Medical wastes disposal system

• US 5,163,375 A
• Filed: 07/29/1991
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MT Investors Associated. L.P.
• Original Assignee: Mcdonald, Withers & Huges, Inc.
• Inventors: Hughes, David W., Withers, L. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US07/737,427
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 110/341, 110/346, 110/235, 110/237, 110/242, 206/63.5, 206/366, 206/571
• US Class Current: 110/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3217 Devices for removing or collecting used scalpel blades for sharps A61B50/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/448 in which the waste is fed in containers or the like

Abstract

The system (10) for collecting and disposing of medical sharps such as personal use insulin syringes and other medical wastes includes a housing (11) and its telescopic cover (9) which are fabricated of biodegradable and combustible material such as natural cellulose, non-natural cellulose, and other materials and an absorbent biodegradable and combustible absorption package (30) or insert (35) can be placed in the bottom of the holding chamber (12) for absorbing any liquids emitted from the sharps and other medical wastes, and for enhancing the combustion of the medical sharps and other medical wastes when the housing is placed in a furnace. The system for collecting and disposing of medical wastes when burned, evolves no more than trace levels of sulfur or chlorine and yields substantially only biodegradable ash.

Claims

1. A process of disposing of medical wastes comprising:

placing used medical wastes in a holding chamber of a collector, said collector being fabricated substantially only of combustible materials and including absorptive material,

absorbing with the absorptive material liquids emitted from the medical wastes,

placing the collector in a furnace environment, and

combusting within the furnace environment the collector with the medical wastes confined within the collector during combustion of the collector.

2. The process of claim 1 and wherein said collector is fabricated of biodegradable material.

3. The process of claim 1 and wherein said collector is fabricated of paper and cellulosic materials with substantially no chlorine or sulfur content.

4. The process of claim 1 and wherein said collector is fabricated of combustible materials which when burned evolves no more than trace levels of chlorine or sulfur, and which yields only mineral ash or biodegradable ash upon combustion.

5. The process of claim 1 and wherein said collector is fabricated of combustible materials selected from the group consisting of:

natural cellulosic materials such as paper stock, cardboard, fiberboard, particle board, wood, and molded cellulose, non-natural cellulosic materials such as rayon, cellophane, and cellulose-nitrate, and other materials such as natural rubber and natural wax, which when burned their gases of combustion are substantially free of toxic fumes.

6. The process of claim 1 and wherein said collector is fabricated of combustible materials selected from the group consisting of:

natural cellulosic materials such as paper stock, cardboard, fiberboard, particle board, wood, and molded cellulose, non-natural cellulosic materials such as rayon, cellophane, and cellulose-nitrate, and other materials such as natural rubber and natural wax, which when burned will leave only mineral ash or biodegradable ash.