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Method and apparatus for rendering medical materials safe

  • US 5,543,111 A
  • Filed: 08/12/1994
  • Issued: 08/06/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of disinfecting and processing dielectrically heterogeneous bulk medical waste to inactivate pathogens, comprising the steps of:

  • comminuting the dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste into comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste particles having a predetermined size;

    placing the comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste particles in a bulk dielectric processing container;

    conveying the bulk dielectric processing container with the comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste particles therein through an Opening and into a treatment region of a treatment chamber; and

    applying within the treatment region a transverse mode radio-frequency electric field from a pair of parallel plates, the transverse mode radio frequency electric field having a frequency in the range of about 3 megahertz to about 80 megahertz, the transverse mode radio frequency electric field heating the comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste particles to a temperature of 85°

    C. to 125°

    C., the transverse mode radio-frequency electric field substantially penetrating the comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous bulk medical waste particles and exhibiting a square of the electric field strength that varies by no more than a factor of two in the treatment region to produce disinfected comminuted dielectrically heterogeneous medical waste particles without substantially producing ionized gas.

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