Abstract:
A method of disposing of hazardous materials wherein a dedicated pneumatic tube system is used. The pneumatic tube system has a plurality of loading stations all connected to a single destination station. The hazardous materials are placed in a disposable carrier which is transported to the destination station. Each disposable carrier has a marker which identifies the disposable carrier. A control unit cooperates with the markers and activates the pneumatic tube system. The disposable carrier is a cylinder with a sealable cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the safe disposal of “sharps” in a healthcare, hospital or clinical environment and more particularly, to a disposable carrier for containing the “sharps” and to be transported in a pneumatic tube system.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Pneumatic tube systems, per se, are quite old. They have been used in department stores, banks and many other installations. The use of these systems in department stores and banks is primarily for movement of currency, deposit slips, sales slips and related commercial transactions. The pneumatic tubes are for two-way traffic between the stations. In a bank, the tubes may be between a drive-in station and a teller in the bank. In a department store, the tubes may be between several different departments and a cashier or accounting office. The pneumatic tube systems used in hospitals are not single use but, rather, are “global” usually having a keypad or its equivalent so that the sender can select the destination of the carrier, such as the cashier, pharmacy, pathology lab, etc. Moreover, the carrier (receptacle or container) does not carry any biohazardous or hazardous product, such as “sharps”. Examples of “sharps” are a used scalpel blade, needle or syringe. Hence, the carrier is reusable and not permanently sealed.  
           [0005]    Disposal of “sharps” is a pressing problem for the medical community because of the enormous volume of these potentially fatal items. Present practice is for the “sharps” to be placed in containers which are strategically located throughout a hospital or clinical environment. These could be emergency rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, phlebotomy units, nurses stations and any other location where needles and/or scalpels may be used Typically, the containers have a non-removable lid which has a one-way opening into which the “sharps” are introduced. When the container has been filled to a premarked level, the container is placed at a central point such as a nurses station in the hospital. A plurality of filled containers accumulate and are collected on a periodic basis for disposal as hazardous waste. The filled containers are subject to removal by unauthorized persons and could be a source of serious infections.  
           [0006]    The applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents related to pneumatic tube systems and “sharps” disposal.:  
           [0007]    Tokuhiro et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,765) teach a sanitary waste collection system and method for disposal. A hospital is disclosed as being a site at which the waste collection system is to be used. Tubes are used in the collection system. Substances can be conveyed in the tube by supplying air or vacuum to the tube. A rather sophisticated computer system is disclosed.  
           [0008]    Lang (U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,292) shows a pneumatic tube conveyor system. The conveyor system can be used in hospitals for distributing small-size articles such as medicines.  
           [0009]    Withers et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,105) teach a “sharps” disposal container of a small cylindrical size. Withers et al does not disclose use with a pneumatic tube.  
           [0010]    Sharp (U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,909) teaches a “sharps” disposal container. This reference is cited only as background material. No pneumatic system is taught by the reference.  
           [0011]    The more efficient and rapid way of delivering “sharps” to disposal area would be, obviously, by means of pneumatic tube system. Unfortunately, transporting “sharps” through existing (conventional) pneumatic tube system is unpractical because (a) sending “sharps” in standard multipurpose-multi-use carrier does not eliminate a possibility of injury, when a nurse or any other operator would open the carrier; (b) sending “sharps” in special single-use disposable carrier along with regular carriers inevitably would bring confusion and mistakes such as attempts to send things other than “sharps” in a single-use container, attempts to dispose the contents of a standard carrier in a waste bin, attempts to open the single-use carrier and so on.  
           [0012]    There is a need for a dedicated single purpose pneumatic tube system in a healthcare, hospital or similar environment which has a disposable carrier dedicated to carrying potentially biohazardous or hazardous “sharps” from multiple sources to a single destination.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method having a dedicated pneumatic tube system for transport of hazardous material in a disposable carrier from multiple sending points to a single destination.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the possibility of injuries and contraction of disease due to exposure to “sharps”.  
           [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a rapid, dedicated, safe pneumatic tube system from areas within a healthcare framework to a safe disposal area without manual personnel intervention.  
           [0016]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a disposable carrier for hazardous materials which may be used in a pneumatic tube system.  
           [0017]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed the method of disposing of biohazardous and/or hazardous “sharps” in a healthcare, hospital or clinical environment. A dedicated single-purpose pneumatic tube system and a disposable carrier are provided. A used “sharp” is inserted into the disposable carrier. The disposable carrier is closed so that the disposable carrier is sealed. The sealed disposable carrier, with the used “sharp” therein, is inserted into the dedicated single-purpose pneumatic tube system, such that the system recognizes the disposable carrier and is activated to move the disposable carrier through the system for ultimate disposal and/or destruction of the disposable carrier, and such that any other type of carrier will not activate the system.  
