CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Under 35 USC 120, this Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/378,078 filed on Mar. 17, 2006 which claims priority under 35 USC 119 from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/664,050 which was filed on Mar. 22, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of reducing the waste stream burden in the medical field, but not limited to that.
1. Background of the Invention
In particular, this application relates to systems used in the collection and disposal of certain medical wastes. The collection of fluent waste material is a common procedure in the medical field. Most methods of surgical waste collection are carried out using vacuum suction. Some methods use gravity, while some use impelling devices which produce suction vacuum. Examples of such impelling devices may comprise a meniscus shaver, a lipo-suction system, an arthroscopic fluid pump, a tissue ablator, an endoscopic irrigation and aspiration wand and the like. Surgical fluid waste is collected in containers commonly referred to as canister and/or canister liners. These waste collection devices are generally disposable; some are re-cycled, re-processed, or rewashed. Some collection devices are re-used. Some are partially reused while some are intermittently re-used. Some are disposable or partially disposable. Some are used in conjunction with servicing units while some are used with additive agents for treating the waste material. Some are used multiple times on multiple patients without the preferable cleaning in between treatment of different patients. In certain instances reused devices are cleaned, reprocessed, sterilized, re-sterilized and or recycled and or prepared for reuse. There are disadvantages to the use of disposable collection canisters and canister liners. One problem is that disposable collection canisters and disposable collection liners contribute contaminated infectious plastic waste to the medical waste stream which is undesirable for the environment. Reuse of disposable collection devices by recleaning or reprocessing or recycling and or sterilizing, has the disadvantages of adding costly labor and requiring additional labor costs for sorting, containing, transporting, and, handling of contaminated medical waste containers, and then the added costs of product re-entry into the internal/external product re-sterilization internal/external distribution system. There is a significant need to reduce medical waste. The need to reduce medical waste is a serious common goal of the United States and Internal Agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Hospital Association has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally establishing the goals to reduce medical waste 50% by the year 2010. Hospitals for Healthy Environment (www.H2E-Online.orq) is the name of the aforementioned alliance for waste reduction, supported by formidable organizations and companies such as the American Nurses Association, Healthcare Without Harm, the EPA, plus Group Purchasing Organizations, leading health care organizations, federal, state and local government agencies, and health care associations and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is important in the health care field to have good quality sturdy and reliable products. This is true especially in the field of collection of contaminated biological waste material. Containers for these purposes must be easy to use, and be designed with good human factors and ergonomics for the operators of such devices. One key important ergonomic feature is that the systems for collection of biological waste must be easy to use, and the amount of effort and strength required to assemble such systems should be easy and require little effort by the operators. The instant embodiments of the instant case provide for such ease of use. In addition other useful features which represent good quality standards for collection containers and systems and methods involve stability so that when containers are placed on a horizontal surface they are stable. The container should be puncture, leak and impact resistant and be stable and secure when dropped.
It should be manufactured out of materials which function for the intended purposes, and if made form a polymer, have a durometer which should not crack or break if dropped.
Labels and brackets should be made durable. The system should be autoclavable so that if desired by the customer it may be reused. The systems should be available in various sizes to accommodate a variety of patient populations as well as be effective to operate in a number of different treatment situations and locations. The system should not have any parts that are sharp, that might compromise the operator's personal protection, and not tear gloves, or other personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves, masks, etc. Designs of systems of this sort should promote safe clinical care and perform according to those safe clinical standards. The design should promote resistance to opening after final sealing for disposal, as well as promote easy assembly and easy opening (in this case easy sealing and unsealing) with good ergonomic and human factor attributes. All closure seals should function tightly and maintain the leak proof seal during use, handling and transport. The design should accommodate easy carrying and handling so that transport of the systems may be done safely without contaminating the surrounding environment. Grips and handles should be designed for ease of access and use. Parts should be designed for ease of decontamination, and be rugged to withstand multiple autoclaving if desired. Openings must be free of obstruction, entanglement and sub-assembly parts must be able to attach and dis-attach without requiring undue hand work or significant effort.
In addition various scenarios that occur during health are supply chain efficiency and supply management require unique features to products that encounter such scenarios. Some scenarios occur in the operating room. For example, in collection systems that should be designed to be easy to use during room turnover. They should be easy to use during intra-operative system changing. They should be easy to use after terminal sterilization and room setup. And they should be easy to use when preparing an operating room at the beginning of the operating day. Such collection systems should be easy to check/test to make sure they are operating correctly. Especially in a vacuum suction collection system, testing suction and checking seals must be easy and without undue fiddling or parts manipulation. This is especially significant whereas many times the individual who may be preparing the collection system for use, may do so prior to and at times different than actual use, which means the operator setting up the system for use is not the same operator using the system to collect waste. Ease of checking/testing, especially of the seals becomes important if, for example the prior individual does not properly assemble or prepare the system for subsequent use and the operator must then insure the system is in intended working condition at a later time. It is also desirable, when dealing with contaminated biological waste that minimum handling of unsealed containers holding biological waste material is kept to a minimum, and that containers are sealed prior to handling and transport. It is also important that a minimum of handling be required during the various scenarios mentioned above, and, that hand and eye coordination may be achieved to carry out the aforementioned clinical safety features. It is understood that the aforesaid features for the aforesaid scenarios do not only apply to the operating room. Other settings as further defined by the instant application are all applicable. Another example is that safe sealing of containers containing biological waste must be achievable with one handed technique as provided by the instant system. The feature of creating a stand 3, that has different dimensions from a system centerline so that cap 15 may be placed on a container 14 having waste material therein provides a good clinically safe procedure. This sealed bottle is then removed with one hand, and replaced with an empty container while the other hand is occupied holding lid 4. The container stand/container relationship provides for anti rotation of the stand while cap 15 is securely threaded down to seal the container holding the biological waste material. These practical features bring good ergonomic and human factors to the instant system while providing a good clinically safe system into the health care setting.
