Patent ID: 7617113
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: A61B,B07C,G01G,G06Q,G16H,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sorting a plurality of medical waste items using an electronic sorting system, the method comprising: providing a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container; providing a plurality of removable containers, wherein each of said removable containers comprises an opening and a machine-readable identification key; providing a movable lid associated with each of said removable containers, wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments, wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories, wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position and a closed position; and wherein at least a portion of one or more of said lids comprises a section that permits visualization of the fill level of the container associated with said lid; wherein the electronic sorting system is configured to send an alert signal when a container is full so that said full container can be replaced; reading, using a key reader, said machine readable identification key to indicate to the system the container type, wherein the container type defines a category of waste to be placed in the container; providing a scanner for receiving barcode information from a waste item; electronically assigning the scanned waste item to at least one waste category using a waste sorting algorithm based at least in part on the information obtained from the scanner and a database comprising waste item classification information; determining the appropriate container based on the waste category to which the scanned waste item is assigned and the container type, wherein the determining step is performed by the electronic sorting system; identifying the appropriate container to a user by automatically moving the lid associated with said appropriate container to the open position to permit disposal of said waste item; and automatically locking the movable lid in the closed position after receipt of the waste item.