Medical/surgical Waste Comminution Patents (Class 241/606)
  • Patent number: 11795673
    Abstract: A composting machine that is positioned within a cabinet under a kitchen sink includes a macerator assembly comprising a plurality of macerator blades for shredding food waste. An extrusion assembly is positioned below the macerator assembly and includes a grinding barrel for receiving the food waste from the macerator assembly and an auger for extruding the food waste through an extrusion plate into a dryer assembly. The dryer assembly includes a compost chamber containing a mixing blade, a fan, and a heating element for generating compost from the food waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 8784746
    Abstract: To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventors: Peter A. Jude, Stephen E. Pellegrene, Michael J. Hofer
  • Patent number: 8771596
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilization of infectious waste including animals, infected animal herds, infected human corpses and other infected material and proper disposal of resultant waste. The method and apparatus specifically relates to methods of safely sterilizing and disposing of infectious and non-infectious bio-waste in a cost effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Progressive Recovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Marks, Donald G. Fluchel, Arda Kara
  • Patent number: 8652405
    Abstract: To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: Peter A. Jude, Stephen E. Pellegrene, Michael J. Hofer
  • Patent number: 8562916
    Abstract: When a polyethylene bag with medical wastes received therein is supplied to a cylindrical-shaped housing and a compression device is used to lower a piston to compress the medical wastes, the piston is repeatedly caused to go up and down to accomplish stepwise compression whereby the polyethylene bag with medical wastes received therein is prevented from entering into a clearance between an inner wall of the cylindrical-shaped housing and the piston and from bursting due to rapid compression, and when cake obtained by melt sterilization and volume reduction with heating compression is discharged, a gate is fully opened to lower a lower surface of a heating device of the piston to a point distant several millimeters from an upper surface of a heating device of the gate to enable forcedly scraping off the cake adhering to the heating device tightly joined to the piston upon closing of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Yoichiro Yamanobe, Kenki Hosoi
  • Patent number: 8542099
    Abstract: Systems and processes for tracking the status of an item are disclosed. Systems and processes for decommissioning identifying information from pharmaceutical product containers are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas J. Pizzuto
  • Patent number: 8518339
    Abstract: To improve throughput of biomedical waste treatment, the present inventors devised an exemplary ozone-based system including a shredder, a roll-off treatment bin with ozone injectors, an ozone source, and a controller. The controller monitors electric current drawn by the shredder as shredded waste enters the ozone-enriched treatment bin. In response to current falling below a predetermined low level, indicating that a batch of waste has been shredded and loaded into the treatment bin, the controller starts a treatment timer. The timer measures elapsed ozone treatment or exposure time. If additional waste is added to the shredder and a subsequent low-current condition is detected, the controller restarts the treatment timer. Expiration of the timer indicates that the waste in the roll-off bin is sterilized and ready for transport to landfills. The exemplary system provides continuous waste processing and promises to boost throughput by 50% over some conventional ozone-based waste-treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Peter Jude, Stephen Pellegrene, Michael Hofer
  • Patent number: 8506899
    Abstract: Disinfection of waste can be carried out by applying sufficient vacuum to suck waste pieces through a processing system, the vacuum creating a wind inside the system that sweeps up the waste pieces, suspends them in air, and keeps them separate from one another, thereby exposing substantially all surfaces of the waste pieces to the sprayed disinfectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Infection Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kodis
  • Patent number: 8459578
    Abstract: A prescription label identity peeler includes a box-shaped housing. A lid extends over the box-shaped housing. A sanding member is adjustably carried within the box-shaped housing. A pair of linkage arms is pivotally extend between the lid and the sanding member. The motorized linkage arms will move the sanding member simultaneously and horizontally against the empty pill bottle in an inverted position, while the wheel on the swing arm assembly will contact a bottom end of the empty pill bottle via compression of the springs, thereby removing the label from the empty pill bottle when the inverted empty pill bottle rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Troy Fischer
  • Patent number: 8426480
    Abstract: Methods of reclaiming plastic from infectious medical waste and manufacturing medical devices from reclaimed plastic are described. Medical devices made from plastic reclaimed from infectious medical waste are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Richard Ji, Kenneth McCord
