Patent Application
20070106238
The present invention relates, in general, to a medical waste collection and disposal system, and more particularly, to a system for effectively collecting, containing, and disposing contaminated medical fluids.
The collection, containment, and disposal of contaminated medical or physiological fluids has long been a concern in the waste disposal industry. These contaminated fluids often contain excess medications, blood and diseased fluids including HIV (AIDS), hepatitis, and other communicable diseases. Current procedures for collecting these fluids, such as during angioplasty procedures or catheterizations, include the use of open waste basins, towels, sponges and vinyl film bag/tubing systems. These techniques pose a significant health risk to medical personnel. Furthermore, if not properly disposed, these fluids can pose an environmental hazard as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,999 is directed to a waste collection system for containment and disposal of contaminated fluids. The waste collection system comprises a box shaped receptacle containing an absorbent pad therein and a molded plastic containment lid, which is fitted onto the receptacle in a fluid tight manner. The lid includes an opening within which the contaminated fluids may be deposited into the receptacle. A circular disc constructed of a foam material is placed in the opening. The foam material of the circular disc provides absorption and wicking action for fluids contacting the foam materials so that the fluids will readily pass through the foam material without splashing and without beading up. The circular disc is also provided with a number of slits so that fluid can readily be injected, for example, by means of a syringe by sticking the end of the syringe through the slits formed in the disc and depositing the contents onto the absorbent pad contained within the receptacle. The collection system can also include an additional lid which may be sealed onto the receptacle prior to disposal.
The waste collection system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,999 is a vast improvement of many of the techniques previously used for collecting medical/physiological fluids, however medical personnel are still at risk of exposure to these contaminated fluids. A major drawback in the ('999) system is that the foam material, which comes into contact with the fluids, is exposed. Consequently, medical personnel run the risk of contacting this contaminated foam material with their hand, arm or other part of their body. Also, since this foam material is in the same plane as the bottom portion of the lid, some of the contaminated fluid may “pool” and/or remain on the surface of the lid, once again risking unwanted exposure to medical personnel. Thirdly, should the medical person depositing the waste material fail to fully insert the syringe containing the contaminated fluid through the slits in the foam, then this fluid would go into the foam. While the ('999) patent relies upon wicking for the fluid to fall into the receptacle this wicking action takes time and thus the possibility of exposure to a greater amount of contaminated fluid exists.
Objects of the Invention
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a waste collection system which draws contaminated fluid away from the opening to reduce exposure to the fluid by medical personnel.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a protective cover over the valve means to further reduce exposure to the fluid by medical personnel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a waste collection system which effectively contains contaminated fluid for environmentally responsible disposal thereof. In addition to the above-described objects and advantages of the waste collection system, various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to the persons who are skilled in the same and related arts from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and the appended claims.
Briefly, and in accordance with the forgoing objects, the present invention is directed to a waste collection system for the collection and containment of contaminated fluids that overcomes the problems associated with previously used waste collection systems. The waste collection system of the present invention comprises a receptacle for receiving contaminated fluids therein. The receptacle has at least one sidewall, a bottom portion and an open top portion. A containment means is engaged with the receptacle for sealing the open top portion of the receptacle in a fluid tight manner and for retaining the contaminated fluids within the receptacle. A valve means is associated with the containment means. The valve means extends a predetermined distance below the plane of the containment means. An aperture extends through the valve means. This aperture has a size and shape capable of allowing a fluid deposit member to extend there through. A fluid directing means is provided which extends from the aperture into the receptacle for directing contaminated fluid deposited therein away from the aperture and into the receptacle.
Before describing the invention in detail, the reader is advised that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components having identical functions have been marked where possible with the same reference numerals in each of the Figures provided in this document.
Referring now to
The receptacle 12 may be in the shape of a box having four sidewalls 14, a bottom portion 16 and an open top portion 18. The containment means 20 will then have a predetermined size of at least one of a square and a rectangle which is capable of engaging with and sealing the open top portion 18 of the receptacle 12.
In an alternative design, as illustrated in
Preferably, the receptacle 12 is a molded plastic article having a snap ring 50 formed as a rim around the open top portion 18. The containment means 20 is a molded plastic article having a shoulder 52 molded around its periphery thereof. This shoulder 52 is capable of cooperating with the snap ring so as to form a fluid tight seal between the receptacle 12 and the containment means 20.
The containment means 20 includes at least one sloped portion 30 that slopes downwardly to meet a top edge portion 32 of the valve means 22. Preferably, the containment means 20 includes multiple sloped portions that slope downwardly to meet at the top edge portion 32 of the valve means 22.
The sloped portions 30 include a channel 46 having end portion 48 which runs underneath the valve means 22 so that any contaminated fluids deposited on the containment means run down the channel 46, under the valve means 22, and into the receptacle 12.
The valve means 22 includes an absorbent material 48 around its edges to absorb contaminated fluids which run down the channel 46 and underneath the valve means 22.
As illustrated in
The valve means 22 includes a first absorbent member 36 positioned between the protective top cover 34 and the fluid directing means 28 for absorbing any residual contaminated fluid which is deposited into the valve means 22.
As illustrated in
A lid 40 is provided which is capable of being attached to containment means/receptacle for disposal of the waste containment system. The lid 40 includes an attachment means 42 which is attached to either the containment means 20 or the sidewall 14 of the receptacle 12. As illustrated in
The invention has been described in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms so as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It should be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Persons who possess such skill will also recognize that the foregoing description is merely illustrative and not intended to limit any of the ensuing claims to any particular narrow interpretation.
