CA2057845C - Medical waste handling system - Google Patents
Medical waste handling systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2057845C CA2057845C CA002057845A CA2057845A CA2057845C CA 2057845 C CA2057845 C CA 2057845C CA 002057845 A CA002057845 A CA 002057845A CA 2057845 A CA2057845 A CA 2057845A CA 2057845 C CA2057845 C CA 2057845C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conduit
- chambers
- pair
- rinsing
- inlet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE
- B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
- B09B3/0075—Disposal of medical waste
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L11/00—Methods specially adapted for refuse
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
- A61L2/18—Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
- A61M1/64—Containers with integrated suction means
- A61M1/65—Containers with integrated suction means the suction means being electrically actuated
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
- A61M1/71—Suction drainage systems
- A61M1/78—Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems
- A61M1/782—Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M1/00—Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems
- A61M1/88—Draining devices having means for processing the drained fluid, e.g. an absorber
- A61M1/882—Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
Abstract
An apparatus for collecting, disinfecting and disposing of body waste materials accumulated from a patient including a pair of adjacent collection chambers each having an upper and a lower end, the upper and lower ends respectively being substantially at the same elevations, a first conduit connecting the lower ends of the collection chambers for communication therebetween, a set of conduits connecting the upper ends of the collection chambers, the set of conduits having a smaller cross-sectional flow capacity than the first conduit, an inlet to the first collection chamber at an intermediate location thereon, and an outlet connected to the second collection chamber at an intermediate location thereon, an inlet conduit having a first end for connection to the inlet to the first collection chamber and an opposite open end for exposing to the waste materials to be collected and a conduit for connection to a predetermined environment to establish the environment in the chamber. The present apparatus also includes a unit for connection in the apparatus for collecting, disinfecting and disposing of body waste materials including controls therefor for introducing a rinsing and flushing fluid therein and for supplying a quantity of a disinfectant into the apparatus.
Description
20~7~S
MEDICAL WASTE HANDLING SYSTEM
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to waste handling systems and particularly to a waste handling system for use in health care facilities such as in operating rooms, patient care rooms, emergency care units and in field care facilities and other places where a person eliminating body waste and needing care may be located. The system includes a collection unit that can use a vacuum or suction source or can be operated using gravity drain to aspirate or otherwise carry away the body waste. The collection unit is preferrably portable and is provided with a quantity of a disinfectant that disinfects the waste materials as they are collected. The present invention also includes a servicing unit or module, usually not portable, for servicing and supplying the collection unit with disinfectant. One service unit can service and supply a plurality of the collection units, and the service unit can be located at a convenient place usually some distance from where the waste materials are collected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are in existance various means for collecting and handling waste materials including body fluids that are aspirated during surgical operation or accumulated for some other reason where a patient is located. Waste materials and body fluids, that can be collected using the subject means includes blood, urine, mucous and other body discharges. Known waste collection devices and systems include various type of containers into which the collected waste materials are accumulated during surgery and otherwise and from which they are dispensed or poured and sometimes disinfected at a later time. Such devices are usually removed from the place where the collection is made and while the waste '_ materials are still contaminated, and if decontamination is to take place before waste disposal, they are decontaminated or disinfected at some location remote from where they are collected and before discharge into a larger waste receptacle or into a waste disposal system or sewer. The known devices generally do not have any means for effectively separately accumulating waste materials through two or more different suction lines when suction is used, they can not be operated as gravity feed accumulators, they require electrical means and connections for their collection operations, they require the handling and disposing of the accumulated waste materials often before the waste material are disinfected and therefore present a danger to the handlers, they can be spilled while still contaminated, and most known systems require filters and other devices which must be removed and replaced from time to time and which may adversely effect their operation. The moving about and otherwise handling and transporting the waste materials before they are decontaminated presents an unacceptable risk of invention to all personnel that are responsible for handling and disposing of their contents.
Typical of known devices are the devices disclosed in Parker Patent Nos. 4,863,446 and 4,957,491.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a means is provided for collecting, disinfecting, and disposing of body waste materials accumulated from a patient. A means forms first and second collection chambers each having an upper end and a lower end. The upper and lower ends, respectively, being at substantially the same elevations. A
first conduit means connects the lower ends of the collection chambers for communication therebetween. A second conduit means connects the upper ends of the collection chambers. The second conduit means has a substantially smaller cross-sectional flow capacity than the first conduit means. The first collection chamber has an inlet and the second collection chamber is connected with an outlet port. An inlet conduit has a first end for connection to the inlet port and an opposite end for exposing two waste materials to be collected.
~ ~ 3 ~ n 5 ~8 4 5 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a medical waste collection system is provided. A
pair of chambers each have a closed side wall and closed upper and lower end walls. First and second conduit means are connected between the upper end walls and the lower end walls, respectively, establishing communication between the pair of chambers. One of the chambers has an inlet. An open-ended drainage conduit has one end connected to the inlet and an opposite open end for exposing two body fluids to be collected. Another conduit has one end communicating with a predetermined environment and an opposite end communicating with the other chamber such that the predetermined embodiment is presented to both chambers.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for decontaminating body fluids as they are collected from a patient. A pair of adjacent containers each have closed upper and lower ends, respectively, arranged at substantially the same elevations.
An inlet to one of the containers is connected to one end of an inlet conduit, the opposite end of which is positioned to have body fluids enter therein. An outlet is connected to the other of the containers for connection to an environment of predetermined pressure. A drain conduit means is disposed in communication with the lower ends of the pair of adjacent containers. A means supports the pair of containers in an upstanding position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for cleaning, rinsing, and flushing a container containing body waste materials is provided. The container has upper and lower ends, a drain conduit connected to the lower end and an inlet conduit connected at a predetermined position above the drain conduit. A first conduit means has one end for connecting the inlet conduit to the container and an opposite end for connection to a source of cleaning, rinsing, and flushing fluid. A supply of disinfectant includes a means for selectively metering the disinfectant from the supply into the cleaning, rinsing, and flushing fluid. A drain system conduit is connected to the container, the drainage system 7 8 4 ~ ~
conduit includes a means for maintaining a fluid level in the container below a predetermined fluid level.
One advantage of the present invention is that it enables fluid waste materials to be accumulated, handled, and disposed of safely.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it enables potentially infectious body wastes to be collected, handled, and disposed of without the waste fluids coming in contact with technicians or medical personnel.
Another advantage resides in the disinfection of such potentially infectious waste fluids.
