US5360594A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for medical waste disposal unit
Assignee: JOHN CHAHINE
•
Filing: 1993-11-15
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Granted: 1994-11-01
•
Expires: 2013-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A control system for regulating the decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber is provided. The control system monitors the chamber temperature and disinfectant concentration. Using the disinfectant concentration, the control system then calculates the minimum temperature required to maintain a specified level of decontamination. This minimum temperature is then compared to the actual temperature by the control system. If the actual temperature is below the minimum, the control system operates a heater to heat the reaction chamber. Additional temperature control can also be provided by the control system. If desired, the control system compares the actual chamber temperature to an ideal operating temperature. If the actual temperature exceeds the ideal temperature, the system cools the chamber by pumping in additional low temperature disinfectant. In this manner, the additional disinfectant maintains the level of decontamination as the chamber temperature decreases.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Meijer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:16
CPC Classifications
B; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B02C19/0056; B02C19/0075; A; A61; A61L; A61L11/00; A61L2/00; A61L2/24; B09; B09B; B09B3/00; B09B3/30; B09B3/35; B09B3/70; B09B2101/00; B09B2101/65; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/38; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to, maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste pass through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a liquid disinfectant concentration, said device comprising: means for measuring said chamber temperature of said reaction chamber; a means for determining said disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber; a means for heating said reaction chamber; and a control unit connected to said measuring means, said determining means and said heating means, said control unit calculating a set point temperature as a function of said specified rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration and maintaining said specified rate of kill by monitoring said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration and selectively operating said heating means to heat said reaction chamber when said heating means to below said set point temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to, maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste pass through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a liquid disinfectant concentration, said device comprising: means for measuring said chamber temperature of said reaction chamber; a means for determining said disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber; a means for heating said reaction chamber; and a control unit connected to said measuring means, said determining means and said heating means, said control unit calculating a set point temperature as a function of said specified rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration and maintaining said specified rate of kill by monitoring said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration and selectively operating said heating means to heat said reaction chamber when said heating means to below said set point temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said control unit calculates a set point temperature as a function of said specified rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration, said control unit maintaining said chamber temperature at or above said set point temperature by operating said heating means to heat said chamber when said chamber temperature is below said set point temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pump connected to and control unit, said pump being in fluid communication with said chamber and a reservoir containing disinfectant, said pump moving disinfectant for said reservoir to said chamber when said control unit determines said chamber temperature exceeds a predetermined ideal temperature T I .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring temperature of said reaction probe in said reaction comprises a thermometer having a temperature probe in said reaction chamber, said thermometer being electrically connected to said control unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for determining disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber comprises a gas analyzer electrically connected to said control unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for determining disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber further comprises an air stripper in fluid communication with said reaction chamber and said gas analyzer, said stripper selectively removing gas samples from said chamber and providing said gas samples to said gas analyzer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said control unit comprises a CPU and a memory connected to said CPU.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device as recited in claim 7 wherein said control unit further comprises a keypad for entry of said specified rate of kill by an operator, said key pad being electrically connected to said CPU.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device as recited in claim 8 wherein said control unit further comprises a visual display indicating said specified rate of kill entered by said operator, said visual display being electrically connected to said CPU.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as recited in claim 9 wherein said visual display further indicates said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passes through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a liquid disinfectant concentration, said device comprising: a means for inputting said specified rate of kill; a means for measuring said chamber temperature of said reaction chamber; a means for determining said disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber; a means for heating said reaction chamber; a means for adding disinfectant to said reaction chamber; and a control unit connected to said measuring means, said determining means, said heating means and said adding means, said control unit calculation a set point temperature as a function of said rate of kill and said chamber disinfectant concentration and maintaining said specified rate of kill by monitoring said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration and selectively operating said adding means when said chamber temperature exceeds a predetermined ideal temperature T I and selectively operating said heating means when said chamber temperature is below said set point temperature in order to maintain said specified rate of kill.