A Safer, Smarter Way to Handle Pharmaceutical Waste

Introduction

The increasing need for proper pharmaceutical waste disposal has become a pressing issue in healthcare, retail pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. With strict regulatory requirements and growing concerns about environmental contamination, there is no room for error. Our pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly provides an efficient, secure, and environmentally responsible solution for managing unused, expired, or defective pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceutical waste is not just a logistical problem—it’s a critical environmental and public health concern. Improper disposal can lead to harmful chemicals seeping into soil and waterways, potentially affecting wildlife and human populations. This is why regulatory compliance is becoming tighter, with facilities needing a more robust method of handling such waste. Traditional disposal methods often lack the level of security or efficiency required, leaving organizations vulnerable to environmental hazards and legal issues.

This waste disposal assembly is designed specifically to meet these demands. The system combines ease of use with high-level safety measures to ensure that pharmaceutical waste is contained, treated, and disposed of in a manner that complies with even the most stringent regulations. Its design includes secure compartments that seal waste products and mechanisms that reduce the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals during transportation or storage. Whether in hospitals, pharmacies, or manufacturing plants, this system integrates seamlessly into existing waste management protocols, allowing for easy adoption.

One of the unique features of this system is its ability to neutralize harmful substances on-site, minimizing the risk of accidental contamination during the disposal process. This capability is critical for organizations that handle large quantities of hazardous materials, such as chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, or opioids. The system ensures that these potent chemicals are rendered inert before final disposal, making it an ideal solution for organizations looking to enhance their safety measures while also reducing environmental impact.

Licensing this pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly means your organization will not only improve safety and efficiency but also set a new standard for environmental responsibility. With growing public and regulatory pressure to adopt cleaner, more secure waste disposal methods, this technology positions you at the forefront of innovation in waste management. By offering this assembly as part of your services or integrating it into your facility, you can protect your organization from legal risks while contributing to a healthier, cleaner environment.

A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly (10) for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste includes a receiver body (19) and a first reaction agent (287). The receiver body (19) is configured to receive the pharmaceutical waste. The receiver body (19) includes a body interior wall (921A) that defines a body interior (921B). The first reaction agent (287) is positioned within the body interior (921B) so that the first reaction agent (287) contacts the body interior wall (921A) prior to receiving the pharmaceutical waste. The first reaction agent (287) chemically reacts with the pharmaceutical waste so that the pharmaceutical waste is rendered unrecoverable. The first reaction agent (287) can include at least one of a denaturant and a deterrent. Additionally, the first reaction agent (287) can include activated charcoal.

What is claimed is:

1. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste, said pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a receiver comprising,

a receiver body for receiving the raw pharmaceutical waste, and
a reaction agent positioned within said receiver body for contacting the raw pharmaceutical waste to change the raw pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the raw pharmaceutical waste is rendered unrecoverable; and
a receiver retainer that retains said receiver, with said receiver retainer comprising a locking mechanism for selectively inhibiting removal of said receiver from said receiver retainer.
2. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a combination lock.
3. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a lock and a key.
4. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver retainer further comprises a retainer housing that retains said receiver and a lid moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said locking mechanism selectively locks said lid in said closed position for selectively inhibiting removal of said receiver from said retainer housing.
5. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lid comprises one or more lid apertures for allowing the raw pharmaceutical waste to be deposited into said receiver body.
6. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a lock and a key.
7. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said retainer housing comprises one or more retainer sidewalls, and wherein said lid is movably secured to one of said one or more retainer sidewalls.
8. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said reaction agent comprises one or more of a denaturant, an emetic, and a bittering agent.
9. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said reaction agent comprises activated charcoal.
10. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reaction agent comprises one or more of a denaturant, an emetic, and a bittering agent.
11. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reaction agent comprises activated charcoal.
12. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said reaction agent is contained within a fluid permeable packet.
13. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a receiver guide that guides the raw pharmaceutical waste into said receiver body.
14. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a receiver guide that guides the raw pharmaceutical waste into said receiver body.
15. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver further comprises a fluid absorber positioned within said receiver body for absorbing and retaining the raw pharmaceutical waste.
16. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver is a fluid waste receiver, wherein said receiver body is a fluid receiver body for receiving fluid pharmaceutical waste, wherein the pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly further comprises a solid waste receiver comprising a solid waste receiver body for receiving solid pharmaceutical waste, and wherein said receiver retainer retains said solid waste receiver.
17. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said fluid waste receiver further comprises a fluid absorber positioned within said fluid receiver body for absorbing and retaining the fluid pharmaceutical waste.
18. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver retainer is a platform configured to support said receiver.

19. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste, said pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a receiver comprising,

a receiver body for receiving the raw pharmaceutical waste, and
a reaction agent positioned within said receiver body for contacting the raw pharmaceutical waste to change the raw pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the raw pharmaceutical waste is rendered unrecoverable;
a receiver retainer that retains said receiver, with said receiver retainer comprising a locking mechanism for selectively inhibiting removal of said receiver from said receiver retainer; and
a mounting apparatus engaged with said receiver retainer and configured to be secured to a vertical or horizontal surface.

20. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of fluid pharmaceutical waste, said pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a receiver comprising,

a receiver body for receiving the fluid pharmaceutical waste, and
a reaction agent positioned within said receiver body for contacting the fluid pharmaceutical waste to change the fluid pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the fluid pharmaceutical waste is rendered unrecoverable, with said reaction agent comprising activated charcoal; and
a receiver retainer that retains said receiver, with said receiver retainer comprising a locking mechanism for selectively inhibiting removal of said receiver from said receiver retainer, and with said locking mechanism comprising a lock and a key.
21. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein said receiver further comprises a fluid absorber positioned within said fluid receiver body.

22. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste, said pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a receiver comprising,

a receiver body for receiving the raw pharmaceutical waste, and
a reaction agent positioned within said receiver body for contacting the raw pharmaceutical waste to change the raw pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the raw pharmaceutical waste is rendered unrecoverable, with said reaction agent comprising activated charcoal; and

a receiver retainer comprising,

a retainer housing that retains said receiver,
a lid moveable between an open position and a closed position, and
a locking mechanism that selectively locks said lid in said closed position for selectively inhibiting removal of said receiver from said retainer housing, with said locking mechanism comprising a lock and a key.
23. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly as set forth in claim 22, wherein said lid comprises one or more lid apertures for allowing the raw pharmaceutical waste to be deposited into said receiver body.

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Title

Pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly

Inventor(s)

David A. Maness

Assignee(s)

Stryker Corp

Patent #

10086416

Patent Date

October 2, 2018

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