Abstract
This dissolvent is an inorganic compound of silica gel that is stabile and lasts for decades. Pleasant gold color, no evident odor or vapor, and it will not spill, or degrade over the decades, while awaiting use. After full and complete use with several syringes needles being dissolved at one location, these sharps will blacken and corrode and dissolve away, and the gel then becomes ordinary harmless waste to be conveniently discarded. This dissolvent gel will blunt sharp points and edges of sharps instantly to become totally useless. The useless sharps and needles will carry no infection, no living organism, no viruses, no pathogens, no bacterium, just nothing, just scrap! Nothing sharp or dangerous or infectious is left to be in the trash, or in the landfill, or in the oceanit's just harmless scrap.
Claims
1. A medical sharps acidic gel disinfecting and dissolvent composition disposed within a receptacle consisting essentially of inorganic silica, water, acid and a salt.
2. The medical sharps acidic gel disinfectant and dissolvent of claim 1 wherein the said gel disinfecting and dissolving composition renders harmless infectious material or diseases selected from the group consisting of microbes, viruses, pathogens and bacteria.
3. A medical sharps acidic gel disinfecting and dissolvent composition of claim 1 wherein said gel composition dissolves metal medical sharps including syringe needles and cannulas after use.
4. A medical sharps acidic gel disinfecting and dissolvent composition of claim 1, wherein said acidic gel composition dissolves metals of the iron group and steels.
5. A medical sharps acidic gel disinfecting and dissolvent composition of claim 1, wherein said gel dissolvent blunts and corrodes metal medical sharps upon contact with said gel composition.
6. A medical sharps disposal system comprising an acid gel disinfecting and dissolvent composition consisting of inorganic silica, water, acid and a salt and a receptacle for dissolving and sterilizing medical sharps.
7. A medical sharps disposal system of claim 6 wherein the system can be used with surgical kits, at home or in field conditions.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows the polymerization behavior of silica and that it will form gels as it grows larger.
(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram that shows the effect of pH on the gelling of silica sols wherein optimal times are provided with sodium salts.
(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows the gelling time and the type and strength of acids proven best.
(4) FIG. 4 is a chart from existing patent of Britton and Woodward wherein the many types of medical facilities are listed that can benefit from this gel dissolvent.
(5) FIG. 5 is a chart detailing locations requiring safe disposal means for medical sharps and syringe needles.
(6) FIG. 6 is a chart detailing proper disposal and/or disinfecting means for medical sharps, needles, and devices.
(7) FIG. 7 is a side view showing a used hypodermic syringe having been placed in a wide-mouthed test tube type container situated in a stabilized holder wherein the needle is in a dissolvent gel compound for its final disposal.
(8) FIG. 8 shows a side view section of a used hypodermic syringe having been placed in a test tube type holder with 2 sets of grippers shown that stabilize and center the syringe in a dissolvent get for its final disposal.
(9) FIG. 9 shows an open container wherein used hypodermic syringe needles having been drawn point down against an encased permanent magnet for final disposal in the dissolvent gel.
(10) FIG. 10 shows another type of container and its lid wherein the used syringes are drawn downward into the dissolvent gel through guides for their final disposal.
(11) FIG. 11 shows a container for one-handed insertion of used syringe needles wherein they reach a dissolvent gel within for their final disposal.
(12) FIG. 12 shows a containment holder for multiple used syringe needles that have been placed in wide-mouth test tube type holders as in FIG. 7 that in turn are put into, or located within, the containment holder herein shown for final disposal.
(13) FIG. 13 shows a side view of another type container demonstrating disposal means for multiple used syringe needles
(14) FIG. 14 shows another view of a larger container as in FIG. 13 wherein is shown this dissolvent gel for a safe final disposal of multiple used syringe needles.
(15) FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a container being empty to join up with the following FIG. 16 for use containing a dissolvent gel.
(16) FIG. 16 shows a side view of prior FIG. 15 with its lid and container that can hold a dissolvent gel which can dispose of stainless steel metal hazardous sharps.
(17) FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a container and its lid that is seen following in the FIG. 18 that receives the used syringes for disposal.
(18) FIG. 18 shows the container of FIG. 17 with the disposal means of a dissolvent gel receiving used syringe needles for final disposal.
