High volume liquid waste collection and disposal system

• US 20030164600A1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dornoch Medical Systems Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dornoch Medical Systems Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guerra, Lawrence E., Dunn, James L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,893,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/47.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 11/00 Methods specially adapted for refuse disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/093 by the force of jets or sprays B08B9/0813 , B08B9/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 Liquid filling by evacuating container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture

Abstract

A system for collecting and disposing of liquid medical waste includes a fluid collection cart and a draining and cleaning station. The fluid collection cart includes a pair of containers, each of which includes a draining port and a cap. Each cap includes an outer portion having a flushing port and a bore formed therein and an inner portion having vacuum and patient ports formed therein. The inner cap portion is disposable and removably positioned within the bore of the outer cap portion. Liquid level detectors also communicate with each container. The cart also includes a regulator so a low vacuum level may be pulled on one of the containers while a full vacuum level is pulled on the other container. Fluids are collected in the containers via suction tubes connected to the patient ports. The flushing and drain ports of the containers are connected to corresponding flushing and drain connectors on the station when the containers are full so that they may be drained and flushed. The cart liquid level detectors communicate with the station microprocessor so that the draining and flushing cycles may be properly sequenced. The station may also clean suction canisters.

Claims

1. A cart for collecting medical waste comprising:

a) a body supported by a plurality of wheels;

b) a container supported by said body and having a drain port therein;

c) a cap positioned on said container and including a patient port and a vacuum port, said patient port adapted to selectively communicate with a suction line and said vacuum port adapted to selectively communicate with a vacuum source; and

d) a liquid level detector in communication with said container and adapted to selectively communicate with a draining station;

whereby medical waste is collected in said container through a suction line connected to said patient port when said vacuum port is connected to a vacuum source and the collected medical waste in the container may be detected via the liquid level detector by a draining station when the liquid level detector is placed in communication with the draining station.

2. The cart of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum regulator positioned on the body of said cart and in communication with said vacuum port of said container, said vacuum regulator adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that a vacuum level pulled on the container may be regulated.

3. The cart of claim 2:

wherein said container is a first container, and

further comprising a second container supported by said body and having a cap that includes vacuum and patient ports, said patient port adapted to selectively communicate with a suction line and said vacuum port adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that an unregulated, full vacuum level may be pulled on the second container while a regulated vacuum level is simultaneously pulled on the first container.

4. The cart of claim 2 further comprising a housing defining a chamber within which said vacuum regulator is positioned and a control panel positioned upon said housing, said control panel including a valve handle to configure the vacuum regulator.

5. The cart of claim 1 wherein said cap includes an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner cap portion having said patient port and said vacuum port formed therein and said outer cap portion having a bore formed therein with said inner cap portion removably received therein.

6. The cart of claim 5 further comprising a flushing port formed in the outer cap portion.

7. The cart of claim 6 further comprising a cleaning nozzle positioned within said container and in communication with said flushing port.

8. The cart of claim 1:

wherein said cap includes a flushing port, and

further comprising a cleaning nozzle positioned within said container and in communication with said cap flushing port.

9. The cart of claim 1 further comprising a filter in communication with said vacuum port.

10. The cart of claim 9 wherein said filter is a smoke plume filter.

11. The cart of claim 1:

wherein said cap includes a flushing port, and

further comprising a flushing connector in communication with said flushing port, a drain connector in communication with said drain port and an electrical connector in communication with said liquid level detector, said flushing, drain and electrical connectors mounted upon a side panel of said cart.

12. The cart of claim 11 further comprising a drain valve in circuit between the drain port of the container and the drain connector.

13. The cart of claim 12 further comprising a drain valve handle positioned on the side panel of the cart for configuring the drain valve.

14. The cart of claim 1 wherein said liquid level detector is a capacitance sensor.

15. The cart of claim 1 wherein said body defines an interior space containing a shelf, said shelf having an opening formed therein within which said container is supported.

16. A cart for collecting medical waste comprising:

a) a body supported by a plurality of wheels;

b) a container supported by said body and having a drain port therein;

c) a cap positioned on said container, said cap including an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer cap portion including a flushing port and a bore formed therein and said inner cap portion including a vacuum port and a patient port so that when a vacuum is applied to the vacuum port, medical waste is collected in the container through the patient port; and

d) means for removably securing the inner cap portion within the bore of the outer cap portion.

17. The cart of claim 16 further comprising a vacuum regulator positioned on the body of said cart and in communication with said vacuum port of said container, said vacuum regulator adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that a vacuum level pulled on the container may be regulated.