  • Patent number: 8196850
    Abstract: Two self-clearing radial rasp systems for automatic milling material disclosed. In addition, as examples two automatic apparatuses utilizing said rasp systems for milling material disclosed. The rasp system may include a rasp and a trimming member. The radial rasp may include a base surface that may include cutting teeth with apertures of predetermined sizes disposed adjacent the cutting teeth. The revolving radial trimming member may include radial channels which may independently partitioned for confining and directing material toward the base surface of the rasp as the material move by centrifugal force in a radial direction. The rasp may have different sizes of cutting teeth associating with the individual radial channels of the radial trimming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Houshang Rasekhi
  • Patent number: 7959096
    Abstract: As previously disclosed this invention will change a lot of ways the prescription bottle is used, such as Americans won't have to keep them for lack of time to destroy them. The shredder will prevent a lot of injuries from people trying to scrap information off the bottle with a sharp object. It would be made of parts right here in the United States and of communally used parts. The invention will be child proof but most of all the cost to build would be minimal so it would be very affordable for the majority of Americans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Tommy Edward Wells, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7931878
    Abstract: Disinfection of waste can be carried out by first cutting the waste into small pieces to expose surfaces in the waste and then simultaneously spraying the waste pieces with disinfectant and agitating them. The waste pieces are agitated by applying sufficient vacuum to suck the waste pieces through a processing system, the vacuum creating a wind inside the system that sweeps up the waste pieces, suspends them in air, and keeps them separate from one another, thereby exposing substantially all surfaces of the waste pieces to the sprayed disinfectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Infection Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kodis
  • Patent number: 7832666
    Abstract: Apparatus for destruction of articles and any information associated therewith. Embodiments include an article-destruction chamber and a rotating head for repeated striking of articles and article fragments in the chamber. The head includes a body portion and a shaft. The body portion has plural striking elements extending radially outward therefrom. Each striking element has a forward-facing radial striking surface with an area. High-speed rotation of the head causes the striking surfaces to violently contact and destroy articles and article fragments in the chamber and to render any associated information unusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chudy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Montgomery, Duane S. Chudy
  • Patent number: 7776262
    Abstract: Disinfection of waste can be carried out by first cutting the waste into small pieces to expose surfaces in the waste and then simultaneously spraying the waste pieces with disinfectant and agitating them. The waste pieces are agitated by applying sufficient vacuum to suck the waste pieces through a processing system, the vacuum creating a wind inside the system that sweeps up the waste pieces, suspends them in air, and keeps them separate from one another, thereby exposing substantially all surfaces of the waste pieces to the sprayed disinfectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Infection Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kodis
  • Patent number: 7767142
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing medical waste is provided. The apparatus includes: (i) a drum defining a substantially cylindrical treatment chamber having a closed end and a substantially open end, wherein the drum is rotationally balanced about a rotational axis; (ii) an enclosing body supporting the drum so that the drum can be rotated within the body about the rotational axis of the drum, the body having an opening for accessing the open end of the drum, wherein the opening is located substantially in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum; (iii) a movable barrier for selectively closing the opening for accessing the open end of the drum; (iv) a structure for supporting the enclosing body so that the pitch of the rotational axis of the drum is positioned or can be positioned in at least one position between about 0 degrees and about 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Oncore Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Otley L. Smith, III, R. Mason Bryant
  • Patent number: 7735761
    Abstract: A food waste disposal apparatus decomposing organic waste by inputting microbes during a process of drying the food waste, characterized in that the food waste disposal apparatus comprises a mixing basin installed in a housing, and a rotational shaft with a plurality of mixing blades, in which a hot water tank is installed near the mixing basin for heating the mixing basin, microbes in a microbe tank are sprayed into the mixing basin in order to enhance the efficiency of decomposition of food waste, a drain water tank with a drain pipe is provided under the mixing basin for collecting and discharging waste water, and a cleansing device installed in the drain water tank for cleansing an inner space of the drain water tank, and a control touch panel, in which functions for operation are set is installed, so that the functions can be selected in a touching manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Chun Il Koh
