Small-footprint systems, components, and methods for sterilizing medical waste

US10946422B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Peter A. Jude · Maple Lake, US
• Stephen E. Pellegrene · Plymouth, US
• Michael Hofer · Bregenz, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 16, 2021
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B09B2101/65
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Many hospitals and medical facilities have a need to safely dispose of their biomedical waste. Onsite processing, particularly with ozone, is often less expensive and safer than off site handling, but many facilities lack the room for conventional ozone equipment with appropriate capacity to meet their needs. Accordingly, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary system that includes, among other features, an shredder, an upwardly inclined auger chamber, and a waste receptacle. The shredder shreds unsterilized waste and feeds into the lower end of the inclined auger chamber. The chamber includes ozone injectors to treat waste as the auger conveys it upward toward an outlet that drops the sterilized waste into the waste receptacle. The incline of the chamber allows for a smaller system footprint with sufficient processing capacity to satisfy the needs of smaller hospitals and clinics.