Medical waste collection and treatment system

A medical waste treatment apparatus, comprising:

• means forming a chamber adapted to be coupled with a motor, said chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom floor and being adapted to receive and treat solid and soft medical waste;
• a rotatable assembly carried within said chamber adapted to be rotatably driven by said motor;
• first means carried by said rotatable assembly for moving and treating medical waste during rotation of said rotatable assembly, the first means comprising a plurality of waste treating blades pivotally mounted on a rotatable hub to rotate within said closeable chamber adjacent its bottom, each of said plurality of waste treating blades having an opening formed therein adjacent one end disposed in axial alignment with a corresponding bore formed in said rotatable hub and being pivotable between a first position where the blade extends substantially radially outwardly from its mounting and a second position where the blade is partially recessed within said rotatable hub, and a threadless axle pin extending through each said hub bore and each said blade opening to rotatably secure each said blade within said slot,
• said threadless axle pin being retained within each said bore formed in said rotatable hub by retaining means carried by said rotatable hub;
• first baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height above the bottom floor for acting upon a first portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation;
• and
• second baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber generally at a height lower than the height of said first baffle means for acting upon a second portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation, whereby said first and second baffle means cooperate with the first means to enhance the treatment of said medical waste.

Apparatus for the treatment of medical waste, comprising:

• a portable housing forming a chamber defined by a bottom, sidewall and top and a closeable chamber opening in the top permitting insertion of medical waste into said chamber;
• a rotatable hub carried by the chamber bottom and at least one blade pivotally carried by said rotatable hub,
• said hub including at least one blade-receiving slot formed therein in which said at least one blade is mounted, said at least one blade being pivotable between a first extended position where said blade extends substantially radially outwardly from its mounting and a second retracted position where the blade is partially recessed within said hub, each of said waste treating blades having an opening formed therein adjacent their proximal ends disposed in axial alignment with a corresponding bore formed in said hub,
• said rotatable hub further comprising a rotatable axle pin extending downwardly through said bore in said hub and said blade opening to pivotally secure said blade within said slot,
• said rotatable hub further comprising means for securing said axle pin within the bore formed in said hub,
• said rotatable hub further comprising an annular ring extending outwardly from said rotatable hub from below said at least one blade-receiving slot;
• abutment means formed on the chamber sidewall comprising first abutment means and second abutment means, said second abutment means being disposed on the chamber sidewall at a location lower than that of said first abutment means and providing at least one cutting edge only a small clearance distance from the distal ends of said waste treating blades;
• and
• a separate power unit including a motor to drive the rotatable hub of said portable housing.

A medical waste treatment apparatus, comprising:

• means forming a chamber adapted to be coupled with a motor, said chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom floor and being adapted to receive and treat solid and soft medical waste;
• a rotatable assembly carried within said chamber adapted to be rotatably driven by said motor;
• first means carried by said rotatable assembly for moving and treating medical waste during rotation of said rotatable assembly,
• wherein said first means comprises at least one metal blade pivotally affixed to said hub member in a slot formed in said rotatable assembly, said slot having a first stop surface for impeding the blade from pivoting forwardly substantially past a reference line extending radially outwardly from its mounting and having a second surface for impeding the blade from pivoting rearwardly substantially past about 90.degree. from said reference line,
• wherein said rotatable assembly further comprises a ring extending radially outwardly from adjacent its lowest portion,
• wherein said rotatable assembly further comprises a hard protrusion extending upwardly and outwardly from adjacent its top portion;
• first baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height above the bottom floor for acting upon a first portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation,
• wherein said first baffle means comprises at least one baffle for providing surfaces located for preferential action on non-soft medical waste material during operation, and
• second baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber generally at a height lower than the height of said first baffle means for acting upon a second portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation, whereby said first and second baffle means cooperate with the first means to enhance the treatment of said medical waste,
• wherein said second baffle means comprises a plurality of baffles for providing surfaces located for preferential action on soft medical waste material during operation.

A medical waste treatment apparatus, comprising:

• means forming a chamber adapted to be coupled with a motor, said chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom floor and being adapted to receive and treat solid and soft medical waste;
• a rotatable assembly carried within said chamber adapted to be rotatably driven by said motor;
• first means carried by said rotatable assembly for moving and treating medical waste during rotation of said rotatable assembly;
• first baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height above the bottom floor for acting Upon a first portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation;
• second baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber generally at a height generally lower than the height of said first baffle means for acting upon a second portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation, whereby said first and second baffle means cooperate with the first means to enhance the treatment of said medical waste;
• an enclosure for said chamber during operation of the waste treatment apparatus;
• and
• a supporting plate supported free of contact with said enclosure, said supporting plate having a liquid containment dam for retention of leakage.

A medical waste treatment apparatus, comprising:

• means forming a chamber adapted to be coupled with a motor, said chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom floor and being adapted to receive and treat solid and soft medical waste
• said chamber having a plurality of elastomeric feet for supporting the chamber,
• a rotatable assembly carried within said chamber adapted to be rotatably driven by said motor;
• first means carried by said rotatable assembly for moving and treating medical waste during rotation of said rotatable assembly;
• first baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height above the bottom floor for acting upon a first portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation;
• second baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber generally at a height generally lower than the height of said first baffle means for acting upon a second portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation, whereby said first and second baffle means cooperate with the first means to enhance the treatment of said medical waste;
• an enclosure for said chamber during operation of the waste treatment apparatus;
• and
• a supporting plate supported free of contact with said enclosure, said supporting plate having a liquid containment dam for retention of leakage and a plurality of stops having projecting corners for deformation and engagement of the elastomeric feet for preventing rotation of the chamber during operation of the waste treatment apparatus.

A medical waste treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a portable medical waste treatment chamber formed by an imperforate and generally cylindrical sidewall and a closed bottom floor, said portable medical waste treatment chamber being adapted to receive and treat solid and soft medical waste and to be coupled with a separate motor;
• a rotatable assembly carried within said portable chamber with a shaft extending through the bottom floor adapted to be rotatably driven by said motor;
• said rotatable assembly carrying a plurality of pivotable blades for moving and treating medical waste during rotation of said rotatable assembly;
• first baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height above the bottom floor and said pivotable blades for acting upon a first portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation,
• second baffle means fixedly disposed on the interior sidewall of said chamber at a height generally lower than the height of said first baffle means and adjacent said pivotable blades for acting upon a second portion of the medical waste as said medical waste is moved within said chamber during operation,
• whereby said first and second baffle means cooperate with the rotatable assembly to enhance the treatment of said medical waste.