System for sorting waste

• US 20050115874A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Vesta Medical LLC (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Mallett, Scott R., Davidner, Alan A., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,138,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0059 parallel to the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/006 perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/15 Mayo stands; Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/18 Cupboards; Drawers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 : Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 : Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

A system for disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of disposable containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations, each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container.

Claims

1. A system for sorting medical waste items, the system comprising:

a sorting station in electronic communication with a classification database which lists a plurality of waste item identifiers distributed into a plurality of waste categories;

a plurality of containers positioned in the sorting station, each container being sized and configured to receive a plurality of medical waste items;

a waste item identification device configured to receive a waste item identifier from a waste item;

a decision system configured to classify the waste item into a waste category using the waste item identifier and information contained in the classification database;

wherein each of the containers is associated with one of the waste categories, and wherein the decision system is further configured to indicate into which of the containers a waste item should be deposited based on the waste category.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of doors configured to selectively provide access to individual ones of the plurality of containers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the doors are provided as a portion of the sorting station.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the doors are integrally formed with the containers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the classification database is located on a remote server in electronic communication with, but physically separated from the station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device is a barcode reader.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each container contains waste classified in exactly one waste category.

8. A waste sorting and disposal system comprising:

a sorting and disposal station comprising a waste item identification device and a plurality of container compartments;

a database comprising medical waste item classification information derived from rules and regulations affecting the disposal of medical waste items;

a plurality of containers positioned in the container compartments, each container comprising a machine-readable identification key and an automatically operable door formed integrally with the container; and

wherein the station is configured to read each identification key upon placement of a container in a container compartment, and to selectively open and close the doors of each of the plurality of containers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the database comprises a plurality of waste categories that can be ranked from least to most hazardous waste.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the database is located on a remote server in electronic communication with, but physically separated from the station.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the station is configured to determine when a container is full.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the station is further configured to lock a container once the system determines that container is full.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein each container contains waste classified in exactly one waste category.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein each identification key identifies a container as being associated with exactly one waste category.

15. A system for sorting medical waste items, the system comprising:

a sorting station in electronic communication with a classification database which lists a plurality of waste item identifiers distributed into a plurality of waste categories, wherein the waste categories are ranked from least to most hazardous;

a plurality of containers positioned in the sorting station, each container being sized and configured to receive a plurality of medical waste items;

a waste item identification device configured to receive a waste item identifier from a waste item; and

a decision system configured to assign the waste item to a waste category using the waste identifier and information contained in the classification database;

wherein each of the containers is associated with at least one of the waste categories, and wherein the decision system is further configured to indicate into which of the containers a waste item should be deposited based on the waste category; and

wherein the decision system is further configured to open a container associated with a highest hazardousness level if the station does not include a container associated with the assigned category.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to print a label indicating a contents of a container.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a barcode reader.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a notification device configured to inform a user of the assigned category.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each container is associated with exactly one waste category.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each container is made of a colored material, and wherein a containers corresponding to the same category are the same color.