Apparatus and method for transporting and discarding medical materials

Abstract

A container assembly for transport of new devices and for later disposal of sharps related medical waste. The transport and disposal container assembly preferably has a container body with a top opening and an opening encasing lid for use with various sized container bodies. In one embodiment, the container assembly, when used for sharps disposal, includes a lid having a self-closing biased flap in combination with a cradle member which are opened for access to a pathway for dispensing used sharps into the container body, but which restrict direct or line-of-sight access to previously deposited medical waste. A lid made by a single injection molding step is disclosed. The lid comprises a cover which is opened to permit access to the cradle member and pathway and which is securely, but releasibly, closed to provide a double layer of protection between contents of the container body and a user. Such protection is especially desirable when transporting a container partially filled with contaminated sharps. A slider mechanism connects the cover to the biased flap, permitting movement of the cover to be used to open the biased flap and safety cradle combination without direct contact with the flap/cradle combination. The slider mechanism is released from connection to the biased flap when the cover is closed to permit the biased flap to be in a non-stressed state when the cover is closed. The lid further comprises a handle. The lid also comprises a locking latch for permanently locking the container closed.