(19) FIG. 19 shows perspective views of a container and its lid with a flexible plastic bag containing a dissolvent gel to be placed inside of the main container to wait for being pierced with used syringe needles as seen in the following FIG. 20.
(20) FIG. 20 shows the prior FIG. 19 being used for final disposal of used syringe needles as they are placed inside the container in a dissolvent gel.
(21) FIG. 21 shows a top view down into a surgical kit that contains disposal means within the kit for final disposal of surgical instrument tips that are demounted and released into the dissolvent gel provided.
(22) FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of another surgical kit and its lid wherein there is a dissolvent gel provided for convenient final disposal within.
(23) FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of another surgical kit wherein is contained a chamber for the dissolvent gel that will provide a safe and final disposal means for instrument used tips and such.
(24) FIG. 24 shows a top view of the surgical kit in FIG. 23 wherein it can be more clearly seen in regard to the chamber that contains the dissolvent gel for used instrument tips.
(25) FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of a surgical kit with an attached cover/lid that is open to show the interior that is available for placing the surgical instruments.
(26) FIG. 26 continues the view of FIG. 25 when closed with its cover in place.
(27) FIG. 27 is a top view looking down into a surgical kit/tray showing the area available for placing the surgical instruments as needed.
(28) FIG. 28 shows a side end view wherein is outlined the placement of the instruments and the dissolvent gel.
(29) FIG. 29 shows a perspective view from FIG. 27 of the area available for placing the surgical instruments as needed.
(30) FIG. 30 shows an end view of a surgical kit with one cover opened wherein the dissolvent gel, as a viscous liquid material, would be applied when the cover is tipped over the kit items to be dissolved.
(31) FIG. 31 shows the same surgical kit as in prior FIG. 30 being open to show the placement available for its contents.
(32) FIG. 32 shows a diagram of Medically Assisted Seniors as they are increasing over the decades ahead indicating an increasing market for the products involving the dissolvent get means.
(33) FIG. 33 shows Red Label hazardous waste in a wheel shaped configuration as it proceeds for disposal throughout a hospital environment wherein such hazardous waste can be reduced to Blue Label non-hazardous waste with the appropriate use of the dissolvent gel means.
AN INDEX FOR THE CITED NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS
(34) TABLE-US-00016 No. Cited features 1 Dissolvent Gel means 2 Container, Receptacle, Box 3 Surgical Kit or Container 4 Location for Instrument 5 Surgical Instrument 6 Lid or Cover 7 Filter Material 8 Dissolvent in a Bag or Sack 9 Grippers: Plastic 10 Used Syringe Entry Section 11 Encased Permanent Magnets 12 Used Syringe 13 Closing Lid at Entry Point 14 Safe One-Handed receptacle 15 -Blank- 16 Sealing Cover for Plastic Sack 17 Opening Tab for Cover 18 Securing Adhesive Pad 19 Elastomeric Seal for Vapor 20 Guides for Used Syringes
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(35) In the drawings that portray the many and varied aspects of this invention in application for a letters patent, there are included chemical diagrams, charts and lists of medical items and their applications, the uses of hypodermic syringes, storage containers for the gel, surgical kits, as well as, the increase of seniors and their facilities, and finally a chart of Red Label Bio-Hazard Waste into Green Label safe waste. All of these many and varied items seem needed to outline more fully the many different possible ways to employ the disinfecting dissolving gel as outlined herein.
(36) In the FIG. 1 there is a diagrammatic chart of the forming of inorganic silica sols that for many decades had proven a difficult task. As has been mentioned herein the inorganic values give this chemical formulation a long-lasting stabile and useful life awaiting its task of dissolving iron group metals, and keeping the gelled basis sterile and without infection or contamination. What is unusual about the uses of silica is that it is somewhat just sand as a silicate of minerals that being hard and inorganic material is very long lasting, certainly the same for many centuries. Herein in the diagram shown in FIG. 1 is that when allowed or forced to grow larger molecules, the silica forms up larger porous, absorbing molecules that are hydrophilic to gather up water, or liquids, such as acids and salts. Silica is also unusual in that it provides a basis for computers to be built, which is what this document is being prepared on. Let us continue to review the next several figures, as they further the knowledge of silica.
