JPH02274255A - Sterilization treatment vessel for medical wastes - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a highly safe treatment vessel easy to treat by disposing an exothermic agent consisting of at least one of crude lime, burnt dolomite and iron powder, and water or air (oxygen), and providing a mechanism for penetrating a partition at the time of reaction. CONSTITUTION:An exothermic agent 4 is charged between an outer vessel 2 and an inner vessel 3. A cord 29 is pulled to run out water 28 from a water bag 5. When the exothermic reaction proceeds to raise the temperature, the inner vessel 3 is melted as it is made of polypropylene, and finally partially opened to communicate an injection needle receiving part 25 to the side charged with the exothermic agent 4. By heating the inner vessel 3, an injection needle in the injection needle receiving part 25 is sterilized. The water formed by the heat generation is evaporated, and a part of alkali in the exothermic agent, which is formed into mist by the heat generation, is included in the steam, so that the steam including the alkali mist is run into the injection needle receiving part 25 and made into direct contact with the injection needle, whereby the sterilization of the injection needle is more effectively conducted synergetically with sterilization by heating.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Industrial Application Field" This invention sterilizes medical waste such as injection needles, lancets, scalpels, gauze, bandages, IV blood transfusion containers, test tubes, urinalysis tips, and laboratory animals. Concerning containers for use.

``Conventional technology J'' In recent years, medical equipment such as syringe needles, lancets, scalpels, gauze,
Bandages, intravenous blood transfusion containers, test tubes, urinalysis tips, laboratory animals, etc. are being replaced with disposable products to prevent infection, and in view of the environmental pollution of the disposal and disposal sites of these injection needles, there is a need to dispose of medical waste. Processing measures, especially sterilization during disposal, are becoming important issues.

By the way, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia Law stipulates heat sterilization, filtration sterilization, irradiation sterilization, and chemical sterilization as sterilization methods. For example, plastics in medical equipment are exposed to radiation (γ
Sterilization by irradiation (radiation), sterilization in an autoclave (high-pressure steam sterilization) for metals and glass, and sterilization by sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide for nonwoven fabrics are considered suitable. Various sterilization apparatuses are provided according to these methods.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, the sterilization processing apparatuses corresponding to the above-mentioned sterilization methods each have the following disadvantages.

The equipment used to administer radiation is expensive, so it is currently difficult for small medical facilities such as private practitioners to equip it, and the equipment must only be operated by qualified personnel. There are also usage problems.

Although autoclaves used for heat sterilization are currently widely used, they are suitable for large-volume processing and short-time processing, and they require time and effort to put waste into the process and take it out after processing. For example, when disposing of a used syringe needle, there is a risk of accidentally puncturing a finger when inserting or removing the needle.

Equipment that uses sterilizing gases such as ethylene oxide must be handled with great care as sterilizing gases are harmful to the human body, and sufficient safety management is required before actual use. It is still difficult to carry out in small medical facilities.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide simple processing operations,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly safe sterilization container for medical waste.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In the medical waste sterilization container of the present invention, a storage chamber for storing medical waste is provided, and at least one of quicklime, calcined dolomite, and iron powder is disposed between the storage chamber and the partition. A heat generating agent consisting of one type of heat generating agent and water or air (oxygen) are arranged, and the heat generating agent and water or air (oxygen) are arranged in a non-contact state, and the heat generating agent and water or air (oxygen) are arranged in a non-contact state. The solution to the above problem is to provide a mechanism for bringing the exothermic agent into contact with water or air (oxygen) during the reaction, and a mechanism for penetrating the partition during the reaction between the exothermic agent and water or air (oxygen). did.

"Function" According to the sterilized container for medical waste of the present invention, a hydration or oxidation reaction occurs when the exothermic agent is brought into contact with water or air (oxygen), and this reaction generates heat, thereby heating the storage chamber. be done. In addition, when heat is generated, by penetrating the partition with the reaction heat generated by the reaction between the exothermic agent and water or air (oxygen), or by the hydration reaction between quicklime, calcined dolomite, and water, alkali is generated as waste. Direct contact.

