Apparatus and method for processing medical waste
AssigneeStericycle, Inc.
InventorsJeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for processing medical waste are disclosed. Medical waste is disintegrated or shredded, disinfected with radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation and then transformed into useful material such as reclaimed plastic and refuse-derived fuel.
Claims11
An apparatus for processing heterogeneous medical waste that comprises a plastic material and a metallic material, the apparatus comprising:
- a radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation source that generates an amount of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation that is sufficient to heat medical waste to a temperature sufficient to disinfect said heterogeneous medical waste;
- and
- a separation device that separates the disinfected heterogeneous medical waste into disinfected plastic materials that can be recycled.
A method of processing heterogeneous medical waste that comprises a plastic material and a metallic material, the method comprising the steps of:
- disintegrating the heterogeneous medical waste into fragments;
- enclosing the fragments in a container;
- heating the contained fragments by the use of a radio-frequency heating source to a temperature of about 90.degree.-100.degree. C. that is sufficient to disinfect said fragments;
- and
- recycling disinfected plastic materials present in the disinfected fragments.
A method of processing heterogeneous medical waste that comprises a plastic material and a metallic material, the method comprising the steps of:
- segregating medical waste into sharps and other waste;
- disintegrating the sharps into fragments;
- enclosing the sharps fragments in a container;
- disinfecting the enclosed fragments by applying radio-frequency radiation until the fragments reach a temperature of about 90.degree.-100.degree. C. that is sufficient to disinfect said medical waste;
- and
- recycling the disinfected fragments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.