Abstract: A medical waste disposal and container washing system includes loading and unloading stations, the loading station configured for placing a medical waste container on a conveyor system. An inversion station is located downstream along the conveyor system, operable to reorient the container from a first orientation in which medical waste is retained to a second orientation in which the medical waste is discharged from the medical waste container by gravity as the medical waste container is moved within the inversion station. A first wash station along the conveyor system washes an interior of the container that has been reoriented. A second wash station is located downstream along the conveyor system.

Abstract: A waste container includes a neck defining an opening through which waste can be inserted into the waste container, and an insert snap-fit into the opening. The insert has an engagement portion engaged with the neck to secure the insert into the opening, and a body portion having a plurality of differently-sized apertures for allowing passage of waste through the insert and into the waste container.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for mounting a container to a support surface includes a base having a mounting portion configured to be mounted to the support surface and a support portion configured to receive a portion of the container. The bracket further includes a securing member pivotally coupled to the support portion for movement in only a single pivot plane between a first position, in which the container can be removed from the support portion, and a second position, in which the container cannot be removed from the support portion. A lock is operable to selectively lock the securing member in the second position. At least one of the base or the securing member includes an aperture through which a portion of the other one of the base or the securing member extends when the securing member is in the second position.

Abstract: A container for disposing of waste includes a receptacle, a first pivoting member having a first disposal surface and a first pair of opposing sides, and a second pivoting member having a second disposal surface and a second pair of opposing sides. The second pair of opposing sides are operatively coupled to the first pair of opposing sides such that waste deposited on either the first disposal surface or the second disposal surface causes concurrent counter rotation of both the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member. The first pivoting member includes a pair of opposing projections secured in a stationary position to the first pair of opposing sides and the second pivoting member includes a pair of opposing apertures formed in a stationary position in the second pair of opposing sides. The opposing projections translate within the opposing apertures during the concurrent counter rotation.

Abstract: A container for disposing of waste includes a receptacle and a first pivoting member functionally associated with the receptacle. The first pivoting member includes a first disposal surface. A second pivoting member functionally associated with the receptacle includes a second disposal surface. The second pivoting member is operatively coupled to the first pivoting member such that waste deposited on either the first disposal surface or the second disposal surface causes concurrent counter rotation of both the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member to dispose of the waste into the receptacle.

Abstract: Reprocessable medical devices that have been disposed of in a sharps container are recovered, disinfected or sterilized, sorted, and packed for reprocessing in a generally continuous process. In one embodiment, either a sharps container or at least a portion of its contents is successively and controllably conveyed, either manually or automatically, through a plurality of processing stations that are configured to perform different operations. The operations performed by the processing stations can include, for example, detecting and identifying contents, cleaning and disinfecting, opening the sharps containers, separating and sorting their contents, and disposal of contents that are non-reprocessable. Reprocessable medical devices can be sorted by type as they move along on a conveyor.

Abstract: A container for disposing of waste includes a receptacle and a first pivoting member functionally associated with the receptacle. The first pivoting member includes a first disposal surface. A second pivoting member functionally associated with the receptacle includes a second disposal surface. The second pivoting member is operatively coupled to the first pivoting member such that waste deposited on either the first disposal surface or the second disposal surface causes concurrent counter rotation of both the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member to dispose of the waste into the receptacle.

Abstract: A system and method for managing crisis communication are disclosed. A contact database holds information used to deliver broadcast messages to selected contacts. Messages are prepared in advance for delivery via different channels, including voice, fax, pager, and e-mail. Contact groups are defined by selecting specific contacts, or as “criteria groups” defined by search criteria. Notification tasks are created by determining the contact groups to receive the broadcast, then adding others if desired. Messages are selected for broadcast transmission in various channels. Administrators view a table of status codes for each attempted transmission. They filter the table based on each contact's status. Contacts or filtered sets can be added to and removed from a “renotification” list using the interactively filtered table. When contacts fail to confirm or update their contact information for longer than a certain period, the system automatically sends that contact a message reminding them to do so.

Abstract: A method of processing medical waste which includes the steps of continuously feeding medical waste into a tube and heating the medical waste passing through the tube with electromagnetic radiation so as to heat and disinfect the medical waste.

Abstract: A method of processing medical waste which includes the steps of continuously feeding medical waste into a tube and heating the medical waste passing through the tube with electromagnetic radiation so as to heat and disinfect the medical waste.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials to inactivate microorganisms thereon. The medical materials are then irradiated with gamma radiation to inactivate microorganisms remaining viable thereon after application of the radio-frequency electric field.

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.

Abstract: A device for disinfecting medical materials includes a heat source capable of heating the medical materials to approximately 60.degree. C. and exposing the medical materials to a source of gamma irradiation capable of irradiating medical materials with about 0.25 to about 2.0 Mrads.

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.