WASTE SORTING SYSTEM WITH SENSING CAPABILITIES

• US 20080015899A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• 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, Mallett, Scott, Regla, Peter, Danta, Randall, Corey, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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 for determining the level of contents within a container, comprising;

a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container;

a plurality of removable containers;

wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments,

wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of medical waste categories,

a waste item identification device configured to read a barcode associated with a waste item;

a control system configured to compare information obtained from the barcode to waste item classification information in a database;

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

wherein the control system is further configured to identify one of the removable containers based on the waste category;

wherein the control system allows a movable lid associated with the identified removable container to move to an open position; and

at least one optical source;

at least one optical detector configured to receive an output generated by the optical source; and

a processor configured to determine a level of contents of the at least one container based on data received from the at least one optical detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a color of the at least one container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a scanner.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an alert device configured to indicate to a user a fill level of the at least one container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical source comprises a light source, and wherein the optical detector detects a light from the light source.

6. A system for determining the level of contents within a container, the system comprising;

a means for containing waste items comprising a plurality of containers;

a means for producing an optical signal on one side of at least one of the plurality of containers;

a means for receiving an optical signal positioned on an opposite side of at least one of the containers; and

means for processing signals from the respective means for producing and means for receiving to determine a level of contents within at least one of the containers.

7. A method of determining the level of contents within a container, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container;

providing a plurality of removable containers;

wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments,

wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of medical waste categories,

providing a scanner to scan a barcode from a waste item;

providing a decision system to classify waste items into waste categories based on the barcode and information contained in a waste classification database;

allowing a movable lid associated with the removable container to move to an open position if the removable container is associated with the waste category;

providing an optical source and an optical detector, wherein the optical detector detects an output from the optical source; and

determining when at least one of the containers has reached a pre-set fill level based at least in part on information received from the optical detector.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the optical source comprises a light source.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the optical detector comprises an array of photo detectors.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising an alert device configured to indicate to a user a fill level of the at least one container.