System and method for sorting medical waste for disposal

• US 7,119,689 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• 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., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brooks, Matthew L.
• Application Number:
  US10/945,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 sorting a plurality of medical waste items of various kinds, the system comprising:

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

a plurality of removable containers, wherein each of said removable containers comprises an opening and a movable lid, 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 and wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position wherein the movable lid is movable to a covered position;

a waste item identification device configured to read a barcode on an item of medical waste;

a database comprising medical waste item classification information derived from rules and regulations affecting the disposal of medical items; and

a control system configured to compare information obtained from the barcode to information contained in the database and wherein the control system is further configured to assign the item to at least one medical waste category; and

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

wherein the control system is further configured to allow the movable lid of the identified removable container to move to the open position; and

wherein the control system is further configured to lock the movable lid in the covered position when the control system determines that the removable container is full.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to notify a user of the medical waste category.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is located on a remote server which is physically separated from the control system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to provide access to the container associated with the medical waste category.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to provide access to a container associated with the assigned waste category by opening a door.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lid is part of the container.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lid is a portion of the container compartment.

8. A system for sorting waste, the system comprising:

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

a plurality of removable containers, wherein each of said removable containers comprises an opening and a movable lid, and wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments, and wherein each of the removable containers associated with a plurality of medical waste categories and wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position wherein the movable lid is movable to a covered position;

a waste item identification device configured to determine a qualitative parameter of an item of medical waste;

a database comprising medical waste item classification information;

a control system programmed to;

compare said qualitative parameter of said item to information contained in the database;

assign the item to a medical waste category;

identify one of the removable containers based on the medical waste category;

allow the movable lid of the identified removable container to move to the open position and

lock the movable lid in the covered position when the control system determines that the removable container is full.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control system is further programmed to notify a user of the medical waste category.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the control system is configured to notify a user of the medical waste category by indicating a container into which the item should be deposited.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to indicate a container by opening a door.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to indicate a container by illuminating a light.

13. A system for sorting waste, the system comprising:

a waste item identification device configured to measure a qualitative parameter of an item of medical waste;

a database comprising medical waste item classification information derived from rules and regulations affecting the disposal of medical waste items;

a control system programmed to, in sequence;

compare said qualitative parameter of said item to information contained in the database; and

assign the item to a unique medical waste category;

open a lid of a removable container that is associated with the medical waste category; and

lock the lid of a removable container in a closed position when the control system determines that the removable container is full.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control system is further programmed to notify a user of the medical waste category.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the waste item identification device and the control system are housed within a waste item sorting and disposal station.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the station is in electronic communication with a plurality of other sorting and disposal stations.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the database is accessible by all of the sorting and disposal stations.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of containers, each container being associated with a waste category.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each container is associated with exactly one waste category.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control system is further configured to detect the waste category associated with each container.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control system is further programmed to facilitate delivery of a waste item into a container associated with the medical waste category.

22. A system for sorting waste, the system comprising:

a waste item identification means for identifying a qualitative parameter of an item of medical waste;

a database means for classifying medical waste items into categories according to rules and regulations affecting the disposal of medical waste items;

control means for;

comparing said qualitative parameter of said item to information contained in the database; and

assigning the item to a unique medical waste category;

opening a lid of a removable container that is associated with the medical waste category; and

locking the lid of a removable container in a closed position when the control system determines that the removable container is full.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a means for notifying a user of the medical waste category.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising a container associated with the medical waste category.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a means for providing access to a container opening.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a means for alerting a user when a container is full.