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

• 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:
  US10/946,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 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 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to print a label indicating a contents of a container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the waste item identification device comprises a barcode reader.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a notification device that informs a user of the assigned category.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each container is made of a colored material, and wherein a containers corresponding to the same category are the same color.