Patent ID: 8595021
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: A61B,B07C,G06Q,G16H,G16Z,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying and categorizing waste, the method comprising: providing a handheld waste item identification device configured to provide waste disposal instructions to a user; wherein the handheld waste item identification device comprises a scanner and a user input device configured to receive information on medical waste items; wherein the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device is configured to detect a first parameter regarding a medical waste item, wherein the first parameter comprises a composition of the medical waste item; wherein the user input device of the handheld waste item identification device is configured to receive at least a second parameter regarding the medical waste item, the second parameter comprising at least one of whether the medical waste item is a sharps or whether the medical waste item is empty; providing a control system operatively coupled to the handheld waste item identification device; receiving waste item identification information regarding the first parameter about a medical waste item via the scanner of the handheld waste item identification device; receiving at least the second parameter about such medical waste item via the user input device; electronically assigning the scanned medical waste item to at least one waste category based at least in part on the first parameter and the second parameter; determining, via the control system, at least one container of a plurality of containers based on the at least one waste category to which the scanned waste item is assigned in a waste sorting system comprising a plurality of container compartments; and identifying an appropriate container compartment of the at least one container to a user by displaying information regarding the appropriate container compartment on one of a display device or a display of the handheld waste item identification device, wherein the control system is configured to allow a movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container to move to an open position, and wherein the control system is configured to lock the movable lid of at least one of the appropriate container compartment or the at least one container in a covered position when the control system determines that the at least one container is full.