US 5,470,022 A · Sharps disposal system

Abstract

A sharps disposal apparatus is provided for reducing contaminated medical sharps into unrecognizable, ordinary waste. The disposal apparatus comprises a disposal unit including a disposer, disposable waste receptacle, and sterilant recycling system. During the destruction and sterilization operation, the sterilant recycling system introduces sterilant into the disposer to sterilize the contaminated medical sharps while the disposer is grinding the sharps into small fragments. Once the medical waste is reduced to small fragments and is sterilized, the reduced waste is deposited in the disposable waste receptacle. Excess disinfectant flows through the waste receptacle and is recovered by a reservoir to be recycled. After the waste receptacle is full, the waste receptacle is easily removed from disposal unit, without the reduced medical waste coming into contact with human hands, and is disposed as ordinary waste.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A disposal system for processing and sterilizing medical waste including medical sharps, said system comprising:

a container having an exit opening;
a disposal unit having an opening for receiving material from the container by way of said exit opening, said disposal unit comprising:
a disposer for processing medical waste into small particles;
a reservoir containing sterilant;
a disposable waste receptacle disposed apart from said reservoir, said waste receptacle comprising an influent portion through which said sterilant enters said receptacle, an effluent port through which said sterilant exits said receptacle, a container portion that holds said small particles from said disposer, said container portion being constructed of a fluid impermeable material, and a filter positioned between said container portion and said effluent port;
and
a sterilant recirculation system that circulates said sterilant between said reservoir, disposer and waste receptacle;
and
an engagement structure on the disposal unit for engaging said container and placing said exit opening in communication with said disposal unit opening.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sharps disposal system

Life of this patent

Sharps disposal system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21