Contaminated medical waste disposal system and method

• US 6,488,675 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drew R. Radford, Fred R. Radford, Jack D. Howard
• Original Assignee: Drew R. Radford, Fred R. Radford, Jack D. Howard
• Inventors: Radford, Fred R., Radford, Drew R., Howard, Jack D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Kim M.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 604/317-326, 604/540, 604/541, 220/770, 588/258
• US Class Current: 604/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid

Abstract

A system for collecting, transporting and disposing of biofluids, such as those collected in a hospital or other health facility, in a manner to protect an operator and related support devices and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids. The system provides a portable container adapted to be connected to the patient'"'"'s suction tubes and also to the vacuum source, so that biofluid is collected in the container. The container is then moved to a base disposal location, and an outlet valve of the valve and connecting assembly of the container is connected to the base assembly, and the valve of the container moved to an open position. A sealed discharge passageway is formed, and the biofluid flows through this passageway. The valve of the container is closed, and the container removed and either disposed of, or washed, and sanitized so as to be ready for reuse. There is also provided a plug and manifold assembly to removably interfit with the container. The plug and manifold assembly can be made disposable or can be washed and disinfected for reuse.

Claims

1. A system for collecting, transporting and disposing of biofluids in a manner to protect an operator and related support devises and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids, said system comprising:

a) a containing assembly comprising;

i. a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber;

ii. a fluid inlet and outlet section having an intake/outlet opening and having a valve to selectively close said intake/outlet passageway;

iii. a container assembly interconnecting section;

b. a base assembly comprising;

i. a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in an operating position;

ii. base interconnecting section arranged to interconnect with the container interconnecting section with the container in said operating position;

iii. disposal portion defining a disposal passageway leading toward a disposal location;

c. said containing assembly and said base assembly being arranged so that with said container in said operating position, and with interconnection of said container interconnecting section and said base interconnecting section, said containing assembly and said base assembly provide a discharge passageway from said chamber to said disposal passageway

whereby said containing assembly can be positioned at a collecting location to receive biofluid, the container can be moved to the base assembly, the container interconnecting section and the base interconnecting section can be interconnected, and the biofluid delivered toward the disposal location.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid inlet and outlet section comprises an inlet portion which defines at least one inlet passageway by which biofluid can be moved from a location exterior of said container into said containing chamber.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid inlet and outlet section comprises a closure and fluid inlet device which has a closure housing configured and arranged to be positioned in a valve passageway when said valve is in its open position and having at least one inlet passageway therein for inflow of biofluid into said chamber.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said closure and fluid inlet device comprises a check valve to permit flow from an exterior location through said at least one passageway into said containing chamber, but to block flow from said containing chamber outwardly to said inlet passageway.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said closure and fluid inlet device comprises an outlet passageway permitting gaseous flow outwardly from said containing chamber to a suction source.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, comprising:

a. said container defining a through opening leading from an exterior location through said container to said containing chamber;

b. a closure and fluid inlet device comprising;

i. a closure housing configured and arranged to fit into said through opening in sealing relationship;

ii. an inlet positioned in said closure housing and defining an inlet passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end communicating with said chamber;

iii. said inlet end having a connecting portion adapted to be connected to a biofluid tube [means] to carry biofluid;

c. said closure and fluid inlet device and said container being arranged so that said closure and fluid inlet device can be removably mounted in container in a manner that in an operating mode where said closure and fluid inlet device is connected to said biofluid tube, said closure and fluid inlet device seals said through opening while permitting inflow of biofluids into said chamber, and said closure and fluid inlet device can be removed from said through opening with or without a suction tube connected thereto for disposal at a disposal location,

whereby said containing assembly with said closure and fluid inlet device mounted in the container, and with at least one biofluid tube connected to said closure and fluid inlet device, collection of biofluids can be accomplished while isolating the biofluids from an area outside the containing assembly, and after collection, said closure and fluid inlet device can be removed from said container to another location for disposal or washing and sanitization for reuse.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said closure and fluid inlet device has an outlet leading from said chamber to an exterior location, said outlet being adapted to be connected to a suction tube that in turn would be connected to a vacuum source.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said closure and fluid inlet device has check valve operatively positioned with respect to said inlet to permit flow through said inlet into said chamber, but to prevent outflow through said inlet.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said closure housing has an outer housing section adapted to fit in sealing engagement with said through opening, and said inlet and outlet are provided as a tubular passageway inlet and a tubular passageway outlet in said housing.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein a lower inlet portion of said tubular passageway outlet is positioned below a lower outlet end of said tubular passageway inlet, and said check valve is located at the lower end portion of the tubular passageway inlet, whereby biofluid flowing through said tubular passageway inlet is discharged into said container in a manner to alleviate possible outflow of biofluid particles into said tubular passageway outlet.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said check valve comprises a flexible generally planar flap member positioned at a lower end portion of said outer housing, with said flap member having an opening aligned with said tubular passageway outlet, but extending over the outlet end of the tubular passageway inlet, and being retained in a manner so as to be movable away from outlet end of the tubular passageway inlet means to permit inflow of biofluid.

12. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said outlet has an outlet end, said closure and fluid inlet device further comprising a filter positioned within said closure and fluid inlet device proximate to the outlet end of said outer to collect biofluid possibly passing through said outlet means.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said filter is arranged so that when biofluid comes into contact with said filter, said filter expands to block said outlet.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said container has a through opening, and said fluid inlet and outlet section and said container assembly interconnecting section comprises a valve and connecting portion mounted in operative engagement with the through opening of said container, said valve and connecting portion comprising:

a. a valve comprising;

i. a valve housing;

ii. a valve element bring moveable relative to said valve housing between an open position to provide a valve through opening from said connecting chamber, and a closed position closing said valve through opening;

b. said container assembly interconnecting section arranged to come into interconnecting engagement with said base interconnecting section, with said container interconnecting mechanism of said valve and connecting portion being arranged to position the valve so that the valve through opening is in communication with the disposal passageway of the base assembly.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said valve element is rotatably mounted in said valve housing, said valve further comprising a valve actuator by which said valve element can be moved between said open position and closed position.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said valve element and said valve are arranged, relative to said base assembly in a manner that with the valve and connecting portion being interconnected with the base interconnecting section in an operating position, and with said valve element in its open position, the valve and connecting portion is not able to be moved toward a release position until said valve element has been moved to its closed position.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said valve actuator comprises at least in part a manually operably valve handle by which said valve element can be manually moved between its open and closed position, and said system is arranged so that with the container assembly interconnecting section in operative engagement with the base interconnecting section, movement of the valve element to the closed position also moves said valve actuator to a position preventing disengagement of said interconnecting mechanism.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said valve handle becomes positioned to prevent disengagement of said interconnecting portion.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein movement of said container from an interconnecting position is blocked by said valve actuator coming into interlocking engagement with said base assembly to prevent movement of the container from the interconnecting position.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said valve actuator is positioned in said base assembly, and said valve handle is arranged so that when the container interconnecting portion into operative engagement with the base assembly, said valve handle comes into operative engagement with said portion of said valve actuator, said portion of said valve actuator and said valve handle being arranged so that when said valve actuator rotates the valve element to the open position, said valve actuator is moved to an interlocking position to prevent movement of the container from its interconnecting position to a disengaged position.

21. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said container assembly interconnecting sections and the base interconnecting sections are arranged with a recess/protrusion interconnecting means, where one of said interconnecting section of the container interconnecting section and the base interconnecting section is provided with a recess, and the other of the container interconnecting sections and the base interconnecting section is provided with a protruding portion which comes into operative interconnecting engagement with the recess, whereby said valve and connecting means is moved rotatably relative to said base assembly to come into and out of interconnecting engagement.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said container interconnecting sections and said base interconnecting sections are arranged so that interconnecting movement of the container interconnecting section has a component of travel toward said base assembly, said container interconnecting section being arranged relative to said disposal portion of the base assembly so that said movement said container assembly interconnecting section causes it to come into sealing inter-engagement with said disposal portion so that the discharge opening is connected with the disposal passageway of the disposal portion in a sealing isolated relationship to provide a sealed disposal path.

23. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve and said container interconnecting portion are arranged so that when said container interconnecting portion is moved into interconnecting engagement along an interconnecting path of travel, an interlocking device blocks movement of container along said interconnecting path to move out of interconnecting engagement.

24. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

a) said valve comprises a valve housing having first and second housing openings on first and second sides of said valve housing;

b) said valve element being rotatably mounted in said valve housing between an open position where said valve opening is aligned with said valve housing openings, and a closed position where said opening is out of alignment with said valve housing openings;

c) first and second circumferential seals positioned around, respectively, said first and second housing openings so as to form a seal around each of said housing openings, said first and second seals also being in sealing engagement with said valve element,

whereby with said valve element in its open position, said first and second seals form a fluid tight passageway through said valve, and when said valve element is in its closed position, a surface portion of said valve element is positioned in its related housing opening so as to come into contact with said biofluid in the container, and with said valve element being moved form its closed position to the open position, the valve element surface portion exposed to said biofluid moves by its related circumferential seal to wipe said seal surface portion clean of the biofluid, and thus preventing biofluid from leaking into said valve housing.

