Method for processing infectious waste and system for the same

Abstract

A processor and method for treating infectious waste utilizes a processing chamber having an inlet for delivering processing water at an elevated temperature and under pressure into the processing chamber, an opening in the processing chamber for receiving of infectious waste and for removing treated waste, an agitator for opening the waste material to the action of the water at elevated temperature and pressure. A basket and/or a sieve may be carried in the processing chamber to facilitate drainage of spent processing water, and an apparatus may be included for removing neutralized waste through the opening in the processing chamber either by inverting the processor or by removing and inverting the basket and/or sieve.

1 - 55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . A centrifugal agitator for use in a processing chamber that processes infectious waste, said agitator comprising: 
 a rotatable internal shaft having a first end and a second end with an axis that extends vertically therethrough;    a rotatable blade carrier mounted on said first end of said shaft, said blade carrier having a surface tapering inwardly toward a free end of said blade carrier;    a plurality of blades pivotally connectable to said tapered blade carrier, said blades spaced about said free end of said blade carrier;    springs carried by said blade carrier and in communication with said blades and said blade carrier, said springs biasing the blades upward about parallel to said axis of said internal shaft when said blades are in a resting position; and    said blades are being extendable upon rotation of said shaft to outward positions from said blade carrier about said pivot points as measured from said axis of said internal shaft due to centrifugal force.    
   
   
       57 . An agitator as in  claim 56 , wherein, during operation, said springs permitting said blades to sling waste that wraps around said tapered blade carrier off of said tapered blade carrier and said blades, said wrapped waste is forced upward moving said blades upwardly overcoming said centrifugal force normally biasing said blades into said outward positions, causing said blades to sling off said waste, said blades returning to said outward positions after being freed of said waste.  
   
   
       58 . An agitator as in  claim 57 , wherein said blades taper from first ends of said blades that are connectable to said blade carrier to second free ends of said blades which are extendable out from said blade carrier.  
   
   
       59 . An agitator as in  claim 58 , wherein, when said blades are fully extended, said blades tilt upward towards said second free ends of said blades so that said second free ends of said blades are higher than said first ends of said blades pivotally connected to said blade carrier.  
   
   
       60 . An agitator as in  claim 56 , further comprising a stationary agitator housing covering said internal shaft and interacting with said blade carrier.  
   
   
       61 . An agitator as in  claim 60 , wherein a seal is disposed between said internal shaft and said agitator housing.  
   
   
       62 . An agitator as in  claim 56 , wherein said second end of said internal shaft is connected to a drive unit.  
   
   
       63 . An agitator as in  claim 62 , wherein said drive unit creates centrifugal force that causes said blades to extend in said outward position as said drive unit spins said shaft, said blade carrier, and said blades.  
   
   
       64 . An apparatus for processing infectious waste, said apparatus comprising: 
 a processing chamber for receiving infectious waste and processing water with said processing water being at an elevated temperature sufficient to process said infectious waste, said processing chamber forming an opening through which to receive and remove said waste;    a closure member carried adjacent to said processing chamber, said closure member positionable over said opening formed in said processing chamber so as to seal the processing chamber closed and removable from said opening of said processing chamber to permit receipt of said waste and removal of said waste after said waste has been neutralized;    an agitator extending within said processing chamber said agitator having a rotatable internal shaft possessing an axis extending vertically through said process chamber with a tapered blade carrier disposed on a free end of said shaft; and    a plurality of blades pivoted about pivot points on said tapered blade carrier, said blades being spring loaded and being biased upward parallel to said axis of the internal shaft at rest and, upon rotation of said shaft, centrifugal force causes said blades to extend outward from said blade carrier about said pivot points into an angular position as measured from said axis of said internal shaft.    
   
   
       65 . An apparatus as in  claim 64 , further comprising a sieve apparatus positioned in said processing chamber containing said waste while within said processing chamber and facilitating drainage of said processing water.  
   
   
       66 . An apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein said sieve apparatus further comprises a removable basket constructed to be received by said processing chamber.  
   
   
       67 . An apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said closure member is latchable into position by means of at least two latch arms that pull said closure member down tight onto a sealing member located on the lid.  
   
   
       68 . An apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising a removal apparatus in communication with said processing chamber, said removal apparatus facilitating the unloading of said waste from said processing chamber.  
   
   
       69 . An apparatus as in  claim 68 , wherein said removal apparatus also facilitates the loading of said processing chamber with said waste.  
   
   
       70 . An apparatus as in  claim 68 , wherein said removal apparatus comprises a hoist.  
   
   
       71 . An apparatus as in  claim 68 , wherein said removal apparatus comprises a rotation unit operably connected to said processing chamber, said rotation unit rotating said processing chamber about an axis.  
   
   
       72 . An apparatus as in  claim 64 , wherein a plurality of torsion springs operably connects said blades to said blade carrier to permit said blades to sling said waste that wraps around said tapered blade carrier off of said tapered blade carrier and said blades, said wrapped waste is forced upward where said waste moves said blades upwardly overcoming said centrifugal force normally biasing said blades outwardly, causing said blades to forcefully sling off said waste, said blades returning to their outward centrifugal forced bias after being freed of said waste.