Identification tag for pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly

Abstract

A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly ( 10 ) comprises a waste receiver ( 212 ) that receives pharmaceutical waste, the waste receiver ( 212 ) including a radio frequency identification tag ( 200 ) that is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal that identifies the waste receiver ( 212 ). The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly ( 10 ) can further comprise a receiver retainer ( 1516 ) that selectively receives the waste receiver ( 212 ). The radio frequency identification tag ( 200 ) is configured to transmit the radio frequency signal that is usable to track a location of the waste receiver ( 212 ) regardless of whether or not the waste receiver ( 212 ) is positioned within the receiver retainer ( 1516 ). The receiver retainer ( 1516 ) can include an identification reader ( 1500 ) that reads the radio frequency signal and is configured to store information from the radio frequency signal that inhibits use of the waste receiver ( 212 ) following removal from and repositioning into the receiver retainer ( 1516 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:
 a waste receiver that receives pharmaceutical waste, the waste receiver including a radio frequency identification tag that is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal that identifies the waste receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively receives the waste receiver, the radio frequency identification tag being configured to transmit the radio frequency signal that is usable to track a location of the waste receiver regardless of whether or not the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an identification reader that is configured to read the radio frequency signal to track a location of the waste receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively receives the waste receiver, the identification reader being positioned remotely from the waste receiver and the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, the receiver retainer including an identification reader that reads the radio frequency signal to identify the waste receiver, and wherein the identification reader is configured to store information from the radio frequency signal that inhibits use of the waste receiver following removal from and repositioning into the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, and a receiver indicator that generates a removal alert signal when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, and a receiver indicator that generates a reuse alert signal when a previously removed waste receiver is repositioned into the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, and a timer activator that automatically activates a timer when the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a receiver indicator that generates a removal alert signal when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 9  wherein the removal alert signal is generated when the timer indicates that the waste receiver has been positioned within the receiver retainer for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  wherein the radio frequency identification tag is an active identification tag that is configured to autonomously transmit the radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 1  wherein the radio frequency identification tag is a passive identification tag that requires an external source to provoke transmission of the radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:
 a waste receiver that receives pharmaceutical waste, the waste receiver including a radio frequency identification tag that is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal; and   an identification reader that is configured to read the radio frequency signal to identify the waste receiver.   
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively receives the waste receiver, the identification reader being configured to read the radio frequency signal to track a location of the waste receiver regardless of whether or not the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, the identification reader being positioned substantially within the receiver retainer, and wherein the identification reader is configured to store information from the radio frequency signal that inhibits use of the waste receiver following removal from and repositioning into the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a receiver indicator that generates a removal alert signal when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, and a receiver indicator that generates a reuse alert signal when a previously removed waste receiver is repositioned into the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 13  further comprising (i) a receiver retainer that selectively retains the waste receiver, the identification reader being positioned substantially within the receiver retainer, (ii) a timer activator that automatically activates a timer when the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer, and (iii) a receiver indicator that generates a removal alert signal when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer. 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of  claim 18  wherein the removal alert signal is generated when the timer indicates that the waste receiver has been positioned within the receiver retainer for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:
 a waste receiver that receives pharmaceutical waste, the waste receiver including a radio frequency identification tag that is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal;   a receiver retainer that selectively receives the waste receiver;   a timer activator that automatically activates a timer when the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer;   an identification reader that is configured to read the radio frequency signal to perform one of (i) tracking a location of the waste receiver regardless of whether or not the waste receiver is positioned within the receiver retainer; (ii) storing information from the radio frequency signal that inhibits use of the waste receiver following removal from and repositioning into the receiver retainer; and (iii) identifying when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer; and   a receiver indicator that (i) generates a removal alert signal when it is appropriate to remove the waste receiver from the receiver retainer, and (ii) generates a reuse alert signal when a previously removed waste receiver is repositioned within the receiver retainer.