25. A removable closure and inlet device particularly adapted to be used in a system for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, where said system comprises:

a. a containing assembly comprising;

i. a portable container having an upper end and a lower end and defining a biofluid containing chamber;

ii. an inlet and outlet section located at the upper end of the container having a container opening to receive biofluid from the patient and direct the biofluid into the containing chamber, and to discharge the biofluid from the chamber, said inlet and outlet section comprising a valve positioned at the upper end and having a through valve passageway, leading said valve comprising a valve housing and a valve element;

iii. a container interconnecting portion.

b. a base collecting section comprising;

i. base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in operating discharge position;

ii. a base interconnecting portion arranged to interconnect with the container, interconnecting portion with the container in said operating discharged position;

iii. a disposal portion defining a disposal passageway leading toward a disposal location;

said closure and inlet device comprising;

a. a closure housing configured and arranged to be positioned in the container opening in sealing relationship to close said container opening;

b. at least one inlet passageway extending through said closure housing from a location exterior of said container to said containing chamber, thus permitting fluid from an exterior location to flow into said containing chamber

whereby said closure and inlet device can be positioned in said through passageway to block said through passageway and prevent escape of fluid in said container while permitting an inflow of biofluid from the patient into the containing chamber, and said closure and inlet device can be removed from the through passageway to permit the container to be placed in the operating position to permit flow of biofluid from the container into the disposal passageway.

33. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 25, wherein:

a) said closure housing has lengthwise axis, a predetermined length dimension, an upper portion, and a lower portion, the lengthwise dimension of the closure housing being such that a lower end portion of the closure housing extends into the discharge passageway downwardly at least to said valve element;

b) said closure housing having a sealing surface portion positioned and arranged to be in sealing engagement with an interior sealing surface portion of the container unit at a location at least as low as the valve passageway with the valve element in the open position to provide a seal to substantially isolate a portion of the said container opening above said valve element from said biofluid in said chamber,

whereby with the closure and inlet device isolates the biofluid in the container so that the closure and inlet device can be removed form the container, the valve can be closed, and the container safely moved to the base assembly for disposal of the fluid.

34. The closure and inlet device of claim 33, wherein said closure housing extends through said valve passageway when in its container closing position, and the sealing surface portion of the closure housing is positioned at least as low as a lower portion of the valve passageway.

35. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 33 wherein the closure housing has a positioning device which, with the closure and inlet device being placed in its container closing position, positions the closure and inlet device to cause the sealing surface portion of the closure housing to be in proper sealing engagement with the interior sealing surface portion of the container.

36. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 35, wherein said positioning device comprises an interengaging component mounted to the closure housing and positioned to engage a matching interconnecting component mounted to the container in a manner to cause the closure and inlet device to be axially positioned so that it is in its proper sealing position.

37. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 36, wherein said positioning device is at a location above a location of said sealing surface portion of the closure housing to substantially isolate said positioning device from the biofluid, and said closure housing extends through said valve passageway when in its container closing position, and the sealing surface portion of the closure housing is positioned at least as low as a lower portion of the valve passageway.

38. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 37, wherein said positioning device is at a location above a location of said valve element when the closure and inlet device is in its container closing position.

39. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 38, wherein said positioning device comprises an interengaging component mounted to the closure housing and positioned to engage a matching interconnecting component mounted of the container in a manner to cause the closure and inlet device to be axially positioned so that the closure and inlet device is in its proper sealing position.

40. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 37, wherein said positioning device comprises an interengaging component mounted to the closure housing and positioned to engage a matching interconnecting component mounted of the container in a manner to cause the closure and inlet device to be axially positioned so that the closure and inlet device is in its proper sealing position.

41. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 33, wherein said closure and inlet device is arranged so that the positioned device comes into interengagement by rotation of the closure and inlet device.

42. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 41, wherein said closure and inlet device is arranged, relative tot he container so that rotation of the closure housing causes a cam action to cause axial movement of the closure and inlet device to its proper sealing position.

43. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 42, wherein said positioning device is at a location above a location of said sealing surface portion of the closure housing to substantially isolate said positioning device from the biofluid.

44. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 43, wherein said positioning device is at a location above a location of said valve element when the closure and inlet device is in its container closing position.

45. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 33, wherein said sealing surface of the closure housing comprises at least in part a sealing surface portion positioned at a lower perimeter and portion of the closure housing and said sealing surface portion has at least in part a downwardly facing directional component to come into engagement with a laterally and inwardly extending annular surface portion of the interior sealing surface portion of the container positioned at least as low as a lower portion of said valve element.