Another advantage of the present invention resides in its simplicity and efficiency in rinsing, cleaning, flushing, and recharging operations.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after considering the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THB DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a unit for use in collecting, disinfecting, handling, and disposing of waste materials and particular fluid waste materials such as body waste material; said unit being constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one collection portion of the means of FIGURE 1 showing the connections therefor;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the collection portion shown in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a servicing unit for ~k ~' rinsing, cleaning, flushing and supplying disinfectant to the unit shown in FIGURES 1-4;
FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram showing the components and connections of the servicing unit shown in FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view showing the collection unit of FIGURE 1 connected to the servicing unit of ~IGURE 5 for rinsing, cleaning, flushing and-supplying disinfectant thereto; and FIGURE 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the circuits for the two units shown in FIGURE 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 refers to a waste collection unit for use in receiving, disinfecting, storing and disposing of waste materials such as body fluids. The unit 10 is shown having a housing 12 for accommodating two sets of collection means or containers each of which is shown having a suction connector means or fitting 14 and 16. The same connection can also be used when the device is used as a gravity feed collection device. If gravity feed is used, it may be possible to use fewer container pairs or pairs of waste collection compartments or chambers. The unit 10 can also be made in models for use in the emergency rooms and for use in intensive care units, which models may only have one set of treatment chamber or containers. The housing 12 has a lower portion 18 inside of which are located the collection means including the collecting container pairs and the fittings, conduits and connection therefor, and it has an upstanding housing portion 20 in which are mounted gage means 22 and 24 for indicating the amount of waste fluids that have been accumulated in the several sets or pairs of collection chambers or containers. The housing portion 18 (or 20) also has fittings 26 and 27 which are used when either suction or gravity 7 ~ 4 5 drain is to be used. These fittings are coupled to fittings 28 and 29 on the ends of associated conduits 30 and 32, the opposite ends 34 and 36 of which are positioned near to where the waste materials are to be aspirated or drained for accumulation. If the inlet end 34 of the conduit 30 is positioned near to a location where body fluids are accummulating the fluids will enter or be aspirated through the conduit 30, through-the coupled fittings 26 and 28 and into collection means located inside of the lower container portion 18. The conduits 30 and 32 are usually made of a disposal material so that once used and contaminated they can be thrown away or otherwise disposed of.
The conduits 30 and 32 may have ends 28 and 29 which snap or slide onto and couple to the suction fittings 26 and 27. Also, if the unit 10 is used in an operating room equipped with one or more suction connections or fittings these can be connected by flexible tubes or the like to the inlets fittings 14 and 16 on the unit 10.
E~cept for possibly having suction connections to the inlet fittings 14 and 16, the collection unit 10 does not require any other connections such as electrical power connections and the like when being used to collect waste.
The collection unit 10 is shown on casters or wheel assemblies 38 which make it portable and enable it to be easily moved about including into a patient room, an operating room or to and from a location including to and from a location where it is to be serviced and resupplied or recharged with disinfectant. To facilitate its movement the unit 10 is also provided with suitable handles such as handles 40 and 42 which are shown attached to its front and sides. The device also has control levers 44, one of which is associated with each inlet fitting 14 and 16 and is movable between two extremes labeled ON and OFF. The settings of ~5784 5 the lever 44 for each inlet controls the amount of opening provided to the suction source or to atmosphere in the case of gravity feed and hence the strength of the suction or drain that is used. The lever 44 will have only Uon" or "off~ positions when used with a gravity feed system.
Mounted on the front wall of the lower housing portion 12 is a movable cover panel 46 which ~as on it the legend "Lift To Drain", The panel 46 can be raised to expose a drain fitting and an electrical receptacle, both of which can be connected to means on the service unit which will be described later. A sensing mechanism or interlock may also be provided which will not allow operation of the servicing unit until both the drain and the electrical connector have been properly connected.
FIGURE 2 shows a pair of closed tubular containers 50 and 52 which are operated as a pair and are able to service one suction inlet conduit such as the suction conduits 30 or 32 or any desired number of gravity feed inlets conduits. The containers ~0 and 52 are connected by various conduits or tubes to operate in a particular manner and the construction and operation of the conta;ners is important to the present invention. The container 50 includes a vertically oriented tubular portion 54 which is substantially closed at its upper and lower ends as by closure members 56 and 58. In like manner the container ~2 has a vertically oriented tubular portion 60 closed at its upper end by closure member 62 and at its lower end by closure member 64. The lower end closures 58 and 64 are connected and communicate through a conduit 66 which provides relatively unlimited communication therebetween. The conduit 66 is also connected to one side of normally closed solenoid operated drain valve 68, the opposite side of which is connected to a discharge conduit 70 which extends to 5 7# ~ S
drain filter 71 located on the front wall of the housing 12 (FIGURE 7). An electric actuator with a two way ball valve can also be used instead of the valve 68.
The upper container closure members 56 and 62 are connected by other conduits all of which together are of more restricted flow capacity than the conduit 66. These conduits incll,-le vacuum equalizing conduits 72 and 74, which are substantially smaller in cross sectional flow capacity than the conduit 66. The purpose for the conduits 72 and 74 is to minimize or eliminate any vacuum differential that otherwise might exist between the insides of the containers 50 and 52 and yet enables the containers to receive body fluids and other waste materials when the system is operating and particularly when operating on suction. This pressure equalizing affect also maintains the liquid level in the containers 50 and 52 substantially the same at all times. If too large or too small a conduit size is used to connect the upper ends of the containers the system will not operate at its best. This will be explained more in detailed hereinafter.
The upper ends of the containers 50 and 52 also communicate through another conduit 76 which is connected to conduit 78 and is blocked by an electrically actuated three way ball valve 80 when the unit 10 is being used to collect waste materials. The valve 80 is energized and open when the system is being rinsed, flushed and cleaned and is receiving a water with a fresh supply of disinfectant as will be explained. The valve 80 has an inlet that is connected to the vacuu~ or gravity drain inlet 14 or 16 though conduit 82 when collecting waste and to a source of drain water and disinfectant when being flushed and cleaned.
The opposite side of the valve 80 is connected by tube 86, the manual control valve 44 and by tube 87 and fitting 101 to the inside of tube 96 which will be described in connection with ~ ~ ~ 7 8 ~ 5 ~IGURE 2, which connection applies vacuum to the inside container 50 and 52. Another conduit 88 is connected to the upper end of the closure members 62 of the container 52 and to the conduit 78 by means of T-connector 90.
Referring again to FIGURE 2 there is shown on the right the upper end portion of the tube 96 (shown enlarged and in cross section), and the upper end portion of rod 100 that extends therein and which will be described later. The lower end of the rod 100 is connected to float 98 so that as the liquid in the containers 50 and 52 rises the upper end of the rod 100 will move upwardly eventually moving against a member 103 located in the tube 96. As the rod 100 continues to move upwardly, being guided in its movement by cooperation between pin 105 and groove 107 ~ormed in one side of the member 103, the member 103 will move upwardly against the lower end of moveable valve member 109 which is engaged with valve seat 111. As soon as the valve member 109 moves out of engagement with the valve seat 111, it will establish communication through the tube 96 directly into the chambers 50 and 52. This communication will destroy the vacuum present in the chambers 50 and 52 and will prevent further body fluids from being aspirated into the container 50, and the collection process will stop. This feature provides overflow protection. If the device is operating on gravity drain instead of vacuum the operation will conti~ue as before. The upper end of the tube 96 may be partially closed by a cap 113 with an orifice 115 therein.
The containers 50 and 52 have an inlet ports connected by conduits 74 and 94 to a solenoid valve 117. The valve 117 is normally closed and electrically opens during connection to the servicing unit to allow air to enter ~he otherwise closed upper ends of the containers to facilitate passage of the flushinq and 5 7 8 ~ 5 rinsing fluid into the system. The fitting 14 (or 16) cooperatively connects as by connector 95 to one end of a suction line 97 when suction is used, otherwise if gravity feed is used, no connection to the fitting 14 (or 16) is required. The same fittings 14 and 16 are connected to the source of flushing and rinsing fluid when the unit 10 is connected to the service unit.
The container 50 also has-an inlet connection through conduit 99 to the waste inlet fitting 26 (or 27) so that waste materials can be aspirated or drained into the container 50 through the conduit 30 (or 32). It is important to recognize that as the waste materials enter and are collected in the container 50, any splashing or tubulence that occurs will take place in container 50, and not in the container 52 which has the suction connection or the connection to atmosphere. This means that no tubulence or splashing will take place in container 52 due to the collection of waste and hence there is no chance for waste material to enter and clog the suction or atmosphere inlet.
