Waste collection unit with a control system for regulating levels of vacuums being drawn in waste containers

A waste collection unit for collecting waste material, said waste collection unit comprising:

• a portable cart;
• a first waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during a medical procedure;
• a second waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during the medical procedure;
• a vacuum pump supported on said portable cart and in fluid communication with said first and second waste containers to draw the waste material into said waste containers;
• a first vacuum regulator between said first waste container and said vacuum pump with said first vacuum regulator configured to regulate a vacuum level in said first waste container;
• a second vacuum regulator between said second waste container and said vacuum pump with said second vacuum regulator configured to regulate a vacuum level in said second waste container;
• a first pressure sensor positioned to monitor pressure in said first waste container and configured to generate a first pressure signal representative of the pressure in said first waste container;
• a second pressure sensor positioned to monitor pressure in said second waste container and configured to generate a second pressure signal representative of the pressure in said second waste container;
• and
• a control system in communication with said first and second vacuum regulators and said first and second pressure sensors with said control system configured to receive the first and second pressure signals and control operation of said first and second vacuum regulators to provide for vacuums comprising a first vacuum level in said first waste container and a second vacuum level in said second waste container with the first vacuum level being different than the second vacuum level.

A waste collection unit for collecting waste material, said waste collection unit comprising:

• a portable cart;
• a first waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during a medical procedure;
• a second waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during the medical procedure;
• a vacuum pump supported on said portable cart in parallel fluid communication with said first and second waste containers to draw the waste material into said waste containers;
• a first vacuum regulator between said first waste container and said vacuum pump with said first vacuum regulator configured to regulate a vacuum level in said first waste container;
• a second vacuum regulator between said second waste container and said vacuum pump with said second vacuum regulator configured to regulate a vacuum level in said second waste container;
• a vacuum manifold between said first and second waste containers and said vacuum pump;
• and
• a backup port supported on said portable cart and configured to receive a vacuum line for coupling said vacuum manifold to a remote vacuum source not located on said portable cart.

A waste collection unit for collecting waste material, said waste collection unit comprising:

• a portable cart;
• a first waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during a medical procedure with said first waste container comprising a first transparent window;
• a second waste container supported on said portable cart and configured to collect the waste material during the medical procedure with said second waste container comprising a second transparent window;
• a vacuum pump supported on said portable cart in fluid communication with said first and second waste containers to draw the waste material into said first and second waste containers;
• a control system in communication with a first sensor coupled to said first waste container and configured to determine an estimated volume of the waste material in said first waste container, and in communication with a second sensor coupled to said second waste container and configured to determine an estimated volume of the waste material in said second waste container;
• a first container lamp coupled to said first waste container and configured to illuminate the waste material within said first waste container to be viewed through said first transparent window;
• and
• a second container lamp coupled to said second waste container and configured to illuminate the waste material within said second waste container to be viewed through said second transparent window,
• wherein at least one of said first and second container lamps are in communication with said control system with said control system configured to activate said at least one first and second container lamps based on the estimated volume of the waste material within said respective waste container.