46. The closure and inlet device as recited in claim 45, wherein the closure and inlet device has a positioning device which, with the closure and inlet device being placed in its container closing position, positions the closure and inlet device to cause the sealing surface portion of, the closure housing to be in proper sealing engagement with the interior sealing surface portion of the container, said positioning device comprising one of two interengaging components which become interengaged to cause axial movement of the closure and inlet device downwardly to cause the sealing surface portion of the closure housing to come into sealing engagement with the inwardly extending surface portion of the interior sealing surface portion of the container.

26. A method for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, said system comprising:

a. locating a containing assembly at a collecting location relative to said patient, wherein said containing assembly comprises a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber;

b. directing biofluid from the patient through an inlet and outlet section of said containing assembly into the containing chamber;

c. providing a base assembly which comprises a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in an operating position, and providing a disposal passageway leading to a disposal location;

d. with a valve of said inlet and outlet section closed, placing said container at said receiving area and interconnecting said container with said base assembly with the container in said operating position;

e. opening said valve and causing said biofluid in said containing chamber to move through said inlet and outlet section into said base assembly and through said disposal passageway toward said disposal location.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein when the containing assembly is placed in the operating position in a manner that the biofluid flows by gravity-flow from the containing chamber to the disposal passageway.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the containing assembly has an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said method further comprising locating the container assembly in a collecting position in which biofluid is received into the collecting chamber, and the upper end portion of the containing assembly is positioned above the lower end portion of the containing assembly and then positioning the container unit in a discharge position so that the upper end of the containing assembly is positioned at a lower elevation than the lower end portion of the containing unit, with said discharge passageway being positioned at the upper end portion f the containing assembly so that in the discharge position, the biofluid flows by gravity through the discharge passageway tot he disposal passageway.

29. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising placing a removable closure and fluid inlet device in a discharge opening of said inlet and outlet section and directing said biofluid through inlet opening of said closure and inlet device into the containing chamber.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising having the valve in its open position when the closure and fluid inlet device is positioned in the discharge passageway, and with said closure and fluid inlet device out of said discharge passageway, then closing the valve member.

31. The method as recited in claim 29, further providing said closure and fluid inlet device with an outlet passageway removing gaseous material from said container unit by suction.

32. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising providing a plurality of said closure and fluid inlet devices, and using one of said closure and inlet devices to collect biofluid, and after discharge of the biofluid using another of the closure and inlet devices for collection of a second quantity of biofluid.

47. A system for collecting, transporting and disposing of biofluids in a manner to protect an operator and related support devises and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids, said system comprising:

a) at least one containing assembly comprising;

i. a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber;

ii. a fluid inlet and outlet section having an inlet/outlet opening to receive biofluids from a patient and direct the biofluid into the containing chamber, and to discharge the biofluid from the chamber;

iii. a container assembly interconnecting section.

b) a plurality of recyclable and/or disposable closure and fluid inlet devices, each of which has a closure housing adapted to be removably positioned to close said intake/discharge opening and having at least one inlet passageway therein for inflow of biofluid into said container valve operable closure selectively close and open said inlet/outlet opening;

c) a base assembly comprising;

i. a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in an operating position;

ii. base interconnecting section arranged to interconnect with the container interconnecting section with the container in said operating position;

iii. a disposal portion defining a disposal passageway leading toward a disposal location;

d) said containing assembly and said base assembly being arranged so that with said container in said operating position, and with interconnection of said container interconnecting section and said base interconnecting section, said containing assembly and said base assembly provide a discharge passageway from said chamber to said disposal passageway whereby said containing assembly with a selected one of said closure and fluid inlet device in said inlet/outlet opening can be positioned at a collecting location to receive biofluid, the closure and fluid inlet device can be removed from the container, the container can be moved to the base assembly, the container interconnecting section and the base interconnecting section can be interconnected, the biofluid delivered toward the disposal location, a second closure and fluid inlet device can be positioned in the inlet/outlet opening and additional biofluid be directed into the container.

48. A combination for collecting, transporting and disposing of biofluids in a manner to protect an operator and related support devises and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids, said combination comprising:

a) at least one containing assembly comprising;

i. a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber;

ii. a fluid inlet and outlet section having an inlet/discharge to receive biofluids from a patient and direct the biofluid into the containing chamber, and to discharge the biofluid from the chamber;

iii. a selectively operable closure valve to close and open said inlet/discharge opening.

b) closure and fluid inlet device which has a closure housing adapted to be removably positioned to said inlet/discharge opening and having at least one inlet passageway therein for inflow of biofluid into said container;

c) said valve, said inlet discharge opening and said closure and fluid inlet device being arranged so that with the valve in the open position, the closure and fluid inlet device is able to be positioned in the inlet discharge opening to close an outlet passageway of the valve, and with the closure and fluid inlet device removed from the inlet/discharge opening the valve can be closed to close the inlet/discharge opening and safely contain the biofluid in the chamber during movement of the container to a disposal location, and then with the container in a desired disposal position the valve can be opened and cause discharge of the biofluid into a desired disposal inlet.

