Patents by Inventor James W. Sharp

James W. Sharp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus and method for processing medical waste
    Patent number: 5833922
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Apparatus and method for processing medical waste
    Patent number: 5830419
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Apparatus and method for processing medical waste
    Patent number: 5709842
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Radio frequency heating apparatus for rendering medical materials
    Patent number: 5641423
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Apparatus for rendering medical materials safe
    Patent number: 5609820
    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 may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Method and apparatus for rendering medical materials safe
    Patent number: 5543111
    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 may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Method and apparatus for rendering medical materials safe
    Patent number: 5523052
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Apparatus and method for processing medical waste
    Patent number: 5508004
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Method and apparatus for rendering medical materials safe
    Patent number: 5476634
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignees: IIT Research Institute, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Device for disinfecting medical materials
    Patent number: 5226065
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Apparatus for processing medical waste
    Patent number: 5106594
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp
  • Method for disinfecting medical materials
    Patent number: 5035858
    Abstract: A method of disinfecting medical materials, which comprises heating medical materials and exposing the medical materials to gamma radiation, is provided. One method of heating is the application of radio-frequency waves. The medical materials are subjected to radio-frequency waves for at least approximately 5 minutes and to gamma radiation measuring at least approximately 0.25 Mrads. When the starting material consists of pre-sorted medical or veterinary waste, the method further comprises shredding the irradiated waste and recycling the shredded waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp