High volume liquid waste collection and disposal system

Abstract

A system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid includes a station that features transfer, flushing and mixing pumps as well as a bowl that holds the waste fluid. The waste fluid is collected in a container mounted on a cart. The cart container connects to the station so that the waste fluid is transferred from the cart to the station bowl by the transfer pump. The flushing pump has an inlet that communicates with a source of water and a disinfectant dispenser. The flushing pump is used to flush both the cart container and the station bowl, the latter of which communicates with a drain system. The flushing pump also delivers disinfectant to the waste fluid in the station bowl. The inlet and outlet of the mixing pump communicate with the bowl so that it mixes the bowl contents. Buffer is provided to the circulating waste fluid until the pH level drops to a predetermined level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A station for treating waste fluid including:
 a) a housing; 
 b) a bowl reservoir positioned within said housing and adapted to receive the waste fluid from a source and communicate with a drain system; 
 c) a mixing pump having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bowl reservoir so that waste fluid therein is circulated; 
 d) a pH sensor in communication with the bowl reservoir so that a pH level of the circulating waste fluid may be detected; 
 e) a container holding a supply of buffer; 
 f) a pH controller in circuit between the buffer container and the bowl reservoir so that said pH controller controls the delivery of buffer to the circulating waste fluid; 
 g) said pH controller communicating with the pH sensor so that said pH controller delivers buffer to the circulating waste fluid when the pH sensor detects that the pH level of the circulating waste fluid is above a predetermined pH level; 
 h) a wash head positioned in the bowl reservoir; 
 i) a dispenser containing a disinfectant; 
 j) a flushing pump having an inlet in communication with a the disinfectant dispenser and an outlet in communication with the wash head so that when said flushing pump is activated, disinfectant is delivered to the contents of the bowl reservoir; 
 k) a transfer pump having an inlet in communication with a transfer connector and an outlet in communication with the bowl reservoir, said transfer connector adapted to communicate with the waste fluid source so that when said transfer pump is activated, waste fluid is transferred from the waste fluid source to the bowl reservoir; and 
 l) a microprocessor in communication with the pH sensor and in communication with and controlling the pH controller, mixing pump, flushing pump and transfer pump. 
 
     
     
       2. The station of  claim 1  wherein the waste fluid is cell culture waste fluid. 
     
     
       3. The station of  claim 1  wherein the drain system includes drain pipe adapted to communicate with a sewer system and an eductor in communication with the drain pipe, said eductor including a venturi adapted to communicate with a water source so that water flows through the venturi which results in suction being applied to the drain pipe to aid in draining treated waste fluid from the station bowl reservoir. 
     
     
       4. The station of  claim 1  wherein the pH controller includes an automated valve in circuit between the buffer container and the bowl reservoir and the microprocessor communicates with the automated valve. 
     
     
       5. The station of  claim 1  wherein the disinfectant is bleach. 
     
     
       6. The station of  claim 1  wherein the waste fluid source is a cart featuring a container having a drain connector that removably connects to the transfer connector of the station so that when said transfer pump is activated, and the cart drain and station transfer connectors are connected, waste fluid in the cart container is transferred to the station bowl reservoir. 
     
     
       7. A system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid comprising:
 a) a waste fluid treating and disposing, station including;
 i) a housing having transfer and flushing connectors; 
 ii) a bowl tank positioned within said housing; 
 iii) a dispenser containing a disinfectant; 
 iv) a flushing pump having an inlet in communication with the disinfectant dispenser and an outlet selectively in communication with the bowl tank and the flushing connector; 
 v) a transfer pump having an inlet in communication with the transfer connector and an outlet in communication with the bowl tank, 
 vi) a mixing pump having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bowl tank so that waste fluid therein is circulated; 
 vii) a pH sensor in communication with the bowl tank so that a pH level of the circulating waste fluid may be detected; 
 viii) a container holding a supply of buffer; 
 ix) means for delivering buffer to the circulating waste fluid when the pH sensor detects that the pH level of the circulating waste fluid is above a predetermined pH level; and 
 x) a microprocessor in communication with the pH sensor and in communication with and controlling the means for delivering buffer, the flushing pump, the transfer pump and the mixing pump. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 7  further comprising:
 b) a waste fluid collection cart including:
 i) a body supported by a plurality of wheels; 
 ii) a container supported by said body and featuring vacuum, suction, flushing and drain ports, where liquid waste is collected within the container through the suction port when the vacuum port is connected to a vacuum source and the flushing and drain ports are closed; 
 iii) said drain port of the cart container removably connected to the transfer connector of the station so that waste fluid from the cart container is transferred to the station bowl tank when the transfer pump is activated; and 
 iv) said flushing port of the cart container removably connected to the flushing connector of the station so that disinfectant may be directed to the cart container when the flushing pump is activated. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 7  further comprising a wash head positioned in the bowl tank and selectively in communication with the outlet of the flushing pump. 
     