Certain disadvantages of the prior art in these regards will become better understood with the explanations of the following references. U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,126 to Tribastone, et. Al., discloses a collection canister system comprising canister interior of preferably 5000, 10000, and 15000 cubic centimeters and taught to be effective for all procedures. A container of this size has disadvantages because it is too big for many collection applications. For example, suction collection for anesthesia where it is convenient to have a small collection canister attached to an anesthesia machine is preferable, especially in that most anesthesia suction volumes constitute just a few cubic centimeters of sputum or pharyngeal throat saliva most of the time. Larger equipment is also inconvenient in smaller rooms where suction collection equipment is found such as in the emergency room, the intensive care unit, the coronary care unit, patient hospital rooms, the neo-natal infant care units, physician offices, physician owned surgery suites, physician office surgery and procedure rooms, outpatient surgery centers, ambulatory surgery centers, ambulances and other rooms beside operating rooms which require smaller apparatus for smaller more confined spaces. There are also concerns with cross contamination in any system where contaminated waste material remains in a room during the presence of subsequent multiple patients. Another disadvantage of the larger 5000, 10000, 15000 cc containers is weight and mobility. Such weight in the extremely large heavy volumes are sometimes difficult ergonomics, imposing risk of injury to personnel such as back pain, and other injuries whereby by seams in floors and door jams which are not smooth may induce tipping over and spillage of large volumes of medical waste. Another disadvantage of such large heavy containers is its size.
Such large container are more difficult to keep clean and cumbersome to handle, and because of the awkward size could cause ergonomic strain as related to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,126 reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,837 to Cude et. Al., discloses a suction canister and in combination whereby only a destructive force will separate the parts which renders the Cude invention to be an only disposable product which is costly whereby each time a canister is used another is purchased to replace it. A purchase is made and is costly to the customer and each plastic disposable product enters the disposal chain waste stream and another piece of garbage enters the land fills or incinerators which are disadvantages. This is expensive, and requires ongoing inventory space, and inventory handling which are at a premium. Another disadvantage is a lack of choice for the customer to re-process, re-sterilize or re-use, which options are beneficial but not available with the U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,837 reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,717 to Dunn et. Al., discloses a canister and flushing system. This system comprises a complex system for handling a collection canister. These disadvantages of this system are that expensive equipment is required and it is complex equipment. The expenses and maintenance, plus required periodic inspection by biomedical engineering increases labor costs associated with its presence. In addition the equipment must be kept clean which is additional requirement for daily operations. Other disadvantages of a reusable canister which requires costly labor for internal processing, reprocessing, resterilization and reusing. In most institutions, volume of such collection systems is quite high imposing internal/external processing costs. The system discloses the disposable flush kit which maintains higher disposable costs along with the higher costs associated with internal distribution, inventory handling and higher disposable waste removal costs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,093 to Deaton discloses a reusable canister having a disposable lid and liner. This system is delivered in pieces and requires subassembly by the customer prior to operation. This requires additional labor which is costly and involves the inventory tracking of a plurality of pieces to a system in sets, and often times lids and liners can become separated and when out of numeral matching balance one cannot be use with out the other, whereas resulting in an incomplete set and a unusable subassembly. This disadvantage complicates the ongoing internal/external distribution and tracking of pieces which adds costly labor, inventory management and excess handling. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,093 reference also discloses contribution of garbage to the waste stream which is a serious environmental concern. Other disadvantages of disposable collection containers include the difficulty in which to assemble a lid to a container body. Many disposable canister systems have a container body which is stackable. This stack ability allows the container bodies to be nested on each other with one container resting substantially within the other, with the exception of about one to two inches of body length. This stack ability feature is desirable whereas the volume of containers handling in the disposable application is very high. For example a busy institution may process anywhere between 10,000 and 50,000 disposable canisters per year. The stack ability feature makes these canisters easier to transport in volume. One problem with the assembly of such stackable canister and it's associated lid, is that the snap on feature of lid must be very tight in order to be fluid leak proof in the event of tip over. In order for these canister lid interfaces to be leak proof they must fit very tightly making for a very difficult assembly.
