초록 ▼

A bio-hazardous waste processor and optional encasement is described that uses a coolant such as liquid nitrogen to make the waste brittle in the hopper before crushing, keep the waste brittle in the down chute after crushing and also during shredding in the demolition chamber. After shredding, a fo

A bio-hazardous waste processor and optional encasement is described that uses a coolant such as liquid nitrogen to make the waste brittle in the hopper before crushing, keep the waste brittle in the down chute after crushing and also during shredding in the demolition chamber. After shredding, a fog of sterilant is used to disinfect the waste. The apparatus comprises an input hopper with a crushing wheel and dead plate towards its base to reduce the size of large particles, and a down chute which leads the crushed waste from the crushing wheel to a demolition chamber. In the demolition chamber, shredding is implemented by: one or more hammers and one or more commercially available off-the-shelf saw blades, the hammer(s) and saw blade(s) rotating in the same or opposite directions; or, one or more commercially available off-the-shelf dado saw blades, adjacent dados rotating in opposite directions. A sifter plate, with numerous apertures, allows shredded waste smaller than a selected size to fall from the demolition chamber to a fogging chamber where atomizers provide a fog of sterilant for decontamination. The decontaminated shredded waste is collected in a bag. An optional movable airtight encasement has an air intake and air filter to reduce the differential between the exterior and interior air pressure caused by pressure from the coolant and sterilant and also to provide an extra measure of safety that may be required in some installations.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for shredding and decontaminating medical waste, the apparatus comprising:(a) a coolant supply;(b) a hopper to receive waste, the hopper having at least one port through which coolant is applied to the waste to make the waste brittle;(c) a crusher located tow

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for shredding and decontaminating medical waste, the apparatus comprising:(a) a coolant supply;(b) a hopper to receive waste, the hopper having at least one port through which coolant is applied to the waste to make the waste brittle;(c) a crusher located towards the base of the hopper to reduce the particle size of the waste;(d) a down chute that receives the crushed waste, the down chute having at least one port through which coolant is applied to keep the waste brittle;(e) a demolition chamber which receives the waste from the down chute, the demolition chamber having at least one port through which coolant is applied to the waste to keep the waste brittle;(f) a coolant supply delivery system to the hopper, the chute and the demolition chamber;(g) at least one shredder implement mounted in the demolition chamber;(h) a sifter plate, having numerous apertures, that forms the bottom of the demolition chamber and limits the size of the waste particles leaving the demolition chamber;(i) a fogging chamber that receives the waste through the sifter plate, the fogging chamber having at least one port through which sterilant is applied;(j) a sterilant supply;(k) a sterilant delivery system to the togging chamber;(l) a waste receiver positioned to receive waste from the fogging chamber.