System and method for compacting solid medical waste

Abstract

A cart ( 32 ) for holding waste generated in a medical procedure that includes a frame for holding a bag ( 42 ) for receiving the waste and a sensor assembly ( 65, 66 ) for determining if metal waste is placed in the bag.

1 . A portable cart for containing medical waste, the cart including:
 a mobile base;   at least one leg that extends upwardly from the base;   a frame that extends outwardly from the at least one leg; the frame having: at least one inner surface that defines an opening in the frame; at least one top surface that extends outwardly from the inner surface; and at least one outer surface opposite the inner surface that extends downwardly from the top surface;   at least one bag retaining member is attached to the at least one outer surface of the frame to removably hold a bag to the frame so that a top section of the bag extends over the frame inner surface, the frame top surface and at least a portion of the frame outer surface; and   a first sensor assembly mounted in the frame for generating signals that vary if metal is passed through the frame opening into the bag; and   a signal processor connected to the said first assembly that: receives the signals generated by said first sensor assembly; and, based on the received sensor signals, determines if metal is passed through the frame opening.   
   
   
       2 . The portable cart of  claim 1 , further including a rechargeable battery mounted to the cart for powering the signal processor and the sensor. 
   
   
       3 . The portable cart of  claims 1 , wherein said first sensor assembly includes at least one coil. 
   
   
       4 . The portable cart of  claims 1 , wherein:
 an alarm is mounted to the cart; and   said signal processor is connected to said alarm and, when the signal processor determines that metal is passed through the frame opening, asserts the alarm.   
   
   
       5 . The portable cart of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the frame is a multi-sided structure that includes corners; and   said alarm includes a light that is mounted to at least one corner of the frame.   
   
   
       6 . The portable cart of  claims 1 , wherein said at least one bag retaining member is at least one tab that extends outwardly from the at least one outer surface of the frame, the at least one tab configured to receive a portion of the bag. 
   
   
       7 . The portable cart of  claim 6 , wherein said tab is statically mounted to the frame. 
   
   
       8 . The portable cart of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a second sensor assembly sensor is mounted to the cart to generates a signal as function of the weight of the bag and the contents of the bag; and   said signal processor is connected to said second sensor assembly to receive the signal generated by said second sensor assembly and, when the second sensor assembly signal indicates the bag and the contents of the bag exceed a set weight, to assert an alarm.   
   
   
       9 . The portable cart of  claim 1 , wherein said signal processor, based on the signal from said first sensor assembly is further configured to determine if changes in the received sensor signal are due to:
 changes in the environment in which the cart is located; or   metal passing through the frame opening into the bag.   
   
   
       10 . A bag for receiving medical waste, the bag including:
 at least one body panel shaped to form the body of the bag for receiving medical waste; and   a seal assembly attached to the body panel at the top of the body panel for closing the waste;   an opening is formed in the body panel below the location where the seal assembly is located; and   a filter element is disposed in the body panel opening to trap material discharged from the bag through the opening.   
   
   
       11 . The bag of  claim 10 , further including a one-way valve mounted to the bag opening that allows the discharge of air from the bag and blocks the flow of air into the bag through the opening.