Secure and Efficient Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal for Health and Safety

Introduction

Pharmaceutical waste disposal is a critical issue across healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and manufacturing plants. The improper disposal of unused or expired drugs can lead to environmental contamination, legal repercussions, and compromised safety. In response to the growing need for compliant, secure, and efficient disposal systems, our pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly offers a unique solution that ensures safe handling, separation, and disposal of pharmaceutical waste, protecting both public health and the environment.

The Challenge

Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste can result in contamination of water sources, ecosystems, and even human populations. Regulatory agencies impose strict guidelines on how pharmaceutical waste must be managed, and healthcare facilities and manufacturers are under increasing pressure to comply. However, current waste disposal systems often lack the necessary mechanisms to divert hazardous materials efficiently, leading to costly mistakes and safety risks. This situation requires a more streamlined, secure, and compliant method of waste handling.

The Solution

Our patented pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly addresses these challenges through a sophisticated system that incorporates a waste diverter. This assembly enables the secure separation and disposal of different types of pharmaceutical waste—whether it’s hazardous, non-hazardous, or bioactive—ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

The waste diverter plays a key role in streamlining the process, efficiently diverting materials into the appropriate containers, reducing the risk of cross-contamination. With clear labeling and an easy-to-use design, this assembly is ideal for hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking an efficient, secure, and compliant waste management system.

Key Benefits

Regulatory Compliance: The assembly is designed to meet stringent disposal regulations, ensuring that healthcare facilities and manufacturers remain compliant with all environmental and safety guidelines. It mitigates risks of fines or legal issues from improper waste disposal.
Enhanced Safety: By preventing cross-contamination and securely handling hazardous waste, this system protects staff, patients, and the environment from the harmful effects of pharmaceutical contamination.
Efficiency in Waste Diversion: The waste diverter ensures that different types of pharmaceutical waste are separated and disposed of properly, streamlining the process and reducing operational downtime. It simplifies waste management for healthcare providers, reducing errors and improving workflow.
Environmentally Responsible: By managing waste responsibly, this system helps reduce the environmental impact of improperly disposed drugs, keeping waterways and ecosystems free from pharmaceutical pollutants.

Why License This Technology?

Licensing this pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly offers hospitals, pharmacies, and manufacturers an effective and reliable solution to a growing problem. By integrating this system, your organization can ensure regulatory compliance, enhance workplace safety, and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment. This technology not only solves a pressing operational challenge but also demonstrates a commitment to health and environmental responsibility.

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Abstract
Claims

A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly (10) for disposing of one or more of fluid pharmaceutical waste and solid pharmaceutical waste includes a first waste receiver (614) and a receiver retainer (16). The first waste receiver (614) includes a first receiver body (621) having a first body access (621BA). Additionally, the pharmaceutical waste moves in a first direction (695C) toward the first body access (621BA) through which the pharmaceutical waste is directly received by the first receiver body (621). The receiver retainer (16) substantially encloses the first waste receiver (614). Further, the first waste receiver (614) is removable from the receiver retainer (16). Moreover, one of the first waste receiver (614) and the receiver retainer (16) includes a first waste guide (667A) that guides the pharmaceutical waste in a second direction (695A) away from the first body access (621BA) and in the first direction (695C) toward the first body access (621BA). Additionally, the first waste guide (667A) inhibits removal of the pharmaceutical waste from the first receiver body (621).

What is claimed is:

1. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of one or more of fluid pharmaceutical waste and solid pharmaceutical waste, the pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a first waste receiver including a first receiver body having a first body access, the pharmaceutical waste moving in a first direction that is directly toward the first body access through which the pharmaceutical waste is received by the first receiver body; and

a receiver retainer that substantially encloses the first waste receiver, the first waste receiver being removable from the receiver retainer;

wherein one of the first waste receiver and the receiver retainer includes a first waste guide that guides the pharmaceutical waste in a second direction away from the first body access and in the first direction toward the first body access.

2. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste guide includes a spiral funnel that guides the pharmaceutical waste in the second direction away from the first body access prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction toward the first body access.

3. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste guide includes a series of diverters that guides the pharmaceutical waste in the second direction away from the first body access prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction toward the first body access.

4. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste guide guides the pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the first body access prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction toward the first body access, the third direction being different than the second direction.

5. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 4 wherein the first waste guide guides the pharmaceutical waste in a fourth direction away from the first body access prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction toward the first body access, the fourth direction being different than the second direction and the third direction.

6. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste receiver is a solid waste receiver including a solid receiver body that receives the solid pharmaceutical waste.

7. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste receiver is a fluid waste receiver including a fluid receiver body that receives the fluid pharmaceutical waste.

8. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second waste guide that guides the pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the first body access and a fourth direction toward the first body access, the first waste receiver including the first waste guide and the receiver retainer including the second waste guide.

9. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second waste receiver including a second receiver body having a second body access, the pharmaceutical waste moving in a third direction toward the second body access through which the pharmaceutical waste is directly received by the second receiver body, the receiver retainer substantially enclosing the second waste receiver, wherein one of the second waste receiver and the receiver retainer includes a second waste guide that guides the pharmaceutical waste in a fourth direction away from the second body access and in the third direction toward the second body access.

10. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 9 wherein the first waste receiver is a solid waste receiver including a solid receiver body that receives the solid pharmaceutical waste, and wherein the second waste receiver is a fluid waste receiver including a fluid receiver body that receives the fluid pharmaceutical waste.

11. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 9 wherein the second waste receiver is removable from the receiver retainer.

12. The pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste guide includes a guide flap near the first body access, the guide flap moving between an open position and a closed position such that when the first waste receiver is moved to an inverted position, the guide flap moves to the closed position so that the pharmaceutical waste is inhibited from exiting the first receiver body.

13. The pharmaceutical waste assembly of claim 1 wherein the first waste guide inhibits removal of the pharmaceutical waste from the first receiver body.

14. A method for disposing of one or more of fluid pharmaceutical waste and solid pharmaceutical waste, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the pharmaceutical waste with a first receiver body of a first waste receiver directly through a first body access;

substantially enclosing the first waste receiver within a receiver retainer;

guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a first direction away from the first body access with a first waste guide; and

guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a second direction toward the first body access with the first waste guide.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction includes one of the first waste receiver and the receiver retainer including the first waste guide.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of directly receiving includes the step of directly receiving the solid pharmaceutical waste with a solid receiver body of a solid waste receiver.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of directly receiving includes the step of directly receiving the fluid pharmaceutical waste with a fluid receiver body of a fluid waste receiver.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction includes the step of guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the first direction away from the first body access with the first waste guide prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the second direction toward the first body access with the first waste guide.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the first body access with the first waste guide prior to guiding the pharmaceutical waste in the second direction toward the first body access with the first waste guide.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the first body access with a second waste guide, and guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a fourth direction toward the first body access with the second waste guide.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of directly receiving the pharmaceutical waste with a second receiver body of a second waste receiver through a second body access; substantially enclosing the second waste receiver within the receiver retainer; guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the second body access with a second waste guide; and guiding the pharmaceutical waste in a fourth direction toward the second body access with the second waste guide.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of directly receiving the pharmaceutical waste with the first receiver body includes the step of directly receiving the solid pharmaceutical waste with a solid receiver body, and wherein the step of directly receiving the pharmaceutical waste with the second receiver body includes the step of directly receiving the fluid pharmaceutical waste with a fluid receiver body.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of positioning a guide flap near the first body access, and inhibiting the pharmaceutical waste from exiting the first receiver body with the guide flap when the first receiver body is moved to an inverted position.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of inhibiting removal of the pharmaceutical waste from the first receiver body with the first waste guide.

25. A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly for disposing of fluid pharmaceutical waste and solid pharmaceutical waste, the pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly comprising:

a solid waste receiver including a solid receiver body having a solid body access, the solid pharmaceutical waste moving in a first direction toward the solid body access through which the solid pharmaceutical waste is received by the solid receiver body;

a fluid waste receiver including a fluid receiver body having a fluid body access, the fluid pharmaceutical waste moving in a second direction toward the fluid body access through which the fluid pharmaceutical waste is directly received by the fluid receiver body; and

a receiver retainer that substantially encloses the solid waste receiver and the fluid waste receiver, the solid waste receiver and the fluid waste receiver being removable from the receiver retainer;

wherein one of the solid waste receiver and the receiver retainer includes a solid waste guide that guides the solid pharmaceutical waste in a third direction away from the solid body access and in the first direction toward the solid body access; and

wherein one of the fluid waste receiver and the receiver retainer includes a fluid waste guide that guides the fluid pharmaceutical waste in a fourth direction away from the fluid body access and in the second direction toward the fluid body access.

Title

Pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly including waste diverter

Inventor(s)

David A. Maness

Assignee(s)

Stryker Corp

Patent #

8616397

Patent Date

December 31, 2013