Sorting system for composite drugs

• US 8,355,994 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• 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 R., Danta, Randall C., Regla, Peter, Corey, Alan D., Davidner, Alan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ouellette, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirlin, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US11/831,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 705/308, 340/572.9, 340/517, 588/260, 209/930, 209/509
• US Class Current: 705/308
• 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 sorting composite waste is provided. In some embodiments, the composite waste comprises two or more drugs, or two or more components. Composite waste is sorted efficiently and effectively using information regarding the different components in said waste, thus enabling proper disposal.

Claims

1. A sorting system for composite waste, comprising:

a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a container;

a plurality of containers, each container having an associated waste category, configured to be placed within the container compartments;

an input device configured to receive information associated with a composite waste item,

wherein said composite waste item comprises a combination of a first drug and a second drug;

wherein said first drug has a different hazard level than said second drug;

a control system configured to determine that said composite waste item is capable of being classified into two or more waste categories;

wherein the control system is further configured to determine a hazard level for said first drug and said second drug;

wherein the control system is further configured to classify said composite waste item into a waste category associated with the higher hazard level of said first drug or said second drug;

wherein the control system is further configured to open one of the containers corresponding to the classified waste category associated with said higher hazard level;

wherein the opened container is configured to receive said composite waste item for disposal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said composite waste item is a pharmaceutical formulation comprising said first drug and said second drug.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the opened container is associated with a lid that is configured to be manually closed by a user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system locks the opened container in a closed position after said composite waste item is disposed into said container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a touch screen.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the level of waste within at least one of said containers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to classify said composite waste based on information contained in a database.