"Example code" Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the sterilization processing container of the present invention is applied to a sterilization processing container for used injection needles,
Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is a sterilization processing container (hereinafter abbreviated as processing container). This processing container 1 includes an outer container 2, an inner container 3 housed inside the outer container 2, an outer container 2, and an inner container 3.
It is generally composed of a heat generating agent 4 disposed between the inner container 3 and a water bag 5 disposed below the inner container 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer container 2 consists of a cylindrical body 6, an upper cap 7 that seals the upper opening of the body, and a lower cap 8 that seals the lower opening of the body 6. be. The body 6 is made by covering the outer peripheral surface of a body 9 made of iron with a heat insulating material 10 such as cardboard. The upper cap 7 has a needle insertion part 11 formed in the center and an exhaust tube 12 formed in the side. Here, the upper cap 7 and the lower cap 8 are made of synthetic resin or metal such as iron. The injection needle insertion part 11 is a cylindrical part that is formed to protrude outward from the processing container l, and a plate-like member 13 that covers the opening is provided inside the injection needle recessed part 11.
are arranged integrally, and as shown in Fig. 3, the plate-shaped body 1
3 has a needle removal port 14 which is cut out from the center and opened in three directions. Further, an injection part cap 15 is detachably attached to the outer periphery of the injection needle injection part 11 by screwing. Exhaust pipe 12
is a cylindrical item that protrudes outward from the processing container l, and is placed in communication with the gap between the outer container 2 and the inner container 3, and is used to absorb water vapor generated due to heat generation during sterilization. This is for exhausting the air. Inside this exhaust pipe 12, as shown in FIG. 2, an antibacterial filter 16, a holding ring 17, a deodorizing sheet 18, and a holding ring 19 are stacked in order from below, and furthermore, as shown in FIG. A safety seal 20 is attached as shown in FIG.

The safety seal 20 consists of a lid-shaped sealing part 21 that airtightly seals the opening of the exhaust pipe 12, and a cover part 22 extending in a band shape from the side of the sealing part 2. is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the body 6 of the outer container 2 along its height direction. Further, this safety seal 20 is used to attach a string for opening the ice bag, which will be described later, to the outer container. The antibacterial filter 16 is a mesh-like one made of Teflon, and has an opening diameter of 0.25. It is used to prevent bacteria from spreading from the inside of the container to the outside. Deodorizing sheets) 18 are made of, for example, lime made into felt, silica gel filled into felt and made into a sheet, or even carbon fiber filters, etc., and are used to prevent the evaporation of blood adhering to injection needles. It is meant to absorb the odor caused.

The lower cap 8 serves as the bottom surface of the processing container l, and
A double-sided sticker 23 is attached to its outer surface (bottom surface). This double-sided seal 23 is used to prevent the processing container I from falling during operation by being adhered to the desk or the like when the processing container 1 is placed on the desk or the like during use. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower cap 8 has a groove 24 formed at its edge to communicate the inside and outside of the outer container 2, and this Wf2
4 is designed to be penetrated by a string which will be described later.

The inner container 3 is disposed in communication with the needle input section 11 and has a cylindrical shape with a raised bottom, and the inner container 3 is provided with a needle storage chamber for storing used needles. 25, and serves as a partition for the inner container 3 itself or for the exothermic agent and water, which will be described later. In addition, this inner container 3 is made of polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. so that it can be easily melted and penetrated by the heat generated during the reaction between the exothermic agent and water.
It is made of a low melting point material such as polyethylene, and in this example it is made of polypropylene.

An ice bag accommodating portion 27 for accommodating the water bag 5 is formed below the bottom body 26 of the inner container 3.

The water bag 5 is a bag made of non-water permeable synthetic resin such as polyethylene, which is filled with water 28, and its bottom body 26
A drainage hole (not shown) is formed on the side surface, and a seal (not shown) is attached to cover the drainage hole. One end of a string 29 is attached to the seal, and this string 29
is installed by running along the bottom of the processing container 1, passing through the groove 24 of the lower cap 8, rising above the outer peripheral surface of the outer container 2, and reaching the opening of the exhaust pipe 12 at the other end. Kote string 2
9 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the outer container 2 using the above safety seal 2.
This is done by adhesion to the outer container 2 using 0. Further, a hole 24 of the lower cap 8 through which the string 29 passes is filled with grease or the like so that the inside of the processing container 1 is kept airtight. With such a configuration, the exothermic agent 4 and the water z8 in the ice bag 5
A mechanism is formed to bring the two into contact with each other. Based on this mechanism, by peeling off the safety seal 20 and pulling the string 29, the seal of the water bag 5 is peeled off, the drainage hole is opened, and the water 28 inside flows out. Also,
As shown in FIG. 2, one or more drainage notches 30 are formed at the lower end of the inner container 3.
The water 28 inside will be discharged to the outside of the inner container 3.