(37) In the FIG. 2 there is seen a diagram of the optimal mixture and relative amount of time needed to create the required gels. The gelling time seems the quickest at #B and #E which does operate optimally at the pH of about 6 which is about neutral, neither acid nor salt [base]. It seems that this presents a workable model to form up gels, and especially so as the gels herein do contain both acid and salt to dissolve the very strong and durable stainless steel of the 400 series found in the metal medical devices. Too much acid will slow down the amount of time needed, as will, too much base, and so, it needs to just right in its formulation. Just right will allow the gel to be set in its container without undue disruption of the desired formulation. It soon becomes evident that this invention achieves unique features by incorporating the disinfecting means with the dissolving means to totally wipe out the iron group metals in the medical devices. Such a magic sweep is performed by a carefully formulated measure and variation of the Royal Acid as the only known compound being able to dissolve gold. Even Andrew Carnegie published that the dissolving of steel was known, but not to be broadcast out to the public for obvious reasons, and the Royal Acid was published in history by the Ottoman Empire in the 13.sup.th century, and likely based upon much earlier information from Romans and Greeks. What is unique herein is the use of gelling an acid and a base by inorganic means.
(38) In the FIG. 3 there is another type of diagram presented wherein for this invention there is a dotted line that is straight up from the HCl [Hydrochloric Acid] to the HNO3 [Nitric Acid] at the left side of the diagram. This seems ideal for this invention as these are the two acids that are most common in use, and the ones targeted for dissolving herein. Needless to say, albeit quick and complete as these two acids are in forming up the disinfectant and dissolvent gel, it is also another benefit in that they are extremely competent disinfectants wherein all organic material can be neutralized quickly and totally with these two acids. While there is presented evidence of many acids that can be used, the selection and ratio of strength seems optimal in what is used for this invention in application. A careful and considered formulation will lead to the very best in disinfecting and dissolving the 400 series stainless steel medical devices forever, so as to never be a hazard or danger to anyone, as they will be dissolved away forever.
(39) In the FIG. 4 there is a drop down chart based from the core liquid dissolvent U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,113 created by Richard B. Britton and Malcolm P. Woodward issued Nov. 11, 2001 that lists the many places that such safe and total removal of potential risks can be effective. The reason such a chart is useful is that it indicates many possible places that a disinfectant and dissolvent gel can be of use. While an indication of the number of active practicing physicians is included, there more when the semi-retired doctors, and the academic and research and laboratory doctors and the supporting staff are factored in, as well as the many doctors in government and military service are added, and to include the many medical practitioners, nurses, emergency and rescue staff, and others associated within the hospitals and clinic. Additional involved people would include the eldercare, rehab facilities, jails and police, and other related activities, all of which can total up to a rather large number of involved people.
(40) In the FIG. 5 there are listings of similar involved people and adding to the total number would be dentists, and as well, home use, and public concerns such as public clinics, public health, public schools, and the municipal and community services, and to expand eventually to office and commercial buildings, industrial facilities, private schools and universities, and somewhat into stores and small offices, and into the travel and transport industry. A safe and total removal of the hazardous of medical metal sharps and needles would serve every interest across the nation and the world.
(41) The FIG. 6 that follows shows a listing of the different ways that disinfecting and dissolving can apply to selected medical devices, and projects that certain expensive surgical and medical devices can be reused after they are sterilized carefully and completely.
(42) In the FIG. 7 is shown a single hypodermic syringe [12] that is to be disposed of, possibly after use in an unsafe environment, and the syringe [12] is located in a test-tube type disposal holder [2] with a wide mouth for easy insertion [10] of the syringe, and also having elastomeric grippers [19] to aid in keeping the tube [2] in its place in a disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1]. This entire holder [2] is shown placed in an adhesively mounted [18] table top main holder that assures the safe removal of the syringe needle [12].
(43) In the FIG. 8 is shown another test tube type holder as seen in FIG. 7 with a wide mouth entry [10] for a used syringe [12] to be placed into a disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] wherein it is secured in place through the plastic arms/grippers [9] to remain centered in the gel compound [1].
(44) With multiple hypodermic syringes [12] in the container shown in FIG. 9 they are drawn down to an encased permanent magnet [11] located on the bottom of the container. The wide mouth opening [10] at the top of this container that would have a fitted lid available [not shown] to seal it off when its task is completed in the disinfecting and dissolving gel [1] therein.
