FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to waste collection systems for the collection of medical waste generated during medical and surgical procedures. More particularly, this invention relates to a waste collection system that is easily transportable within a surgical facility and that can hold a large volume of medical waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A byproduct of the performance of some medical and surgical procedures is the generation of liquid, semi-solid and solid waste. This waste includes body fluids, such as blood, and irrigating solutions that are introduced to the body site at which the procedure is performed. Solid and semisolid waste generated during a procedure includes bits of tissue and small pieces of the surgical material that may be left at the site. Ideally, the waste is collected upon generation so it neither fouls the surgical site nor becomes a biohazard in the operating room or other location at which the procedure is being performed.

A number of systems are available for use by surgical personnel for collecting this waste as it is generated. Generally, these units include a suction source, tubing that extends from the suction source and a containment unit between the tubing and the suction source. When the system is actuated, waste is drawn through the opening end of the tubing. The suction draws the waste through the tubing so that it flows into and is stored in the containment unit. One such system is Applicants' Assignee's NEPTUNE surgical waste collection system. This particular system includes a mobile unit that includes a suction pump and two canisters. Tubing is connected to each canister through a removable manifold. Since this unit is mobile, it can be positioned in relatively close proximity to the patient on which the procedure is being performed. This reduces the extent to which the suction tubing, which invariably also functions as operating room clutter, is present around the surgical personnel. This system is wheeled away from the surgical location or operating room to a docking station to be emptied and cleaned. This system also has features that reduce the extent to which the surgical and support personnel are potentially exposed to the materials collected by the system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,898, issued Nov. 24, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a number of features of this system.

The prior art waste collection systems have many advantages. There are some limitations that diminish their utility. First, because the suction pump is mounted to the mobile unit, where limited space is available for noise abatement materials and treatment methods, higher than desired noise levels may be present in close proximity to the surgical area. Second, current versions of the waste collection system can store on the order of 24 liters of medical/surgical waste. The weight of the mobile unit, with the containers filled close to capacity can be difficult for some medical personnel to move between the surgical location or operating room and the docking station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a new and useful waste collection system for the collection of medical waste generated during medical and surgical procedures. The system of this invention includes a mobile rover that can be selectively coupled and uncoupled with a mobile chassis. The mobile chassis has a chassis vacuum coupler and the mobile rover has a rover vacuum coupler. The rover vacuum coupler is connectable with the chassis vacuum coupler to form a vacuum seal between the mobile chassis and the mobile rover. A waste container is mounted to the mobile rover and is coupled with one or more suction lines. A vacuum source is mounted to the mobile chassis. The vacuum source provides a suction fluid communication path from the surgical site through the suction lines, the waste container, the rover vacuum coupler and the chassis vacuum coupler.

In many versions of this invention, the system also includes a static docker. The rover and docker are provided with complementary fluid couplings. The rover couplings are connected to a line through which waste fluid is transported for disposal.

The system of this invention is used by first positioning the chassis, with the rover attached, adjacent the location where the medical/surgical procedure is to be performed. A suction applicator and tubing is connected to the rover waste container. The chassis suction pump is actuated. The suction pump draws a suction on the suction applicator through the waste container. As a consequence of the suction draw, waste is drawn through the applicator and temporarily stored in the container.

When it is desired to empty the rover waste container, the rover is disconnected from the chassis. The rover is then moved to the docker. Once the rover is docked to the docker, the rover container is emptied. The waste is transferred through the docker fluid couplings into the connected disposal lines. Moving components from the mobile unit (Rover) to the chassis that stays in the OR reduces the weight and size of the device that is moved back and forth to the docker.

In an alternative version of the system of this invention, the chassis, the unit to which the suction pump is mounted is static. In these versions of the invention, prior to the start of the procedure, the rover is positioned to be mated to the chassis. During the procedure, the rover stays static with the chassis. When it is desired to empty the container, the rover is manually pushed from the chassis to the docker.

It is a further feature of this invention that the chassis functions as an instrument rack. More particularly, the chassis holds medical equipment, often power consoles that are used during the procedure in which the waste collection unit is employed. Since the power consoles or racked equipment used in a procedure are a function of the procedure, the chassis is designed so that this equipment can be removably attached to the chassis. Thus, the chassis is loaded with the equipment needed for the specific procedure prior to the start of the procedure.

When compared to having a separate equipment cart, combining the equipment rack with the chassis reduces the overall footprint occupied in the operating room. This creates additional valuable space around the surgical table and reduces clutter. Locating equipment in the same location as the surgical suction device simplifies routing of tubes and wires. The equipment rack reduces the number of power cords going to the wall, thereby eliminating trip hazards and making the positioning of other wheeled equipment easier in the operating room.

In versions of this invention wherein the chassis is a mobile chassis, the chassis thus serves as the device that is used to adjustably position not just the waste collection rover but, also the attached equipment, so it is in a position in the procedure room that the personnel using the equipment find most useful for the procedure.

A feature of the system of this invention is that different rovers can, at different times, be docked to the same docker. A medical facility that employs the system of this invention can have plural rovers and plural chasses. Given that the individual rovers can be docked to the common docker, the system of this invention does not require the facility to provide a separate dedicated docker for each rover. In some facilities, it may only be necessary to provide a single docker for receiving the waste from all of the rovers. Another feature of the system of this invention is that different size rovers can be mated with the same chassis. The different size rovers can hold different amounts of medical waste.