  • Patent number: 7673825
    Abstract: A drug and/or drug packaging shredding/collecting machine includes a cabinet defining an interior chamber which can be accessed through a front opening for housing and storing a container lid and container incident to the shredding of drugs and drug packaging by a shredder carried by a top wall of the cabinet. The top wall also includes a non-shredable drug/drug packaging opening which includes a flexible inlet guard. A door of the container includes a storage area for plastic locking ties which, after the lid is slid to a nested position with respect to a channel/flange of the container can lock the two together through registered openings thereof thereby preventing inadvertent/accidental spillage and/or providing an indication of pilfering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon Bud Jeansonne, Maureen Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7588202
    Abstract: An apparatus for milling material is disclosed. The apparatus may include a base surface. The base surface may include a first cutting tooth for milling the material. The base surface may include a first aperture of a predetermined diameter. The first aperture may be disposed adjacent the first cutting tooth so that material of less than the predetermined diameter may pass through the first aperture. The apparatus may include a trimming member. The trimming member may include a first rib for interfacing with the first cutting tooth to facilitate the milling of the material. The base surface and the trimming member may move relative to each other. The base surface and the trimming member may interface to mill material placed on the base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: Houshang Rasekhi
  • Patent number: 7550111
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing biomedical waste comprises a waste input container having an input door in a top thereof and an output door in a bottom thereof. A shredder is mounted under the output opening and is operative to shred waste to a desired maximum size. A processing chamber is located under the shredder such that, when the output door is open, solid waste deposited in the waste input container passes through the output opening and through the shredder, and shredded waste drops into the processing chamber. Ozone gas is directed into the processing chamber, and an ozone indicator indicates ozone concentration. Exhausts are selectively operative to exhaust the atmosphere from the processing chamber and waste input container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Klaptchuk
  • Patent number: 7534392
    Abstract: Disinfection of waste can be carried out at ambient temperature and pressure by first cutting the waste into small pieces to expose surfaces in the waste and then spraying the waste pieces with disinfectant. Effective disinfection is obtained thereby without having to heat, cool, or pressurize the waste during cutting or disinfection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Infection Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kodis
  • Patent number: 7534405
    Abstract: Disinfection of waste can be carried out at ambient temperature and pressure by first cutting the waste into small pieces to expose surfaces in the waste and then spraying the waste pieces with disinfectant. Effective disinfection is obtained thereby without having to heat, cool, or pressurize the waste during cutting or disinfection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Infection Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Kodis
  • Patent number: 7360730
    Abstract: A medical waste disposal device having a blade that rotates and chops medical waste into chips and other small particles. The blade includes at least one opening with at least one sharpened edge. The blade also has at least one raised portion adjacent to the sharpened edges. The blade cooperates with a cutting plate to chop or scissor the medical waste. The raised portion pushes chopped medical waste away from the blade and the cutting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: B&P Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Brown
  • Patent number: 7195743
    Abstract: Disclosed is a combination instrument steriliser (13, 210) and biomedical waste processor (15, 211). Both units are supplied steam from a common steam boiler (30, 212). In preferred embodiments, the waste processor utilises a shredder comprising a planetary gear box (127) with rotating cutting heads (120, 200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Medivac Technology PTY Limited
    Inventor: Mark Henry Butler
  • Patent number: 7144550
