US 5,470,546 AGranted

Apparatus for storing and sterilizing bio-hazardous waste

OwnerJohn L. Hallinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A fluid tight waste materials receptacle is located within a housing which has an upper access opening through which infectious wastes from medical clinics or the like may be deposited in the receptacle. A lower access opening enables entry and withdrawal of a sterilized waste receiver which may, for example, be a wheeled cart. The receptacle has an open end and a closed end and is pivotable between a first orientation at which the open end is coincident with the upper access opening in order to receive wastes and a second orientation at which the open end is turned downward to discharge wastes into the receiver. A closure pivoted to the housing seats in and seals the open end of the receptacle when it is at the first orientation. The receptacle is periodically evacuated and steam is admitted to sterilize the contents prior to discharge into the receiver.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Apparatus for sterilizing bio-hazardous waste materials comprising:

a housing having an upper region bounded in part by a front face of said housing which front face has an upper access opening for enabling entry of waste materials that are to be sterilized, said housing having a lower region and a lower access opening thereat constructed and arranged for enabling entry of a removable sterilized waste receiver into said lower region of said housing and withdrawal of said waste receiver therefrom;
an unsterilized waste receptacle disposed in said upper region of said housing and which has an open end and a closed end, said receptacle being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis which extends in parallel relationship with said front face of said housing and in parallel relationship with said upper access opening, said receptacle being pivotable about said axis between a first orientation at which said open end is in register with said upper access opening of said housing and an upended orientation at which said open end is below said closed end and at least partially faces said lower region of said housing;
a closure disposed at said front face of said housing and being coupled thereto and means for enabling movement of said closure between an open position at which unsterilized waste materials may be inserted into said receptacle through said upper access opening when said receptacle is at said first orientation and a closed position at which said closure seats at said open end of said receptacle and closes said receptacle;
and
means for sterilizing waste materials while said waste materials are within said receptacle.

2 more elements

Apparatus for storing and sterilizing bio-hazardous wastes comprising:

a housing having a front wall, back wall and opposite side members which extend therebetween and having an upper access opening for enabling insertion of wastes which are to be sterilized and further having a lower access opening proportioned to enable insertion of a sterilized waste receiver into said housing and withdrawal of said receiver therefrom,
a receptacle disposed within said housing and having an open end and a closed end, said receptacle being formed of fluid impervious material,
pivot means for enabling pivoting of said receptacle between a first orientation at which said open end of said receptacle is substantially coincident with said upper access opening of said housing and a second orientation at which said open end faces at least partially in a downward direction within said housing and wherein said pivot means pivots said receptacle between said orientations about a horizontal axis of rotation that extends in parallel relationship with said front wall of said housing and in parallel relationship with said upper access opening,
a receptacle closure situated at said front wall of said housing and a hinge coupling said closure to said housing and which enables movement of said closure between an open position at which said open end of said receptacle is exposed at said upper access opening and a closed position at which said closure seats at said open end of said receptacle and seals said receptacle, and
means for sterilizing waste materials while said waste materials are within said receptacle and said receptacle is at said first orientation and is sealed by said closure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.