The container 52, which is the rear container, has vertical transparent tube 96 connected to the upper closure wall 62, and the container 52 contains the float 98 which is shown connected to the upwardly extending rod member 100 which extends upwardly into the tube 96. The tube 96 may have a graduated scale 102 imprinted or otherwise formed thereon or located on the adjacent housing portion 20. The position of the upper end of the rod 100 on the scale 102 indicates the total amount of waste materials or fluid that has accummulated in the containers S0 and 52. The fact that the float 98 is in the rear containers 52 instead of in the front container 50 means that it also is not effected by any of the turbulence created by the incoming fluids, and this means that there will be a steady smooth movement of the float 98 and of the rod 100 connected \
~ ~ ~ 78 4 5 l~-thereto.
FIGURES 3 and 4 show many of the same connections described above including also showing electrical connections to the solenoids 68 and 117, all of which are connected to and through an electric receptacle 104 located on the front of the housing 12.
The receptacle 104 is only used when the unit 10 is connected to the service unit as will be explained.
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view showing more of the details of the construction of the containers 50 and 52 including also showing the containers filled to a predetermined level 106 with a li~uid disinfectant 108. Each time the unit 10 is serviced a supply of the disinfectant 108 is placed in the containers 50 and 52 fr~m the service unit so that the unit 10 is again ready to collect waste materials. This means that disinfectant is present in the containers 50 and 52 at all times including when the body fluids are being collected from a patient and until they are flushed out and replaced. The disinfectant is normally supplied with the flushing water making the servicing that much simpler.
Depending on how fast the body fluids being collected enter the container 50 will determine to some extent how they enter and fall into the disinfectant. Regardless of how they enter, however, they will fall into the disinfectant which will kill bacteria or other infectious materials that may be present making the fluids, as collected, safe to handle and/or come in contact with. This is very important to the present invention because it means that simultaneously with the collection of the waste fluids from the patient they are disinfected and become harmless and safe to come in contact with This also means that even if the unit 10 should overturn or otherwise be damaged or the conten~s spilled the contents will be decontaminated and will not be a danger to 7 ~ ~ 5 /~
anyone. The device is also provided with a check valve 110 located in the inlet conduit 99 (FIGURE 2) that serves as an anti spill feature for the inlet conduit 99.
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the service unit 120 used for rinsing, flushing, cleaning and supplying the disinfectant 108 to the containers 50 and ~2. The service unit 120 which can be located at any convenient location has means for making both fluid and electrical connections to the unit 10. The unit 120 also has a connection to a source electric energy, to a source of rinsing fluid such as to a source of hot or cold water, and to a drain line such as to sewer system. The assembly 120 flushes hot and cold water or a mixture thereof through various conduits and into the containers 50 and 52 in the unit 10 to flush out the containers and the conduits associated therewith and to dispose of the waste materials contained therein. The unit 120 also supplies the containers 50 and 52 with a fresh supply of disinfectant which is supplied up to a predetermined level. Since the unit 120 is normally maintained in a fixed position, and the collection units 10, which are portable, brought to it for connection, the~relative elevations of certain parts of the units 10 and 120 when connected is important in order for the service unit 120 to be able to supply disinfectant to the predetermined level. This is done automatically at the conclusion of the rinse and flush cycles.
Servicing is preferrably fully automatic and requires only a short time to complete. Timer control means or a microprocessor are used to control the rinsing, flushing and supplying of disinfectant.~
The service unit 120 has a front panel 122 where a plurality of connection means are made including a connection to a sourCe of electrical energy, an electrical connection to the unit 10, a connection to a source of rinsing and flushing fluid such as hot '\
7 8 6~ 5 and cold water and an outlet drain connection. The front panel 122 of the service unit 120 also includes a system ~ON~ light 124 which indicates when the system is turned on, a start button 126 which is pressed to cause the system to operate when properly connected to the unit 10, and conduits 128, 130, 132 and 134 which are fle~ible conduits connected to respective ones of patient inlets or fittings 26 and 27 and 14 and 16 on the-unit 10. The front panel 122 also has a power cable 136 extending therefrom with a male receptacle 138 for cooperating engagement with the female receptacle 104 on the unit 10. Near the bottom of the unit 120 is another fitting 142 which is connected by conduit 144 and fitting 146 to the drain receptacle 71 on the portable unit 10. Near the top center of the panel 122 is a visual indicator 148 behind which is located a transparent container 150 of disinfectant (FIGURE 6).
FIGURE 6 shows more of the details of the construction of the fluid and other connectins in the servicing unit 120 and should be considered together with FIGURES 3 and 4 to better understand how the connections are made between the servicing unit 120 and the collection unit 10.
The servicing unit 120 includes hot and cold water inlet conduits 152 and 154 which are controlled by respective solenoid valves 156 and 158 shown schematically. The outlet side of the hot water valve 156 is connected to conduit 160 and the outlet side of the cold water valve 158 is connected by conduit 162 to wter pump 164. The hot water conduit 160 is a straight through flow conduit that has its outlet end connected to directly supply hot water to the unit 10 through flexible conduits 128 and 130 (FIGURES 6 and 7). The outlet side of the cold water pump 164 is connected through conduit 166 to feed cold water through flexible conduits 132 and 134 to and through the fitting 14 and 16 and through the J ~ 7 ~ ~ ~
.~ , conduit 82 into the containers 50 and 52. Both of the conduits 160 and 166 also have disinfectant inlet connections which are connected through conduits 168 and 170, respectively, which in turn supply predetermined amounts of disinfectant thereto throu~h an adjustable injector 202 from the disinfectant container 150 located in the position shown. Whenever the servicing unit 120 is operating and flushing liquid t-hrough the unit 10, the solenoid valve 172 will be energized to redirect some flushing liquid through conduit 168, and injector 202 to permit some disinfectant to flow from the source container 150 through the conduits 201 and 170 into the water conduits 160 and 166. An appropriate amount of disinfectant will be permitted to enter each of the water conduits, and this amount is determined by the concentration required to disinfect the waste. A suitable disinfectant for this purpose, as indicated above, is sodium hypochloride although other disinfectants can also be used as required.
As e~plained above, when the patient unit 10 is operating to aspirate or drain body fluid waste into the containers 50 and 52 there is no need for any electrical connections to the unit 10.
This is important because it eliminates the need for electrical connections at the point of use such as in a patient care room or in an operating room ana it adds to the safety and convenience of the device making it usable almost anywhere. It also means that the various valves used in the unit 10 will have either normally open or normally closed conditions and will remain in those conditions until the unit 10 is connected to the flushing and draining unit 120. When this takes place electrical connection 136 between the units 10 and 120 is established so that when the unit 10 is to be flushed and cleaned by pressing on the start switch 126, the device will go through an automatic cycling process under A~' - " '' 7 8 ~ 5 control of a timer mechanism or a microprocessor. Pressing the switch 126 will cause the solenoid valves 68, 80 and 117 in the unit 10 to be energized and to change from their normal positions to their energized or transferred positions which are the positions necessary to enable circulation of the decontaminated flushing and rinsing water through the system for cleaning, rinsing and flushing the unit 10, and thereafter for-establishing the desired amount of decontaminant that will remain in the containers 50 and 52. By introducing the decontaminant into the flushing water it enables the unit to be rinsed and flushed with minimum water and in minimum time and at the conclusion thereof to establish the desired level of decontaminant which is already in the rinse water.