     
       10. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 7  wherein the disinfectant is bleach. 
     
     
       11. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 7  wherein said bowl tank also communicates with a drain system. 
     
     
       12. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 11  wherein the drain system includes drain pipe adapted to communicate with a sewer system and an eductor in communication with the drain pipe, said eductor including a venturi adapted to communicate with a water source so that water flows through the venturi which results in suction being applied to the drain pipe to aid in draining treated waste fluid from the station bowl tank. 
     
     
       13. The system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid of  claim 7  wherein the inlet of said flushing pump also is adapted to communicate with a source of water so that a mixture of disinfectant and water may selectively be delivered to the bowl tank and the flushing connector. 
     
     
       14. A station for treating waste fluid including:
 a) a housing; 
 b) a bowl reservoir positioned within said housing and adapted to receive the waste fluid from a source and communicate with a drain system; 
 c) a mixing pump having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bowl reservoir so that waste fluid therein is circulated; 
 d) a pH sensor in communication with the bowl reservoir so that a pH level of the circulating waste fluid may be detected; 
 e) a container holding a supply of buffer; 
 f) a pH controller in circuit between the buffer container and the bowl reservoir so that said pH controller controls the delivery of buffer to the circulating waste fluid; 
 g) said pH controller communicating with the pH sensor so that said pH controller delivers buffer to the circulating waste fluid when the pH sensor detects that the pH level of the circulating waste fluid is above a predetermined pH level; 
 h) a wash head positioned in the bowl reservoir; 
 i) a dispenser containing a disinfectant; 
 j) a flushing pump having an inlet in communication with a the disinfectant dispenser and an outlet in communication with the wash head so that when said flushing pump is activated, disinfectant is delivered to the contents of the bowl reservoir; 
 k) a transfer pump having an inlet in communication with a transfer connector and an outlet in communication with the bowl reservoir, said transfer connector adapted to communicate with the waste fluid source so that when said transfer pump is activated, waste fluid is transferred from the waste fluid source to the bowl reservoir; and 
 l) a microprocessor in communication with the pH sensor and in communication with and controlling the pH controller, mixing pump, flushing pump and transfer pump 
 m) said microprocessor programmed to perform the steps of:
 i. adding disinfectant to the collected waste fluid to create a solution; 
 ii. mixing the solution; 
 iii. allowing the solution to sit for a predetermined period of time; 
 iv resuming mixing of the solution; 
 v. detecting a pH level of the solution during the resumed mixing; and 
 vi. adding a buffer to the solution during the resumed mixing until the pH levels drops below a predetermined level so that a treated solution is created. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A system for handling waste fluid from a patient, comprising:
 a) a movable waste fluid collection cart including:
 i) a body supported by a plurality of wheels; 
 ii) a flushing portion and a drain portion; and 
 iii) at least two containers supported by the body, each container including a suction port, each container being configured to collect liquid waste from the patient via its respective suction port when a vacuum is applied to the container, at least one of the suction ports being configured to provide at least two different levels of suction, an outlet from each container being operatively connectable to the drain portion and an inlet to each container being operatively connectable to the flushing portion; and 
   b) a waste fluid disposal unit including:
 i) a first portion coupleable to the flushing portion of the waste fluid collection cart, the first portion being connectable to a water source via a water line to provide water to the waste fluid collection cart when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion; and 
 ii) a second portion coupleable to the drain portion of the waste fluid collection cart, the second portion being connectable to a drain via a drain pump, wherein patient's waste fluid in the waste fluid collection cart is pumpable to the drain by the drain pump when the second portion is coupled to the drain portion and to the drain. 
   
