Waste sensing system

• US 20050119909A1
• 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: Davidner, Alan A., Mallett, Scott R., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/308
• 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 sorting system for separating waste into a plurality of containers based on a classification of the waste item, the system comprising:

a plurality of containers, each of said containers associated with at least one of a plurality of a waste categories;

a waste detector configured to identify waste presented thereto;

a sorting mechanism configured to place waste into one of the containers based on information received from the waste detector;

a sensor configured to determine whether at least one of the containers has waste therein.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to determine a color of a container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sonic sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a load cell configured to weigh a container.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a radiation detector.

7. A sorting system for separating waste into a plurality of containers based on a classification of the waste, the system comprising:

a plurality of containers, each of said containers associated with at least one of a plurality of a waste categories;

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

a waste detector configured to identify waste presented thereto;

a sorting mechanism configured to place waste into one of the containers based on information received from the waste detector;

a sensor configured to determine whether at least one of the containers has waste therein.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the waste item detector is a barcode reader.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a fill-level sensor for sensing a quantity of waste items in a container.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the fill-level sensor comprises an optical source and an optical detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the optical detector comprises an array of photo detectors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the photo detectors are cadmium sulfide detectors.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical detector comprises a pinhole camera.

14. A sorting system for separating waste into a plurality of containers based on a classification of the waste, the system comprising:

a plurality of means for containing medical waste, each of said means for containing medical waste being associated with at least one of a plurality of a waste categories;

a means for identifying waste;

a means for sorting waste into one of the means for containing using information received from the means for identifying waste; and

a means for determining whether at least one of the containers has waste therein.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for determining whether a quantity of waste items in the container exceeds a threshold level.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for detecting a container type.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for determining an amount of time elapsed after a determination is made that at least one of the containers has at least one waste item therein.