    Abstract: A mobile self-contained apparatus and process for grinding, grating, macerating, chemically disinfecting, and drying infectious waste material. A trailer (10) contains a hopper (27), a grinder/grater (28), an enclosed conveyor system, drying and filter apparatus, and sources of power, chemical disinfectant, and fresh water. Bagged infectious waste material in a cart is lifted and dumped into the hopper, sprayed with a sodium hypochlorite disinfectant solution, fed to the grinder/grater, ground, grated, and macerated into small particles of confetti-like material, sprayed again, immersed in the disinfectant solution, conveyed by an upwardly inclined screw conveyor (34) and thoroughly mixed therein, dried, passed into a vertical screw conveyor (47), and passed to a discharge screw conveyor (50) which discharges the dry confetti-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: T & C Devine, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Devine, Bobby Clark
  • Publication number: 20040141877
    Abstract: A mobile self-contained apparatus and process for grinding, grating, macerating, chemically disinfecting, and drying infectious waste material. A trailer (10) contains a hopper (27), a grinder/grater (28), an enclosed conveyor system, drying and filter apparatus, and sources of power, chemical disinfectant, and fresh water. Bagged infectious waste material in a cart is lifted and dumped into the hopper, sprayed with a sodium hypochlorite disinfectant solution, fed to the grinder/grater, ground, grated, and macerated into small particles of confetti-like material, sprayed again, immersed in the disinfectant solution, conveyed by an upwardly inclined screw conveyor (34) and thoroughly mixed therein, dried, passed into a vertical screw conveyor (47), and passed to a discharge screw conveyor (50) which discharges the dry confetti-like material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas J. Devine, Bobby Clark
  • Patent number: 6732962
    Abstract: A waste treatment device includes a sealable chamber having an inlet for receiving waste to be treated and an outlet through which the treated waste is discharged. A cutting mechanism within the sealable chamber shreds the waste and delivers the shredded waste to the chamber outlet. The cutting mechanism includes a planetary gearbox carrying two or more rotating cutting heads which are in close proximity to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Medivac Technology Pty Limited
    Inventor: Mark H. Butler
  • Patent number: 6726136
    Abstract: A medical waste disposal system for loading, reducing, and sterilizing medical waste is disclosed. The system includes a frame supporting a generally sealed containment chamber, a lift assembly having a lifter mounted on a track assembly configured for generally vertical motion of the lifter. The system also includes a hopper mounted on the frame near the lift and in communication with a material feeder, a first grinder in communication with the material feeder, a first conveyor positioned to receive medical waste from the first grinder, and a second grinder in communication with the first conveyor. The system further includes a second conveyor positioned to receive waste from the second grinder, and an autoclave for thermally disinfecting the waste, mounted on the frame in the containment chamber and in communication with the second conveyor assembly. The autoclave includes a plurality of steam inlets, a waste inlet opening, and a waste outlet opening for discharging waste to a third conveyor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Aegis Bio Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George W. Swisher, Jr., Royce M. Nelson, Eric B. Hawkins, Rick A. Wood, Ronald R. Mercer
  • Patent number: 6716401
    Abstract: A system for treatment of infectious waste including an impactor coupled to a mixing drum that can be pressurized. Infectious waste is introduced directly into the impactor, where the waste is pulverized, then introduced into the mixing drum through its inlet end for mixing with a treatment fluid effective to kill pathogenic organisms. The drum is sealed, and superatmospheric pressure is applied therein to drive the treatment chemicals into the waste particles. After treatment, the treated waste and treatment chemicals are discharged from the drum through the inlet end of the mixing drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: W. Lynn Benson
  • Publication number: 20040016035
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and methods for determining the quality of reagents used in an assay process, particularly a multistep immunohistochemical assay. In particular, the device comprises a substrate with a plurality of compounds affixed to a substrate, where each compound is reactive with a reagent used in the assay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Alton David Floyd
  • Patent number: 6588690
    Abstract: A method and system for treating material, especially medical waste, municipal solid waste and paper, such as newsprint. The system includes an input component having an air lock and shredder; a pressurized treatment component which includes a feed screw which feeds material into an extrusion tube that is connected to a rotating autoclave vessel, a pressurized outlet hopper, and an exit feed screw which feeds sterilized material into an outlet extrusion tube. The system also includes a drying and cooling component which receives material from the outlet extrusion tube, tumbles the material in a drum to break it up, cool it and release moisture, and an evacuation blower which conveys moist air in the drum through a condenser. In a preferred embodiment, the autoclave vessel is sealed at its inlet and outlet ends in part by dynamic plugs of material which progress through the inlet and outlet extrusion tubes, but at the same time form compacted, airtight barriers which seal the autoclave vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Komar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry E. Koenig
