Medical waste sorting system with container identification

• US 20060218001A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• 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 7,303,082 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 waste system comprising:

a station comprising a waste identification device and a plurality of container compartments and a plurality of container readers located adjacent to the container compartments, wherein the waste identification device determines different types of waste;

a plurality of containers positioned in the container compartments, each container comprising identification means associated with at least one waste category such that the identification means is configured to indicate to at least one of the category of waste to be deposited into the container; and

wherein the container readers are configured to read the identification means of containers positioned in the container compartments, and

wherein the station is configured to determine the container into which waste should be deposited based on the waste category associated with the identification means.

2. The system of claim 1, where the identification means comprises a machine-readable identification key.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises an optically-readable marking.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises a pattern of holes in a portion of the container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises alphanumeric characters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises a color detectable by a sorting station.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification means is magnetically readable.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste category defines a class of waste to be placed in the container.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste category of a container is independent of the container compartment in which the container is positioned.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each container comprises an automatically operable door.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each container comprises an automatically closeable door.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the containers is disposable.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprises means for receiving information regarding the waste to be disposed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving information regarding the waste to be disposed comprises a barcode scanner.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving information regarding the waste to be disposed comprises a manual input device, wherein said manual input device is operable to receive information manually entered by a user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said manual input device comprises a touch screen or keyboard.

17. A waste system comprising:

a means for sorting waste comprising a means for identifying waste and means for supporting containers within a plurality of compartments and plurality of means for reading located adjacent to the plurality of compartments wherein the means for sorting waste determines different types of waste;

a plurality of container means for containing waste, each container means for containing comprising a means for machine identification of the means for containing wherein the means for machine identification is associated with at least one waste category such that the means for machine identification is configured to indicate to the means for reading the category of waste to be deposited into the container means; and

wherein the means for reading read each means for machine identification of a container means positioned in the means for supporting, and wherein the means for sorting is configured to determine the means for containing into which waste should be deposited based on the waste category associated with the means for machine identification.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for sorting further comprises a means for providing access to the container means.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for supporting further comprises a means for moving the container means.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for sorting further comprises a means for classifying waste items.