USED SURGICAL SHARPS CONTAINER WITH RE-USABLE MAGNETIC BASE

A new and useful container is disclosed for storing "sharps", e.g., surgical needles or blades, comprising: (a) base means formed of a reusable and sterilizable material, said base means having a platform and at least one rib of magnetic material fixed to said platform and projecting upwardly from said platform to engage collecting means; (b) collecting means for surgical needles or blades, said collecting means having at least one inverted recess to engage said at least one rib of said base means, said at least one inverted recess and at least one rib dimensioned in such a way to provide a reversibly interlocking frictional fit between said collecting means and said base means so as to make said collecting means disposable by removing said collecting means from said base means; and (c) cover means with said collecting means to form an enclosure, said cover means capable of tight-fitting engagement with and placement over said collecting means to prevent said sharps from escaping from said enclosure when said cover means are in tight-fitting engagement with said collecting means, said collecting means and said cover means attached to each other by hinge means, said collecting means being provided with locking means to lock said cover means with said collecting means when said cover means is in tight-fitting engagement with said collecting means. The collecting means and the cover means are attached to each other by hinge means, the collecting means being provided with locking means to lock the cover means with the collecting means when the cover means is in tight fitting engagement with the collecting means. One embodiment of the container provides (a) a reusable sterilizable secure base, and (b) a disposable, inexpensive collecting means con -i-tinuous with cover means, the collecting means being in tightfitting engagement with the base, so as to prevent sharps from dangerously protruding from the device, or from being dislodged entirely from the device when it is jarred in the operating rooms. Preferably, the base comprises two or more parallel magnetized ribs mounted on and protruding from a platform, which exist in tight-fitting engagement with conforming apertures in the collecting means, which ribs and apertures synergistically (1) provide a source of magnetism just adequate to attract all sharps when placed into the container and (2) secure the sharps between the collecting means and cover means when the locking means is locked. -ii-