           [0018]    In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a method of disposing of biohazardous and/or hazardous “sharps” in a healthcare, hospital or clinical environment. A dedicated single-purpose pneumatic tube system is provided having a plurality of loading stations and a single destination station. A plurality of disposable carriers are provided, each carrier having an identification means. A pneumatic tube system control unit is provided activated by the identification means on each of the disposable carriers. An operator inserts “sharps” in a selected one of the disposable carriers, seals said disposable carrier and introduces said disposable carrier into the pneumatic tube system at any loading station. The pneumatic tube system transports the disposable carrier containing the sharps to the destination station without any operator action.  
           [0019]    Additionally, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention there is disclosed the method of disposing of biohazardous and/or hazardous “sharps” in a healthcare, hospital or clinical environment. A dedicated single-purpose pneumatic tube system is provided having a plurality of loading stations and a single destination station. A plurality of disposable carriers are provided, each carrier having an individual identification code. A pneumatic tube system control unit is provided. A code control unit is provided electronically connected to the pneumatic tube system. Sharps are inserted in the disposable carrier. The disposable carrier containing the sharps is placed in one of the loading stations. The code control unit recognizes the individual identification code on each disposable carrier and the code control unit activates the pneumatic tube system. The pneumatic tube system transports the disposable carrier containing the sharps to the destination station without any operator action.  
           [0020]    In still further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a disposable carrier to be used in combination with a pneumatic tube system having a plurality of loading stations and a single destination station in a hospital or clinical environment. The disposable carrier has a cylindrical container having an open top end and an opposite closed bottom end. A cover is sealably received on the open top end of the cylindrical container to retain contents of the cylindrical container therein. A marker is formed on the cylindrical container, the marker having therein coded information to identify the disposable carrier and to activate a sensor in the pneumatic tube system. Biohazardous and/or hazardous material is received in the disposable carrier and transported through the pneumatic tube system from any one of the plurality of loading stations to the destination station.  
           [0021]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a nurse administering medication to a patient using a hypodermic syringe and needle.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1B is a diagram of the nurse depositing the needle in a sharps container of the prior art.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1C is a partial cutaway view of the sharps container of the prior art showing sharps within the container.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1D is a diagram of the nurse closing the lid on the sharps container of the prior art.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1E is a diagram showing a waste disposal employee collecting the accumulated sharps containers of the prior art from the nurses station.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1F is a diagram of disposal of a plurality of sharps containers of the prior art.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a nurse administering medication to a patient using a hypodermic syringe and needle.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view showing the nurse putting the hypodermic syringe and the needle into the container of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2C is a partial cutaway view of the container of the present invention having sharps therein and a cover to be received on the container.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2D is a diagram showing the cover being closed on the container.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2E is a diagram showing the closed container inserted into the vacuum system.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2F is a diagram showing the closed container leaving the vacuum system for disposal.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a top view of the disposable carrier.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 3.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lid received on the container.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing two loading stations and one destination station of the overall system with control unit.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing two loading stations in the system using a non-personalized code on the carrier.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control unit.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the vacuum system, featuring a carrier with a marker bearing an identification code.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the code control unit. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    A disposable carrier  10  for “sharps”  12  is, preferably, a substantially cylindrical container  14  having an open top end  16  and a closed opposite bottom or second end  18 . The container  14  may be tapered such that the top end  16  has a slightly greater diameter than the second end  18 . Preferably, the container  14  is formed from a semi-flexible or flexible material which is resistant to punctures. A cover  20  is received on the open top end  16  of the cylindrical container  14  to retain contents within the container  14 .  
         [0043]    Preferably, the cylindrical container  14  has an annular groove  22  formed therein adjacent to the open top. The cover  20  has an annular lip  24  formed thereon. The top end  16  of the container  14  and/or the cover  20  may be flexed so that the lip  24  is cooperatively received in the groove  22  and the cover  20  is attached to the container  14 . Alternately, the groove may be formed in the cover  20  and the lip  24  formed in the container  14 . The cover  20  preferably forms a leakproof seal with the container  14 .  
         [0044]    A marker  26  is attached to the cylindrical container  14 . The marker  26  has therein coded information to identify the individual disposable carrier  10  and to activate a sensor as will be described. Preferably, each disposable carrier  10  has a unique identification to distinguish the disposable carrier from all other disposable carriers. The marker may be an electronics chip, a bar code, a foil, a magnetic strip or other markers known to persons skilled in the art. It is preferred that the marker be located on the bottom  18  of the container  14 .  
