Methods for identifying and categorizing medical waste

• US 8,595,021 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Mallett, Scott R., Danta, Randall C., Benson, James R., Corey, Alan D., Davidner, Alan A., Regla, Peter, Huang, Alec
• Primary Examiner(s): Brooks, Matthew L.
• Application Number:
  US12/717,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• 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 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• 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: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

Methods for using a liner in a waste sorting and disposal system are provided. The liner includes an internal space and an opening that provides access to that internal space. In some embodiments, the liner may also include a machine-readable identification key that is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner may receive. In some embodiments, the machine-readable key is optical, color-coded, alphanumeric or graphical. The liner can include one or more closure members to allow a user to securely seal the liner when it is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the liner can include a flange, lip, hook or other protrusion to secure its position relative to a container.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and categorizing waste, the method comprising:

providing a handheld waste item identification device configured to provide waste disposal instructions to a user;

wherein the handheld waste item identification device comprises a scanner and a user input device configured to receive information on medical waste items;

wherein the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device is configured to detect a first parameter regarding a medical waste item, wherein the first parameter comprises a composition of the medical waste item;

wherein the user input device of the handheld waste item identification device is configured to receive at least a second parameter regarding the medical waste item, the second parameter comprising at least one of whether the medical waste item is a sharps or whether the medical waste item is empty;

providing a control system operatively coupled to the handheld waste item identification device;

receiving waste item identification information regarding the first parameter about a medical waste item via the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device;

receiving at least the second parameter about such medical waste item via the user input device;

electronically assigning the scanned medical waste item to at least one waste category based at least in part on the first parameter and the second parameter;

determining, via the control system, at least one container of a plurality of containers based on the at least one waste category to which the scanned waste item is assigned in a waste sorting system comprising a plurality of container compartments; and

identifying an appropriate container compartment of the at least one container to a user by displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on one of a display device or a display of the handheld waste item identification device,

wherein the control system is configured to allow a movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container to move to an open position, and

wherein the control system is configured to lock the movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container in a covered position when the control system determines that the at least one container is full.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld waste item identification device is in data communication with the control system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld waste item identification device is configured to communicate with the control system wirelessly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a touch screen or a keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a database comprising waste item classification information related to the disposal of medical waste.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the waste item classification information comprises classification information based on environmental or drug enforcement regulations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering additional identifying information regarding a medical waste item using the user input device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on the display device or the display of the handheld waste item identification device comprises displaying a color associated with the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container therein.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on the display device or the display of the handheld waste item identification device comprises displaying text associated with the appropriate container compartment.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking of medical waste items such that a location of a medical waste is determinable by the control system after the medical waste item has been deposited into one of the plurality of containers or one of a plurality of removable liners, wherein each of the plurality of removable liners is configured to be receivable by a corresponding one of the plurality of containers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein tracking of medical waste items comprises affixing a unique identifier to at least some of the plurality of containers or the removable liners.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or a serial number.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a manifest to identify a contents of a container or a removable liner having the unique identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the appropriate container compartment to a user comprises identifying a closest disposal location for a scanned medical waste item.

15. A method for identifying and categorizing waste, the method comprising:

providing a handheld waste item identification device configured to provide waste disposal instructions to a user;

wherein the handheld waste item identification device comprises a scanner and a user input device;

wherein the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device is configured to detect a composition of the waste item;

wherein the user input device is configured to receive at least one condition regarding the waste item, the at least one condition comprising at least one of whether the waste item is a hazardous waste item or whether the waste item is empty;

providing a control system operatively coupled to the handheld waste item identification device;

receiving waste item identification information from a waste item via the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device;

receiving the at least one condition about such waste item via the handheld waste item identification device;

electronically assigning the scanned waste item to at least one waste category based at least in part on the waste item identification information and the at least one condition;

determining, via the control system, at least one container of a plurality of containers based on the at least one waste category to which the scanned waste item is assigned in a waste sorting system comprising a plurality of container compartments; and

identifying an appropriate container compartment of the at least one container to a user by displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on one of a display device or a display of the handheld waste item identification device,

wherein the control system is configured to allow a movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container to move to an open position, and

wherein the control system is configured to lock the movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container in a covered position when the control system determines that the at least one container is full.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein information from the handheld waste item identification device is wirelessly communicated to the control system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a database comprising information related to rules and regulations governing the disposal of waste.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising entering additional identifying information regarding a waste item using the user input device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on the display of the handheld waste item identification device comprises displaying a color associated with the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container therein.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on the display device or the display of the handheld waste item identification device comprises displaying text associated with the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container therein.