A heat generating agent 4 is filled between the outer container 2 and the inner container 3. Here, as the exothermic agent 4, quicklime or calcined dolomite (including light calcined dolomite) alone or a mixture containing these as main components can be used, and the state thereof is as follows:
It can be used in the form of powder, granules, or a mixture thereof, or even formed into any desired shape. In particular, when quicklime is used, it is preferable to form it into granules or powder in order to increase its reactivity with water. For example, a mixture of granules and powder with a particle size of 5r or less or a particle size adjusted to 1 to 5cm is preferable. A granular material is suitable, and a material formed into a cylindrical shape or the like can also be used. In addition, the ingredients are, of course, 100% pure (or close to this) calcium oxide (
Although it is possible to use Cao), it is preferable to add an inhibitor made of an inorganic mineral or the like to this in order to control heat generation. Examples of the inhibitor include limestone, Ca-5i compounds, and other endothermic inorganic minerals. It is considered suitable. It is also possible to use quicklime that has been pulverized, added with a retarder, and pressed to form granules.

When calcined tocomite is used, it is preferable to form it into granules or powder as in the case of quicklime, and to mix it with an inhibitor consisting of an inorganic mineral or the like.

In this example, quicklime and limestone are mixed at a weight ratio of 73, and the particle size is 1~! 5mm1. : The refined one is used.

Next, a method of using the processing container I having such a configuration will be explained.

To dispose of used syringe needles, first
5, and hold the syringe body and insert the needle inlet part 11.
Insert the injection needle into the needle removal port 14 of the syringe, and hook the needle attachment part into the needle removal port 14 to separate the injection needle from the injection 2g as shown in FIG. is accommodated in the injection needle accommodating portion 25 of the inner container 3. When such operations are repeated and a large number of used injection needles accumulate in the injection needle accommodating section 25, they are sterilized before being discarded.

To perform sterilization, after attaching the injection part cap 15 to the needle injection part 11, peel off the safety knoll 20 to open the exhaust pipe I2, pull the string 29, and remove the water 28 from the water bag 5.
Let it flow out. Then, the water 28 passes through the drainage notches 30 at the lower end of the inner container 3, reaches the exothermic agent 4, comes into contact with the exothermic agent 4, and reacts. The exothermic agent 4 generates heat by reacting with the water 28 and heats the inner container 3. In this case, the water 28 flowing out from the water bag 5 initially reacts with the exothermic agent 1 filled in the lower part of the processing container 1, but as the reaction progresses, it permeates through the exothermic agent 4 and generates heat in the upper part. Agent 4 also causes an exothermic reaction. Further, a portion of the water 28 evaporates due to the heat generated by the exothermic agent 4, rises in the exothermic agent 4, and causes an exothermic reaction with the exothermic agent 4 above.

As the exothermic reaction progresses in this manner and the temperature rises, the inner container 3, which is made of a polypropylene ring, melts, and eventually opens partially, allowing the needle accommodating portion 25 and the side filled with the exothermic agent 4 to open. Communicate. Then, by heating the inside of the inner container 3, the injection needle in the injection needle accommodating portion 25 is sterilized. Further, water generated by heat generation evaporates, and some of the alkali in the exothermic agent becomes mist due to heat generation and is mixed in the water vapor, so water vapor accompanied by this alkali mist flows into the injection needle accommodating part 25. Direct contact with the needle allows the sterilization of the needle to be more effective, acting synergistically with sterilization by heat.

Some of the pathogenic microorganisms attached to the injection needle head toward the exhaust stack 12 along with the water vapor, but the bacteria filter 1 inside the exhaust stack 12
6, only water vapor is discharged from the exhaust pipe 12, and pathogenic microorganisms are killed in the processing container I without being discharged. Furthermore, although blood and the like adhering to the injection needle evaporates due to heating, this vapor is also absorbed by the deodorizing notebook 1g in the exhaust pipe 12, so that the odor caused by the vapor does not leak out of the processing container 1.

In the processing container 1 having such a configuration, used injection needles can be easily put into the container without touching them directly, and sterilization can be performed with a simple operation. It is possible to prevent the spread of bacteria outside the container and the generation of bad odors. In addition, it is highly safe because it does not use poisonous gas, and it is also easy to use because the entire container can be directly disposed of after use.

In the above embodiment, the needle removal port 14 of the injection needle insertion part 11 is formed by cutting out the needle in three directions from the center as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, it may be formed by cutting out a substantially triangular shape.

Further, in the above embodiment, as a mechanism for bringing the exothermic agent 4 and the water 28 into contact, when the water 28 is stored in the water bag 5,
Although the water bag 5 is constructed so as to be opened using a string 29, the above mechanism is not limited to this, and the above mechanism may be constructed by combining Ike's technology, and iron powder and air (oxygen)
Sterilization may be performed by utilizing an exothermic reaction with

Furthermore, even if it is possible to penetrate the partition (inner container 3 in the above embodiment) when the exothermic agent 4 and water generate heat, it is limited to a structure in which the inner container 3 is melted by heat generation as in the above embodiment. Alternatively, for example, a sealing member O may be provided in advance on the inner container, and the sealing member may be removed at the start of the reaction (at the start of sterilization).