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passes through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a liquid disinfectant concentration, said device comprising: a means for inputting said specified rate of kill; a means for measuring said chamber temperature of said reaction chamber; a means for determining said disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber; a means for heating said reaction chamber; a means for adding disinfectant to said reaction chamber; and a control unit connected to said measuring means, said determining means, said heating means and said adding means, said control unit calculation a set point temperature as a function of said rate of kill and said chamber disinfectant concentration and maintaining said specified rate of kill by monitoring said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration and selectively operating said adding means when said chamber temperature exceeds a predetermined ideal temperature T I and selectively operating said heating means when said chamber temperature is below said set point temperature in order to maintain said specified rate of kill.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said control unit calculates a set point temperature as a function of said rate of kill and chamber disinfectant concentration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for measuring temperature of said reaction chamber comprises a thermometer having a temperature probe in said reaction chamber, said thermometer being electrically connected to said control unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for adding disinfectant to said reaction chamber comprises a pump in fluid communication with said reaction chamber and a reservoir containing said disinfectant from said reservoir to said pump selectively moving disinfectant from said reservoir to said chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said control unit selectively operates said heating means when said chamber temperature is below said setpoint temperature and selectively operates said adding means when said chamber temperature is above said ideal temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for determining disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber comprises a gas analyzer electrically connected to said control unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for determining disinfectant concentration of said reaction chamber further comprises an air stripper in fluid communication with said reaction chamber and said gas analyzer, said air stripper selectively removing air samples from said chamber and providing said air samples to said gas analyzer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said control unit comprises a CPU and a memory connected to said CPU.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as recited in claim 18 wherein said inputting means comprises a keypad for entry of said specified rate of kill by an operator, said key pad being electrically connected to said CPU.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device as recited in claim 19 wherein said control unit further comprises a visual display indicating said specified rate of kill entered by said operator, said visual display being electrically connected to said CPU.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said visual display further indicates said chamber temperature and said chamber disinfectant concentration.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passed through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a disinfectant concentration, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring said chamber temperature using a thermometer having an electrical output; monitoring said disinfectant concentration using as gas analyzer having an electrical output; calculating a set point temperature as a function of said rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration using a control unit connected to said analyzer, said control unit having as inputs the electrical outputs of said thermometer and said gas analyzer; and maintaining said rate of kill by heating said reaction chamber when said chamber temperature is below said calculated set point temperature.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passed through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a disinfectant concentration, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring said chamber temperature using a thermometer having an electrical output; monitoring said disinfectant concentration using as gas analyzer having an electrical output; calculating a set point temperature as a function of said rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration using a control unit connected to said analyzer, said control unit having as inputs the electrical outputs of said thermometer and said gas analyzer; and maintaining said rate of kill by heating said reaction chamber when said chamber temperature is below said calculated set point temperature.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of adding disinfectant to said reaction chamber when said chamber is above an predetermined ideal temperature T I .
Claim 27
Independent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in clam 23 wherein said adding disinfectant step comprises: providing a reservoir containing said disinfectant and a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir and said chamber; and operating said pump to move said disinfectant from said reservoir to said chamber.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in clam 23 wherein said adding disinfectant step comprises: providing a reservoir containing said disinfectant and a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir and said chamber; and operating said pump to move said disinfectant from said reservoir to said chamber.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passes through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a disinfectant concentration, said method comprising the steps of: a. monitoring said chamber temperature using a thermometer having an electrical output; b. monitoring said disinfectant concentration using a concentration analyzer having an electrical output; c. calculating a set point temperature, as a function of said rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration, using a control unit connected to said thermometer and said gas analyzer, said control unit having as inputs the electrical outputs of said thermometer and said gas analyzer; d. maintaining said rate of kill by heating said reaction chamber when said chamber temperature is below said calculated set point temperature; and e. repeating steps c. and d. at predetermined intervals during the decontamination process.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for regulating decontamination of waste in a reaction chamber to maintain a specified rate of kill as the waste passes through the reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a chamber temperature and a disinfectant concentration, said method comprising the steps of: a. monitoring said chamber temperature using a thermometer having an electrical output; b. monitoring said disinfectant concentration using a concentration analyzer having an electrical output; c. calculating a set point temperature, as a function of said rate of kill and said disinfectant concentration, using a control unit connected to said thermometer and said gas analyzer, said control unit having as inputs the electrical outputs of said thermometer and said gas analyzer; d. maintaining said rate of kill by heating said reaction chamber when said chamber temperature is below said calculated set point temperature; and e. repeating steps c. and d. at predetermined intervals during the decontamination process.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 25 wherein said maintaining step comprises the sub-step of adding disinfectant to said reaction chamber when said chamber is above an predetermined ideal temperature T I .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |