The SHARPSfree™ SMS-Personal is the third in the family of products of “automated” sharps management systems. It automatically extracts the needle from the syringe and deposits the needle in a needle cartridge for safe disposal. The needle cartridge is designed to hold up to 300 needles, which would last for approximately 3 months for a person who uses an average of 3-4 syringes daily. The SMS-3 is configured to remove needles of 5/16” and 1/2” lengths, 27-31 gauge, from syringes of various volumes .3cc – 1cc. This is one of a family of products available today that eliminate the “sharp” portion of the syringe entirely. The dimensions of the product are approximately 6” X 4” X 6” and it weighs 2 lbs. The Product comes supplied with a rechargeable battery and an AC powered recharging system. This product was developed for use by those who self inject to manage medical conditions at home.
The Product has FDA 510(K) approval (K001853) and has United States Patent(s) with additional “Patents Pending” on the device(s). Patent protection is also in place through the EPO (European Patent Office) and else where. The trade name SHARPSfree™ is registered and is intended for use by this line of products.
Safety Features and Benefits
The SMS-Personal allows for a one handed operation from the time the syringe/needle is used to the point of placing the used syringe/needle into the Product. The product is easy to use and little operator training is required. Additionally, no operator intervention is required during the processing of the syringes. The possibility of accidental needlestick injuries is almost completely eliminated. The needle cartridge is made of molded puncture resistant ABS plastic and is locked upon removal from the SMS-Personal. Currently the majority of needles used in the home are disposed of in household trash, which can result in health risks to the public and to waste management workers. The fact that the needles are fully contained eliminates the risk for waste handlers who subsequently handle the “sharps” cartridge for disposal. Additionally, the SMS-Personal eliminates the possibility of secondary use of the syringe.
There are no sparks or fumes emitted during operation, therefore the SMS-Personal is not “contra-indicated in a gaseous environment” and is safe to use in any environment. The Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal and the EPA have been working together to promote safer alternatives for used needle disposal. The SMS-Personal provides a safer alternative.
Mechanics of the Device
The SMS-Personal has a series of LEDs to indicate the status of the device (Ready, Processing, Cartridge Full, Low battery). The SMS-Personal, through artificial intelligence, automatically begins processing the syringe after it is placed in the receiving opening. Once the syringe is positioned, the needle is gripped and completely extracted from the syringe and then deposited into a needle cartridge. The remaining syringe can either be deposited into household trash or recycled as normal waste (non-biohazard).
The SMS-Personal counts the number of processed syringes and at a count of 295, the device will signal, via a “blinking” red LED, that the needle cartridge is almost full. Upon reaching the “full” count of 300, a “steady” red LED will then signal that the cartridge is full and will need to be replaced before any further processing can take place. The SMS-Personal automatically releases the needle cartridge for replacement once the cartridge is full. As the needle cartridge is removed, it is locked and sealed so that it can be disposed of safely. The SMS-Personal comes complete with two needle cartridges, one for immediate use and one additional replacement needle cartridge for insertion when required. Additional replacement needle cartridges can be ordered from Medtech Systems or its product dealer network for the life of the product.
