Apparatus for facilitating medical waste disposal

• US 20060200365A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Alan A. Davidner, Alan D. Corey, John Wong, Peter Regla, Randall C. Danta
• Inventors: Davidner, Alan A., Mallett, Scott R., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/702
• 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 comprising:

a plurality of containers of different types, each container type corresponding to a category of medical waste;

wherein each container comprises a machine-readable key configured to indicate the container'"'"'s type to a sorting machine,

wherein each container comprises an automatically-operable gate configured to selectively occlude and reveal an opening of the container, and

wherein said gate is configured to automatically lock.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is optically readable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is alphanumeric.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is graphical.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is a color detectable by a sorting station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is magnetically readable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises a physical feature associated with the container.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the physical feature is molded into the container.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises at least one microchip.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one container comprises a viewing window configured to allow a user to visually determine a contents of the container.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the level of waste within at least one container.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said gate is configured to automatically lock when the container reaches a predetermined fill level.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said containers is disposable.

14. A system comprising:

a plurality of containers of different types, each container type corresponding to at least one category of waste; and

a manual input device by which a user may identify the category of waste for at least one container;

wherein each container comprises an opening configured to provide access to an interior portion of the container.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the manual input device comprises a touch screen.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the manual input device comprises a keyboard.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the container further comprises an automatically-operable gate configured to selectively occlude and reveal the opening to the interior portion of the container.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one container comprises a viewing window configured to allow a user to visually determine a contents of the container.

19. The,system of claim 14, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the level of waste within at least one container.

20. A system comprising:

a plurality of containers of different types, each container type corresponding to a category of medical waste;

each container comprising a machine-readable key configured to indicate the container'"'"'s type to a sorting machine; and

each container comprising an manually-operable gate configured to selectively occlude and reveal an opening of the container, the gate being further configured to be automatically locked,

wherein the system is configured to identify at least one of the containers for disposal of a waste item.