The force required to assemble the canister and lids of this nature is greater that a force which would normally be deemed easy to use. In fact they are very difficult to use. Good ergonomic systems include assembly and dis-assembly features that do not require undue finger, hand and/or upper body strength. Many of the prior art collection systems have snap together features that, due to their seal design, require more force to assemble, than most operators can provide. This is because of the force required to snap together the seals that=are not meant to come apart, and that must be tight enough to stay sealed during transport, handling and tipping over. The applicant believes that if a system cannot be assembled with much less force and upper body strength of the average operator, then there are human factors and ergonomics design issues that are solved by the instant case. The applicant believes that the snap fit force utilized to keep a lid and canister housing together during transport and tippage is not the same force that provides for good human factor/ergonomic and good clinical handling. Applicant contents that when snap fit forces are greater than the average upper body strength of the average operator, then clinical safety is in jeopardy and personal protective equipment such as protective gloves are at risk for tearing or a hole.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The instant embodiments provides methods and apparatus for utilizing fluid enclosing product transfer delivery container which do not embody the self inherent physical construct capacity to maintain shape under extreme negative vacuum pressures up to negative minus 1 atmospheres. Examples of cost effectively fabricated fluid enclosing containers made for delivery of fluids which may not embody inherent implosion resistant structural strength and rigidity needed for suction vacuum collection, may include plastic delivery containers such as plastic pour bottles and intravenous containers. The present invention discloses cost effective practical solutions for reducing waste, reducing labor, reducing inventory, reducing the receiving, reducing the internal distribution, and reducing the inventory handling costs and the space required to carry inventory all involved with the collection waste materials. These achievements are carried out by the instant embodiments whereby successful suction vacuum collection may be realized using in a flexible, cost effectively fabricated, fluid enclosing distribution, commercialization, and transfer delivery containers. This patent application discloses collection systems that teach use of fluid enclosing product supply containers for collection, removal and disposal of waste material in the disposal chain. In particular, delivery containers for general distribution, transfer, and, administration of pour bottle solutions and intravenous solutions, parenteral and enteral solution containers and the like are converted into waste collection and disposal chain containers. This application also teaches use of a common fluid enclosing containers for both the supply and the disposal chain. The instant application also teaches use of containers found in inventory for supply and delivery of fluids, and then transforming them for the collection, removal, disposal, and for utility found in the deposal chain. This application teaches the use of a common fluid enclosing container for the product transfer and then integrates the container into systems for the collection and the removal of waste material. The instant application teaches waste reduction methods by integrating delivery containers fabrication with the collecting and disposing of waste materials. A few potential container fabrication methods applicable to the instant case comprise blow fill seal manufacturing, blow molding or continuous blow molding which produce an open top container. Another type of container fabrication process applicable to the instant application is a blow fill seal fabrication process commonly known and is a closed top manufacturing process whereby a container is formed, filled with fluid and hermetically closed within one machine. The instant application teaches the waste reduction methods by using manufacturing methods as mentioned such as blow molding, blow fill sealing, laminating sheets such as in intravenous solution container making methods to form enclosures. The purpose of the instant case is to transform these containers which are derived from a fluid delivery mode from product transfer and administration and the converting the container for the collection, removal, and disposal of waste materials.
The embodiments of these instant case provdes container utility options for the transfer and administration of products, consumption of products, and for the waste collection removal and disposal options. The embodiments of this instant case discloses the utilization of fluid filled product transfer containers such as pour bottles and/or intravenous solution containers(IV bags) (and/or other product/fluid containing enclosures used for intravenous therapeutics and the administration of anesthetic agents as well as other medicaments) for the receiving, collecting, containment and disposal of waste. Using fluid enclosing product distribution transfer/administration containers also for the handling of waste results in optimal reduction of waste, reduction of inventory, reduction in labor, reduction of internal/external inventory distribution/processing/re-processing/re-using/re-cycling, reduction of inventory handling and waste disposal costs (brought by the (unnecessary) the need for separate supply and disposal containers in certain circumstances), all are reduced by eliminating the supply chain costs with the fabrication of the said separate supply and disposal/collection containers. The question arises why pay for disposable container when a fluid delivery container can be derived from the supply side of the supply and disposal chains, and then be converted into a collection and removal/disposal container. Such containers are supplied clean/sterile and are made to meet certain sterility assurance levels (SAL). The instant embodiments confer options allowing consumer choices for the reduction of waste. Plastic transfer containers such as blow molded containers, continuous blow molded containers, blow fill seal containers, intravenous solution containers, containers made of laminated sheets of polymers, and of foils, are commonly used for the distribution transfer and administration of fluid products and other product such as sterile water, sterile saline solution intravenous solutions for IV therapeutics, IV solutions for administration of anesthetic agents and other water for injection (WFI) based fluid formularies as used in the medical field. Also included are cleaning solvents, prep solutions, alcohol solution and the like. Solutions used for intravenous therapeutics, parenteral administration, and administration of anesthesia, wound irrigation, irrigation for arthroscopic, endoscopic, laparoscopic procedures, irrigation for urology procedures and many other types of applications. The instant application names additional fluid materials delivered in polypropylene, and high density/low density polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride containers which are all generally high volume supplies and or engage the supply chain on a just in time basis or on a vendor managed inventory managed basis or a customer managed basis for delivery and consumption. Intravenous solution containers are also used for the distribution/commercialization of these container products. It is understood the disclosed teachings of the instant case are not limited to sterile liquid distribution/supply containers or the transfer of fluid filled product containers. Other product transfer containers may be suitably integrated with innovation of the instant case, to function with the delivery and waste disposal capacity. Other container such as prep solution containers, alcohol containers, solvent containers, cleaning solution containers and the like, may function suitable within the scope of the present invention.
