Sharps Container

Abstract

The present invention provides a sharps container comprising a receptacle, wherein the receptacle having a floor and at least one wall and a side opening at one end of the receptacle, a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements, a ridge disposed at one end of the sharps retention insert proximal to the side opening, wherein the ridge is higher than the sharps retention insert, a securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface, and a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle. According to one aspect of the present invention, the securement device comprises at least one magnetic element secured to an exterior surface of the receptacle, and may further comprises a ferromagnetic support tray that is secured to the work surface.

1 . A sharps container comprising:
 a receptacle, wherein the receptacle having a floor and at least one wall, and a front opening at one end of the receptacle;   a sharps retention insert disposed in the receptacle for frictionally and releasably retaining sharps implements;   a ridge disposed at one end of the sharps retention insert proximal to the front opening, wherein the ridge is higher than the sharps retention insert;   a securement device adapted to releasably secure the container to a work surface; and   a lid adapted to be secured to the receptacle, and to at least partially close the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , wherein the securement device is a magnetic attachment device disposed on the receptacle for magnetically and releasably securing the container. 
     
     
         3 . The sharps container of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic attachment device comprises at least one magnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The sharps container of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic attachment device comprises a plurality of spaced-apart magnets. 
     
     
         5 . The sharps container of  claim 3 , wherein the magnetic attachment device further comprising a ferromagnetic support tray, wherein the receptacle is secured to the support tray, and the support tray is secured directly to a work surface. 
     
     
         6 . The sharps container of  claim 5 , wherein the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The sharps container of  claims 1 , wherein the sharps retention insert extends across a portion of the floor. 
     
     
         8 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , wherein the sharps retention insert is of non-coring foam material. 
     
     
         9 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , at least one of the receptacle and the lid comprises a mechanism adapted for releasably securing the lid to the receptacle to retain the lid in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprising walls defining all but one side of the interior space, the front opening being at the one side. 
     
     
         11 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         12 . The sharps container of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge is of foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The sharps container of  claims 1 , wherein the receptacle is of plastics material. 
     
     
         14 . The sharps container of  claims 1 , wherein the lid is of plastics material. 
     
     
         15 . The sharps container system of  claim 5 , wherein the support tray is secured to the working surface through adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The sharps container system of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive comprises microsuction adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The sharps container system of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive is constituted by at least one adhesive element bonded to an exterior surface of the ferromagnetic support tray. 
     
     
         18 . The sharps container system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one adhesive element comprising an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         19 . The sharps container of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic attachment device comprising:
 at least one ferromagnetic element attached to an exterior surface of the receptacle; and   a magnetic support tray having at least one magnetic element, wherein the support tray is secured directly to the work surface, and the support tray is configured to receive a surgical drape between the support tray and receptacle.   
     
     
         20 . A method of supporting a sharps container for use, the method comprising:
 providing a sharps container according to  claims 5 ;   placing the ferromagnetic support on a work surface so that the ferromagnetic support is releasably secured to the work surface;   draping a surgical drape over the ferromagnetic support and the work surface; and   positioning the receptacle on the surgical drape such that it is supported by the ferromagnetic support tray.