In FIGURE 6 is was shown that the reservoir 150 for the decontaminate has the connections 168 and 170 to the hot and cold water conduits 160 and 166 and these conduits are connected to the unit 10 at the upper ends thereof through conduits including conduit 82 and through normally closed solenoid valve 80 which is now open, and through the conduits 78 and 88 where their outputs are fed into the upper ends of the containers 50 and 52 through spray nozzles or the like as well as through the conduit 99. Most of the incoming water used for flushing and rinsing will enter the containers S0 and 52 through spray nozzles located inside the containers so that there will be a thorough washing and flushing of each of the containers. As the rinse water feeds into and accumulates in the containers 50 and 52 it will drain out the bottom through the conduit 66 and through the normally closed drain valve 68 into conduit 70. From there the rinse water will flow through the conduit 144 (FIGURE 7) into conduit 180 which is part of the drainage system of the unit 120.
The drainage system includes an inverted trap assembly 181 7 ~ ~ 5 made up of connected conduits 182, 184 and 186 connected as shown.
The output side of the trap assembly 181 is fed through a conduit 188 to and through drain pump 190 which has its outlet 192 connected to a waste disposal system or sewage line (not shown).
The trap assembly 181 also includes a normally open solenoid valve 194 which is positioned between the communicating conduits 18~ and 186. The drain valve 194 is a normally open valve which closes during a flushing operation to cause the flushing water to flow through the conduit 182 at the conclusion of the rinsing cycle so that there will be flushing water with disinfectant standing in the conduits 182 and 180. This water will continue in this condition after the rinse cycle is completed and will establish the same level for the liquid in the containers S0 and 52. This can be seen in FIGURE 7 which shows the upper reach of the conduit 182 at a desired level for the decontaminate in relation to the containers 50 and 52.
Once the rinsing and decontamination cycles have been completed, the solenoid valve 68 (FIGURES 6 and 7) will be deenergized and return to its normally closed condition. The water remaining in the conduits 70, 144, 180, 182, 186 and 188 will then be cut off from the water in the containers 50 and 52 and the subsquent energizing of the valve 194 will enable the remaining liquid in these conduits to drain out to the sewer line. The opening of the valve 194 will enable the material contained in the trap assembly including the associated conduits back to the valve 68 to completely drain through the pump 190 and this is desirable since it is preferred not to have any e~cess water or drainage fluid in the system. This is made possible by the opening of another valve 196 which when open operates through conduit 198 connected to the trap conduit 182 to expose the trap assembly to atmospheric conditions. Once this is done the units 10 and 120 can be separated from each other, and the unit 10 is now ready to be used in another patient drainage or suction procedure. By the same token the assembly 120 can now be connected up to another unit 10 for cleaning, draining and supplying a fresh supply of decontaminant thereto. It is contemplated to have the operator (or the factory during manufacture)~adjust the duration of the wash, rinse, drain and refill cycles as desired.
It is preferred to make all of the conduit and fitting connections have smooth inner surface as by tapering the connectors. This is done to minimize or eliminate places where waste or rinse water can be trapped. The parts should also be made of materials that are not affected by bacteria action.
~ IGURE 8 is a simplified circuit diagram showing the electrical connections for the various devices and system included in the units 10 and 120. The electrical system is shown including a relay assembly (or a microprocessor) 200 which has connections to the various solenoid valves and relays that have been indentified above. This includes the solenoid valves 68, 80 and 117 located in the unit 10 and which are connected to the electric energy source only when the units 10 and 120 are connected together by the electrical connection lead 136 and 138 recepticle as described.
The solenoid valves and other electrical devices in the unit 120 are also in the circuit.
Thus there has been shown and described novel means for safely accumulating waste materials such as body f luids and the like from a patient either by gravity drain or suction, and to the means for rinsing, flushing, decontaminating and resupplying decontaminant to the waste collection means all of which fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It will be . ~ d apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses in applications for the subject device are possible, and all such changes, modifications, variations, uses and other applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
MEDICAL WASTE HANDLING SYSTEM
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to waste handling systems and particularly to a waste handling system for use in health care facilities such as in operating rooms, patient care rooms, emergency care units and in field care facilities and other places where a person eliminating body waste and needing care may be located. The system includes a collection unit that can use a vacuum or suction source or can be operated using gravity drain to aspirate or otherwise carry away the body waste. The collection unit is preferrably portable and is provided with a quantity of a disinfectant that disinfects the waste materials as they are collected. The present invention also includes a servicing unit or module, usually not portable, for servicing and supplying the collection unit with disinfectant. One service unit can service and supply a plurality of the collection units, and the service unit can be located at a convenient place usually some distance from where the waste materials are collected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are in existance various means for collecting and handling waste materials including body fluids that are aspirated during surgical operation or accumulated for some other reason where a patient is located. Waste materials and body fluids, that can be collected using the subject means includes blood, urine, mucous and other body discharges. Known waste collection devices and systems include various type of containers into which the collected waste materials are accumulated during surgery and otherwise and from which they are dispensed or poured and sometimes disinfected at a later time. Such devices are usually removed from the place where the collection is made and while the waste '_ materials are still contaminated, and if decontamination is to take place before waste disposal, they are decontaminated or disinfected at some location remote from where they are collected and before discharge into a larger waste receptacle or into a waste disposal system or sewer. The known devices generally do not have any means for effectively separately accumulating waste materials through two or more different suction lines when suction is used, they can not be operated as gravity feed accumulators, they require electrical means and connections for their collection operations, they require the handling and disposing of the accumulated waste materials often before the waste material are disinfected and therefore present a danger to the handlers, they can be spilled while still contaminated, and most known systems require filters and other devices which must be removed and replaced from time to time and which may adversely effect their operation. The moving about and otherwise handling and transporting the waste materials before they are decontaminated presents an unacceptable risk of invention to all personnel that are responsible for handling and disposing of their contents.
Typical of known devices are the devices disclosed in Parker Patent Nos. 4,863,446 and 4,957,491.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a means is provided for collecting, disinfecting, and disposing of body waste materials accumulated from a patient. A means forms first and second collection chambers each having an upper end and a lower end. The upper and lower ends, respectively, being at substantially the same elevations. A
first conduit means connects the lower ends of the collection chambers for communication therebetween. A second conduit means connects the upper ends of the collection chambers. The second conduit means has a substantially smaller cross-sectional flow capacity than the first conduit means. The first collection chamber has an inlet and the second collection chamber is connected with an outlet port. An inlet conduit has a first end for connection to the inlet port and an opposite end for exposing two waste materials to be collected.
~ ~ 3 ~ n 5 ~8 4 5 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a medical waste collection system is provided. A
pair of chambers each have a closed side wall and closed upper and lower end walls. First and second conduit means are connected between the upper end walls and the lower end walls, respectively, establishing communication between the pair of chambers. One of the chambers has an inlet. An open-ended drainage conduit has one end connected to the inlet and an opposite open end for exposing two body fluids to be collected. Another conduit has one end communicating with a predetermined environment and an opposite end communicating with the other chamber such that the predetermined embodiment is presented to both chambers.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for decontaminating body fluids as they are collected from a patient. A pair of adjacent containers each have closed upper and lower ends, respectively, arranged at substantially the same elevations.