(45) In the FIG. 10 there is a more complete representation of a container [2] with its lid shown [6]. The entry point shows a funnel means [10] just as a wide mouth would be, to direct the used syringes [12] through interior guides [20] into the disinfectant and dissolvent compound [1] at the bottom wherein two encased permanent magnets [11] draw down the syringe steel needles for their ultimate destruction.
(46) The FIG. 11 shows a flat holder [14] that has 5 entry point openings for the used syringes [12] to be placed in by a one-handed method, and wherein there would be the disinfectant and dissolvent gel compound that would dissolve each metal needle away forever. This FIG. 11 represents a possible means for a one-handed recapping method that would meet the requirements placed against such activities by a federal mandate.
(47) In the FIG. 12 is shown a container [2] with available multiple holders [14] for possible one-handed containment of used syringes [12] wherein the syringes [12] to be in the holders [14] for disinfecting and dissolving can be stabilized and located while they are to be destroyed by the gel [1].
(48) The FIG. 13 shows a more extensive and complex device to contain multiple used syringes [12] in a disinfectant and dissolvent compound [1] to await their final disposal wherein the used syringes [12] are directed into the container through a double entry point [10] and pass into the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] by the means of a closing lid [13] that also serves to seal [19] off the container chamber. An additional feature [not numbered] is seen in a filtering section below the entry point that would contain a filtering sponge material to control any odors. Another feature that is shown, but not numbered and may be installed if deemed needed is an opening mechanism to open the selected entry hatch or lid [13] and its seal [19].
(49) This FIG. 14 is a larger model of the prior FIG. 13 with the identical elements the entry point [10] for the used syringes [12] to be placed into the container [2] that holds the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1]. In this drawing is shown the filter [7] means of sponge intended to gather any odor or smell form the activity of the dissolvent container [2]. The entry point for an individual syringe just as is seen in the FIG. 13, is a closing lid [13] that is located on both sides of the container [2] and herein [not shown numbered] is an elastomeric seal to close off any vapors of the container [2].
(50) In the following FIG. 15 is seen an empty bowl that will be a container [2] for the disinfectant and dissolvent gel compound, and the FIG. 16 to follow is this bowl [2] as the container for the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] with its cover being a sealing lid [6].
(51) In the FIGS. 17 & 18 to follow there is shown a box as a container [2] for the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] wherein the used syringes [12] can be placed for disposal. This box container shows a covering lid [6] to place upon the container when all activities are finished and it is ready for disposal. Additionally shown is a tear off sealing cover/lid [17] that is to be removed when first preparing to use the gel to dispose of used sharps and syringes [12].
(52) In the next set of FIGS. 19 & 20 a similar design is shown with a box container [2] and final covering lid [6] to be placed over the box when all used sharps and syringes [12] have been placed inside the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] for the final disposal. The one different activity involves a flexible bag or sack [8] that is shown to be placed inside of the box container [2] that contains the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] to be used for the dissolving and disposal of the syringes [12].
(53) In the next set of drawings, the FIG. 21 through FIG. 31 there are shown a number of surgical kits [3] as the containers [2] for all surgical tools and instruments [5] possibly needed in a medical operation procedure. These surgical kits have slots or embedded placements [4] wherein the tools or instruments [5] are located at set established positions in every kit [3]. Also, there can be seen placements of the disinfectant and dissolvent means [1] for the final disposal of the items after being used in an operation and oftentimes in a separate container [2] section that is allocated within the kit [3].
(54) In FIG. 25 and FIGS. 30 & 31, the disinfectant and dissolvent gel [1] can be seen in the cover/lid [6] section wherein a sealing cover [not shown] is removed and it is dumped over the kit [3] when the operation is complete. An additional view is seen in the FIGS. 27 & 29 wherein the kit [3] shows a cover/lid [6] that is opened and removed to reveal the gel [1] compound to be accessed for final disposal when the surgery is complete. Thus, in the FIGS. 25, 27, 29, 30, & 31 the final action for disposal is contained within the kit [3], and it is activated once the surgery is completed.
(55) These surgical kits are necessarily complicated and could vary somewhat is final designs, but the main principle in the gel use seems clear to dispose of all tools and instruments deemed to be disposable. In the cases wherein the main function to operate an instrument may be sterilized and reused, then the expendable tip or part is demounted or removed prior to the activity of a final disposal. Each surgical kit [3] can vary as requisite for the occasion at hand, but the action to dispose will remain absolutely final and complete with all infectious material being gone forever.
