Patents Assigned to ECOMED, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5601712
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ecomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew J. Adams, Kenneth R. Lamaster, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp, Lewis I. Schwartz, Norman L. Siegel, Joseph H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5595711
    Abstract: A processing chamber for the treatment and decontamination of biological or medical waste includes a rotating waste treatment system carried within an open-top processing chamber, a cap for closing the chamber opening, a gas-pervious liner carried within the chamber for preventing waste from adhering to the underside of the cap as a result of waste-treatment operations, a sealing member disposed at and for sealing the interface of the cap and the processing chamber, and a chemical indicator carried within the interior of the processing chamber for confirming the presence of decontaminant during a waste treatment cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignees: Ecomed, Inc., Steris Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph H. Wilson, David C. Haeberle, Raymond C. Kralovic, Kenneth R. Lamaster, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp, Lewis I. Schwartz, Kathleen M. Antloga
  • Patent number: 5590840
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of medical waste, including solid and non-solid materials, permits the collection of such medical waste at the point and at the time of its generation in a solid container. The contained medical waste can be subsequently transported for pulverization, decontamination and safe disposal. A separate portable processing chamber, with an integral means to treat medical waste, can be used at locations remote from its power unit for the collection of medical waste and then moved to the location of the power unit to drive the waste-treatment means within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Ecomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew J. Adams, Kenneth R. Lamaster, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp, Joseph H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5534162
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum. The collected liquids may be disposed of by pumping them into a sanitary sewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignees: Ecomed, Inc., Steris Corp.
    Inventors: Mathew J. Adams, Kenneth R. Lamaster, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp, Lewis I. Schwartz, Norman L. Siegel, Joseph H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5516052
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of medical waste, including solid and non-solid materials, permits the collection of such medical waste at the point and at the time of its generation in a solid container. The contained medical waste can be subsequently transported for pulverization, decontamination and safe disposal. A separate portable processing chamber, with an integral means to treat medical waste, can be used at locations remote from its power unit for the collection of medical waste and then moved to the location of the power unit to drive the waste-treatment means within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Ecomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew J. Adams, Kenneth R. Lamaster, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp, Joseph H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5465841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the collection and treatment of contaminated medical waste, including solid and non-solid, potentially infectious materials, permits the collection of such medical waste at the point and at the time of its generation in a solid container. The contained medical waste can be subsequently transported for pulverization, disinfection and safe disposal. A separate portable processing chamber to treat medical waste, can be used at locations remote from its power unit for the collection of medical waste and then moved to the location of the power unit to drive the waste-treatment apparatus within the chamber. In addition, a medical waste collection station can provide single and multiple containers, which may be sequentially used, for the collection of medical waste and whose use may be combined with a processing chamber to treat collected medical waste before its disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ecomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Wilson, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 5240187
    Abstract: A cart-mounted or counter-top-mounted cabinet encloses a processing flask assembly located in an upwardly opening tub portion of the cabinet and which supports a drive motor below the cabinet. A blade-mounting impeller in the flask assembly is received on a motor output coupling when the flask assembly is installed in the tub. The motor, when operated, drives the blades in rotation to move and cut waste materials inserted through the open top of the flask. After a batch of waste has been processed, the flask assembly is removed from the tub and the minced and disinfected contents are dumped into suitable waste receivers with absorber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Ecomed, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5236135
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of contaminated medical waste, including solid and non-solid, potentially infectious materials, permits the collection of such medical waste at the point and at the time of its generation in a solid container, which is subsequently transported for pulverization, disinfection and safe disposal. A separate portable processing chamber, with an integral means to treat medical waste, is used at locations remote from its power unit for the collection of medical waste and then moved to the location of the power unit to drive the waste-treatment means within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: ECOMED, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Wilson, David B. Mennel, Jeffrey C. Rapp