An inlet to one of the containers is connected to one end of an inlet conduit, the opposite end of which is positioned to have body fluids enter therein. An outlet is connected to the other of the containers for connection to an environment of predetermined pressure. A drain conduit means is disposed in communication with the lower ends of the pair of adjacent containers. A means supports the pair of containers in an upstanding position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for cleaning, rinsing, and flushing a container containing body waste materials is provided. The container has upper and lower ends, a drain conduit connected to the lower end and an inlet conduit connected at a predetermined position above the drain conduit. A first conduit means has one end for connecting the inlet conduit to the container and an opposite end for connection to a source of cleaning, rinsing, and flushing fluid. A supply of disinfectant includes a means for selectively metering the disinfectant from the supply into the cleaning, rinsing, and flushing fluid. A drain system conduit is connected to the container, the drainage system 7 8 4 ~ ~
conduit includes a means for maintaining a fluid level in the container below a predetermined fluid level.
One advantage of the present invention is that it enables fluid waste materials to be accumulated, handled, and disposed of safely.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it enables potentially infectious body wastes to be collected, handled, and disposed of without the waste fluids coming in contact with technicians or medical personnel.
Another advantage resides in the disinfection of such potentially infectious waste fluids.
Another advantage of the present invention resides in its simplicity and efficiency in rinsing, cleaning, flushing, and recharging operations.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after considering the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THB DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a unit for use in collecting, disinfecting, handling, and disposing of waste materials and particular fluid waste materials such as body waste material; said unit being constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one collection portion of the means of FIGURE 1 showing the connections therefor;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the collection portion shown in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a servicing unit for ~k ~' rinsing, cleaning, flushing and supplying disinfectant to the unit shown in FIGURES 1-4;
FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram showing the components and connections of the servicing unit shown in FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view showing the collection unit of FIGURE 1 connected to the servicing unit of ~IGURE 5 for rinsing, cleaning, flushing and-supplying disinfectant thereto; and FIGURE 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of the circuits for the two units shown in FIGURE 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 refers to a waste collection unit for use in receiving, disinfecting, storing and disposing of waste materials such as body fluids. The unit 10 is shown having a housing 12 for accommodating two sets of collection means or containers each of which is shown having a suction connector means or fitting 14 and 16. The same connection can also be used when the device is used as a gravity feed collection device. If gravity feed is used, it may be possible to use fewer container pairs or pairs of waste collection compartments or chambers. The unit 10 can also be made in models for use in the emergency rooms and for use in intensive care units, which models may only have one set of treatment chamber or containers. The housing 12 has a lower portion 18 inside of which are located the collection means including the collecting container pairs and the fittings, conduits and connection therefor, and it has an upstanding housing portion 20 in which are mounted gage means 22 and 24 for indicating the amount of waste fluids that have been accumulated in the several sets or pairs of collection chambers or containers. The housing portion 18 (or 20) also has fittings 26 and 27 which are used when either suction or gravity 7 ~ 4 5 drain is to be used. These fittings are coupled to fittings 28 and 29 on the ends of associated conduits 30 and 32, the opposite ends 34 and 36 of which are positioned near to where the waste materials are to be aspirated or drained for accumulation. If the inlet end 34 of the conduit 30 is positioned near to a location where body fluids are accummulating the fluids will enter or be aspirated through the conduit 30, through-the coupled fittings 26 and 28 and into collection means located inside of the lower container portion 18. The conduits 30 and 32 are usually made of a disposal material so that once used and contaminated they can be thrown away or otherwise disposed of.
The conduits 30 and 32 may have ends 28 and 29 which snap or slide onto and couple to the suction fittings 26 and 27. Also, if the unit 10 is used in an operating room equipped with one or more suction connections or fittings these can be connected by flexible tubes or the like to the inlets fittings 14 and 16 on the unit 10.
E~cept for possibly having suction connections to the inlet fittings 14 and 16, the collection unit 10 does not require any other connections such as electrical power connections and the like when being used to collect waste.
The collection unit 10 is shown on casters or wheel assemblies 38 which make it portable and enable it to be easily moved about including into a patient room, an operating room or to and from a location including to and from a location where it is to be serviced and resupplied or recharged with disinfectant. To facilitate its movement the unit 10 is also provided with suitable handles such as handles 40 and 42 which are shown attached to its front and sides. The device also has control levers 44, one of which is associated with each inlet fitting 14 and 16 and is movable between two extremes labeled ON and OFF. The settings of ~5784 5 the lever 44 for each inlet controls the amount of opening provided to the suction source or to atmosphere in the case of gravity feed and hence the strength of the suction or drain that is used. The lever 44 will have only Uon" or "off~ positions when used with a gravity feed system.
Mounted on the front wall of the lower housing portion 12 is a movable cover panel 46 which ~as on it the legend "Lift To Drain", The panel 46 can be raised to expose a drain fitting and an electrical receptacle, both of which can be connected to means on the service unit which will be described later. A sensing mechanism or interlock may also be provided which will not allow operation of the servicing unit until both the drain and the electrical connector have been properly connected.
FIGURE 2 shows a pair of closed tubular containers 50 and 52 which are operated as a pair and are able to service one suction inlet conduit such as the suction conduits 30 or 32 or any desired number of gravity feed inlets conduits. The containers ~0 and 52 are connected by various conduits or tubes to operate in a particular manner and the construction and operation of the conta;ners is important to the present invention. The container 50 includes a vertically oriented tubular portion 54 which is substantially closed at its upper and lower ends as by closure members 56 and 58. In like manner the container ~2 has a vertically oriented tubular portion 60 closed at its upper end by closure member 62 and at its lower end by closure member 64. The lower end closures 58 and 64 are connected and communicate through a conduit 66 which provides relatively unlimited communication therebetween. The conduit 66 is also connected to one side of normally closed solenoid operated drain valve 68, the opposite side of which is connected to a discharge conduit 70 which extends to 5 7# ~ S
drain filter 71 located on the front wall of the housing 12 (FIGURE 7). An electric actuator with a two way ball valve can also be used instead of the valve 68.
The upper container closure members 56 and 62 are connected by other conduits all of which together are of more restricted flow capacity than the conduit 66. These conduits incll,-le vacuum equalizing conduits 72 and 74, which are substantially smaller in cross sectional flow capacity than the conduit 66. The purpose for the conduits 72 and 74 is to minimize or eliminate any vacuum differential that otherwise might exist between the insides of the containers 50 and 52 and yet enables the containers to receive body fluids and other waste materials when the system is operating and particularly when operating on suction. This pressure equalizing affect also maintains the liquid level in the containers 50 and 52 substantially the same at all times. If too large or too small a conduit size is used to connect the upper ends of the containers the system will not operate at its best. This will be explained more in detailed hereinafter.
The upper ends of the containers 50 and 52 also communicate through another conduit 76 which is connected to conduit 78 and is blocked by an electrically actuated three way ball valve 80 when the unit 10 is being used to collect waste materials. The valve 80 is energized and open when the system is being rinsed, flushed and cleaned and is receiving a water with a fresh supply of disinfectant as will be explained. The valve 80 has an inlet that is connected to the vacuu~ or gravity drain inlet 14 or 16 though conduit 82 when collecting waste and to a source of drain water and disinfectant when being flushed and cleaned.
The opposite side of the valve 80 is connected by tube 86, the manual control valve 44 and by tube 87 and fitting 101 to the inside of tube 96 which will be described in connection with ~ ~ ~ 7 8 ~ 5 ~IGURE 2, which connection applies vacuum to the inside container 50 and 52. Another conduit 88 is connected to the upper end of the closure members 62 of the container 52 and to the conduit 78 by means of T-connector 90.