         [0045]    A dedicated single-purpose pneumatic tube system  28  is installed in the healthcare, hospital or clinical environment. The tube system may be either a positive pressure or a negative pressure (vacuum) system to move carriers through the tubes. The system consists of a plurality of loading stations  30  and a single destination station  32 . In this manner, the disposable carriers  10  containing the “sharps” may be introduced into the tube system  28  from any of the loading stations  30 . The loading stations  30  are most efficiently located where it is probable that the majority of the sharps will be generated. These stations include the operating rooms, the emergency rooms, the nurses stations, the intensive care unit and the phlebotomy unit. This system is not limited to the named locations. The dedicated tube system is so constructed that all of the loading stations  30  are directly connected to only the destination stations  32 . Nothing can be inter-transmitted between any of the loading stations  30 . At the destination station  32 , waste management personnel collect the disposable carriers  10  and prepare the disposable carriers  10  which contain “sharps” for disposal. The disposable carriers  10  are not opened at the destination station  32 . If an incinerator is available at the destination station  32 , the disposable carrier  10  containing these sharps may be delivered directly into the incinerator. The maximum inner diameter of the tubes in the tube system is less than four inches to guarantee that the dedicated tube system  28  cannot be used with any reusable carrier. The reusable carriers on the market at the present time all have a minimum outer diameter of four inches or more.  
         [0046]    Each disposable carrier  10  has a length of approximately nine inches. This length permits the disposable carrier to travel through the tube system which has bends and curves formed at a radius which do not hinder the movement of carriers with the prescribed length.  
         [0047]    Because this single-purpose pneumatic tube system would coexist with a conventional pneumatic tube system in a hospital, it is extremely important to prevent any possibility of sending a disposable carrier with “sharps” through conventional system and vise versa of sending a heavy-loaded regular carrier through the single-purpose system.  
         [0048]    Accordingly, in the present invention this goal is achieved by the combination of three features. First, this single-purpose pneumatic system employs the tubes with a gage not compatible with that of existing conventional systems. Second, the size (length) and shape of a disposable carrier  10  are different from multi-purpose multi-use carriers. Third, a disposable carrier  10  is supplied with a special marker bearing coded information and each loading station  30  of the system is supplied with a device (reader)  36  that reads this information when a carrier is inserted into a station for sending. The coded information may define an individual carrier (i.e., each carrier has its own unique number) or define the carrier as a member of a class (i.e., only carriers with the coded marker are accepted to by the system, but they could not be traced individually). The system is composed of the following components (FIG. 7):  
         [0049]    1) A module  34  at each loading station  30 . A module typically is a micro controller-based PC board.  
         [0050]    2) A control unit  35  for the entire system.  
         [0051]    3) A sensor  36  at each terminal. The sensor  36  typically is a photo-electric or proximity sensor or a mechanical limit switch.  
         [0052]    4) A sensor  38  at the destination station  32 . Typically, the sensor  38  is a photo-electric or proximity sensor or mechanical limit switch.  
         [0053]    5) Controlled inlet gate  40  at each terminal. Typically the controlled inlet gate is an electric motor or linear actuator.  
         [0054]    6) Controlled outlet gate  42  at the destination station. Typically the controlled outlet gate  42  is an electric motor or linear actuator.  
         [0055]    7) Vacuum or pressure blower motor  44 .  
         [0056]    8) Marker  26 .  
         [0057]    9) Reading device  46  at each inlet station.  
         [0058]    10) Communication cable  48  with three lines; execution line  50 , lock line  52  and unlock line  54 .  
         [0059]    When a disposable carrier  10  is properly introduced to the system at a particular loading station  30 , the sensor  36  sends a signal to the module  34  indicating that a disposable carrier  10  is at the particular loading station  10 . Simultaneously, the reading device  46  at the particular loading station  10  reads the marker  26  on the disposable carrier  10 . If the marker  26  matches a code preset in the reading device  46 , the reading device  46  sends a confirmation signal to the module  34 . The module  34  then:  
         [0060]    sends, through line  50 , a signal to control unit  35  that controls vacuum/pressure blower motor  44  setting it “on”,  
         [0061]    controls inlet gate  40  of loading station  30  setting it “Open”,  
         [0062]    sends through line  52  a signal to module  34  of all other loading stations blocking the next disposable carrier  10  from being entered into the tube system.  
