WASTE SORTING SYSTEM WITH SELF-IDENTIFYING CONTAINERS

• US 20080015898A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• 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, Regla, Peter, Danta, Randall, Corey, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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 disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of disposable 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.

Claims

1. A waste sorting system, comprising:

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

a plurality of removable containers configured to be placed within the container compartments,

wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories,

a machine-readable key located on at least one of the removable containers, wherein said key is configured to indicate the container'"'"'s waste category type to the system;

an input device configured to receive information on a medical waste item;

a control system configured to classify said waste item based on the information received from the input device;

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

wherein the control system is further configured to identify one of the removable containers based on the waste category.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a scanner.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a barcode scanner.

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 machine-readable key is optically readable.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is alphanumeric.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is graphical.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises a color.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key is magnetically readable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable key comprises a physical feature associated with the container.