Medical waste processor and processing method

A method of treating medical waste with an apparatus,

• (A) wherein the apparatus comprises:
• (i) a drum defining a substantially cylindrical treatment chamber having a closed end and a substantially open end, wherein the drum is rotationally balanced about a rotational axis;
• (ii) an enclosing body supporting the drum so that the drum can be rotated within the body about the rotational axis of the drum, the body having an opening for accessing the open end of the drum, wherein the opening is located substantially in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum;
• (iii) a movable barrier for selectively closing the opening for accessing the open end of the drum;
• (iv) a structure for supporting the enclosing body so that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum is positioned or can be positioned in at least one position between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees;
• and
• (iv) a movable mounting for the enclosing body operatively positioned between the enclosing body and the structure for supporting the enclosing body such that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum can be selectively moved;
• and
• (B) wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• (i) moving the enclosing body such that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum is between about 10 degrees and about 30 degrees and such that the opening is oriented at least partially upward to facilitate loading of medical waste at least partially downward into the treatment chamber;
• (ii) loading medical waste through the opening into the treatment chamber;
• (iii) positioning the movable barrier to close the opening;
• (iv) moving the enclosing body such that pitch of the rotational axis of the drum is between about 0 degrees and about 10 degrees;
• (v) introducing into the treatment chamber a germicidal agent;
• and
• (vi) rotating the drum to agitate the medical waste with the germicidal agent.