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Method for processing infectious waste and system for the sameRelated Patent Categories: Chemical Apparatus And Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, Or Sterilizing, Process Disinfecting, Preserving, Deodorizing, Or Sterilizing, Using Direct Contact Steam To Disinfect Or SterilizeMethod for processing infectious waste and system for the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060159584, Method for processing infectious waste and system for the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a method useful for treating infectious waste as well as a system and processing apparatuses for carrying out the method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Currently, medical and biological waste, generally referred to herein as "infectious waste," generated in hospitals and other medical and research related facilities that contain disease-producing organisms or pathological wastes may be disposed through several disposal processes such as steam sterilization, microwave or plasma radiation, or incineration. These processes often require large expensive equipment and can pose environmental problems. [0003] Systems for using hot liquids to sterilize the infectious waste have also been developed. These systems employ large tanks wherein a pump for chopping and circulating the waste material through the system circuit is contained within the system. These systems required large quantities of fresh liquid that require a long period of time to heat to the desired processing temperature. Further, once the liquid is used to process the infectious waste, the liquid is disposed of. Before the system can be used again, the user must wait for the next batch of fresh process liquid to heated to the desired temperature. Such use of large quantities of liquid is costly not only in the use of the large quantity of liquid, but also through the large expenditure of energy needed to heat each batch of the liquid to the desired temperature. [0004] Another concern with these hot liquid systems is that the pumps used within the systems are industrial pumps having ridge blades that pulverize waste. The pumps are prone to clogging by flexible waste such as tubing and textile waste that wraps around the blades and are subject to damage by metal objects such as clamps, scalpel blade holders. Therefore, the pumps must be cleaned on a regular basis. Due to the construction of the system, these pumps are hard to access and clean. Further, when the pump inevitably fails, repair is difficult and dangerous because the pump and system are clogged with infectious waste. Further, due to the massive size of these systems it is nearly impossible to remove the system for off-site repair. [0005] Therefore, a need exists for a process and system for treating infectious waste that can increase the efficiency and safety of treating the waste. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present subject matter recognizes and addresses the above briefly discussed drawbacks, and others of above-described processes and systems for treating infectious waste. Accordingly, a general aspect of the present subject matter is to provide a process and a system, as well as different components of the system, that can increase the efficiency and safety of treating infectious waste. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. [0007] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for processing infectious waste is provided. Heated water is introduced under pressure into a processing chamber that contains infectious waste. The heated water should be at a temperature that biologically neutralizes the infectious waste. The infectious waste and the heated water are agitated through the action of an agitator to a point where the infectious waste is neutralized by the heated water. The temperature of the water is maintained at a temperature that biologically neutralizes the infectious waste at least until such neutralization occurs. [0008] The water is then forced from the processing chamber by a pressure differential. During the removal of the water, the water forced from the processing chamber is strained to keep the waste material within the processing chamber. As the water is removed, at least a portion of the water is recycled to be reused in processing further infectious waste. The neutralized waste is then cooled within the processing chamber before being removed from the processing chamber. [0009] To perform the above-described method, an exemplary embodiment of a system for processing infectious waste to neutralize the waste is provided. The system includes a processing chamber for receiving infectious waste and processing water that is at an elevated temperature sufficient to process said infectious waste. The processing chamber defines an opening through which to receive and remove the waste. A closure member is carried adjacent to the processing chamber. The closure member is positionable over the opening defined in the processing chamber so as to seal the processing chamber closed. Further, the closure member is removable from the opening of the processing chamber to permit receipt of the waste before processing and removal of the waste after the waste has been neutralized. [0010] A holding tank is connected to the processing chamber. The holding tank supplies the processing water at the elevated temperature sufficient to process the infectious waste in the processing chamber. A filter is disposed between the processing chamber and the holding tank. The filter cleans the processing water that exits the processing chamber and supplies at least a portion of the filtered processing water back to the holding tank to be reused in the processing chamber. In this manner, water can be recycled increasing the efficiency of the processing system. [0011] An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for use in a system for processing infectious waste is also provided. The apparatus includes a processing chamber for receiving infectious waste and processing water that is at an elevated temperature sufficient to process the infectious waste. The processing chamber forms an opening through which to receive and remove the waste. A closure member is carried adjacent to said processing chamber. The closure member is positionable over the opening formed in the processing chamber so as to seal the processing chamber closed. Further, the closure member is removable from the opening of the processing chamber to permit receipt of the waste for processing and removal of the waste after said waste has been neutralized. [0012] An agitator extends within the processing chamber. The agitator has a rotatable internal shaft possessing an axis extending through the process chamber with a tapered blade carrier disposed on a free end of the shaft. A plurality of blades are pivoted about pivot points on the tapered blade carrier. The blades are spring-loaded and are biased upward parallel to the axis of the internal shaft at rest. Upon rotation of the shaft, centrifugal force causes the blades to extend outward from the blade carrier about the pivot points into an angular position as measured from the axis of the internal shaft. The agitator spins the blades within the processing chamber when the processing chamber is filled with heated water and infectious waste, thereby mixing the heated water and infectious waste thoroughly to biologically neutralize the infectious waste by rapidly exposing the waste to the heat in the water. [0013] An exemplary embodiment of a pressure sealable chamber closure member which is usable in the processing apparatus includes a lid with a rotatable hub located on the lid. A plurality of latch arms is connected to the hub on first ends of the latch arms. The hub is rotatable in a first direction so that the latch arms rotate causing a second end of each of the latch arms to latch the lid onto the processing chamber. When the hub is rotated in a second direction, the latch arms rotate causing the second end of each of the latch arms to unlatch the lid from the processing chamber. [0014] Within the processing chamber, an exemplary embodiment of a centrifugal agitator may include a rotatable internal shaft having a first end and a second end with an axis that extends vertically therethrough. A rotatable blade carrier is mounted on the first end of the shaft. The blade carrier has a surface tapering inwardly toward a free end of the blade carrier. [0015] A plurality of blades is pivotally connectable to the tapered blade carrier with the blades being spaced about the free end of the blade carrier. Springs are carried by the blade carrier and in communication with the blades and the blade carrier. The springs bias the blades upward about parallel to the axis of the internal shaft when the blades are in a resting position. The blades are then extendable upon rotation of the shaft to outward positions from the blade carrier about the pivot points as measured from the axis of the internal shaft due to centrifugal force. In this manner, the blades can interact with the processing water and waste without becoming immobilized by the waste. [0016] All the features of the subject matter will be described in greater detail through the use of the appended figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system for processing infectious waste in accordance with the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for processing infectious waste constructed in accordance with the present invention; [0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing chamber shown in FIG. 2; Continue reading about Method for processing infectious waste and system for the same... Full patent description for Method for processing infectious waste and system for the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for processing infectious waste and system for the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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