Abstract:
A biological fluid disposal system having a water flow line, a biological fluid line in fluid communication with the water flow line, a disinfectant line in fluid communication with the water flow line and the biological fluid line, and a venturi connected to one of the lines for creating a suction force so as to draw a biological fluid and a disinfectant in mixed relationship through the water flow line. The venturi includes a source of water pressure connected to the water flow line such that the water flow across an opening of either the biological fluid line and disinfectant line creates the suction force. The disinfectant line is connected to the biological fluid line between the water flow line and source of biological fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for the disposal of waste biological fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to the disposal of blood by mixing the blood with a disinfectant prior to passing to a sewer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Over the years, hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been searching for a safe and convenient manner in which to handle and dispose of fluids aspirated from patients during surgical procedures. A major concern today is to reduce the hospital personnel&#39;s exposure to the fluids which may contain harmful and dangerous substances. 
     There are various means for collecting and handling waste materials, including bodily fluids that are aspirated during surgical operation or accumulated for some other reason where a patient is located. Waste materials and body fluids that can be collected include blood, urine, mucus and other bodily discharges. Known waste collection devices and systems include various types of containers into which the collected waste materials are accumulated during surgery and otherwise and from which they are dispensed or poured and sometimes disinfected at a later time. Such devices are usually removed from the place where the collection is made and while the waste materials are still contaminated. If decontamination is to take place before waste disposal, they are decontaminated or disinfected at some other location remote from where they are collected and before discharge into a larger waste receptacle or into a waste disposal system or sewer. 
     In the past, various U.S. patents have issued relating to such biological fluid disposal systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,446, issued on Sep. 5, 1989 to R. D. Parker, teaches a combination fluid collection and disposal apparatus. This apparatus includes a collection unit for collecting the fluid in a treatment unit for coupling with the collection unit to remove the fluid from the collection unit and to dispose the fluid. The collection unit is a reservoir for the temporary storage of fluids aspirated from the patient, a vacuum port for connecting the collection unit to a vacuum source and vacuum line connected to the vacuum port to the reservoir. U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,491, issued on Sep. 18, 1990 to the same inventor, describes a similar apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,420, issued on Feb. 11, 1992 to E. E. Jackson, describes a disposal system for infectious waste where the waste is drawn into a container. At the same time, a disinfectant is drawn into the container. The disinfectant and the infectious waste are mixed in the chamber before being forwarded to a drain or for disposal. An aspirator pump creates the requisite vacuum. The device also utilizes a macerator for the purpose of fragmenting the biological components prior to disposal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,434, issued on Sep. 7, 1993 to W. M. Terry, teaches another medical waste handling system in which the infectious fluid is mixed with a disinfectant from another container before being discharged into the environment. Various conduits are connected to a collection chamber. Various other types of pumps are employed so as to introduce or to release fluid from the collection chamber. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,204, issued on Feb. 7, 1995 to Olsson et al., describes an apparatus and method for dosing an additive at the collection of liquid. The apparatus uses a suction to draw contaminated fluid through a tube. While the contaminated fluid is passed through a tube, it is mixed with a disinfectant before being forwarded for discharge. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,238, issued on Apr. 21, 1998 to Bradbury et al., teaches a medical and biological fluid collection and disposal system in which a vessel is divided into compartments which receive the biological fluid wastes through an inlet fitting. As the fluid is received, air in the vessel is displaced and is discharged through a vent line. When a level sensor senses that a level of fluid in the vessel is approaching a pre-selected maximum, a control circuit closes a valve in the vent line so as to block the discharge of air from the vessel and to create a backpressure that stops the receipt of further fluid. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,118, issued on Jul. 7, 1998 to Seifert et al., describes another collection and disposal system in which a collection vessel is connected for receiving waste fluids. The collection vessel is connected by a valve with a drain for draining the collected fluids. A fluid inlet is connected with an exterior water source to supply water through interconnected tubing to rinse waste residue from the collection vessel. A powdered reagent is received in a cup that is carried by a drawer to a position above the fluid mixing reservoir. A pump re-circulates the water through the reservoir to make the disinfectant fluid concentrate which is supplied to a venturi to be selectively entrained in the rinse water. U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,240, issued on Mar. 23, 1999 to the same inventor, describes a similar type of system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,047, issued on Jun. 22, 1999 to G. R. Griffiths, teaches an on-site biohazardous waste collection and treatment system. The infectious fluid is treated by using a vacuum to draw in a disinfectant to be mixed with the biohazardous material. The requisite suction is created by peristaltic pump. U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,724, issued on Mar. 21, 2000 to the same inventor, describes a similar system. 
