Waste sorting system with query function, and method thereof

• US 7,562,025 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• 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: Mallett, Scott, Davidner, Alan, Benson, James, Regla, Peter, Danta, Randall, Corey, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brooks; Matthew L.
• Application Number:
  US11/781,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 209583-930, 600/604, 607/2, 206366-370, 705 1- 2, 220/346, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 705/308
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3404 according to properties of containers or receptacles, e.g. rigidity, leaks, fill-level control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging B65B19/28; investigation of fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• 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 5/3422 using video scanning devices, e.g. TV-cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• 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: 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 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. In some embodiments, a detection system for determining a presence and/or a quantity of waste items within a container is also provided. In some embodiments, access to discarded waste items is restricted once the waste items have been placed in a container.

Claims

1. A sorting system for sorting a plurality of medical waste items, 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;

an input device configured to receive a first information on a medical waste item, wherein said first information comprises a waste item identifier, said input device configured to query a user for a second information as to whether the waste item is empty or not empty;

a control system configured to classify said waste item based on said first and second information;

wherein the control system is configured to assign the medical waste item to at least one medical waste category;

wherein the control system is further configured to identify one of the removable containers based on the medical waste category by allowing the movable lid of the identified removable container to move to the open position to receive the medical waste item and automatically lock in the closed position after receipt of the medical waste item.

2. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said medical waste item is a controlled substance.

3. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said input device is further configured to query the user as to whether the waste item is sharp.

4. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a scanner to receive said first information and a touch screen to receive said second information.

5. The sorting system of claim 4, wherein said scanner is wireless.

6. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a scanner to receive said first information and a keyboard to receive said second information.

7. The sorting system of claim 6, wherein said scanner is wireless.

8. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein the input device is further configured to query the user regarding the volume of any remaining contents in the waste item.

9. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said first information is contained in a barcode.

10. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein the control system classifies said waste item based on environmental or drug enforcement regulations for medical waste.

11. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein the identified container is configured to lock in a closed position after the user manually closes the lid.

12. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein each of the removable containers is sized to have an internal volume of about 1 gallon to about 20 gallons.

13. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to generate a manifest that identifies the waste items disposed in at least one of the removable containers.

14. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said removable containers are color-coded to correspond to different waste categories.

15. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said waste items comprises a drug vial having an institution-specific label generated by a hospital or pharmacy.

16. The sorting system of claim 15, wherein the institution-specific label comprises at least one of said first or second information.

17. The sorting system of claim 15, wherein the institution-specific label comprises colors, numerals, letters or combination thereof.

18. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the removable containers comprises a translucent or transparent portion to permit direct visualization of the disposed waste items in said container.

19. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the system is provided on a wheeled cart.

20. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the system is coupled to a wheeled medication cart.

21. A sorting system for sorting a plurality of medical waste items, 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 scanner configured to receive a first information on a medical waste item, wherein said first information comprises a waste item identifier;

an input device configured to query a user for a second information as to whether the waste item is empty or not empty;

a control system configured to classify said waste item based on said first and second information after said first and second information are communicated to said control system;

wherein the control system is configured to assign the medical waste item to at least one medical waste category;

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

wherein the control system is farther configured to allow the movable lid of the identified removable container to move to the open position to receive a medical waste item and automatically lock in the closed position after receipt of the medical waste item; and

wherein the control system is configured to generate a manifest that identifies the waste items disposed in one or more of said removable containers.

22. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said medical waste item is a controlled substance.

23. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said input device is further configured to query the user as to whether the waste item is sharp.

24. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said input device comprises a touch screen to receive said second information.

25. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said scanner is wireless.

26. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard to receive said second information.

27. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said scanner is wireless.

28. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein the input device is further configured to query the user regarding the volume of any remaining contents in the waste item.

29. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said first information is contained in a barcode.

30. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein the control system classifies said waste item based on environmental or drug enforcement regulations for medical waste.

31. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein the identified container is configured to lock in a closed position after the user manually closes the lid.

32. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein each of the removable containers is sized to have an internal volume of about 1 gallon to about 20 gallons.

33. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein said removable containers are color-coded to correspond to different waste categories.

34. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein one or more of said waste items comprises a drug vial having an institution-specific label generated by a hospital or pharmacy.

35. The sorting system of claim 34, wherein the institution-specific label comprises at least one of said first or second information.

36. The sorting system of claim 34, wherein the institution-specific label comprises colors, numerals, letters or combination thereof.

37. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the removable containers comprises a translucent or transparent portion to permit direct visualization of the disposed waste items in said container.

38. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the system is provided on a wheeled cart.

39. The sorting system of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the system is coupled to a wheeled medication cart.