Patent ID: 6437211
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: A61L,B09B

Abstract:
A method for treating regulated medical waste comprising the steps of:(a) providing a highly basic solvent; (b) immersing said regulated medical waste into said highly basic solvent, wherein said regulated medical waste contains infectious agents comprising hydrolyzable material, wherein said infectious agents are capable of causing infection in humans or animals and are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, organisms, and proteinaceous material; and (c) heating said highly basic solvent and said immersed regulated medical waste to a temperature greater than 130Â° C. and under a pressure greater than 2.79 atmospheres and for a time sufficient to digest said hydrolyzable material, whereby a sterile solution comprising non-toxic biodegradable materials and containing sterile solid waste free of said infectious agents is produced.