System for sorting discarded and spent pharmaceutical items

• US 20060265241A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• 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., Benson, James R., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/366
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• 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 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. In some embodiments, a detection system for determining a presence and/or a quantity of waste items within a container is also provided. In some embodiments, access to discarded waste items is restricted once the waste items have been placed in a container.

Claims

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

a plurality of containers, wherein at least one container is associated with at least one waste category;

a waste identification device configured to determine a qualitative parameter of a medical waste item;

a database comprising waste item classification information; and

a control system configured to compare information obtained from the waste item identification device with information contained in the database,

wherein the control system is further configured to assign the medical waste item to at least one waste category; and

wherein the system is further configured to identify at least one of the containers based on the waste category.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to open one of the containers based on the waste category.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to visually indicate an appropriate container, wherein said appropriate container is selected based on the waste category.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste identification device comprises a handheld device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste identification device comprises a wireless device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a barcode scanner that scans said medical waste item.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a scanner that scans said medical waste item and communicates said scanned information to a system for classifying said waste item into an appropriate waste category.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a display.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device communicates information regarding the waste item being discarded.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said information comprises information regarding the particular waste container in which the waste item should be placed.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said information comprises information regarding whether or not the waste can be directly discharged into a particular sewer system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical waste comprises pharmaceutical waste.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item classification information comprises classification information based on environmental or drug enforcement regulations.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a manual input system for manually entering information regarding the waste item.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said manual input system is configured to query the user for information as to whether the waste item is a sharps item or whether the waste item is empty.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the containers comprises at least one lid that is configured for manual closure by the user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said containers comprises at least one lid that is configured for automatic closure upon disposal of the waste item.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor that senses disposal of a waste item into at least one of said containers,

wherein at least one of said containers comprises a lid that automatically closes upon receiving information based on said sensor.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the containers comprises a machine-readable identification key enabling said container to be hot-swapped.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the containers prevents unauthorized personnel from accessing the waste item once the item has been deposited into said container, thereby restricting access to the internal contents of that container.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein access is restricted while the container is open and still capable of receiving waste.

22. The system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the containers is a removable container comprising an opening and a movable lid, and

wherein said movable lid is configured to lock in a covered position when said removable container is full.

23. A system for sorting a plurality of medical waste items, the system comprising:

a plurality of containers, wherein at least one container is associated with at least one waste category;

a waste identification device configured to determine information regarding a medical waste item;

waste item classification information; and

means for comparing the information obtained from the waste item identification device with the waste item classification information,

wherein the means for comparing information is further configured to assign the medical waste item to at least one waste category; and

wherein the means for comparing information is further configured to identify at least one of the containers based on the waste category.