Patent ID: 7487100
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: A61B,B07C,G06Q,G16H,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sorting waste items using a restricted access disposable container system for medical waste items, the method comprising: providing at least one medical waste sorting system, wherein said medical waste sorting system comprises a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container; providing a plurality of removable containers, wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments; wherein each of the plurality of removable containers is sized to have an internal volume of about 1 gallon to about 20 gallons; wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories; wherein at least one of the removable containers comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; wherein at least one of the container compartments comprises a radio frequency (RFID) reader; wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the RFID tag to determine a container position within the waste sorting system or the waste category of the container; providing a scanner configured to determine a barcode of a waste item; wherein the waste item is a regulated drug; providing a control system that compares information obtained from the barcode with waste item classification information; assigning the waste item to at least one waste category; identifying one of the removable containers based on the waste category; sorting said waste by automatically opening the identified removable container to move to the open position to permit disposal of said regulated drug; wherein the identified removable container is disposable; rendering the regulated drug inaccessible once said regulated drug has been disposed in the identified removable container; and locking said identified removable container in a closed position.