MEDICAL/SURGICAL WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM INCLUDING WASTE CONTAINERS OF DIFFERENT STORAGE VOLUMES WITH INTER-CONTAINER TRANSFER VALVE AND INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLED VACUUM LEVELS

• US 20070135779A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Gamhewage, Chamara, Murray, Sean, Isham, Stephen, Reasoner, Stephen, MacLachlan, Brian, Wasserman, Mark, Scanlon, Brandon, Westphal, Grant, Lalomia, Brent, Hepp, Joseph, Rocque, Glen, Durnell, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/006 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/631 Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 : having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 : Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/707 : Testing of filters for clogging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7545 : for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7563 : with means preventing clogging of filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 : Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 : Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 : Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 : by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/442 : by measuring the concentration of particles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 : using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/158 : using active carbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 : Liquid filling by evacuating container

Abstract

A waste collection and disposal system for use in health care facilities is provided. The system includes a mobile waste collection unit for moving between use areas in the health care facility to collect waste material generated during medical procedures including body fluids, body tissues, saline, etc. The waste collection unit includes stacked upper and lower waste containers for receiving the waste material. During use, the upper waste container can be emptied into the lower waste container for temporary storage. In addition, different vacuum levels can be provided in the waste containers during complex procedures. Once a user desires to empty the waste collection unit, the waste collection unit is wheeled to a docking station. At the docking station, the waste material is off-loaded to a waste drain and the waste collection unit is cleaned and rinsed for further use.

Claims

1. A waste collection unit for collecting waste material through suction lines during a medical procedure, said unit comprising:

a first waste container having a maximum storage volume and a connecting member for receiving a first suction line through which medical/surgical waste is drawn into said first waste container;

a second waste container having a maximum storage volume larger than said maximum storage volume of said first waste container and having a connecting member for receiving a second suction line through which medical/surgical waste is drawn into said second waste container;

a vacuum source in selective parallel communication with both of said waste containers for providing a vacuum in said waste containers to draw the waste material into said waste containers through the suction lines; and

a transfer valve disposed between said waste containers and operable between open and closed positions for allowing the transfer of waste material from said first waste container to said second waste container.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said maximum storage volume of said second waste container is greater than twice said maximum storage volume of said first waste container such that said first waste container can be emptied at least twice into said second waste container before filling said second waste container to said maximum storage volume of said second waste container.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 1 including an actuator operatively coupled to said transfer valve for moving said transfer valve between said open and closed positions.

4. A unit as set forth in claim 3 including a position sensor responsive to movement of said transfer valve between said open and closed positions for generating a position signal and a controller in communication with said position sensor to receive said position signal and determine a position of said transfer valve.

5. A unit as set forth in claim 4 including a sensing plate having a cammed shape rotatably coupled to said actuator wherein said position sensor is further defined as a Hall-effect sensor responsive to movement of said sensing plate whereby said sensing plate alters said position signal as said sensing plate rotates.

6. A unit as set forth in claim 4 including a user interface in communication with said controller for allowing a user to request transfer of the waste material from said first waste container to said second waste container wherein said controller is configured for instructing said actuator to move said transfer valve to said open position is response to a user request and to said closed position once the waste material has been transferred from said first waste container to said second waste container.

7. A unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said vacuum source includes a vacuum pump for providing a source of vacuum to both of said waste containers to draw waste material into both of said waste containers through the suction lines.

8. A unit as set forth in claim 1 including a portable cart supporting said first and second waste containers.

9. A unit as set forth in claim 8 including a level sensor assembly for sensing a level of the waste material in each of said waste containers, said level sensor assembly including a float in each of said waste containers.

10. A unit as set forth in claim 9 including a prefill reservoir supported by said portable cart in fluid communication with said first waste container for holding prefill liquid used to prefill said first waste container with a predetermined amount of the liquid to lift the float in said first waste container prior to collecting the waste material in said first waste container.

11. A unit as set forth in claim 10 including a prefill pump for pumping the prefill liquid from said prefill reservoir into said first waste container after transferring the waste material from said first waste container to said second waste container and prior to collecting additional waste material in said first waste container.

12. A unit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first waste container is disposed above said second waste container on said cart such that the waste material is transferred from said first waste container to said second waste container at least partially due to gravity when said transfer valve is in said open position.

13. A unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said connecting members are further defined as manifold receivers for receiving disposable manifolds used to filter the waste material collected through the suction lines during the medical procedure.

14. A unit as set forth in claim 13 wherein said cart defines a storage compartment for storing a plurality of the disposable manifolds.

15. A unit as set forth in claim 1 including a canister cover associated with each of said waste containers, each of said canister covers movable relative to said respective waste containers between a closed position in which said canister cover conceals said container from view and an open position in which said waste container can be viewed.

16. A waste collection unit for collecting waste material through a plurality of suction lines during a medical procedure, said unit comprising:

a portable cart;

a first waste container supported by said portable cart and adapted for connection to one of the suction lines to collect the waste material during the medical procedure;

a second waste container supported by said portable cart and adapted for connection to another of the suction lines to collect the waste material during the medical procedure;

a vacuum source in selective communication with both of said first and second waste containers for providing a vacuum in both of said first and second waste containers simultaneously to draw the waste materials into said waste containers through the suction lines;

a first vacuum regulator in fluid communication with said vacuum source for regulating a vacuum level in said first waste container;

a second vacuum regulator in fluid communication with said vacuum source for regulating a vacuum level in said second waste container; and

a control system in communication with said first and second vacuum regulators and adapted for simultaneously controlling said first and second vacuum regulators to control the vacuum levels in said first and second waste containers such that different vacuum levels can be established in said first and second waste containers.

17. A waste collection unit for collecting waste material during a medical procedure, said unit comprising:

a waste container with a connecting member for receiving a suction line through which medical/surgical waste material is drawn into said waste container;

a level sensor assembly for measuring the level of waste material in said waste container to generate a signal representative of the waste material level;

a temperature sensor coupled with said waste container for sensing the temperature of said waste container; and

a controller in communication with said level sensor assembly and said temperature sensor for estimating a volume of the waste material contained in said waste container based on the signal generated by said level sensor assembly and modified based on the temperature of said waste container.

18. A waste collection and disposal system for collecting and disposing of waste material collected through a suction line during a medical procedure, said system comprising:

a waste collection unit including;

a portable cart;

a waste container supported by said portable cart for coupling to the suction line to collect the waste material during the medical procedure;

a first plurality of couplings; and

a carrier mounted to said portable cart and carrying said first plurality of couplings;

a docking station spaced from said waste collection unit for disposing of the waste material collected by said waste collection unit and for cleaning said waste container, said docking station including;

a cabinet;

a head extending from said cabinet and including a second plurality of couplings for mating with said first plurality of couplings, a mating interface carrying said second plurality of couplings and configured for moving said second plurality of couplings upwardly to mate with said first plurality of couplings, and a floating frame carrying said mating interface for engagement by said carrier such that said floating frame aligns said second plurality of couplings with said first plurality of couplings when engaged by said carrier to facilitate mating of said couplings.