Medical implement distribution and collection system

Abstract

A container configured to dispense and dispose medical implements comprising a body portion and a hood portion extending from the body portion and at least partially defining an access opening. In a first orientation the container is configured to collect soiled medical implements through the access opening of the hood portion and the body portion of the container is configured to contain the soiled medical implements. In a second orientation the container is configured to dispense medical implements through the access opening of the hood portion and the body portion of the container is configured to contain the medical implements. The hood portion is oriented to limit the unintentional escapement of medical implements from the body portion and the access opening is positioned for passage of medical implements from the body portion. The second orientation of the container is inverted with respect to the first orientation of the container.

1 . A medical implement dispensing and disposal system configured for mounting within an interior of an enclosure having a first opening for receiving soiled medical implements and a second opening for dispensing medical implements, said medical implement dispensing and disposal system comprising: 
 a dispensing chamber configured to be substantially enclosed within the interior of the enclosure and removed from the interior of the enclosure, said dispensing chamber being adapted to contain medical implements and having an access opening for passage of medical implements from said dispensing chamber, said access opening being positioned for alignment with the second opening of the enclosure to facilitate passage of medical implements from the enclosure; and    a disposal chamber configured to be substantially enclosed within the interior of the enclosure adjacent said dispensing chamber and removed from the interior of the enclosure, said disposal chamber being adapted to collect soiled medical implements, said disposal chamber having an inlet opening for passage of soiled medical implements into said disposal chamber, said inlet opening being positioned for alignment with the first opening of the enclosure to facilitate passage of soiled medical implements into the enclosure;    wherein said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber are each defined by substantially identical containers.    
     
     
         2 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 1 , said container defining said dispensing chamber being maintained in a first orientation and said container defining said disposal chamber being maintained in a second orientation, wherein said second orientation is inverted with respect to said first orientation.  
     
     
         3 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 1 , said containers defining said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber each having a lid.  
     
     
         4 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 3 , said lid of said containers defining said access opening of said dispensing chamber in said first orientation and said lid of said containers defining said inlet opening of said disposal chamber in said second orientation.  
     
     
         5 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 2 , said containers comprising a surface proximal said access opening of said dispensing chamber in said first orientation, said surface being configured to limit unintentional escapement of medical implements from said access opening in said first orientation.  
     
     
         6 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 5 , said surface of said containers being adjacent said inlet opening of said disposal chamber in said second orientation.  
     
     
         7 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 5 , said surface extending upwardly when said container is in said first orientation.  
     
     
         8 . A medical implement dispensing and disposal system comprising: 
 an enclosure having an interior;    a disposal chamber positioned in said interior of said enclosure, said disposal chamber defining an inlet opening for passage of soiled medical implements into said disposal chamber; and    a dispensing chamber positioned in said interior of said enclosure adjacent said disposal chamber, said dispensing chamber defining an access opening for passage of medical implements from said dispensing chamber;    said enclosure defining a first opening substantially aligned with said inlet opening of said disposal chamber for passage of soiled medical implements into said disposal chamber and said enclosure defining a second opening substantially aligned with said access opening of said dispensing chamber for passage of medical implements from said dispensing chamber;    wherein said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber are each defined by substantially identical containers.    
     
     
         9 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 8 , said container defining said dispensing chamber being maintained in a first orientation and said container defining said disposal chamber being maintained in a second orientation, wherein said second orientation is inverted with respect to said first orientation.  
     
     
         10 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 9 , said containers defining said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber each having a lid.  
     
     
         11 . The medical implement dispensing and disposal system of  claim 10  wherein said lid of said disposal chamber extends through said first opening of said enclosure.  
     
     
         12 . An enclosure configured to accommodate a medical implement dispensing and disposal system having a dispensing chamber for dispensing medical implements and a disposal chamber for receiving soiled medical implements, wherein said dispensing chamber and said disposal chamber are each defined by substantially identical containers, said enclosure comprising: 
 an enclosure body defining an interior configured to receive the medical implement dispensing and disposal system;    an inlet opening defined by said enclosure body, said inlet opening being positioned for passage of soiled medical implements from outside said enclosure body into the disposal chamber within said interior of said enclosure body; and    an access opening defined by said enclosure body, said access opening being positioned for passage of medical implements from within the dispensing chamber within said interior of said enclosure body.    
     
     
         13 . The enclosure of  claim 12  further comprising a support configured to mount the disposal chamber.  
     
     
         14 . In combination with the enclosure of  claim 12 , a disposal chamber configured to collect soiled medical implements and a dispensing chamber configured to contain medical implements, said disposal chamber and said dispensing chamber being juxtaposed within said interior of said enclosure.  
     
     
         15 . A container configured to dispense and dispose medical implements comprising: 
 a body portion; and    a hood portion extending from said body portion and at least partially defining an access opening;    wherein in a first orientation the container is configured to collect soiled medical implements through said access opening of said hood portion and said body portion of the container is configured to contain the soiled medical implements;    wherein in a second orientation the container is configured to dispense medical implements through said access opening of said hood portion and said body portion of the container is configured to contain the medical implements, said hood portion being oriented to limit the unintentional escapement of medical implements from said body portion, and said access opening being positioned for passage of medical implements from said body portion; and    wherein said second orientation of the container is inverted with respect to said first orientation of the container.    
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , said container being configured to be positioned in an interior of an enclosure in said first orientation and said second orientation.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein in said first orientation of said container said access opening is positioned to be substantially aligned with a first opening of the enclosure to facilitate the collection of soiled medical implements into said body portion, and wherein in said second orientation of said container said access opening is substantially aligned with a second opening of the enclosure to facilitate passage of medical implements from said body portion.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the enclosure includes a support configured to support said container in said first orientation.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , further comprising a flange configured to engage with the support.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17 , said hood portion of said container in said first orientation extending at least partially through the first opening of the enclosure.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 17 , said hood portion further comprising a barrier proximal said access opening to limit unintentional escapement of medical implements from said container in said second orientation.  
     
     
         22 . A method of dispensing and disposing of medical implements comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a container containing unused medical implements in an enclosure in a first orientation configured to dispense the medical implements from the enclosure; and    reorienting the container from the first orientation in the enclosure to a second orientation in the enclosure configured to receive soiled medical implements for disposal.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of obtaining unused medical implements from the container, wherein the container is configured to dispense unused medical implements in the first orientation and configured to collect soiled medical implements in the second orientation.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of removing unused medical implements from the container in the first orientation for use.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of depositing used medical implements into the container oriented in the second orientation.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of mounting a first container in an interior of the enclosure, wherein the first container is oriented in the first orientation.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of mounting a second container in the interior of the enclosure adjacent the first container, wherein the second container is oriented in the second orientation.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of mounting another container containing unused medical implements in the enclosure in the first orientation configured to dispense the medical implements from the enclosure, following the reorienting step.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of reorienting the container from the first orientation in the enclosure to the second orientation in the enclosure comprises inverting the container.  
     
     
         30 . A method of providing a medical implement dispensing and disposal system comprising the steps of: 
 providing unused medical implements packaged within a container configured to dispense the unused medical implements in a first orientation and configured to collect used medical implements in a second orientation; and    packaging an empty container with the container including unused medical implements, wherein the second container is configured to be oriented in the second orientation.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of packaging an enclosure with the containers, wherein the dispensing container and the disposal container are juxtaposed within the enclosure.