         [0063]    After disposable carrier  10  is accepted into the system, it is propelled by vacuum/pressure through the tube system to closed outlet gate  42  at the destination station  32 . The sensor  38  located near the outlet gate  42  discerns a disposable carrier  10  and sends a signal through unlock line  54  to control unit  35 . This turns “off” the blower motor  44  and energizes the controlled outlet gate  42  to open the gate. The disposable carrier  10  enters the destination station  32 . The signal is also transmitted to each loading station  30  and unlocks all stations to allow a next disposable carrier  10  to be accepted into the system.  
         [0064]    The control unit  35  has a control logic module  66 , a first control driver  68 , a second control driver  70  and a control timer  72  as shown in FIG. 8 The logic module  66  has two inputs  77  and  78  and output  79 . An output signal appears only if there is a signal on input  77  and no signal on input  78 . Drivers  68  and  70  provide power to the blower motor  44  and the outlet gate  42  respectively. They are based on a power transistor and/or relay. The time delay module  72  works as single-shot timer. When a signal appears on its input, it turns “On” and its output signal lasts for a preset time (long enough for gate  42  to stay open). It is based either on a standard timer or, a simple time delay circuitry integrated with drivers  68  and  70  and logic module  66  on PCB.  
         [0065]    When a signal from module  34  is applied through the execution line  50  to input  77  it sets output signal of logic module  66  “On”. This signal, amplified by driver  68 , sets the blower motor  44  running. The carrier  10 , is propelled toward the destination station  32 . As sensor  38  sees a carrier  10 , near outlet gate  42 , it sends a signal through unlock line  54 . It sets output signal of logic module “Off”, thus disabling motor  44 . Simultaneously this signal, through the timer  72  and driver  70 , opens the outlet gate  42  allowing the carrier to enter the destination station  32 .  
         [0066]    As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an additional code control unit  56  and a transmission request data line  58  may be added to the components of the system. Each disposable carrier  10  has a marker  26  providing a unique code. The additional code control unit  56  has the ability to store the legitimate numbers assigned to each disposable carrier  26  in storage  74  and further has the ability to erase numbers which have ben used as carriers are disposed via the delete module  76 . In addition to the operation of the system as described above and as shown in FIG. 7, when the reading device  46  reads the identification code of marker  26 , it sends the information through the request data line  58  to code control unit  56 . In the code control unit  56 , the identification code is compared with the legitimate numbers stored therein. If the code matches one of the legitimate stored numbers, the code control unit  56  sends a confirmation signal, through request data line  58 , to the module  34  at the particular loading station  30 . The system is then activated to deliver the disposable carrier  10  to the destination station  32  as explained above and as shown in FIG. 7. An additional function is performed. When the disposable carrier  10  arrives at the outlet gate  42  at the destination station  32 , the signal from the sensor  38  is transmitted to the code control unit  56  as well as to the control unit  35  through the unlock line  54 . The code control unit  56  includes the data storage  74  and the erase circuit  76 . It is based on a micro controller programmed to be able to communicate with the module  34  through request data line  58 . Depending on particular data exchange protocol this line may consist of 1, 2 or more conductors (wires). The code control unit  56  activates an erase circuit and removes the number corresponding to the code on the just received disposable carrier  10 . This eliminates the opportunity to send this disposable carrier through the system another time. Also all disposable carriers  10  are accountable. The system discourages theft of “sharps” because the carriers are identified and can be traced as opposed to procedures in use prior to the present invention. The system also prevents misuse of the dedicated pneumatic tube system since only disposable carriers  10  with the appropriate marker can activate the control unit  35 .  
         [0067]    The disposal carrier  10  with its marker  26  and the control unit  35  operate the system. The only interface with an operator is for the operator to place the sharps in the container  14 , place the cover  20  on the container  14  and introduce the disposable carrier  10  into the loading station  30 . The operator does not select the destination of the disposable carrier  10  and does not separately activate the pneumatic tube system. There is no control panel for the operator to use. The operator cannot stop the movement of the disposable carrier  10  through the pneumatic tube system nor can the operator send anything except the disposable carrier  10  through the pneumatic tube system.  
         [0068]    The control unit  35  regulates and controls the movement of the disposable carrier  10  through the pneumatic tubes such that only one disposable carrier  10  may move through the system at a given time. While one disposable carrier  10  is being transported from a given loading station  30  to the destination station  32 , no other disposable carrier may be transported simultaneously in the pneumatic tubes.  
         [0069]    The present invention provides a safe, secure uncontaminated environment in which to move “sharps” from loading stations or various separated locations to a single destination station with a minimum of operator input.  
         [0070]    Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.