These teaching are not intended to limit the attached claims below. Other product containers may also be used in the instant inventions. These product delivery containers are commercialized/distributed to the customer having volume cubic capacity sufficient in substantial proportion to the collection and the disposal of waste materials.
The instant embodiments reduce the amount of plastic introduced to the waste stream. The instant embodiments reduce the recycling, reprocessing and labor associated with the handling and re-use procedures thereby lowering the associated costs of waste removal. The instant embodiments reduce the supply chain costs from manufacturing to disposal. Collecting fluent waste material in fluid enclosing delivery containers such as open top blow molded, or continuous blow molded containers, intravenous solution containers or closed top blow fill seal containers which have been constructed and effectively fabricated with thin walls, which, do not have the strength or construction to resist high vacuum implosion forces. The instant case teaches options solving the disadvantages and problems of prior art containers. When the methods and apparatus embodied in the teachings of the instant application are utilized, the instant embodiments also provides for reducing the handing, reducing the labor and reducing the costly process of recycling, re-using, re-processing, sterilizing, and/or re-sterilizing.
Certain product delivery transfer containers are fabricated, commercialized, and, are already present or in the supply, distribution, inventory, administration chain and/or in the customer facility. Present invention conveniently transforms, converts, and integrates these fluid enclosing transfer delivery containers for their transformation to waste materials collection containers creating a new type of environmental supply chain. We refer in part to this new novel environmental process as a disposal chain supply system, by the deployment of disposal chain supplies to collect, remove and dispose of waste material. This defines new supply and disposal chain systems, methods and apparatus for using fluid enclosing distribution containers and methods for processing systems from the clean delivery side of the fluid administration/consumption, into the dirty collection, removal, and disposal side integrating the disposal chain and the supply chain for environmental purposes, herein referred to as disposal chain supply systems. In essence disposal chain supply systems define a novel environmental process. In essence disposal chain supply systems are defined by transforming distribution containers into collection removal and disposal containers. In essence a disposal and supply container is an environmental conversion and transformation methods. In essence a disposal chain/supply chain container utilizing disposal chain supply chain systems confers options and advantages as disclosed by the instant case. In essence disposal supplies are environmentally preferred. In essence disposal supplying is the environmentally preferred method.
Difficulties exist with the use of certain containers when integrated into high negative pressure vacuum/suction system. Negative vacuum draw pressures at times up to minus one atmosphere of negative pressure, is common for drawing surgical waste materials from a surgical site into a collection receptacle. One problem is that the common blow molded or blow fill sealed containers are cost effectively manufactured with relatively thin plastic walls, sometimes down to a wall thickness range of 0.025 inches or less, and are generally made with a plastic materials such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other like materials. Thin walled containers are commonly fabricated to reduce the plastic material mass (volume of plastic materials per unit) and hold down production costs and shipping weight. It is a common practice of container manufacturing to consume the minimum amount of material used per unit to fabricate each container yet maintain user function for cost effective manufacturing purposes. Common container material durometers comprising containers having such ranges of this wall thickness in these like materials are not generally strong enough to withstand the negative differential pressures of up to minus one atmosphere of negative pressure as commonly found in a vacuum/suction system without imploding or deforming. Product fluid enclosing distribution transfer containers, are commonly fabricated using processes know by artisans skilled in the arts of blow molding or continuous blow molding of open top containers and/or blow fill sealing of closed top containers as well as using such manufacturing processes such as thermal lamination of plastic sheet to form cavities/enclosures for the filling and production of intravenous solution containers and other parenteral containers and the like.
The solution to the problem of implosion and bottle/container deformity which occurs under high vacuum pressure is to connect a container to a suction collection system whereby container wall is interposed between its inner chamber and an outer space with each space subjected to a common amount of negative draw vacuum force/pressure.
