Apparatus for counting and disposing of expendable medical items, including sharps and the like

摘要

In operation of the apparatus of the preferred embodiment, a used surgical sharp is placed into a drop window or receiving opening. Once the sharp is resting upon the partial floor of the housing assembly, the user will engage a safety slide having a pinch style cutter mechanism, so that a mandrel and blade converge and shear any remaining suture material from a needle. This also closes a window protector over the receiving opening. A magnet properly aligns metal items for disposal. Once any suture material is cut from the needle, a safety device consisting of opposing intermeshable rakes sweeps the sharp along the partial floor and into the drop window. This sweeping motion is created by the user moving the shuttle assembly from front to rear from a first to a second position. The shuttle assembly must be moved to the second position before it can be returned to the first position. A counter is then engaged to advance one increment. The safety rake system assures that the counter is advanced if and only if a sharp is introduced and cycled through the apparatus. If no sharp is between the two rakes to present an obstruction between the rakes, the tines of the rakes will intermesh and the counter will not be advanced. The sharp falls through the drop window and into the drop area of a disposable receptacle. Combs ensure the sharp doesn't "stick" to the rake tines. The sharp count is accumulated numerically by the mechanical counter.