18. The cart of claim 17:

wherein said container is a first container, and

further comprising a second container supported by said body and having a cap that includes vacuum and patient ports, said patient port adapted to selectively communicate with a suction line and said vacuum port adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that an unregulated, full vacuum level may be pulled on the second container while a regulated vacuum level is simultaneously pulled on the first container.

19. The cart of claim 17 further comprising a housing defining a chamber within which said vacuum regulator is positioned and a control panel positioned upon said housing, said control panel including a valve handle to configure the vacuum regulator.

20. The cart of claim 16 further comprising a cleaning nozzle positioned within said container and in communication with said flushing port.

21. The cart of claim 16 further comprising a filter in communication with said vacuum port.

22. The cart of claim 21 wherein said filter is a smoke plume filter.

23. The cart of claim 16 further comprising a flushing connector in communication with said flushing port and a drain connector in communication with said drain port, said flushing and drain connectors mounted upon a side panel of said cart.

24. The cart of claim 23 further comprising a drain valve in circuit between the drain port of the container and the drain connector.

25. The cart of claim 24 further comprising a drain valve handle positioned on the side panel of the cart for configuring the drain valve.

26. The cart of claim 16 further comprising a liquid level sensor positioned on said container.

27. The cart of claim 26 wherein said liquid level detector is a capacitance sensor.

28. The cart of claim 16 wherein said body defines an interior space containing a shelf, said shelf having an opening formed therein within which said container is supported.

29. A removable inner cap portion for a cap of a container for collecting medical waste, where the cap has an outer cap portion with a bore formed therein, comprising:

a) a circular surface with a vacuum port and a patient port formed therein; and

b) means for removably securing the inner cap portion within the bore of the outer cap portion.

30. The removable inner cap portion of claim 29 wherein the bore has a horizontal slot formed therein and the means for removably securing the inner cap portion within the bore of the outer cap portion includes a tab positioned on the circumference of the inner cap portion where said tab is sized to engage the horizontal slot of the bore of the outer cap portion.

31. The removable inner cap portion of claim 29 further comprising a filter in communication with the vacuum port.

32. The removable inner cap portion of claim 31 further comprising a second filter in communication with the vacuum port for filtering smoke.

33. A system for collecting and disposing of liquid waste comprising:

a) a fluid collection cart including;

i) a body supported by a plurality of wheels;

ii) a container supported by said body and featuring vacuum, patient, flushing and drain ports, where liquid waste is collected within the container through the patient port when the vacuum port is connected to a vacuum source and the flushing and drain ports are closed;

b) a station including;

i) a cabinet having a sink and drain and flushing connectors, said sink and said drain connector in communication with a drain and said flushing connector adapted to communicate with a water source;

ii) means for securing a canister filled with liquid waste within the sink;

iii) means for draining the liquid waste from the canister into the sink and drain;

iv) means for flushing residue out of the canister, said means for flushing adapted to communicate with the water source;

whereby the drain and flushing connectors of the station may be connected to the drain and flushing ports of the cart container so that liquid waste collected within the container may be drained through the drain of the station and flushed with water from the water source.

34. The system for collecting and disposing of liquid waste of claim 33 further comprising a liquid level sensor in communication with the container of said fluid collection cart and microprocessor positioned within the cabinet of said station, said microprocessor selectively communicating with said liquid level sensor so that the microprocessor may sequence the draining and flushing of the cart container.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said liquid level detector is a capacitance sensor.

36. The system of claim 34 further comprising a flushing connector in communication with said flushing port, a drain connector in communication with said drain port and an electrical connector in communication with said liquid level detector, said flushing, drain and electrical connectors mounted upon a side panel of said cart.

37. The system of claim 33 further comprising a vacuum regulator positioned on the body of said cart and in communication with said vacuum port of said container, said vacuum regulator adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that a vacuum level pulled on the container may be regulated.

38. The system of claim 37:

wherein said container is a first container, and

further comprising a second container supported by said body and having a cap that includes vacuum and patient ports, said patient port adapted to selectively communicate with a suction line and said vacuum port adapted to selectively communicate with the vacuum source so that an unregulated, full vacuum level may be pulled on the second container while a regulated vacuum level is simultaneously pulled on the first container.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein said cap includes an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner cap portion having said patient port and said vacuum port formed therein and said outer cap portion having said flushing port and a bore formed therein with said inner cap portion removably received within the bore of said outer cap portion.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising a cleaning nozzle positioned within said container and in communication with said flushing port.