| Various kinds of waste material which have to be | | | | co-extruded triple laminate of polyamide sandwiched |
| disposed of can comprise fluids and objects with | | | | between polyethylene. This combines the advantages |
| corners or relatively sharp edges. If such waste | | | | of a polyamide, for example nylon, which is a good |
| material is put in a waste bag, there is a risk that the | | | | gas barrier and therefore prevents odours escaping |
| corners or relatively shaped edges will puncture the | | | | the bag, and polyethylene, which is readily heat |
| wall of the bag, and that the fluids may then leak | | | | sealed to itself and to the lining. A cheaper laminate |
| out. | | | | would be a twin laminate, comprising a layer of |
| One particularly dangerous situation in which waste is | | | | polyamide and a layer of polyethylene, in which case |
| disposed of in bags arises in hospitals. Clinical waste is | | | | the polyethylene would be arranged on the inside, |
| often disposed of along with relatively hard surgical | | | | against the lining, so that its heat sealing properties |
| or clinical articles. The risk of a leak of blood from | | | | can be used effectively. The lining may comprise a |
| such a bag is particularly dangerous, as the blood may | | | | non woven material, for example a non woven |
| be contaminated with the hepatitis or HIV virus. | | | | polyamide. |
| Infection has already been known to occur in this | | | | A second aspect of the present invention is directed |
| way, particularly during perfusion after which pipe | | | | to a waste bag made of a co-extruded triple |
| fittings, intercoolers, and oxygenaters containing up | | | | laminate comprising a polyamide sandwiched between |
| to half a liter of blood are dropped into a waste bag | | | | polyethylene, in which the polyamide constitutes a |
| which is then gathered at its top and sealed with | | | | proportion substantially in the range from 15% to |
| wire, tape, or other tie. Up to twelve bags have | | | | 25% of the laminate by weight and in which the |
| been placed one inside the other hitherto, to reduce | | | | laminate has a thickness substantially in the range |
| the risk of a tear occurring. | | | | from 80 to 120 microns. Such a bag provides the |
| The present invention aims to reduce the liklihood of | | | | advantage of sufficient strength against tearing with |
| a tear occurring in the disposal of waste material in a | | | | sufficient pliability to enable the top of the bag to be |
| pp woven bag, preferably so as to reduce the | | | | gathered into a neck portion and held by a tape, |
| hazard of infection from contaminated blood in the | | | | wire, or other tie without the flutes so formed |
| disposal of clinical waste, whilst providing a bag which | | | | providing any passageways through which blood or |
| is as readily loaded and tied as a conventional waste | | | | other fluid can seep out by gravitational flow, capillary |
| bag. | | | | flow, or by wick action. |
| Accordingly the present invention is directed to a | | | | A third aspect of the present invention is directed to |
| waste bag made of a synthetic plastics material and | | | | a waste pp woven bag having a lining which is |
| having an internal lining of a liquid-absorbent material | | | | doubled back on itself at the bottom of the bag so |
| which terminates inwardly of the mouth of the bag, | | | | that the lining is continuous thereat. |
| so that the latter is free of lining in the region of its | | | | This affords the advantage that a good resistance to |
| mouth to enable that region to be gathered and tied. | | | | tearing is formed at the bottom of the bag when a |
| Such a waste pp woven bag may comprise a | | | | heavy or sharp object is dropped into it. |