Removable Liners for Waste Sorting System

• US 20080197059A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• 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 A., Mallett, Scott R., Benson, James R., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Huang, Alec, Regla, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/702
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• 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 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• 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: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

A liner for use in a waste sorting and disposal system is configured for placement in a container is provided. The liner includes an internal space and an opening that provides access to that internal space. In some embodiments, the liner may also include a machine-readable identification key that is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner may receive. In some embodiments, the machine-readable key is optical, color-coded, alphanumeric or graphical. The liner can include one or more closure members to allow a user to securely seal the liner when it is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the liner can include a flange, lip, hook or other protrusion to secure its position relative to a container.

Claims

1. A waste system comprising:

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

a movable lid associated with each of said compartments, wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position and a closed position;

a plurality of removable liners configured to be placed within the compartments,

wherein each of the removable liners has an opening to receive waste;

wherein each of the removable liners comprises a machine readable key that corresponds to a waste category;

a control system configured to determine the waste category associated with the liner based on said machine readable key;

a waste item identification device configured to receive information regarding a waste item;

wherein the control system is configured to assign the waste item to a waste category based on the information obtained from the waste item identification device;

wherein the control system is further configured to identify the appropriate compartment for receiving the waste item by associating the waste category of the waste item with the waste category of the liner in the appropriate compartment; and

wherein the control system is further configured to allow the movable lid associated with the appropriate compartment to move to the open position.

2. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises polypropylene and has a thickness of about 2 to 6 mil.

3. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a polymeric material.

4. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a flexible material.

5. The liner of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises an RFID tag.

6. The liner of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is optically-readable.

7. The liner of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises a color.

8. The liner of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises an alphanumeric pattern.

9. The liner of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key a graphical pattern.

10. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner has substantially the same shape as the compartment into which the liner is configured to be placed.

11. The liner of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the walls of the liner comprises a protrusion member, said protrusion member configured to contact at least a portion of the compartment.

12. The liner of claim 11, wherein the protrusion member is a flange.

13. The liner of claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls of the liner is substantially transparent.

14. The liner of claim 1, wherein at least one wall of the liner further comprises a viewing window configured to permit a user to visually determine a contents of the liner.

15. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner is configured to interface with a level sensor.

16. The liner of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member, the sealing member configured to maintain the opening of the liner in a closed position.

17. The liner of claim 16, wherein the sealing member comprises at least one adhesive strip.

18. A waste system comprising:

a first and second compartment, each compartment configured to receive a liner;

a movable lid associated with each compartment, wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position and a closed position;

a first liner configured to be placed within the first compartment;

a second configured to be placed within the second compartment;

wherein each of the removable liners has an opening to receive waste;

wherein each of the removable liners comprises a machine readable key that corresponds to a waste category;

wherein each of the compartments comprises a reader configured to read the machine readable key of the liner;

wherein the compartment is configured to adopt the waste category of the liner;

a waste item identification device configured to receive information regarding a waste item;

a control system configured to assign the waste item to a waste category based on the information obtained from the waste item identification device;

wherein the control system is further configured to identify the appropriate compartment for receiving the waste item by matching the waste category of the waste item with the waste category of the compartment; and

wherein the control system is further configured to allow the movable lid associated with the appropriate compartment to move to the open position.

19. A waste sorting system comprising:

a plurality of compartments, each having an opening;

a disposable liner comprising a machine readable barcode;

wherein the barcode is associated with a waste category;

wherein the liner is configured for removable placement within one of said compartments; and

a barcode reader that reads the barcode, thereby determining the waste category of the liner, and communicates said waste category to a user.

20. A liner for use in a waste sorting system, the liner comprising:

a plurality of walls defining an internal space;

an opening configured to provide access to the internal space; and

an RFID tag coupled to or integral with the liner,

wherein the RFID tag is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner should receive; and

wherein the liner is configured for removable placement within an interior cavity of a container.