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the present invention was applied to a sterilization processing container for used injection needles, but the sterilization processing container of the present invention is not limited to this, and includes lancets, scalpels, petri dishes, pipettes, gauze, etc. It can be applied to containers for treating medical waste in general, such as bandages, drip transfusion containers, test tubes, urinalysis cups, and laboratory animals.

(Experimental Example 1) Using the processing container shown in FIG. 1, the amount of water relative to the exothermic agent (quicklime) was varied to examine the exothermic state. The results are shown in Table 1. In this example, the temperature was measured around the exothermic agent (A) and inside the exothermic agent (B).

(Left below) (Experimental example 2) Using the processing container shown in Figure 1, heat generating agent (quicklime)
Examine the heat generation state by changing the amount of water and
Shown in the table. In this example, the temperature was measured around the exothermic agent.

Table 2 (Experiment Example 3) Using the processing container shown in Figure 1, the heat generation state was determined by changing the mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the exothermic agent (quicklime) to which an additive (inhibitor) was added and the amount of water. The results are shown in Table 3.

In this example as well, the temperature was measured around the exothermic agent.

(Experimental Example 4) Using the processing container shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization effect on five standard bacterial strains including Bacillus subtilis was investigated as follows.

First, each of the above standard bacterial strains was diluted with sterile physiological saline, each diluted with sterile gauze, and placed in a sterile Petri dish. Next, these Petri dishes were placed in the storage chamber of the processing container, and after the storage chamber was sealed, the safety seal was peeled off and the string was pulled to perform sterilization.

After sterilization, the gauze in the sterile Petri dish was aseptically collected and placed in an enrichment medium.

When examining the growth of bacteria in the enrichment medium, all five types of bacteria were completely sterilized, confirming the sterilization effect of the treatment container.

(Experimental Example 5) Using the processing container shown in Figure 1, the amount of exothermic agent (quicklime) was 1509, the amount of water was 50xQ, and the procedure shown in Experimental Example 4 was used to collect Staphylococcus aureus
coccus aureus) [ATCC25923
], Escherichia eoli [
ATCC25922], Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps4audonon
as aeruginosa) [ATCC278
5a], (Bacillus 5ub
The sterilizing effect of ATCC 6633i on four bacterial species was investigated, and the results are shown in Table 4.

(hereinafter referred to as "Kinpaku") From the results shown in Table 4, it was confirmed that 4 bacterial species were killed.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, the medical waste sterilization apparatus of the present invention includes a storage chamber for storing medical waste, and a heat generating agent made of quicklime or calcined dolomite is introduced into the storage chamber and the partition through the partition. When the exothermic agent and the water are placed in a non-contact state, the exothermic agent and water are placed in contact with each other, and the exothermic agent and the water are placed in contact with each other, and the partition is penetrated when the exothermic agent reacts with the water. , an exothermic reaction occurs by bringing the exothermic agent into contact with water, thereby making it possible to heat sterilize the medical waste in the storage chamber. In addition, by penetrating the partition during heat generation, the water vapor containing the alkaline mist generated by the above reaction comes into direct contact with the waste, so the sterilization effect works synergistically with the above heating effect, making it even higher. becomes.

In addition, since the structure is simple, the processing container itself is inexpensive, and since it is easy to use and disposable, it is easy to use, and it is also highly safe because no sterilizing gas is used. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a processing container suitably used to carry out the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the sterilization processing container for used injection needles, and FIG. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of this sterilization processing device, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sterilization processing container, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of essential parts to explain the state in which the exhaust pipe is sealed with a safety nozzle, and Fig. 5 6 is a partial sectional view to explain how to use it, and FIG. 7 is a modification of the sterilization container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 25... needle accommodating part, 26... bottom body, 28... water, 29...
··string.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a medical waste sterilization container provided with a storage chamber for storing medical waste, quicklime, calcined dolomite,
A heat generating agent made of at least one type of iron powder and water or air (oxygen) are arranged, and the heat generating agent and water are placed in a non-contact state, and the heat generating agent and water or air (oxygen) are arranged in a non-contact state. A mechanism that brings the exothermic agent into contact with water or air (
1. A container for sterilizing medical waste, characterized in that it is provided with a mechanism that allows the partition to pass through during a reaction with oxygen).