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Waste sensor for a disposable container

  • US 7,303,080 B2
  • Filed: 09/21/2004
  • Issued: 12/04/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for determining the level of contents within a waste container, 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;

    a movable lid coupled with each of said removable containers;

    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,wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position; and

    wherein the movable lid is movable to a closed position;

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

    a control system configured to compare information obtained from the barcode to medical waste item classification information in a database;

    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 allows the movable lid coupled to the identified removable container to move to the open position; and

    wherein the control system is further configured to lock the movable lid in a closed position when the control system determines that the removable container has reached a pre-determined fill level;

    at least one optical source;

    at least one optical detector; and

    a processor configured to determine a level of contents of the at least one container by analysis of data received from the at least one optical detector.

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