     Unfortunately, these systems utilize complex arrangements of mechanical pumps for the purpose of mixing the disinfectant with the biological fluid. In many circumstances, the pump itself must be repaired or cleaned so as to make the system suitable for future use. The use of various mechanical and electrical pumps further complicates the system and makes the system much more expensive. It is often difficult to specifically and accurately regulate the mixture of fluid with the disinfectant using such systems. Whenever such mechanical and electrical systems are employed, repair is frequently required. Under certain circumstances, the pumps and fluid lines must be primed before the pumping and mixing action can occur. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system which allows for the proper disposal of biological fluids. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system which reduces the cost associated with disposal. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which reduces liability caused by biological fluid spills. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which does not require the use of mechanical or electrical pumping apparatus. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which assures a proper dosing of the disinfectant with the biological fluid. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which automatically and inherently stops the mixing action and the pumping of disinfectant when the biological fluid supply is exhausted. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a system which reduces the complications associated with the cleaning of the mechanism. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a biological fluid disposal system comprising a water flow line, a biological fluid line in fluid communication with the water flow line, and a disinfectant line in fluid communication with the water flow line and the biological fluid line. The biological fluid line and the disinfectant line are connected with the water flow line such that a flow of water through the water flow line causes a suction action through the biological fluid line and the disinfectant line. 
     This effect is created by passing water flow through the water flow line so as to create a venturi effect therein. The biological fluid and the disinfectant are intimately mixed together through the biological fluid line prior to entering the water flow line. 
     A water inlet communicates with one end of the water flow line. An outlet is connected to the water flow line on an opposite end of the water flow line. The outlet serves to pass the mixed disinfectant, biological fluid and water toward a sewer. 
     The biological fluid line comprises a pipe which communicates with the water flow line. The disinfectant line is connected to this pipe at a distance from the water flow line and between an inlet of the pipe and the water flow line. A valve is connected to the pipe for limiting the rate of biological fluid flow through the biological fluid line. A suction line can extend outwardly of this pipe. It is connected to the valve. The suction line is suitable for insertion into a biological fluid container. The biological fluid container can have a supply of biological fluid therein. The suction line is positioned so as to removably extend below the top level of biological fluid within the biological fluid container. The disinfectant line comprises a pipe which communicates with the biological fluid line. A suction line extends outwardly of this pipe. The suction line is suitable for insertion into a disinfectant container. The disinfectant container can have a supply of disinfectant therein. The suction line has an inlet which extends into the disinfectant within the container. A metering valve is interconnected to this pipe for limiting the rate of disinfectant flow through the pipe. 
     A housing extends over the water flow line and the biological fluid line and the disinfectant line. The water flow line has an inlet and an outlet extending outwardly of the housing. The biological fluid line has an inlet positioned outwardly of the housing. The disinfectant line has an inlet extending outwardly of the housing. 
     The present invention is also a method of disposing of a biological fluid comprising the steps of: (1) connecting a biological fluid line to a disinfectant line such that one of the lines opens into the other line; (2) connecting the water flow line to an outlet of the other of the biological fluid line and the disinfectant line; (3) passing water through the water flow line across the outlet so as to cause a venturi effect to draw biological fluid and disinfectant through the respective biological fluid line and disinfectant line; (4) mixing the biological fluid and the disinfectant and the other of the biological fluid line and the disinfectant line; and (5) discharging the water and the mixed biological fluid and the disinfectant from the water flow line. The disinfectant line is connected to the biological fluid line between an inlet of the biological fluid line and the outlet. The inlet of the biological fluid line is inserted into a container of biological fluid. The inlet of the disinfectant line is inserted into a container of disinfectant. The rate of flow of disinfectant is controlled relative to the rate of flow of biological fluid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing the biological fluid disposal system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of the process used by the system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown at  10  a biological fluid disposal system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The biological fluid disposal system  10  includes a housing  12 , a water flow line  14 , a biological fluid line  16  and a disinfectant line  18 . The biological fluid line  16  is in fluid communication with the water flow line  14 . The disinfectant line  18  is in fluid communication with the biological fluid line  16  and with the water flow line  18 . The biological fluid line  16  and the disinfectant line  18  are connected such that the biological fluid and disinfectant are mixed in pipe  20  and discharged into the water flow line  14  at outlet  22 . The flow of water through the water flow line  14  across the outlet  22  creates a venturi effect so as to create a suction within the pipe  20  for drawing the disinfectant  24  through the disinfectant line  18  and for drawing the biological fluid  26  into and through the biological fluid line  16 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , housing  12  will extend around and over the water flow line  14 , the biological fluid line  16 , and the disinfectant line  18 . The water flow line  14  has an inlet  28  which extends outwardly of the housing  12 . The water flow line  14  also has an outlet  30  which extends outwardly of the housing  12 . The biological fluid line  16  has an inlet  32  which extends outwardly of the housing  12 . The disinfectant line  18  also has an inlet  34  which extends outwardly of the housing  12 . 
