Receptacle for medical refuse

• US 7,898,201 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cherie K. Fisher, Karen L. Leboeuf
• Original Assignee: Cherie K. Fisher, Karen L. Leboeuf
• Inventors: LeBoeuf, Karen L., Fisher, Cherie K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duda; Rina I
• Application Number:
  US11/983,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 318/466, 318/443, 318/468, 318/445, 318/280, 318/283
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0054 about the central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0076 having additional locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0078 having additional unlocking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A medical waste receptacle includes a housing shaped to define an interior cavity into which a waste collection bin is disposed. The housing is also shaped to include a slot in communication with the interior cavity, the slot being selectively enclosed by a disposal drawer adapted to pivot between closed and open positions. A movable latch selectively engages the drawer, the position of the latch being regulated by an electronic controller. In use, a barcode scanner in electrical connection with the controller retrieves an access code provided on a refuse container to be dispensed. If the access code is deemed valid, the controller disengages the latch from the drawer, thereby enabling the container to be dispensed into the bin through the slot. In the absence of receiving a valid access code, the controller retains the latch in engagement with the naturally closed disposal drawer, thereby precluding access to the bin.

Claims

1. A receptacle for medical refuse, the receptacle comprising:

(a) a housing comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a left side panel and a right side panel which together define an interior cavity that is sized and shaped to receive a bin for collecting medical refuse, the housing being shaped to define a slot formed in the top panel for depositing refuse into the bin and a separate opening formed in the front panel for withdrawing the bin from the interior cavity, both the slot and the opening being in communication with the interior cavity,

(b) a drawer coupled to the housing and pivotable between closed and open positions, the drawer fully enclosing the slot when disposed in its closed position, the drawer at most partially enclosing the slot when disposed in its open position,

(c) a latch disposable between first and second positions, the drawer being retained in its closed position by the latch when disposed in its first position, the drawer being capable of pivotable displacement between its closed and open positions when the latch is disposed in its second position,

(d) a electronic controller for regulating the position of the latch,

(e) a lockable access panel coupled to the housing and pivotable between closed and open positions, the access panel enclosing the opening for withdrawing refuse when disposed in its closed position,

(f) a sensor disposed within the interior cavity of the housing for measuring the level of medical refuse collected within the bin, the sensor being electrically connected to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is programmed to retain the latch in its first position when the measured level of medical refuse collected within the bin exceeds a predefined threshold, and

(g) a display electrically connected to the controller, the display providing indication when the measured level of medical refuse collected within the bin exceeds the predetermined threshold.

2. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor measures the level of medical refuse collected within the bin using sonar.

3. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic controller is adapted to receive a first access code for authorizing access to the interior cavity through the slot for depositing refuse.

4. The receptacle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to cross-reference the first access code against a second access code stored in memory in the electronic controller.

5. The receptacle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electronic controller is programmed to displace the latch from its first position to its second position upon verifying that the first access code matches the second access code.

6. The receptacle as claimed in claim 5 further comprising an automatic identification reader for automatically retrieving the first access code, the automatic identification reader being electrically connected to the electronic controller.

7. The receptacle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the automatic identification reader is in the form of a barcode scanner.

8. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display includes a plurality of individually operating light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being electrically connected to the controller.

9. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a solenoid for regulating the position of the latch, the solenoid being electrically connected to the electronic controller.

10. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drawer is naturally biased to its closed position.

11. The receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disposal drawer is in the form of a roll bucket which includes a central tray and a pair of end pieces, the pair of end pieces being formed on opposite sides of the central tray.

12. The receptacle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the central tray for the disposal drawer includes a substantially planar section and an arcuate section which are formed together.