Surgery – Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2002-12-03
Lewis, Kim M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
C604S317000, C604S541000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06488675
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method of disposing of contaminated waste, particularly medical waste, and more particularly to such a system and method where at least the main components of the system are reusable, and the waste can be safely disposed of into a conventional sewer system, or in containers which may be transported to other suitable locations (or sewers).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been a serious problem and an expensive process to collect, and dispose of, contaminated biological waste in a hospital or other health care facility, in a safe and sanitary manner. The general system which has been in use is to direct the biological waste into a disposal container at the location where it is being generated, seal this container in a manner to isolate the waste and transport each such container to a central collecting facility at the hospital, where it is possibly sterilized, after which these are then taken to a waste disposal site. The alternative is to dispose of the fluid by pouring it into sewer or toilets.
One common example of this is the collection of waste when a suctioning process is being conducted with the patient. The suctioning tube is positioned to withdraw fluid or viscous material from the patient's breathing airways and to carry this material into a container. The interior chamber of the container is connected to a vacuum source, and the material from the patient collects in the bottom of the container. Periodically, the container is disconnected from the suction tube and the vacuum source, sealed, and then taken to the collecting location in the hospital. Then another disposable container is connected to the suctioning tube and the vacuum source, with the above process being repeated. If the alternative to pour the contents out is chosen, splashing may/will endanger the person and contaminate the environment.
It has long been known in the health care field that if contaminated biological waste is delivered into a conventional sewer system, at such time as the biological waste becomes sufficiently diluted by the large volume of sewage in the system, it then becomes harmless. However, to the best knowledge of the applicants herein, in spite of the fact that this means of disposal has been known for some period of time, there has not been devised a method to make use of this in a safe and practical manner in a hospital or other health care facility.
Thus, the main method of disposing of such waste still remains to seal the collected waste in a disposable container at the location where it is generated, and then deliver this sealed and contained waste (still in a special container) to a distant disposal site for contaminated medical waste or openly pour it into common toilets or sewers. The expense associated with the first type of waste disposal system represents a substantial part of the costs for health care in hospitals and the like. And the second is a risk to both staff and patients.
A search of the patent literature has disclosed a number of patents, these being the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,744 (Meyer) discloses a system for withdrawing and disposing of dental waste. There is provided a plurality of mouth aspirators
10
, and a suction is applied to a container
11
to draw the material into the container. The container is mounted to a support and drain assembly
12
. There is a valve means
23
that is closed when the container is subjected to suction, and this is opened to permit the contents of the container
11
to flow into the assembly
12
and into a sewer. There is in the container
11
a liquid level sensor
26
that is connected to a relay
29
in the control panel
30
for the vacuum pump
13
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,438 (Vasconcellos et al) discloses a blood recovery system where there are “blood cardiotomy reservoirs” where blood is taken from the patient for subsequent reinfusion into the patient. There is a vacuum storage level with a blood aspiration port into which the blood is drawn by the vacuum. This accumulates in the upper chamber
20
which is valved to the chamber
22
by a valve
42
. There is a valve
30
which is held closed at
32
. Movement of a lever
34
opens the valve element
30
so that the blood drains into chamber
24
and can be drained out at
26
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,872 (Sherlock) discloses a blood collecting bag
16
that is provided with a drain element that is closed by a member
75
. Means are provided to maintain the bag in an expanded position. The blood can be reinfused back to the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,001 (Abrahams et al) shows a “portable, self-cleansing apparatus for aspiration and removal of sinus fluids and/or tracheal secretions, etc.” Tap water is directed from a faucet through a venturi which creates a suction in the container, so that the sinus fluid or other secretions are drawn into the tube
82
and into a container. The water and collected fluids accumulate in the bottom and are ejected through a lower outlet
18
that is positioned above a drain
20
of a sink
16
U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,753 (Trace) shows a surgical drainage apparatus with a collection bag and a lower drain opening. In one embodiment (see
FIGS. 6 and 7
) a suction can be applied. The apparatus is arranged to prevent backward flow up the drainage tube when there is a negative pressure in the drainage tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,535,604 (Hendricks) shows a pan for washing dishes, and this pan is provided with a drainage valve, with a valve closure element operated by a lever system comprising members
21
and
24
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system and method of the present invention is arranged for the collection, transport and disposal of biofluids, particularly in a hospital or other health care environment. This is done in a manner to protect the operator and related support devices and systems from contact with potentially hazardous biofluids. In this system, the biofluid vessel and other components are able to be sanitized for further reprocessing or disposal. This system is a splash free, drip free system which alleviates the problem of cross contamination, and thus alleviates at least to some extent the problem of nosocomial infections (hospital acquired infections). Further, this system alleviates to a substantially extent the problem of aerosolization of potentially hazardous biofluids. In the present system, there is provided a reusable or disposal biofluid container which serves the function of a collection, transport, and disposal vessel. This is done with an interlocking/coupling mechanism which enables a sealed path and contamination free disposal of the biofluid contents of the container when mated to an interlocking/coupling appliance of a base assembly.
The system comprises a containing assembly which in turn comprises a portable container defining a biofluid containing chamber. There is fluid inlet and outlet means to receive biofluids from a patient and direct the biofluid into the containing chamber, and also to discharge the biofluid from the chamber. The containing assembly has a container interconnecting means.
This system also comprises a base assembly, which comprises a base structure having a receiving area to receive a container in an operating position. There is also a base interconnecting means arranged to interconnect with the container interconnecting means, with the container in the operating position. Further, the base assembly has disposal means defining a disposal passageway and leading to a disposal location.
The containing assembly and the base assembly are arranged so that with the container in the operating position, and with interconnection by the container interconnecting means and the base interconnecting means, the containing assembly and the base assembly provide a discharge passageway from the chamber to the disposal passageway.
The containing assembly is positioned at a collecting location to receive biofluid, and then moved to the base assembly. The container interconnecting means and the base interconnecting means
Howard Jack D.
Radford Drew R.
Radford Fred R.
Hughes Robert B.
Hughes Law Firm PLLC
Lewis Kim M.
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