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System for sorting waste

  • US 7,138,918 B2
  • Filed: 09/21/2004
  • Issued: 11/21/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for sorting medical waste items, the system comprising:

  • a sorting station in electronic communication with a classification database which lists a plurality of waste item identifiers distributed into a plurality of waste categories, wherein the waste categories are ranked from least to most hazardous;

    a plurality of containers positioned in the sorting station, each container being sized and configured to receive a plurality of medical waste items, each container comprising a machine-readable identification key wherein the machine-readable identification key is associated with at least one waste category such that the machine-readable identification key indicates at least one of the categories of waste to be deposited into the containers;

    at least one key reader that reads the machine-readable identification key associated with the container;

    a waste item identification device configured to receive a waste item identifier from a waste item; and

    a decision system configured to assign the waste item to a waste category using the waste identifier and information contained in the classification database;

    wherein the decision system is further configured to indicate into which of the containers a waste item should be deposited based on the waste category and based on the machine-readable identification key associated with the container; and

    wherein the decision system is further configured to open a container associated with a highest hazardousness level if the station does not include a container associated with the assigned category.

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