     The water flow line  14  has its inlet  28  connected to a source of water pressure. The source of water pressure can be a hospital faucet, a gravity-fed source of water, or a supply of water pumped from a tank or other container. The water flow through the water flow line  14  should be sufficiently great so as to cause the venturi effect across the outlet  22 . The water flow line  14  has a horizontal portion  36  connected by a curved coupling  38  to a vertical portion  40 . A back wash valve  42  is connected to the vertical portion  40 . A flexible hose (or other item)  44  can be connected to the terminal end  46  of the vertical portion  40  so as to allow the water flow line  14  to be connected to a drain and, eventually, to a sewer. The water flow line  14  is configured so as to deliver the water and the mixed disinfectant and biological fluid to the drain and into the sewage system. The back wash valve  42  can be suitably connected to a source of water pressure so that a reverse flow of water and disinfectant can be sent through the water flow line  14  for the cleaning of the system  10 . 
     The biological fluid line  16  includes pipe  20  which communicates with the water flow line  14 . The disinfectant line  18  is connected to the pipe  20  between the outlet  22  and the inlet  32 . A suction line  48  is connected to the pipe  20  of the biological fluid line  16 . As can be seen in FIG.  1 , the suction line  48  is received within the interior of a biological fluid container  50 . Biological fluid container  50  has a supply of biological fluid  26  therein. The inlet  32  of the biological fluid line  16  will open below the top level  52 . When the requisite suction is created by the flow water across the outlet  22 , the biological fluid  26  will be drawn into the inlet  32  and upwardly through the biological fluid line  16  prior to being mixed with the disinfectant  24  from the disinfectant line  18 . 
     A valve  54  is connected along the biological fluid line  16  between the inlet  32  and the outlet  22 . Valve  54  can control the rate of biological fluid flow through the biological fluid line  16 . The valve  54  can be a simple metering valve which controls fluid flow rates. 
     Within the concept of the present invention, the biological fluid can be blood, blood products, body fluids, urine or mucus. The container  50  can be in the form of an open container which is transported from the surgical room to a disposal area. Alternatively, the container  50  can be a blood bag which is secured in a sealed manner to the inlet  32  of the biological fluid line  16 . 
     The disinfectant line  18  has a pipe  56  which is connected to the pipe  20  of the biological fluid line  16 . As such, the disinfectant  24  from a disinfectant container  58  is discharged into the pipe  20  for intimate mixing with the biological fluid  26  therein. The disinfectant line  18  has inlet  34  residing within the disinfectant container  58  at a location below the top level  60  of the disinfectant  24  within the container  58 . A metering valve  62  is connected along the disinfectant line  18  so as to control the rate of disinfectant flow through the disinfectant line  18 . The valves  54  and  62  of the respective biological fluid line  16  and the disinfectant line  18  can be suitably adjusted so that the proper mixture of the disinfectant  24  and biological fluid  26  can be obtained. 
     The disinfectant  24  will typically be of a formula and concentration sufficient upon contact, to reduce and eliminate the pathogenic agents present in the biological fluid  26 . In the preferred form of the present invention, the chemical disinfectant is a chlorine-based compound in liquid form. 
     As can be seen in the present invention, the system  10  is a static system which does not require mechanical or electrical appliances. The venturi action of passing the flow of water across the outlet  22  will cause a proper mixing of the disinfectant  24  with the biological fluid  26 . No complicated pumping mechanisms are required. The water inlet  28  can be simply connected to a source of water pressure. The outlet of the water flow line  14  can be simply inserted into a suitable drain so that the mixed and disinfected biological fluid can be discharged into a sewer. The arrangement of the components assures a proper mixture of disinfectant  24  and biological fluid  26  for decontamination. Cleaning of the system is very easy because of the lack of mechanical mechanisms. 
     An interesting feature of the present invention is that the system is its self-regulation. In any venturi-type system, fluids will flow in the direction of least resistance. When the supply of biological fluid  26  is exhausted from container  50 , the inlet  32  will simply suck air therethrough. As a result, no disinfectant  24  will be drawn, at that time, from the container  58 . As such, there is no need to monitor the system to shut off the system when the biological fluid supply is exhausted. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of the process of the present invention. As can be seen, water is introduced into inlet  28  under pressure. The water will flow through the water flow line  14  across venturi  70  so as to create the requisite suction on the biological fluid line  16 . This suction will draw biological fluid through the biological fluid line  16  and will, simultaneously, draw the disinfectant through the orifice  72  associated with the disinfectant line  18 . The rate of mixing of the disinfectant with the biological fluid is assured by the proper manipulation of the metering valves  54  and  62 . The mixture of biological fluid and disinfectant will directly occur in the pipe  20  between the outlet  76  of the disinfectant line  18  and the outlet  22  of the biological fluid line  16 . The mixture of the biological fluid and the disinfectant will flow into the water flow passing through the water flow line  14  in the area past the outlet  22 . This mixed and decontaminated waste can then be discharged as waste into the sewer system. Each of the components can be safely secured in a sealed housing  12 . 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various details of the illustrated constructions or the steps of the described method can be changed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.