  • Patent number: 6568614
    Abstract: A recycling apparatus comprises a body; a slit on top having a hole on one end; a rear internal pasteurizing mechanism comprising a pulverizing device and a bottom first container; a front internal crushing mechanism comprising two sets of parallel blade wheels and a bottom second container; and a waste storage mechanism comprising a third container, a spring-loaded lever, and a plunger sliding in the third container. In use sequentially insert the needles of the used syringes into the slit with the piston syringe portion of the syringe held on the slit, push the syringes forward to cause the needles to contact the pulverizing device to be ground into powder while being pasteurized, the powder are dropped into the first container, the remained piston syringe portion of each syringe eventually drops into the crushing mechanism through the hole, the dropped piston syringe portion of each syringe is pressed and cut into pieces by the sets of the blade wheels, and the pieces are dropped into the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventors: Han Jong Chen, Wei Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 6494391
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating waste, particularly all types of medical waste, to facilitate its disposition includes a treatment vessel having an open top pivotal within a housing to a waste-loading position with its open top aligned with the housing inlet for receiving the waste, a waste-treating position for shredding the waste by a shredder unit disposed within the treatment vessel, and a waste-removing position with its open top aligned with the housing outlet for removing the shredded waste. The apparatus further include a compactor head for compacting the waste within the treatment vessel, a water feed line, and a disinfectant feed line, for feeding water and a disinfectant into the treatment vessel, for mixing with the waste while it is being compacted and shredded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: M.C.M. Environmental Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Mosenson, Yuri Litinsky, Ilan Mark
  • Publication number: 20020179756
    Abstract: A recycling apparatus comprises a body; a slit on top having a hole on one end; a rear internal pasteurizing mechanism comprising a pulverizing device and a bottom first container; a front internal crushing mechanism comprising two sets of parallel blade wheels and a bottom second container; and a waste storage mechanism comprising a third container, a spring-loaded lever, and a plunger sliding in the third container. In use sequentially insert the needles of the used syringes into the slit with the piston syringe portion of the syringe held on the slit, push the syringes forward to cause the needles to contact the pulverizing device to be ground into powder while being pasteurized, the powder are dropped into the first container, the remained piston syringe portion of each syringe eventually drops into the crushing mechanism through the hole, the dropped piston syringe portion of each syringe is pressed and cut into pieces by the sets of the blade wheels, and the pieces are dropped into the second container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Han Jong Chen, Wei Fu Chen
  • Publication number: 20020175235
    Abstract: A medical waste disposal system for loading, reducing, and sterilizing medical waste is disclosed. The system includes a frame supporting a generally sealed containment chamber, a lift assembly having a lifter mounted on a track assembly configured for generally vertical motion of the lifter. The system also includes a hopper mounted on the frame near the lift and in communication with a material feeder, a first grinder in communication with the material feeder, a first conveyor positioned to receive medical waste from the first grinder, and a second grinder in communication with the first conveyor. The system further includes a second conveyor positioned to receive waste from the second grinder, and an autoclave for thermally disinfecting the waste, mounted on the frame in the containment chamber and in communication with the second conveyor assembly. The autoclave includes a plurality of steam inlets, a waste inlet opening, and a waste outlet opening for discharging waste to a third conveyor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Aegis Bio-Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George W. Swisher, Royce M. Nelson, Eric B. Hawkins, Rick A. Wood, Ronald R. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20020145063
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating waste, particularly all types of medical waste, to facilitate its disposition includes a treatment vessel having an open top pivotal within a housing to a waste-loading position with its open top aligned with the housing inlet for receiving the waste, a waste-treating position for shredding the waste by a shredder unit disposed within the treatment vessel, and a waste-removing position with its open top aligned with the housing outlet for removing the shredded waste. The apparatus further include a compactor head for compacting the waste within the treatment vessel, a water feed line, and a disinfectant feed line, for feeding water and a disinfectant into the treatment vessel, for mixing with the waste while it is being compacted and shredded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: M.C.M. Enviromental Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Mosenson, Yuri Litinsky, Ilan Mark