This force envelops itself inside and outside of the container which forms opposing differential pressures which provides reinforcing balances by effecting a similar positive and negative neutralizing net force at the same time on the container wall eliminating negative implosion forces on the container wall. This is carried out by the container and canister of the instant case co-acting to contain waste and balance negative draw forces along the composite draw path. This addresses the issue of container deformity. This instant application discloses the neck of the pour bottle as the utilitarian area of the bottle for coupling with the lid of a canister system. The instant application discloses a throat aperture space (pour spout) of a plastic pour bottle as a utilitarian area for engagement of draw forces. The instant application discloses the throat space aperture, pour spout as a utilitarian area for coupling of a throat aperture plug. The instant application discloses a positive and negative exchange plug for providing communication between the draw force and the inside and outside of a fluid enclosing container. The instant application discloses locating an atmospheric pressure draw exchange at the neck of the container. The present application discloses interposing the container neck (pour spout) annularly between a plug and a lid for conversion coupling peripherally (not necessarily round). In an alternative embodiment a container neck cap is interposed between a bottle and a container neck and a canister lid cover. In still a further embodiment, a boss projecting downward off of a canister lid is interposed peripherally between a container neck and a container neck negative atmospheric draw force exchange plug. The present application discloses fabricating a blow molded container for delivery transformation and conversion and bayonet coupling (push and twist) to a canister system. It is understood the invention is not intended to be limited to bottle neck configuration which are round. Any shaped bottle/neck shape lid/cover cap, plug, and boss configuration suitable for arrangement/construction having structuration to carry out the utility of the present invention may be fabricated and deployed to a carry out the utility of the instant case. The present invention discloses positioning the plastic container throat space in a negative pressure draw vacuum system whereby an in draw force is disposed to transfer and deposit medical waste material into the container and an outdraw force is disposed to transfer the differential draw forces. The embodiments of the instant case utilizes the inner chamber of a plastic pour bottle as part of the pressure vacuum draw path. The present case discloses several embodiments for carrying out the invention. In one embodiment the container cap is shown guiding the exchanging forces and positioned along a negative vacuum force draw path at a locating along a site of waste material (surgical site/patient site) and a source from which the draw force emanates. The cap is connectable to a lid cover which is attached to a canister body. In a second embodiment a bottle neck is peripherally (not necessarily meaning round) interposed between a lid and a throat space. The pressure exchanger in the throat space, is disposed in the guiding position which exchange forces along a draw path at a location between a site of waste material and the source of vacuum draw.
PURPOSE AND METHODS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to position a liquid transfer fluid enclosing container upstream to a patient delivery sequence, and then place the container downstream in connection with the flow of a waste material. Another object of the invention is to convert a liquid container affecting egress of the liquid and then the positioning of the container in flow confining connection downstream to a source of waste material.
Another object of the invention is to pour solution from a container and then place the container downstream along a vacuum draw path in flow control connection with a suction wand. Another object of the invention is to position a liquid transfer container upstream to and in vascular access connection with a patient and then position the transfer container downstream in flow control composite connection with a vacuum draw path.
Another object of the invention is to provide supply chain efficiency whereby the dispensing container is also the receiving receptacle/container. Another object of the invention is to provide the waste reducing processes whereby the egress of the container upstream from a healthcare patient is the same container positioned downstream in flow control association with a negative atmospheric pressure draw force and is then in flow confining connection with a suction wand. Another object of the invention is to provide practical steps for internal container handling including a) fabricating a transfer container, b) taking a transfer container and extending a draw path between a vacuum source and a suction wand, c) connecting a fluid enclosing delivery container to the path, d) depositing the waste material into the container. Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus including a) enclosing a fluid in a container at manufacturing and transferring through distribution and administration for health care consumption, b) consuming at least a portion of the fluid product, c) converting the container into a vacuum collection system, d) removing the waste in the container e) disposing the waste. Another object of the invention includes a supply and disposal method comprising a) manufacturing a fluid enclosing container for the distribution, transfer and administration of a fluid product, b) consuming at least a portion of the liquid, c) directing a draw force to and from the container along a composite draw path, d) depositing waste material into the container.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for reducing supplies comprising, a) providing a container fabricated for the delivery of a product, b) delivering the product, c) connecting the container to a vacuum source system, d) drawing waste material into the container, e) removing the waste material in the container, f) disposing of the waste material. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for reducing waste comprising a) transforming a waste receptacle from a container manufactured for enclosing and delivering a fluid, b) connecting the container to a composite waste draw conduit, c) depositing the waste material in the container, d) removing the container from the draw path, e) converting another delivery container into a waste receptacle comprising transformation of a fluid enclosing supply container into a waste collection receptacle. Another object of the invention includes a) providing the methods and apparatus for the transforming a plurality of supply containers into a plurality of waste containers. Another object of the invention is to enclose a plurality of supply containers having been transferred into a plurality of collection container within a single enclosure.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods for transforming supplies into waste receptacles comprising a) constructing a fluid enclosing container, b) taking the container c) extending a draw path between a vacuum source and a suction wand d) connecting a delivery container to the path, e) depositing waste material into the container. Another object of the invention is to provide methods for deriving waste receptacles from supply containers including a) providing a liquid product in a selectively connectable waste receptacle b) disposing the receptacle in a vacuum collection container system, c) drawing a force along a composite draw path between a source of waste material and a vacuum source d) depositing waste in the delivery receptacle.
Another object of the instant case comprises a) positioning a transfer container upstream in the flow of a patient care sequence for liquid dispensing and administration, b) positioning the container downstream in the flow of patient care in a material receiving and receptacle mode. Another object of the embodiments herein disclosed whereby the receptacle is positioned on the clean side of the supply and disposal chain for dispensing of it contents and the dispenser is position on the dirty side of the supply and disposal chain for receiving waste material as a receptacle, and this receptacle is in receiving structuration with a gravity flow system and or a composite vacuum draw path.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for drawing a negative pressure within a transfer dispensing container. Another object of the invention is to provide methods for placing the container downstream to a flow control conduit depositing waste into the container under a positive push force, not a negative vacuum force. Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus in structuration with a draw force including a) enclosing a fluid in a container at fabrication and providing the liquid product in a selectively connectable receptacle, b) disposing the receptacle in a vacuum collection canister system, c) drawing a force along a composite path along a source of waste, d) depositing the waste into a delivery receptacle.