Referring again to FIGURE 2 there is shown on the right the upper end portion of the tube 96 (shown enlarged and in cross section), and the upper end portion of rod 100 that extends therein and which will be described later. The lower end of the rod 100 is connected to float 98 so that as the liquid in the containers 50 and 52 rises the upper end of the rod 100 will move upwardly eventually moving against a member 103 located in the tube 96. As the rod 100 continues to move upwardly, being guided in its movement by cooperation between pin 105 and groove 107 ~ormed in one side of the member 103, the member 103 will move upwardly against the lower end of moveable valve member 109 which is engaged with valve seat 111. As soon as the valve member 109 moves out of engagement with the valve seat 111, it will establish communication through the tube 96 directly into the chambers 50 and 52. This communication will destroy the vacuum present in the chambers 50 and 52 and will prevent further body fluids from being aspirated into the container 50, and the collection process will stop. This feature provides overflow protection. If the device is operating on gravity drain instead of vacuum the operation will conti~ue as before. The upper end of the tube 96 may be partially closed by a cap 113 with an orifice 115 therein.
The containers 50 and 52 have an inlet ports connected by conduits 74 and 94 to a solenoid valve 117. The valve 117 is normally closed and electrically opens during connection to the servicing unit to allow air to enter ~he otherwise closed upper ends of the containers to facilitate passage of the flushinq and 5 7 8 ~ 5 rinsing fluid into the system. The fitting 14 (or 16) cooperatively connects as by connector 95 to one end of a suction line 97 when suction is used, otherwise if gravity feed is used, no connection to the fitting 14 (or 16) is required. The same fittings 14 and 16 are connected to the source of flushing and rinsing fluid when the unit 10 is connected to the service unit.
The container 50 also has-an inlet connection through conduit 99 to the waste inlet fitting 26 (or 27) so that waste materials can be aspirated or drained into the container 50 through the conduit 30 (or 32). It is important to recognize that as the waste materials enter and are collected in the container 50, any splashing or tubulence that occurs will take place in container 50, and not in the container 52 which has the suction connection or the connection to atmosphere. This means that no tubulence or splashing will take place in container 52 due to the collection of waste and hence there is no chance for waste material to enter and clog the suction or atmosphere inlet.
The container 52, which is the rear container, has vertical transparent tube 96 connected to the upper closure wall 62, and the container 52 contains the float 98 which is shown connected to the upwardly extending rod member 100 which extends upwardly into the tube 96. The tube 96 may have a graduated scale 102 imprinted or otherwise formed thereon or located on the adjacent housing portion 20. The position of the upper end of the rod 100 on the scale 102 indicates the total amount of waste materials or fluid that has accummulated in the containers S0 and 52. The fact that the float 98 is in the rear containers 52 instead of in the front container 50 means that it also is not effected by any of the turbulence created by the incoming fluids, and this means that there will be a steady smooth movement of the float 98 and of the rod 100 connected \
~ ~ ~ 78 4 5 l~-thereto.
FIGURES 3 and 4 show many of the same connections described above including also showing electrical connections to the solenoids 68 and 117, all of which are connected to and through an electric receptacle 104 located on the front of the housing 12.
The receptacle 104 is only used when the unit 10 is connected to the service unit as will be explained.
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view showing more of the details of the construction of the containers 50 and 52 including also showing the containers filled to a predetermined level 106 with a li~uid disinfectant 108. Each time the unit 10 is serviced a supply of the disinfectant 108 is placed in the containers 50 and 52 fr~m the service unit so that the unit 10 is again ready to collect waste materials. This means that disinfectant is present in the containers 50 and 52 at all times including when the body fluids are being collected from a patient and until they are flushed out and replaced. The disinfectant is normally supplied with the flushing water making the servicing that much simpler.
Depending on how fast the body fluids being collected enter the container 50 will determine to some extent how they enter and fall into the disinfectant. Regardless of how they enter, however, they will fall into the disinfectant which will kill bacteria or other infectious materials that may be present making the fluids, as collected, safe to handle and/or come in contact with. This is very important to the present invention because it means that simultaneously with the collection of the waste fluids from the patient they are disinfected and become harmless and safe to come in contact with This also means that even if the unit 10 should overturn or otherwise be damaged or the conten~s spilled the contents will be decontaminated and will not be a danger to 7 ~ ~ 5 /~
anyone. The device is also provided with a check valve 110 located in the inlet conduit 99 (FIGURE 2) that serves as an anti spill feature for the inlet conduit 99.
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the service unit 120 used for rinsing, flushing, cleaning and supplying the disinfectant 108 to the containers 50 and ~2. The service unit 120 which can be located at any convenient location has means for making both fluid and electrical connections to the unit 10. The unit 120 also has a connection to a source electric energy, to a source of rinsing fluid such as to a source of hot or cold water, and to a drain line such as to sewer system. The assembly 120 flushes hot and cold water or a mixture thereof through various conduits and into the containers 50 and 52 in the unit 10 to flush out the containers and the conduits associated therewith and to dispose of the waste materials contained therein. The unit 120 also supplies the containers 50 and 52 with a fresh supply of disinfectant which is supplied up to a predetermined level. Since the unit 120 is normally maintained in a fixed position, and the collection units 10, which are portable, brought to it for connection, the~relative elevations of certain parts of the units 10 and 120 when connected is important in order for the service unit 120 to be able to supply disinfectant to the predetermined level. This is done automatically at the conclusion of the rinse and flush cycles.
Servicing is preferrably fully automatic and requires only a short time to complete. Timer control means or a microprocessor are used to control the rinsing, flushing and supplying of disinfectant.~
The service unit 120 has a front panel 122 where a plurality of connection means are made including a connection to a sourCe of electrical energy, an electrical connection to the unit 10, a connection to a source of rinsing and flushing fluid such as hot '\
7 8 6~ 5 and cold water and an outlet drain connection. The front panel 122 of the service unit 120 also includes a system ~ON~ light 124 which indicates when the system is turned on, a start button 126 which is pressed to cause the system to operate when properly connected to the unit 10, and conduits 128, 130, 132 and 134 which are fle~ible conduits connected to respective ones of patient inlets or fittings 26 and 27 and 14 and 16 on the-unit 10. The front panel 122 also has a power cable 136 extending therefrom with a male receptacle 138 for cooperating engagement with the female receptacle 104 on the unit 10. Near the bottom of the unit 120 is another fitting 142 which is connected by conduit 144 and fitting 146 to the drain receptacle 71 on the portable unit 10. Near the top center of the panel 122 is a visual indicator 148 behind which is located a transparent container 150 of disinfectant (FIGURE 6).
FIGURE 6 shows more of the details of the construction of the fluid and other connectins in the servicing unit 120 and should be considered together with FIGURES 3 and 4 to better understand how the connections are made between the servicing unit 120 and the collection unit 10.