49. A system for collecting transporting and disposing of biofluids in a manner to protect an operator and related support devises and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids, said system comprising:

a) a containing assembly comprising;

i. a portable container which has a biofluid inlet at an upper portion of the container defining a biofluid containing chamber;

ii. a fluid inlet and outlet section and which, with the container in a generally upright position receives biofluid from a patient and directs the biofluid into the containing chamber, from the chamber;

iii. container assembly interconnecting section;

b) a base assembly comprising;

i. a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in a generally inverted operating position;

ii. base interconnecting section arranged to interconnect with the container interconnecting section is with the container in said generally inverted operating position;

iii. a disposal portion defining a disposal passageway leading toward a disposal location;

c) said containing assembly and said base assembly being arranged so that with said container in said generally inverted operating position, and with interconnection of said container interconnecting section and said base interconnecting section, said containing assembly and said base assembly provide a discharge passageway from said chamber to said disposal passageway whereby said containing assembly can be positioned in a said generally upright position at a collecting location to receive biofluid, and the container can be moved to the base assembly, and in said generally inverted position the container interconnecting section and the base interconnecting section can be interconnected, and the biofluid delivered toward the disposal passageway.

50. A method for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, said system comprising:

a) locating a containing section at a collection location relative to said patient in a generally upright intake position, wherein said containing section comprises a portable container having an inlet at an upper portion thereof and defining a biofluid containing chamber;

b) directing biofluid from the patient through said inlet of said containing section into the;

containing chamber;

c) providing a base section which comprises a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in a generally inverted discharge position, and providing a base disposal passageway leading to a disposal location;

d) placing said container at said receiving area in its inverted discharge position and interengaging said container with said base assembly with the container;

e) causing said biofluid in said containing chamber to move through a discharge opening of said container into said base section and through said base disposal passageway to said disposal location.

51. A method for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, said system comprising:

a) locating a portable container at a collecting location relative to said patient, wherein said container has a biofluid containing chamber and an outlet opening leading from said chamber;

b) positioning a closure and fluid inlet device in said outlet opening and directing biofluid from the patient through an inlet of said closure and inlet device into the containing chamber;

c) removing said closure and inlet device from said outlet opening and operating a closure valve of said container to close said outlet opening'"'"'

d) providing a base assembly which comprises a base structure having a receiving area to receive said container in an operating discharge position, and providing a base disposal passageway leading to a disposal location;

e) placing said container at said receiving area and interengaging said container with said base section with the container in said operating discharge position;

f) opening said valve and causing said biofluid in said containing chamber to move through said discharge opening into said base assembly and through said disposal passageway to said disposal location.

52. A method for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, said system comprising:

a) locating a containing assembly at a collecting location relative to said patient, wherein said containing assembly comprises a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber and having an intake/discharge opening;

b) providing a plurality of removable closure and fluid inlet devices and positioning one of said closure and inlet devices in said intake/discharge opening;

c) directing biofluid from the patient through said one of said closure and fluid inlet devices into the containing chamber;

d) removing said one of said closure and fluid inlet devices from said container for disposal or recycling;

e) closing said intake/discharge opening and moving said container to a receiving area of a base assembly arranged to receive said container in an operating discharge position, and provide a disposal passageway leading to a disposal location;

f) opening said intake/discharge opening and said biofluid said containing chamber to move into said base assembly and through said disposal passageway toward said disposal location;

g) removing the container from the base assembly, placing a second one of said closure and inlet devices in said intake/discharge opening and directing further biofluid into said container for disposal.

53. A method for collecting and disposing of biofluids from a patient, said system comprising:

a) locating a portable container at a collecting location relative to said patient, wherein said container has a biofluid containing chamber, and outlet opening leading from said chamber, and a valve to selectively close said outlet opening;

b) positioning a closure and fluid inlet device in said outlet opening and directing biofluid from the patient through an inlet of said closure and fluid inlet device into the containing chamber;

c) removing said closure and inlet device from said outlet opening and operating said valve to close the outlet opening;

d) positioning the container in a disposal position at a disposal inlet of a disposal structure, and opening said valve and causing the biofluid to move through the outlet opening tot he disposal inlet.