  • Patent number: 6446887
    Abstract: A medical waste disposal system for loading, reducing, and sterilizing medical waste is disclosed. The system includes a frame supporting a generally sealed containment chamber, a lift assembly having a lifter mounted on a track assembly configured for generally vertical motion of the lifter. The system also includes a hopper mounted on the frame near the lift and in communication with a material feeder, a first grinder in communication with the material feeder, a first conveyor positioned to receive medical waste from the first grinder, and a second grinder in communication with the first conveyor. The system further includes a second conveyor positioned to receive waste from the second grinder, and an autoclave for thermally disinfecting the waste, mounted on the frame in the containment chamber and in communication with the second conveyor assembly. The autoclave includes a plurality of steam inlets, a waste inlet opening, and a waste outlet opening for discharging waste to a third conveyor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Aegis Bio-Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George W. Swisher, Jr., Royce M. Nelson, Eric B. Hawkins, Rick A. Wood, Ronald R. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20020092939
    Abstract: An apparatus for decontaminating and destroying hypodermic syringes and needles includes a waste compression cylinder having a cylinder side wall and a closed cylinder abutment end wall, and having a cylinder waste receiving port in the cylinder side wall and a waste releasing port in the cylinder side wall; a waste compression piston slidably retained within the waste compression cylinder; a piston drive mechanism drivably connected to the waste compression piston for driving the piston away from the abutment end wall to open space for receiving waste within the compression cylinder and for driving the piston toward and into close proximity with the cylinder abutment end wall to crush needles; a decontaminating air blowing mechanism oriented to blow decontaminating air into the compression cylinder; and an air heating mechanism for heating the decontaminating air to a decontaminating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: David A. Sowers, Sandra Sowers
  • Patent number: 6357682
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting unconsolidated medical waste into a non-hazardous medical waste residue, which apparatus has an improved cutter assembly provided by a rotating cutter assembly that has revolving teeth disposed at an oblique angle relative to the path of travel of the revolving teeth and to the stationary cutter assembly to force the waste material between the revolving and fixed teeth. An auger moves the waste material through the housing longitudinally to keep pressure on the opposing fixed and revolving teeth while grinding the material into a reduced particle size to facilitate its disposal or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Positive Impact Waste Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill R. Hext
  • Patent number: 6338829
    Abstract: An apparatus for breaking garbage bags comprises a bag breaking and a liquid waste processor. The breaker mechanism breaks the input garbage bags containing waste materials. The liquid waste processor includes a removable liquid waste absorbent sheet. This liquid waste absorbent sheet is arranged to absorb liquid waste coming out of the broken garbage bags. The liquid waste absorbent sheet containing the liquid waste is removed for appropriate treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kouzou Kodama, Takekazu Takagi, Makoto Meguro, Shoko Hiwatashi
  • Patent number: 6311909
    Abstract: A feeding device receives various kinds of syringe needles and feeds them one by one into a press roller unit of a syringe needle shredder which pulls the needles, rolls the needles flat and then sends them down into a chopping roller unit to chop the flat needles into very small bits. The feeding device has a straight hole and a conical hole for different needles such as super short ones or special shaped ones to be fed down the needles maybe elastically clamped to securely move down to the press roller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: A-Fang Lin
  • Publication number: 20010016181
    Abstract: A system for treatment of infectious waste including an impactor coupled to a mixing drum that can be pressurized. Infectious waste is introduced directly into the impactor, where the waste is pulverized, then introduced into the mixing drum through its inlet end for mixing with a treatment fluid effective to kill pathogenic organisms. The drum is sealed, and superatmospheric pressure is applied therein to drive the treatment chemicals into the waste particles. After treatment, the treated waste and treatment chemicals are discharged from the drum through the inlet end of the mixing drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventor: W. Lynn Benson
  • Patent number: 6248985
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Tomasello
  • Patent number: 6186428