The servicing unit 120 includes hot and cold water inlet conduits 152 and 154 which are controlled by respective solenoid valves 156 and 158 shown schematically. The outlet side of the hot water valve 156 is connected to conduit 160 and the outlet side of the cold water valve 158 is connected by conduit 162 to wter pump 164. The hot water conduit 160 is a straight through flow conduit that has its outlet end connected to directly supply hot water to the unit 10 through flexible conduits 128 and 130 (FIGURES 6 and 7). The outlet side of the cold water pump 164 is connected through conduit 166 to feed cold water through flexible conduits 132 and 134 to and through the fitting 14 and 16 and through the J ~ 7 ~ ~ ~
.~ , conduit 82 into the containers 50 and 52. Both of the conduits 160 and 166 also have disinfectant inlet connections which are connected through conduits 168 and 170, respectively, which in turn supply predetermined amounts of disinfectant thereto throu~h an adjustable injector 202 from the disinfectant container 150 located in the position shown. Whenever the servicing unit 120 is operating and flushing liquid t-hrough the unit 10, the solenoid valve 172 will be energized to redirect some flushing liquid through conduit 168, and injector 202 to permit some disinfectant to flow from the source container 150 through the conduits 201 and 170 into the water conduits 160 and 166. An appropriate amount of disinfectant will be permitted to enter each of the water conduits, and this amount is determined by the concentration required to disinfect the waste. A suitable disinfectant for this purpose, as indicated above, is sodium hypochloride although other disinfectants can also be used as required.
As e~plained above, when the patient unit 10 is operating to aspirate or drain body fluid waste into the containers 50 and 52 there is no need for any electrical connections to the unit 10.
This is important because it eliminates the need for electrical connections at the point of use such as in a patient care room or in an operating room ana it adds to the safety and convenience of the device making it usable almost anywhere. It also means that the various valves used in the unit 10 will have either normally open or normally closed conditions and will remain in those conditions until the unit 10 is connected to the flushing and draining unit 120. When this takes place electrical connection 136 between the units 10 and 120 is established so that when the unit 10 is to be flushed and cleaned by pressing on the start switch 126, the device will go through an automatic cycling process under A~' - " '' 7 8 ~ 5 control of a timer mechanism or a microprocessor. Pressing the switch 126 will cause the solenoid valves 68, 80 and 117 in the unit 10 to be energized and to change from their normal positions to their energized or transferred positions which are the positions necessary to enable circulation of the decontaminated flushing and rinsing water through the system for cleaning, rinsing and flushing the unit 10, and thereafter for-establishing the desired amount of decontaminant that will remain in the containers 50 and 52. By introducing the decontaminant into the flushing water it enables the unit to be rinsed and flushed with minimum water and in minimum time and at the conclusion thereof to establish the desired level of decontaminant which is already in the rinse water.
In FIGURE 6 is was shown that the reservoir 150 for the decontaminate has the connections 168 and 170 to the hot and cold water conduits 160 and 166 and these conduits are connected to the unit 10 at the upper ends thereof through conduits including conduit 82 and through normally closed solenoid valve 80 which is now open, and through the conduits 78 and 88 where their outputs are fed into the upper ends of the containers 50 and 52 through spray nozzles or the like as well as through the conduit 99. Most of the incoming water used for flushing and rinsing will enter the containers S0 and 52 through spray nozzles located inside the containers so that there will be a thorough washing and flushing of each of the containers. As the rinse water feeds into and accumulates in the containers 50 and 52 it will drain out the bottom through the conduit 66 and through the normally closed drain valve 68 into conduit 70. From there the rinse water will flow through the conduit 144 (FIGURE 7) into conduit 180 which is part of the drainage system of the unit 120.
The drainage system includes an inverted trap assembly 181 7 ~ ~ 5 made up of connected conduits 182, 184 and 186 connected as shown.
The output side of the trap assembly 181 is fed through a conduit 188 to and through drain pump 190 which has its outlet 192 connected to a waste disposal system or sewage line (not shown).
The trap assembly 181 also includes a normally open solenoid valve 194 which is positioned between the communicating conduits 18~ and 186. The drain valve 194 is a normally open valve which closes during a flushing operation to cause the flushing water to flow through the conduit 182 at the conclusion of the rinsing cycle so that there will be flushing water with disinfectant standing in the conduits 182 and 180. This water will continue in this condition after the rinse cycle is completed and will establish the same level for the liquid in the containers S0 and 52. This can be seen in FIGURE 7 which shows the upper reach of the conduit 182 at a desired level for the decontaminate in relation to the containers 50 and 52.
Once the rinsing and decontamination cycles have been completed, the solenoid valve 68 (FIGURES 6 and 7) will be deenergized and return to its normally closed condition. The water remaining in the conduits 70, 144, 180, 182, 186 and 188 will then be cut off from the water in the containers 50 and 52 and the subsquent energizing of the valve 194 will enable the remaining liquid in these conduits to drain out to the sewer line. The opening of the valve 194 will enable the material contained in the trap assembly including the associated conduits back to the valve 68 to completely drain through the pump 190 and this is desirable since it is preferred not to have any e~cess water or drainage fluid in the system. This is made possible by the opening of another valve 196 which when open operates through conduit 198 connected to the trap conduit 182 to expose the trap assembly to atmospheric conditions. Once this is done the units 10 and 120 can be separated from each other, and the unit 10 is now ready to be used in another patient drainage or suction procedure. By the same token the assembly 120 can now be connected up to another unit 10 for cleaning, draining and supplying a fresh supply of decontaminant thereto. It is contemplated to have the operator (or the factory during manufacture)~adjust the duration of the wash, rinse, drain and refill cycles as desired.
It is preferred to make all of the conduit and fitting connections have smooth inner surface as by tapering the connectors. This is done to minimize or eliminate places where waste or rinse water can be trapped. The parts should also be made of materials that are not affected by bacteria action.
~ IGURE 8 is a simplified circuit diagram showing the electrical connections for the various devices and system included in the units 10 and 120. The electrical system is shown including a relay assembly (or a microprocessor) 200 which has connections to the various solenoid valves and relays that have been indentified above. This includes the solenoid valves 68, 80 and 117 located in the unit 10 and which are connected to the electric energy source only when the units 10 and 120 are connected together by the electrical connection lead 136 and 138 recepticle as described.
The solenoid valves and other electrical devices in the unit 120 are also in the circuit.
Thus there has been shown and described novel means for safely accumulating waste materials such as body f luids and the like from a patient either by gravity drain or suction, and to the means for rinsing, flushing, decontaminating and resupplying decontaminant to the waste collection means all of which fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It will be . ~ d apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses in applications for the subject device are possible, and all such changes, modifications, variations, uses and other applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
Claims (30)
1. Means for collecting, disinfecting and disposing of body waste materials accumulated from a patient comprising means forming first and second collection chambers each having an upper and a lower end, the upper and the lower ends respectively being at substantially the same elevations, first conduit means connecting the lower ends of the collection chambers for communication therebetween, second conduit means connecting the upper ends of the collection chambers, said second conduit means having a substantially smaller cross sectional flow capacity than the first conduit means, an inlet port to the first collection chamber, an outlet port connected to the second collection chamber, and an inlet conduit having a first end for connection to the inlet port and an opposite open end for exposing to waste materials to be collected.
2. The means of claim 1 wherein the means forming the first and second collection chambers are vertically oriented each including a side wall which is closed by upper and lower end walls.
3. The means of claim 1 including a support structure and an enclosure for supporting and housing the means forming collection chambers.