(56) The final two FIGS. 32 & 33 being shown, present diagrammatic charts that show actions, and emphasize the vastness of the surgical and medical procedures that will continue to increase over the years ahead. In FIG. 32 the continued rise in aging seniors, shows in the chart of Medically Assisted Seniors that can emphasize the increasing need for this invention over the years ahead. In the FIG. 33 is shown the progression from a biologic hazard waste [Red Label] through the various hospital collection stations wherein the medical metal devices are dissolved free of any contaminants and totally disinfected and sterile for final disposal as ordinary waste [Blue Label]. A total risk saving, and cost saving overall, for this safe and final means of disposal is the ultimate gain for this novel and new invention.
EXAMPLE A
Silica Powder Testing Results
(57) Silicone Powder+3 HCL:3HNO.sub.3:
(58) #1-0.5 g Silicone Powder+4 ml of 3HCL:3HNO.sub.3 Needle protruded through the gel. Within seconds turning black along the needle 2 min. forming a thicker darker column Faint sounding reaction 4 minutes sludge forming Needle did not dissolve
(59) #20.7 g Silicone Powder+6 ml of 3HCL:3HNO.sub.3 This time the gel covered the whole needle. Within seconds bubbling and turning black on top 2 min. Black column forming 5 min. needle broke from plastic hub. 11 min. needle dissolved completely.
EXAMPLE B
Silica Gel Testing Results
(60) Silica Gel Testing
(61) 2 g Silica Gel mixed with 2 ml of 3HCL:3HNO.sub.3
(62) #1Started bubbling immediately 0.5 min. solution started turning from yellow to greenish black 1.35 min. started bubbling furiously 2 min. became VERY HOT 2.30 min needle off plastic hub 2.45 min. needle dissolved completely
(63) #2Added another needle to same solution in the same test-tube Started bubbling immediately 0.5 min. solution that was still yellow started turning greenish black 3.5 min. needle broke in two 7 min. needle was .sup.rds dissolved and reaction diminished
(64) #3Added a third needle to the solutionNOTHING HAPPENED
(65) #4 A second tube of silica gel 4 ml of 3HCL:3HNO.sub.3 This one was very compacted into the test-tube. Reaction less vigorous and slowed after 2 minutes. 11 min. point off the needle 14 min. the needle had dissolved 16 min. stayed the same Needle did not fully dissolve.
(66) #5 A third tube of silica gel+4 ml of 3HCL:3HNO.sub.3 Bubbling and turning black around the needle w/in seconds Needle bending at 3 min. Point gone at 3.4 mm. Needle off plastic hub at 4.2 mm. Needle dissolved at 5 min.
Results: Silica Gel is granular and may be scoring the needle and causing the reaction to initiate and process quicker. When solution has turned dark green to black the strength of the solution has diminished. This solution less fumes are emitted than with the liquid acid solutions during the reaction process. Time for dissolution has been decreased substantially! Best results with liquid acid solutions were 11-16 minutes. With the silica gel+acid solution results are now down to 2 minutes!!! And 1 and needles were dissolved in a combined time of 10 minutes!!!!
EXAMPLE C
Silica Powder & Silica Gel
Testing Results
(67) Silica Gel & Powder Mix TestingAug. 3, 2005
(68) 1 gram Silica powder:1 gram of Granulated Silica:13 cc on 1HNO3:1HCL mix Test #1dissolved in 5 minutes Test #2 Reaction darkening w/in seconds Bendable at 6 minutes Off plastic hub in 8 minutes Dissolved in 9 minutes
(69) 1 gram Silica powder:0.75 gram of Granulated Silica:13 cc of 1HNO3:1HCL mix Reaction darkening w/in seconds Bendable in 6 minutes Off plastic hub in 8 minutes Dissolved in 9 minutes
(70) 1 gram Silica powder:0.50 gram of Granulated Silica:12 cc of 1 HNO3:1 HCL mix Reaction darkening w/in seconds Bendable in 8 minutes Off plastic hub in 9 minutes Dissolved in 10 minutes
(71) 1 gram Silica powder:0.25 gram of Granulated Silica:12 cc of 1 HNO3:1 HCL mix Reaction darkening w/in seconds Tip gone in 6 minutes Off plastic hub in 8 minutes Dissolved in 9 minutes