Another object of the embodiments herein disclosed is to provide connect ability to a transfer container and a vacuum canister collection lid. Another object of the invention is to provide a composite negative atmosphere draw path formed at least in part by the interior of a transfer container. Another object of the invention is to provide a draw force directed by a composite draw path in part co-acting to transform a delivery container to dispose waste material. Another object of the invention is to provide a canister in structuration with a fluid enclosing supply transfer container forming at least a portion of a composite draw path interposed between a vacuum source and a site of material waste. Another object of the invention is to combine in association with the novel features cited above, a negative draw path force with a material flow path. Another object of the invention is to combine a draw path force with the material draw path to dispose material in a transfer container to remove waste material from a site. Another object of the invention is to provide a throat aperture space/plug/seal disposed in a transfer container access/port site forming at least a part of the draw path controlling draw force towards and away from a transfer container. Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle derived from a health care fluid delivery sequence converted to co-act with a canister, a lid, a draw force, a composite path, a throat plug to dispose waste. Another aspect of the invention is to to provide supply chain efficiency methods comprising a) fabricating liquid enclosing delivery containers, b) transferring the liquids to a delivery site, c) administering the liquids and connecting the containers in structuration with a waste collection, d) collecting waste. Another aspect of the invention is to provide supply chain efficiency methods comprising a) manufacturing a fluid enclosing container for the distribution of a liquid product b) distributing a liquid product, c) consuming at least a portion of the product d) directing a negative suction vacuum draw force to the container, e) connecting the container to a composite draw path having a suction wand at one end thereof, e) placing the suction wand in suctioning contact with waste material and f) drawing the waste material into the container, g) removing the material in the container, h) disposing the material. Another object of the invention is to a) fabricate a fluid enclosing delivery container for disposal and collection in a waste collection system. Another object of the invention is to a)provide a method of reducing waste comprising enclosing a fluid product in a fabricated delivery container, b) egressing the fluid from the container, c) connecting the container along a vacuum draw path, d) drawing waste material into the container, e) removing the material for disposal, f) disposing the material. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of collecting supplies and transforming them into waste receptacles comprising a) collecting delivery supply containers, b) placing the containers positioned to receive waste in vacuum canisters, c) drawing vacuum, d) controlling the draw force to direct waste material for disposing waste in the transfer container. Another object of the invention is to a) provide a method of converting containers having dispensed at least some container contents, b) converting the container into a vacuum collection system receptive to waste collection and or removal and or disposal. Another object of the aformentioned objects is to provide a method of handling a dispenser and a receptacle wherein the dispenser is the receptacle. Another object of the invention is to provide a delivery collection container system using fluid enclosing pour bottles fabricated from a blow molding, and/or a continuous blow molding process out of previously shaped polymer performs, and transforming said pour bottles into collection containers. Another object of the invention is to provide a delivery and collection container fabricated from a fluid enclosing blow fill seal manufacturing process container. Another object of the invention is to provide a suction/vacuum system which renders product distribution/transfer containers receptive to waste materials. Another object of the invention is to provide a collection system for reducing waste that is derived from product delivery.
Another object of the invention is to reduce internal/external distribution, internal/external inventory management, whether or not said inventory management is carried out by a vender management program or by a customer. Another object of the invention is for the consumer to account for the cubic volumes of incoming fluids and cubic volumes of outgoing waste materials for analysis and matching incoming and outgoing waste materials to the number of containers needed to optimize the supply purchasing process as practiced within the scope of the instant case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a disposal chain supply system.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 2a comprise an exploded view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a container 14, measuring stand 3 and container 2.
FIG. 2a shows lid 4 and its associated attaching components, handle thrust 6, lock 5, plug 7 spider 8, transfer hose 9, patient hose 11, vacuum hose 10, and cap 15.
FIG. 3 is a cross section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 showing 3 blow up circles to illustrate the location of dual shot soft seals. The Embodiment of FIG. 4 has a break at an intermediate portion along the canister and measurement stand.
FIG. 4a shows a blow up of a dual shot soft seal 4a3 attached to lid 4 at 4o during molding of lid 4.
FIG. 4b shows dual shot soft seal 7f attached to plug 7 as it is affixed to plug 7 during molding of plug 7.
FIG. 4c shows dual shot soft seal 4a2 attached to lid 4 along surface shown at 4n and surface 4m.
FIG. 5 show a cross section of embodiment show in FIG. 4 depicting the relationship of the three seals described in
FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b and 4c. When thrust 6 is rotated clockwise to its endpoint the three said seals and associated mating and sealing surfaces and components are shown sealed in the above three blow up figures.
FIG. 5a shows dual shot soft seal 4a3 as shown interposed in-between 4o of lid 4 and container flange 14g providing a seal there between.
FIG. 5b shows dual shot soft seal 4f interposed between plug 7 and the inside wall of throat (pour spout) of container 14 providing a seal there between.
FIG. 5c shows dual shot soft seal 4a2 interposed between lid 4 and canister 2 providing a seal there between.
