Healthc Inform Res.  2019 Jan;25(1):47-50. 10.4258/hir.2019.25.1.47.

Development of a Safe Syringe Disposal System Moving towards Automated Syringe Data Collection

• Kim Y
• Oh K
• Kim N
• Yun J

• KMID: 2434536
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2019.25.1.47

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
An automatic needle destroyer (ANDY) was developed to prevent needlestick injuries, and usability tests were conducted in several hospitals. The addition of extra features to the ANDY is in progress, such as data collection and automatic identification of used syringes. Thus, this report describes how the ANDY can be used to track the data of used syringes.
METHODS
The motor torque required for barrel separation differs according to syringe diameters. By monitoring the electric current which is consumed for the motor torque, the type of syringe can be identified. Twelve prototypes were produced, and five usability tests were conducted in hospitals.
RESULTS
After use, a syringe is inserted into the proposed device, and the needle portion is then cut and separated from the syringe body (barrel) and discarded. The needles are collected in a sharps container for hygienic disposal, and the barrel is dropped into a general medical waste container.
CONCLUSIONS
The ANDY can be used to track the syringe used for each patient. The barcode can be read while the syringe rotates in the main body of the ANDY with a built-in omnidirectional scanner. Collection of information during syringe disposal can facilitate stock management. This system could also be extended to other types of consumable medical devices, although it would still be a challenge to differentiate each medical device.

Keyword

Medical Waste Disposal; Needlestick Injuries; Disposable Equipment; Equipment and Supplies; Equipment Design

MeSH Terms

Data Collection*
Disposable Equipment
Equipment and Supplies
Equipment Design
Humans
Medical Waste
Medical Waste Disposal
Needles
Needlestick Injuries
Syringes*
Torque
Medical Waste
Medical Waste Disposal

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Product configuration and usage. ANDY: automatic needle destroyer.

Reference

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses in outpatient settings: New York, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, 2000-2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003; 52(38):901–906.

2. Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Interim results of hepatitis C outbreaks in Dongjak-gu, Seoul [Internet]. Osong, Korea: Report of Ministry of Health and Welfare;2016. cited at 2018 Nov 12. Available from: http://www.cdc.go.kr/CDC/notice/CdcKrIntro0201.jsp?menuIds=HOME006-MNU2804-MNU2937&fid=21&q_type=title&q_value=%EB%8F%99%EC%9E%91%EA%B5%AC&cid=71630&pageNum=.

3. International Medical Device Regulators Forum. Unique Device Identification system (UDI system) Application Guide [Internet]. [place unknown]: International Medical Device Regulators Forum;2018. cited at 2019 Jan 15. Available from: http://www.imdrf.org/docs/imdrf/final/consultations/imdrf-cons-udi-system-n48-180712.pdf.

4. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Development and administration of needlestick injury surveillance system for healthcare personnel [Internet]. Ulsan, Korea: Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute;2012. cited at 2019 Jan 15. Available from: https://oshri.kosha.or.kr/main?urlCode=T1%7C%7C5273%7C366%7C366%7C375%7C5273%7C%7C/cms/board/board/Board.jsp&act=VIEW&boardId=37.

5. Griswold S, Bonaroti A, Rieder CJ, Erbayri J, Parsons J, Nocera R, et al. Investigation of a safety-engineered device to prevent needlestick injury: why has not StatLock stuck? BMJ Open. 2013; 3(4):e002327.

6. Mitchell AH, Parker GB, Kanamori H, Rutala WA, Weber DJ. Comparing non-safety with safety device sharps injury incidence data from two different occupational surveillance systems. J Hosp Infect. 2017; 96(2):195–198.

7. International Safety Center. EPINet report for needlestick and sharp object injuries 2016 [Internet]. [place unknown]: International Safety Center;2017. cited at 2019 Jan 15. Available: https://internationalsafetycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Official-2016-Needle-Summary.pdf.