    Abstract: A bio-hazardous waste processor and optional encasement is described that uses a coolant such as liquid nitrogen to make the waste brittle in the hopper before crushing, keep the waste brittle in the down chute after crushing and also during shredding in the demolition chamber. After shredding, a fog of sterilant is used to disinfect the waste. The apparatus comprises an input hopper with a crushing wheel and dead plate towards its base to reduce the size of large particles, and a down chute which leads the crushed waste from the crushing wheel to a demolition chamber. In the demolition chamber, shredding is implemented by: one or more hammers and one or more commercially available off-the-shelf saw blades, the hammer(s) and saw blade(s) rotating in the same or opposite directions; or, one or more commercially available off-the-shelf dado saw blades, adjacent dados rotating in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Steriwaste, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Robinson, Michael A. Gerber, Bernard F. Sarlo, Stanley VanClair
  • Patent number: 6180070
    Abstract: An system for treatment of infectious waste including a impactor coupled to a mixing drum that can be pressurized, infectious waste and a treatment fluid comprising a substance effective in killing pathogenic organisms being introduced directly into the impactor where the waste is pulverized forming unrecognizable particulate matter mixed with fluid, and the waste from there being introduced into the drum for mixing and subsequently pressure treatment by providing a superatmospheric pressure in the drum to drive chemicals effective in killing pathogenic organisms into voids in the solids and also into spore walls and cell membranes to provide a more speedy and effective kill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lofta Hammer Holdings LTD
    Inventor: W. Lynn Benson
  • Patent number: 6139793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for processing waste. The system controls pressure and temperature in a treatment vessel to provide a more efficient process. A system for shredding the waste in the vessel is used to improve process efficiency and provides a more compact waste product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hydroclave Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Vanderwal
  • Patent number: 5979804
    Abstract: A particulating apparatus for liquid filled plastic containers in preparation for recycling produced plastic particulate. The particulating apparatus includes a container hopper for accepting a supply of plastic containers to be processed by the particulating apparatus wherein at least a portion of the containers are partially liquid filled. There is a transport for conveying the supply of plastic containers from the hopper to a pulverizer. The pulverizer has a pulverizing chamber within which a pulverizing means is housed for reducing the plastic containers to plastic particulate. The chamber includes means for draining liquid held within the containers to a liquid collector. A conveyor means is provided for transporting plastic particulate from the pulverizer to a collection bin where the particulate is retained for further processing or disposal. The conveyor means is inclined at least partially vertically upwardly from horizontal to permit drainage of additional liquid from the particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Capitol Vial, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Abrams, Robert Thomas Garren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5941468
    Abstract: Containerized medical waste is treated by shredding, and then passing the shredded material, by means of a screw conveyor, through a direct steam impingement stage and a dehydration stage in which the material is brought into contact with a hot surface to vaporize moisture and thereafter passed through a low pressure chamber in which the vapor is drawn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sterile Technology Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Lewis, Randall G. McKee
  • Patent number: 5887807
    Abstract: A disposal system for cutting a needle/syringe (22) into small pieces. One or more motor driven rotating cutting blades (6) are located inside of a housing for cutting the needle/syringe (2) into small pieces. The pieces are deposited in a disposal tray (10) filled with a disinfecting solution, with the parts of the needle/syringe (2) automatically separating for recycling due to the specific gravity of the pieces. A pump (16) is provided for pumping the disinfecting solution, preferably a mixture of chlorine bleach and water, to the needle/syringe inlet (8) and cutting area. The disinfecting solution continuously disinfects the inlet (8), the needle/syringe pieces, the cutting blade (6) and the disposal tray (10). An automatic timer deeps the cutting blades (6) rotating and the pump (16) operating for a sufficient time to cut the needle/syringe (2) and disinfect the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: BK Environmental Products
    Inventor: Gregory L. Beinecke
  • Patent number: 5876785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recycling diaphragms, in particular a process for recycling used asbestos-free diaphragms from alkali metal chloride electrolysis, the diaphragm material being comminuted, the diaphragm material being washed with a wash substrate and a reusable material being obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudi Kroner, Bernd Leutner, Dieter Schlafer, Wolfgang Steiner, Holger Friedrich