FIG. 6 is a cross section as shown in FIGS. 4 & 5 showing two breaks along the area of canister body 2. FIG. 6 shows circles around container lid seal and shows a circle lid canister contact area.
FIG. 6a is a blow up of the sealing and contact area between lid 4 and canister rim 2.
FIG. 6b shows a detail of a connection of the connection between thrust 6 and lid 4 as well as the detail of the sealing area between lid 4 and container 14.
FIG. 7 is a cross section of the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5 & 6 showing two breaks along the canister body and having circles around the container lid sealing area and the lid canister sealing area. FIG. 7 shows a container process whereby container 16 is processed into container 14 which is processed into to container 17 which is processed into container 14. This comprises a disposal chain supply system which relates to FIGS. 19 through 19c on sheet 19 which show various stages of container utility.
FIG. 7a shows potential position of the sealing area between canister 2 and lid 4 defining space 4l having closing seal when thrust 6 is fully oriented clockwise.
FIG. 7b is a blow up detail showing sealing area between container 14 and lid 4 when thrust 6 is in its full clockwise position 6w.
FIG. 8 is a cross section of the preferred embodiment showing detailed blow up circles of thrust 6x as it may be engaged in counter clockwise unsealing orientation. FIG. 8 also shows a blow up detail of the relationship of lid 4 and canister 2 during thrust position 6x.
FIG. 8a shows a gap 4l between canister 2 and lid 4 as thrust 6 takes a counter clockwise orientation 6x.
FIG. 8b shows a detailed blowup of the unsealing relationship of container flange 14g and lid 4 as thrust 6 engages in a counter clockwise orientation 6x.
FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the preferred embodiment having two breaks along the canister body.
FIG. 9a shows the unsealing potential at dual shot soft seal 4a2 between canister 2 and lid 4 and depicts space 4l between lid 4 and canister 2 as becoming greater as thrust 6 takes a counter clockwise position 6x.
FIG. 9b shows a blow up detail of the unsealing area between container 14 and lid 4 at 4k. FIG. 9b also shows a blow up detail of the thrust 6 taking counter clockwise position 6x. Thrust thread 6a having lead, height and a pitch contacts container thread 14d. Counterclockwise orientation of 6x creates a thrust motion downward thrusting bottle 14 downward creating a counterforce provided by sealing friction at dual shot soft seal 4a3 and 4a2, said friction imparts a force counter force back through container 14 through thread 14d through thread 6a through thrust 6 which transfer said counterforce through thrust 6 through thrust bottom bearing 6g to bearing surface 4a9 of lid 4. This action counter action (effect cause effect) comprises an easy way for the separation of bottle 14 and lid 4 at sealing area 4k as well as canister 2 an lid 4 at sealing area gap 4l. Thrust 6 provides an easy to rotate smooth significant force giving a mechanical disassembly for the sealing and unsealing of a container lid and bottle.
FIG. 10 shows the preferred embodiment showing circles of detail blow up thrust 6x in a thrust position intermediate to that as shown in the Figures on sheet 4 and sheet 5 and sheet 6 and sheet 7 and sheet 12 of the dimensions with respect to the thrust position shown in sheets 8 and sheets 9.
FIG. 10a is a blow up detail jacking lever 21 flexed into a downward jacking position providing seal separation between canister 2 and lid 4.
FIG. 10b shows thrust 6 in an intermediate orientation between 6x and 6w defining a counter clockwise effect causing an effect of unsealing container 14 and lid 4 at 4k.
FIG. 11 shows the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10.
FIG. 11a shows the acting of jack lever keel 21b having contacted canister 2 at 2b after lever jack 21 has been flexed downward providing a mechanical leverage for the separation of lid 4 and canister 2.
FIG. 11b is a blow up detail of thrust 6x at an intermediate counterclockwise orientation 6x of FIG. 10b further defining a process of thrust effect and counter effect describing the vertical thrust forces moving the container 14 down relative to lid 4 and unsealing the lid and bottle at 4k.
FIG. 12 is a cross section of the preferred embodiment defining blow ups of seal area 4k and jacking lever 21.
FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of canister 2 measuring stand 3, container 14, lid 4, plug 7 and thrust handle 6 with respect to an alignment relationship with a centerline as shown. Also shown are various component bevel/leads which are illustrated to show simpler assembly to provide alignment during assembly of the preferred embodiment such that assembly is easy and drops in under the weight of the parts themselves for the matching and mating of the thread thrust relationship between container 14 and thrust handle 6.
FIG. 14 shows a cross section of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 14a shows a blow up detail of the leverage jack making contact with container 2.
FIG. 14b sows thrust bearing 6 in a full clockwise orientation.
FIG. 15 shows a top perspective view of lid 4.
FIG. 15a shows a cross section of lid 4 taken at one of two perpendicular sections that would show one of four locks 5 in an up unlocked position and one of four locks 5 locked in a downward locked position.
FIG. 15b shows a blow up detail of lock 5 up in the unlocked position and spring lock 4r in its unlocked/unengaged resting position.