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15, wherein the waste fluid disposal unit further comprises a flushing pump between the water source and the first portion to pump water to the at least two containers when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 15, wherein a level of vacuum in one of the at least two containers is controllable independently from a level of vacuum in another of the at least two containers. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a cleaning nozzle disposed in at least one of the containers, the cleaning nozzle in communication with the flushing portion to spray fluid into the at least one container. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18, wherein the moveable waste fluid collection cart comprises no more than first and second containers, first and second cleaning nozzles being disposed in the first and second containers respectively. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 15, wherein the movable waste fluid collection cart further comprises a vacuum port for communicating with a vacuum system, and communicating with the suction ports of the containers so as to permit a vacuum to be pulled in the containers when the vacuum port is coupled to the vacuum system. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 20, wherein the vacuum port is couplable to a vacuum system external to the movable waste fluid collection cart. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a vacuum control system comprising a plurality of valves in a vacuum network between the vacuum port and the suction ports of the containers, the valves being controllable by a user from a valve control panel. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of valves comprises at least a first check valve on a vacuum path between the vacuum port and the first container and a second check valve on a vacuum path between the vacuum port and the second container. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a smoke filter disposed to filter smoke entering one of the containers from the patient. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 15, wherein the flushing portion comprises a first flushing coupling operatively coupled to a first container of the at least two containers and a second flushing coupling operatively coupled to a second container of the at least two containers, the first and second flushing couplings being connectable to respective first and second connectors of the first portion of the waste fluid disposal unit. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 15, wherein the drain portion comprises a first drain coupling operatively coupled to a first container of the at least two containers and a second drain coupling operatively coupled to a second container of the at least two containers, the first and second drain couplings being connectable to respective first and second connectors of the second portion of the waste fluid disposal unit. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 15, wherein the waste fluid disposal unit further comprises a reservoir for containing treating liquid in fluid communication with the water line for injecting the treating fluid into the container when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least two containers comprises only first and second containers. 
     
     
       29. A system for handling waste fluid from a patient, comprising:
 a) a movable waste fluid collection cart including:
 i) a body supported by a plurality of wheels; 
 ii) a flushing portion and a drain portion; and 
 iii) at least two containers supported by the body, each container including a suction port, each container being configured to collect liquid waste from the patient via its respective suction port when a vacuum is applied to the container, a level of suction at one of the suction ports being independently adjustable of a level of suction at another of the suction ports, outlets from the at least two containers being operatively connectable to the drain portion and an inlet to each container being operatively connectable to the flushing portion; and 
   b) a waste fluid disposal unit including:
 i) a first portion coupleable to the flushing portion of the waste fluid collection cart, the first portion being connectable to a water source via a water line to provide water to the waste fluid collection cart when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion; 
 ii) a second portion coupleable to the drain portion of the waste fluid collection cart, the second portion being connectable to a drain via a drain pump, wherein patient's waste fluid in the container is pumpable to the drain by the drain pump when the second portion is coupled to the drain portion and to the drain. 
   
     
     
       30. The system of claim 29, wherein the waste fluid disposal unit further comprises a reservoir for containing treating liquid in fluid communication with the water line for injecting the treating fluid into the container when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion. 
     
     
       31. The system of claim 29, wherein the waste fluid disposal unit further comprises a flushing pump between the water source and the first portion to pump water into the container when the first portion is coupled to the flushing portion. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the suction ports is configured to provide at least two different levels of suction. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim 29, further comprising a cleaning nozzle disposed in at least one of the containers, the cleaning nozzle in communication with the flushing portion to spray fluid into the at least one container. 
     
     
       34. The system of claim 33, wherein the moveable waste fluid collection cart comprises no more than first and second containers, first and second cleaning nozzles being disposed in the first and second containers respectively. 
     
     
       35. The system of claim 29, wherein the movable waste fluid collection cart including further comprises a vacuum port for communicating with a vacuum system, and communicating with the suction ports of the containers so as to permit a vacuum to be pulled in the containers when the vacuum port is coupled to the vacuum system. 
     
     
       36. The system of claim 35, wherein the vacuum port is couplable to a vacuum system external to the movable waste fluid collection cart. 
     
     
       37. The system of claim 35, further comprising a vacuum control system comprising a plurality of valves in a vacuum network between the vacuum port and the suction ports of the containers, the valves being controllable by a user from a valve control panel. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of valves comprises at least a first check valve on a vacuum path between the vacuum port and the first container and a second check valve on a vacuum path between the vacuum port and the second container. 
     
     
       39. The system of claim 29, further comprising a smoke filter disposed to filter smoke entering one of the containers from a patient. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim 29, wherein the flushing portion comprises a first flushing coupling operatively coupled to a first container of the at least two containers and a second flushing coupling operatively coupled to a second container of the at least two containers, the first and second flushing couplings being connectable to respective first and second connectors of the first portion of the waste fluid disposal unit. 
     
     
       41. The system of claim 29, wherein the drain portion comprises a first drain coupling operatively coupled to a first container of the at least two containers and a second drain coupling operatively coupled to a second container of the at least two containers, the first and second drain couplings being connectable to respective first and second connectors of the second portion of the waste fluid disposal unit.