FreeStyle Libre Recycling - Sharps
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in here is my own. This information is not for everyone and is has not been reviewed or discussed with any representative of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. This process isn't for everyone. You are solely responsible for the outcome of this process. Be sure to properly dispose of the extracted needle using proper sharps management techniques.If you have no experience with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre sensor application, consult the documentation that is included with the packaging provided by Abbott. The information there is accurate, effective and achieve a properly applied sensor.
After doing all that is described, the Abbott procedure and documentation leave the disposal of the application hardware to you. This documentation is simply what I've done to manage the issue.
Review Of Components
This discussion assumes you are familiar with the application of the sensor. For review and reference the following images are provided to help clarify details. |
| Sensor and needle to install sensor |
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| Applicator with electronics and adhesive |
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| This is the electronics with the adhesive layer |
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| Sensor plus needle attached to electronics ready to apply |
Removing The Needle
Once the sensor has been applied to the skin, the application device looks like the picture below. The position of the grey plastic carrier is extended out.
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| Applicator after sensor applied |
Each of the light grey oval points in the device shown above need to be pried loose to needle and application spring underneath. To accomplish this task I use a medium flat blade screwdriver. The picture below shows approximately where to insert the screwdriver tip and pry apart the plastic bond.
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| Screwdriver to break plastic bond
While breaking the final tab, be sure to hold the white plastic in place or you will have to retrieve the piece from wherever the spring sends it across the room.
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Once the three bonds are separated, you will be able to remove the white piece:
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| White retaining plate |
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| Applicator Spring |
Remove the spring above to reveal the small insertion needle used to place the sensor in the skin.
I reach inside the applicator and retrieve the sharp needle using a pair of hemostats. I lock the hemostats on the needle and gently pull up. The needle is easy to remove.
There really is nothing more to it than this.
Next I fold the needle in half, shown below, and place in our sharps container.
After going through this process, you can see the pile of plastic and parts that don't have to be stored in the sharps container taking up space. I believe this plastic can be recycled as any plastic would be.
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| Sharp needle in bottom of applicator |
I reach inside the applicator and retrieve the sharp needle using a pair of hemostats. I lock the hemostats on the needle and gently pull up. The needle is easy to remove.
There really is nothing more to it than this.
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| Sensor needle removed from applicator |
Next I fold the needle in half, shown below, and place in our sharps container.
After going through this process, you can see the pile of plastic and parts that don't have to be stored in the sharps container taking up space. I believe this plastic can be recycled as any plastic would be.
I save the springs for no particular reason other than I might find a use for them.
6 comments:
Thank you for your comments and brilliant instructions, it's a shame that Abbotts do not give information as to recycling / disposal the application parts. With a little thought for removing the white piece of holding plastic (which I am sure cannot be that difficult) the whole of the application elements can be recycled. Thanks once again.
ChrisP
If we don't have a hemostat lying around, what else can we use to remove the white needle?
I just used tweezers. Thanks! Very useful!
i took a knife an removed the battery out of the used sensor v377 1.5 volt seemed to not be discharged too much the intergrated circuit look like it was small for all the functions note the oscilator and various caps and resistors on the pcboard must have some memory and some kind of processor the world of electronic keeps getting smaller this sensor need not to be so big and could be on flexible flim and could be mounted on the face of the battery the size of the battery is the limit on size the big plastic needle insertion system is a over kill and works good for now i see this system being installed long term with a app to recomend dose for the level you are at and the rise and falls in your sugar level like eat a pice of candy for low and so on if the electronics were programed in a way that it could reset and replace battery.It is set up for needle replacement since the probe is not attached to the electronics
I contacted Abbout about recycling and they said :
Libre sensor that has been placed on the arm, the used applicator (which contains a needle) and the lid can be screwed back together and can be placed in a yellow biohazard bag or sharps box.
The other part that had the sensor and needle in but doesn't anymore, that goes in general.
The packaging is recycled.
This is great! Thank you for the tip. It makes me feel better that I’m placing the sharp needle in the sharps container instead of the garbage. The sensor applicator is too big to go to a regular sized sharps container. I appreciate the instructions and pictures. It’s very easy to follow.
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