Waste sorting method for rendering drugs non-recoverable

• US 7,533,028 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• 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: Davidner, Alan A., Mallett, Scott R., Danta, Randall C., Corey, Alan D., Regla, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brooks; Matthew L
• Application Number:
  US11/777,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 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: 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 method for sorting medical waste items, comprising:

providing a station comprising at least two container compartments;

providing at least a first and a second removable container and at least one removable receptacle to be received by said station, each container having an internal volume of about 1 gallon to about 20 gallons and configured to be placed within at least a first and second container compartment within said station,

associating each of the first and second containers and the receptacle with at least one of a plurality of different waste categories;

configuring the receptacle to receive at least a first category of medical waste items to be rendered non-recoverable after disposal;

configuring the containers to receive multiple additional categories of medical waste items different from the first category;

scanning a barcode placed on or associated with a medical waste item with a scanner;

comparing information obtained from the barcode with waste item classification information from a database and assigning the medical waste item to at least one waste category;

automatically opening one of the containers or instructing a user to dispose of the waste item in the receptacle depending on the waste category based on the barcode, thereby indicating the container or receptacle for receiving the waste item associated with the waste category based on the barcode;

providing each container with a machine-readable identification key associated with at least one of said waste categories such that the machine-readable identification key indicates the waste category of the waste item to be disposed into the container;

reading the machine-readable identification key associated with the container to determine the waste category of the container;

automatically locking the containers when a waste item has been disposed in said containers;

configuring the receptacle to accept both solid and liquid forms of said waste items; and

solidifying the liquid forms of said waste items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a fill level of the container or the receptacle with a sensor or a scale.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising alerting a user after at least one of the containers or receptacle has reached a pre-set fill level based on information received from the sensor or the scale.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly communicating information from the scanner to a control system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing at least one receptacle comprises providing a receptacle that is configured for detachment and placement on a wheeled cart.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a manual input system for manually entering information regarding the identification of the medical waste item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an additional second machine-readable key on the containers or receptacle.

8. The sorting method of claim 1, further comprising providing an RFID tag comprising information listing one or more contents of the container or receptacle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a label to at least one of the containers or receptacle.

10. The sorting method of claim 1, further comprising printing a manifest listing one or more contents of the container or receptacle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a viewing window on or in at least one of the containers or the receptacle to allow visual verification of a fill level while the containers are in station or the receptacle is coupled to the station.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising absorbing at least a portion of the liquid forms of the waste items disposed in the receptacle.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising chemically reacting at least one of the waste items disposed in the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising minimizing spillage of or tampering with the waste items disposed in the receptacle.

15. A method for sorting medical waste items, comprising:

providing a station comprising at least two container compartments;

providing at least a first and a second removable container and at least one removable receptacle to be received by said station, each container having an internal volume of about 1 gallon to about 20 gallons and configured to be placed within at least a first and second container compartment within said station,

associating each of the first and second containers and the receptacle with at least one of a plurality of different waste categories;

configuring the receptacle to receive at least a first category of medical waste items to be rendered non-recoverable after disposal;

configuring the containers to receive multiple additional categories of medical waste items different from the first category;

providing an input system configured to receive information placed on or associated with a medical waste item;

comparing said received information with waste item classification information from a database and assigning the medical waste item to at least one waste category;

automatically opening one of the containers or instructing a user to dispose of the waste item in the receptacle depending on the waste category based on the received information, thereby indicating the container or receptacle for receiving the waste item associated with the waste category based on the received information;

providing each container with a machine-readable identification key associated with at least one of said waste categories such that the machine-readable identification key indicates the waste category of the waste item to be disposed into the container;

reading the machine-readable identification key associated with the container to determine the waste category of the container;

automatically locking the containers when a waste item has been disposed in said containers;

configuring the receptacle to accept both solid and liquid forms of said waste items; and

absorbing said liquid forms of said waste items.

16. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising determining a fill level of the container or the receptacle with a sensor or a scale.

17. The sorting method of claim 16, further comprising alerting a user after at least one of the containers or receptacle has reached a pre-set fill level based on information received from the sensor or the scale.

18. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly communicating information from the scanner to a control system.

19. The sorting method of claim 15, wherein providing at least one receptacle comprises providing a receptacle that is configured for detachment and placement on a wheeled cart.

20. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising providing a manual input system for manually entering information regarding the identification of the medical waste item.

21. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising providing an additional second machine-readable key on the containers or receptacle.

22. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising providing an RFID tag comprising information listing one or more contents of the container or receptacle.

23. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising securing a label to at least one of the containers or receptacle.

24. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising printing a manifest listing one or more contents of the container or receptacle.

25. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising providing a viewing window on or in at least one of the containers or the receptacle to allow visual verification of a fill level while the containers are in station or the receptacle is coupled to the station.

26. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising solidifying at least a portion of the liquid forms of the waste items disposed in the receptacle.

27. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising chemically reacting at least one of the waste items disposed in the receptacle.

28. The sorting method of claim 15, further comprising minimizing spillage of or tampering with the waste items disposed in the receptacle.