Portable medical waste processing system & method

Abstract

A portable medical waste processing system and method includes a processing device and a medical waste container. The processing device has an enclosure with a housing and a lid, with at least one heater, a control system, a filtration system and a cooling system inside the enclosure. The control system regulates the temperature of the heater and time of the process cycle. The filtration system prevents noxious odors emanating from the container during the process cycle. The cooling system prevents heat build-up inside the enclosure and also ensures that the sides of the enclosure do not exceed harmful temperatures. The portable medical waste processing system melts syringes and sterilize needles, lancets and infectious waste that are placed in the medical waste container that is inserted into the heater. The system identifies and responses to short and long term power interruptions.

1 . A portable medical waste processing system, for melting and decontaminating medical waste, comprising:
 a processing device having an enclosure with a housing and a lid that opens and closes, at least one cylindrical heater in said enclosure and a control system in said enclosure, said heater defining a cylindrical interior cavity with a closed end and a spaced, open end that is covered by said lid when said lid is closed, and said control system including a controller connected to said heater, and a container sensor connected to said controller, said controller regulating said heater at a selected first temperature for a selected time period, and   a medical waste container for each said heater, said container being sized and shaped to fit into said interior cavity, said container having a hollow cylindrical body, for receiving said waste, with an open end and a removable cap that fits over said open end,   wherein said container sensor indicates to said controller that said medical waste container is in said cavity and is specifically designed for said processing device,   whereby medical waste is melted and decontaminated after being heated in said container in said cavity for said time period at said first temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes at least two said heaters each connected to said controller. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said control system includes an interlock, an electrically activated lid latch connected to said interlock and said controller, said latch securing said lid in a closed position when activated by said controller and said interlock indicating to said controller when said lid is secured. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said latch is a lid latching solenoid. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said controller activates said latch until said heater has cooled below a selected second temperature, after said controller regulates said heater at said first temperature for said time period. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said second temperature is about 120° F. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes a cooling system inside said housing and a filtration system in said lid, said cooling system including a two speed fan mounted in said housing and connected to said controller, said controller activating said fan at a low speed when said time period begins and activating said fan at a high speed when said time period ends. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said fan sends fan speed feedback to said controller. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said controller includes non-volatile memory that continuously stores data including the date, time, temperature, and a process ID, during operation of said processing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said controller includes a means for tracking current time, and said controller is programmed to detect a power interruption during operation of said processing device. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said means for tracking current time includes a real-time clock and a battery to power said clock during said power interruption. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said controller is programmed to identify said power interruption as one of a short term power interruption and a long term power interruption, to regulate said heater at said first temperature for the remainder of said time period after a short term power interruption, and to regulate said heater at said first temperature for an entire said time period after a long term power interruption. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said short-term power interruption is less than ten minutes and said long-term power interruption is any longer power interruption. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said processing device includes a barcode reader connected to said controller, said container includes a barcode, and said data stored in said memory includes said barcode of said container in said heater. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said control system supports at least one of a printer and a data storage unit, said data storage unit being selected from the group of a USB flash drive, a hard drive and a memory card. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said control system controls at least one interface selected from the group of GPS, RS-232, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless Local Area Network and IEEE 802.15.5 Zigbee. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes an inverter that converts power from a DC Voltage source to AC power to operate said processing device. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes a bill acceptor and credit card acceptor connected to said controller to allow said processing device to be placed in commercial sites where payment would be required to process a said medical waste container. 
     
     
         19 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes a display connected to said controller, said display displaying date, time, process id, temperature and process cycle progress. 
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said processing device includes a display connected to said controller, said display displaying user instructions. 
     
     
         21 . A portable medical waste processing system, for melting and decontaminating medical waste, comprising:
 a processing device having an enclosure with a housing and a lid that opens and closes, at least one cylindrical heater in said enclosure and a control system in said enclosure, said heater defining a cylindrical interior cavity with a closed end and a spaced, open end that is covered by said lid when said lid is closed, said control system including a programmable controller connected to said heater, an interlock and a container sensors each connected to said controller, and a lid latching solenoid connected to said interlock and said controller, said solenoid securing said lid in a closed position when activated by said controller and said interlock indicating to said controller when said lid is secured, said controller regulating said heater at a selected first temperature for a selected time period, and activating said latch until said heater has cooled below a selected second temperature, after regulating said heater at said first temperature for said time period, said controller including non-volatile memory that continuously stores data including the date, time, temperature, and a process ID, during operation of said processing device, a real-time clock and a battery to power said clock during a power interruption during operation of said processing device, said controller being programmed to detect said power interruption, and   a medical waste container for each said heater, said container being sized and shaped to fit into said interior cavity, said container having a hollow cylindrical body, for receiving said waste, with an open end and a removable cap that fits over said open end,   wherein said container sensor indicates to said controller that said medical waste container is in said cavity and is specifically designed for said processing device,   whereby waste is melted and decontaminated after being heated in said container in said cavity for said time period at said first temperature.   
     
     
         22 . A method of melting and decontaminating medical waste comprising the steps of:
 providing a processing device having at least one cylindrical heater with a interior cavity,   providing a medical waste container sized and shaped to fit into said interior cavity,   placing medical waste in said container,   placing said container in said heater,   heating said container at a selected first temperature for a selected time period,   detecting a power interruption during said time period,   identifying said power interruption as one of short term and long term,   heating said container at said first temperature for the remainder of said time period after a short term power interruption, and   heating said container at said first temperature for an entire said time period after a long term power interruption.