FIG. 15c shows one of four locks 5 in a downward locked position showing lock push ramp 5c having moved the end of spring lock 4r into an interference locked position under canister lip 2f.
FIG. 16 shows an exploded cross section view of the preferred embodiment of sheet 13 depicting horizontal special relationships of the sub-assembly. This view details specific assembly contact points that are important relative to the clockwise and counterclockwise thrust orientation action of thrust 6 relative to its imparting its thrust onto container 14. XX-nut depicts a thread height of thrust 6, XX-bottle depicts a thread height of bottle thread 14d. When thrust 6 is fully orientated in clockwise orientation as defined in FIG. 3, FIG. 4b, FIG. 5b, FIG. 6b, FIG. 7b FIG. 12b, FIG. 14b, FIG. 18, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, & FIG. 22 and well as would be in FIG. 1, dimension XX-nut and dimension XX-bottle substantially overlap dimensionally and or are dimensionally superimposed. When thrust nut 6 is rotated fully in its counterclockwise orientation dimension XX-nut and dimension XX-bottle un superimpose vertically and create a thrust unsealing dimension expansion comprising the sum of dimensions XX-bottle, and dimension XX-nut.
FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of lid 4.
FIG. 17a is a blow up detail of lock 5.
FIG. 17b is a blow up detail of thrust bearing 6.
FIG. 17c is a blow up detail of thrust bearing retaining hook 4f of lid 4 and thrust handle surface 4a9 if lid 4.
FIG. 17d is a blow up detail of jacking lever 21.
FIG. 18 shows the side elevation transparency view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in a different rotation view, and in horizontal alignment aspect with respect to different container sizes of FIGS. 18, 18a, 18b, & 18c.
FIG. 18a shows a side elevation view of a container depicting its height and a dimension showing its thread.
FIG. 18b shows another container size depicting its height and depicting a dimensions from its top to the sealing area.
FIG. 18c shows a side elevation view of an alternative bottle size showing a dimension of its height and a dimension of its center to its flat side wall.
FIG. 18d is a side elevation cross section of the assembly of canister 2 and measuring stand 3 showing a dimension of the bottom of said stand, to the bottom of stand bottle slot showing a dimension of subassembly center line to inside wall of said bottle slot and showing a dimension of sealing rim canister 2 and a bottle thread height as further depicted in FIGS. 18e, 18f, and 18g.
FIG. 18e shows a side elevation view showing measuring stand 3 in two parts, 3a and 3b. A large container, a dimension between the bottom of stand 3 and the bottom of bottle slot a dimension showing the center of the sub assembly and the inside of bottle support stand and a dimension showing the top of the bottle to the bottle flange seal 14g.
FIG. 18f is similar to the FIG. 18e but showing an alternative container size.
FIG. 18g is similar to FIGS. 18e and 18f showing an alternative container size. It is important to note that thread height 14j of FIG. 18a dimension 14q of FIG. 18b dimension 14o of FIG. 18c dimensions 14t of FIG. 18d, e f, & g, and dimension 3u of FIGS. 18 e, f, & g as well as dimension 14s of FIGS. 18 a, b, & c all correspond to matching a thread having a thread height, a thread having a thread pitch, a thread having a thrust lead to thrust handle such as 6 shown in FIG. 16 and other figures of the instant case such that a single thread or a common thread of an extremely high volume containers made in various volumetric cubic capacities, such as 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, etc., may all be functionally co-apted into a collection system designed for supply chain efficiency such that XX-nut dimension and XX-bottle of FIG. 15 as well as the assembly contact points of z, x, and the alignment assemblies aided by leads 4g, 4h, 3w, 14v, 14g, all provide horizontal and vertical alignment system that is easy to assemble such that thrust thread 6a and bottle thread 14d properly engage without undo attention.
FIG. 19 is a side elevational cross section of the preferred embodiment having lid 4 removed. Waste material has been vacuum drawn (suctioned) into the container and cap 15 is shown in position for ready placement onto bottle 14 sealing in the contaminated waste. This view depicts lid 4 as having the associated vacuum draw hoses/tubing removed thread 6a and thread 14d having been disengaged, thrust handle 6 may be used as a handle, to be held in one hand to hold lid 4 in said one hand, while lid 4 occupies said one hand of an operator, an exchange operation may be carried out with the other hand whereby cap 15 is removed from cutout 4v of lid 4, cap 15 may then be threaded onto bottle 14 while being held in the measurement stand 3, sealing the container. This provides an easy way to seal contaminated waste into container 14 without having to handle or transfer the container 14 while it is unsealed and full of contaminated biological waste fluid material. Container 14 can then be easily removed and another empty container such as in 19b can be placed into measurement stand bottle slotas shown in FIG. 19, and then lid 4 may be placed onto canister 2 in fairly smooth ergonomic fusions.
FIG. 19a depicts a container which has been hermetically sealed enclosing some sterile/other liquid 16b.
FIG. 19b shows an empty container in sequence waiting to be placed into the canister system of the preferred embodiment (the apparatus of FIG. 19 with its cap having just been removed.
FIG. 19c shows lid 4 removed from the subassembly of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 20 shows an alternative means of separating the container\'s lid 4 subassembly from canister 2 and measuring stand 3.