Waste Collection Unit Including A Reservoir Supported On A Portable Cart For Storing Liquid When Positioned Away From A Docking Station

Abstract

A waste collection unit for collecting waste material. A reservoir is supported on a portable cart for storing a liquid on the portable cart when positioned away from a docking station. A sprinkler may be coupled to the waste container and in fluid communication with the reservoir. The sprinkler is configured to direct the liquid from the reservoir towards the waste container. The reservoir is configured to receive additional liquid from the docking station to urge the liquid from the reservoir towards the sprinkler. A prefill pump may be supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the waste container and operable to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the waste container. A controller may be in electronic communication with a valve assembly to control flow of the liquid from the docking station into at least one of the reservoir and a second waste container.

1 . A waste collection unit for collecting waste material during a medical procedure, wherein the waste collection unit is configured to be removably coupled with a docking station, the waste collection unit comprising:
 a portable cart;   a waste container supported on the portable cart;   a vacuum source supported on the portable cart and in communication with the waste container and configured to draw the waste material into the waste container;   a reservoir supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the waste container, the reservoir configured to store a liquid on the portable cart when positioned away from the docking station; and   a sprinkler coupled to the waste container and in fluid communication with the reservoir, the sprinkler being configured to direct the liquid from the reservoir towards an internal surface of the waste container,   wherein the reservoir is configured to receive additional liquid from the docking station with the portable cart removably coupled with the docking station, wherein the additional liquid urges the liquid from the reservoir towards the sprinkler.   
     
     
         2 . The waste collection unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supply line in fluid communication with the reservoir; and   a valve coupled to the supply line and configured to regulate flow of the liquid from the docking station to the reservoir through the supply line.   
     
     
         3 . The waste collection unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supply line in fluid communication with the reservoir; and   a prefill pump coupled to the supply line and operable to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the waste container.   
     
     
         4 . The waste collection unit of  claim 3 , wherein the supply line is located below the reservoir such that gravity cooperates with the prefill pump to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the waste container. 
     
     
         5 . The waste collection unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid measuring system comprising a float element configured to float on the waste material within the waste container. 
     
     
         6 . The waste collection unit of  claim 1 , wherein the waste container is a first waste container, the waste collection unit further comprising:
 a second waste container supported on the portable cart; and   a transfer valve disposed between the first and second waste containers and operable to transfer of the waste material from the first waste container to the second waste container.   
     
     
         7 . A waste collection unit for collecting waste material during a medical procedure, wherein the waste collection unit is configured to be removably coupled with a docking station, the waste collection unit comprising:
 a portable cart;   a first waste container supported on the portable cart;   a second waste container supported on the portable cart;   a transfer valve disposed in fluid communication with the first and second waste containers and operable to transfer of the waste material from the first waste container to the second waste container;   a vacuum source supported on the portable cart and in communication with the first waste container and configured to draw the waste material into the first waste container;   a reservoir supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the first waste container, the reservoir configured to store a liquid on the portable cart when positioned away from the docking station; and   a prefill pump supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the first waste container and operable to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the first waste container.   
     
     
         8 . The waste collection unit of  claim 7 , wherein the prefill pump is further operable to convey a predetermined amount of the liquid from the reservoir to the first waste container as measured by a fluid measuring system to provide an initial lifting from a bottom of the first waste container to a zero-point level after the waste material is transferred from the first waste container to the second waste container through the transfer valve. 
     
     
         9 . The waste collection unit of  claim 8 , further comprising a first supply line in fluid communication with the first waste container, wherein the prefill pump is coupled to the first supply line. 
     
     
         10 . The waste collection unit of  claim 9 , further comprising a second supply line in fluid communication with the second waste container, wherein each of the first supply line and the second supply line is split from a main supply line configured to receive the liquid from the docking station. 
     
     
         11 . The waste collection unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a valve coupled to the first supply line and configured to control flow of the liquid into the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The waste collection unit of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the valve and configured to open the valve for a predetermined period of time based on a preprogrammed cleaning cycle of the waste collection unit. 
     
     
         13 . A waste collection unit for collecting waste material during a medical procedure, wherein the waste collection unit is configured to be removably coupled with a docking station, the waste collection unit comprising:
 a portable cart;   a first waste container supported on the portable cart;   a second waste container supported on the portable cart;   a vacuum source supported on the portable cart and in communication with the first waste container and configured to draw the waste material into the first waste container;   a reservoir supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the first waste container, the reservoir configured to store a liquid on the portable cart when positioned away from the docking station;   a valve assembly; and   a controller in electronic communication with the valve assembly and configured to actuate the valve assembly to control flow of the liquid from the docking station into at least one of the reservoir and the second waste container with the portable cart removably coupled with the docking station.   
     
     
         14 . The waste collection unit of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to actuate the valve assembly for a predetermined period of time based on a preprogrammed cleaning cycle of the waste collection unit. 
     
     
         15 . The waste collection unit of  claim 13 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a first valve in communication with the reservoir, and a second valve in communication with the second waste container. 
     
     
         16 . The waste collection unit of  claim 13 , further comprising a first supply line coupled to the valve assembly and in communication with the first waste container, and a second supply line coupled to the valve assembly and in communication with the second waste container. 
     
     
         17 . The waste collection unit of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first supply line and the second supply line is split from a main supply line configured to receive the liquid from the docking station. 
     
     
         18 . The waste collection unit of  claim 17 , further comprising a prefill pump coupled to the first supply line, wherein the prefill pump is operable to convey at least a portion of the liquid from the reservoir to the first waste container through the first supply line. 
     
     
         19 . The waste collection unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a fluid measuring system comprising a float element configured to float on the waste material within the first waste container, wherein the prefill pump is further operable to convey a predetermined amount of the liquid from the reservoir to the first waste container as measured by the fluid measuring system to provide an initial lifting from a bottom of the first waste container to a zero-point level. 
     
     
         20 . The waste collection unit of  claim 19 , further comprising a transfer valve disposed between the first and second waste containers and operable to transfer of the waste material from the first waste container to the second waste container.