correspond to the central sheets 131 and the outer sheets 132 of the previously described linear laminar assembly 103 before passing through the roller systems 144, 155 and before the sealing thereof by the heat sealers 106 of the conveyor belts 164, 165.

(53) This explained arrangement of the machine for producing double-layered plastic bags of the invention allows the contact process of the heat sealer between the different plastic parts of the double-layered bags 108 to be more prolonged for an improved sealing without reducing the production speed of the bag.

(54) The present invention also has the purpose of joining the plastic layers of different compositions and sealing the high-density bags by means of heat, allowing the contact process of the multiple sealers with the plastic parts of the bags to be more prolonged for an improved sealing without reducing the production speed of the bags. The contact time between the sealers and the different layers of the bag is determined by the speed of the conveyor belt and the amount of sealers installed in said belt, since the sealing time is constant.

(55) The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used to manufacture the machine for producing double-layered plastic bags of the present invention, may be suitably substituted for others which are technically equivalent, and do not diverge from the essential nature of the invention, nor the scope defined by the claims included below.