4. A medical waste collection system comprising:
a primary collection and waste treatment unit including a pair of chambers each having a closed side wall and closed upper and lower end walls, respective first and second conduit means connected between the upper end walls and the lower end walls of the chambers and communicating the pair of chambers thereat, an inlet connected to one of the chambers adjacent the upper chamber end wall, an open ended drainage conduit having one end connected with the inlet and an opposite open end for exposing to body fluids to be collected, and another conduit having one end communicating with a predetermined environment and an opposite end communicating with the other chambers such that the predetermined environment will be present in said pair of chambers.
a primary collection and waste treatment unit including a pair of chambers each having a closed side wall and closed upper and lower end walls, respective first and second conduit means connected between the upper end walls and the lower end walls of the chambers and communicating the pair of chambers thereat, an inlet connected to one of the chambers adjacent the upper chamber end wall, an open ended drainage conduit having one end connected with the inlet and an opposite open end for exposing to body fluids to be collected, and another conduit having one end communicating with a predetermined environment and an opposite end communicating with the other chambers such that the predetermined environment will be present in said pair of chambers.
5. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 wherein the predetemined environment is a suction source.
6. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 wherein the predetemined environment is the ambient atmosphere.
7. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including a supply of liquid disinfectant filling a predetemined portion of the pair of chambers and the second conduit means.
8. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including an assembly adapted to be connected to the primary collection and treatment unit for rinsing, flushing and cleaning the primary collection and waste treatment unit including means for supplying a predetermined quantity of disinfectant into the pair of chambers.
9. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including a flush connection inlet connected to communicate the upper portion of each of said pair of chambers with a source of flushing liquid, and separate normally closed solenoid operated valve means to control the flow of flushing fluid to each of said pair of chambers.
10. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including a drain conduit and associated valve means connected to the second conduit means.
11. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including a housing and support structure for enclosing and supporting the pair of chambers, and means attached to the support structure to make the structure mobile.
12. The medical waste collection system of claim 11 including gage means mounted on the housing and support structure, said gage means including a float positioned in one of said pair of chambers for floating on the fluid contained therein, rod means connected to the float and extending upwardly thereform and means for slideably receiving the rod means including means to indicate the vertical position thereof.
13. The medical waste collection system of claim 8 wherein the rinsing, flushing and cleaning assembly includes conduit means for connection at one end to a source of rinsing and flushing fluid and having a connection at the opposite end to the collection and treatment unit to supply rinsing and flushing fluid to the pair of chambers.
14. The medical waste collection system of claim 8 wherein said rinsing, flushing and cleaning assembly includes a source of fluid disinfectant, and conduit means for supplying disinfectant fluid from said source to the pair of chambers, said last named means including means to control the depth of the liquid disinfectant supplied to the pair of chambers.
15. The medical waste collection system of claim 8 including first solenoid valve means for controlling the supply of rinsing and flushing fluid from said rinsing, flushing and cleaning assembly to the pair of chambers, and second solenoid valve means for controlling the flow of fluid from the pair of chambers to the drain connection thereto.
16. The medical waste collection system of claim 15 including electrical connection means in said rinsing, flushing and cleaning assembly to enable energizing the solenoid valves,
17. The medical waste collection system of claim 16 including means for establishing an electrical connection between the primary collection and treatment unit and the rinsing, flushing and cleaning assembly.
18. The medical waste collection system of claim 4 including a second similar pair of adjacent chambers each having a side wall and closed upper and lower ends and respective first and second conduit means communicating the upper ends and the lower ends of the chambers, one of said chambers of said second pair having an inlet at an intermediate location between the upper and lower chamber ends and an open ended drainage conduit having one end connected the inlet and an opposite end for exposing to body fluids to be collected.
19. The medical waste collection system of claim 12 including pressure release valve associated with the means slideably receiving the rod means, said pressure release valve means being engageable by the rod means in a predetermined position thereof to release the pressure in the pair of chambers and terminate suction collection of body waste materials.
20. A device for decontaminting body fluids as they are collected from a patient comprising a pair of adjacent containers each having closed upper and lower ends arranged to be respectively at substantially the same elevations, an inlet to one of said containers for connection to one end of an inlet conduit the opposite end of which is positioned to have body fluids enter thereat, an outlet to the other of said containers for connection to an environment of predetermined pressure, drain conduit means communicating the lower ends of the pair of adjacent containers, and means for supporting the pair of containers in upstanding position.
21. The device of claim 20 including pressure equalizing conduit means communicating the upper ends of the pair of adjacent containers, said pressure equalizing conduit means having a more restricted flow capacity than the drain conduit means.
22. The device of claim 20 including an outlet drain conduit connected to the drain conduit means, and valve means for controlling communication through the outlet drain conduit.
23. The device of claim 20 including cleaning and rinsing conduits connected to the upper ends of the pair of adjacent containers for connecting the containers to a source of cleaning and rinsing fluid, and valve means for controlling communication through the cleaning and rinsing conduits between this source of cleaning and rinsing fluid and the insides of the pair of adjacent containers.
24. The device of claim 20 including a float positioned in the other of said containers and means associated with said float for indicating the level of the fluid therein.
25, The device of claim 20 including a housing for containing and supporting the pair of containers, said housing having an outlet fitting for connections to the outlet drain conduit.
26. The device of claim 20 wherein the environment of predetermined pressure is a vacuum source.
27. The device of claim 20 wherein the environment of predetermined pressure is atmospheric pressure.
28. The device of claim 25 including means for supporting the housing on wheels
29. The device of claim 20 including check valve means associated with the inlet to said one container to permit flow into but not out of said one container.
30. An apparatus for cleaning, rinsing and flushing a container containing body waste materials, the container having upper and lower ends, a drain conduit connected to the lower end and an inlet conduit at a predetermined position above the drain conduit, said apparatus comprising first conduit means having one end for connecting the inlet conduit to the container and an opposite end for connection to a source of cleaning, rinsing and flushing fluid, a supply of a disinfectant including means to meter disinfectant from the supply into the cleaning, rinsing and flushinq fluid, and a drainage system conduit connected to the container, the drainage system conduit including a means to maintain a fluid level within the container below a preselected fluid level.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/630,516 | 1990-12-20 | ||
| US07/630,516 US5242434A (en) | 1990-12-20 | 1990-12-20 | Medical waste handling system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2057845A1 CA2057845A1 (en) | 1992-06-21 |
| CA2057845C true CA2057845C (en) | 1999-04-20 |
Family
ID=24527495
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002057845A Expired - Fee Related CA2057845C (en) | 1990-12-20 | 1991-12-17 | Medical waste handling system |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5242434A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2057845C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4142089C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2670676B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2251433B (en) |
| HK (1) | HK186896A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1252231B (en) |
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-
1991
- 1991-12-17 CA CA002057845A patent/CA2057845C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-12-18 IT ITMI913388A patent/IT1252231B/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-12-19 DE DE4142089A patent/DE4142089C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-12-19 GB GB9126974A patent/GB2251433B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-12-20 FR FR9115858A patent/FR2670676B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-10-10 HK HK186896A patent/HK186896A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2670676B1 (en) | 1995-11-03 |
| DE4142089C2 (en) | 2000-05-31 |
| CA2057845A1 (en) | 1992-06-21 |
| GB2251433B (en) | 1994-11-30 |
| IT1252231B (en) | 1995-06-05 |
| HK186896A (en) | 1996-10-18 |
| GB2251433A (en) | 1992-07-08 |
| US5242434A (en) | 1993-09-07 |
| DE4142089A1 (en) | 1992-06-25 |
| ITMI913388A1 (en) | 1993-06-18 |
| FR2670676A1 (en) | 1992-06-26 |
| GB9126974D0 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
| ITMI913388A0 (en) | 1991-12-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |