CA2162693A1 - Waste disposal device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for disposing of preferably infectious and/or toxic waste, comprising a processing (treatment) chamber, including a processing section with spaces for the waste-receiving containers, at least one source of heat, at least one connecting member, preferably a hollow piercing or injection needle which is connectable to at least one supply or discharge conduit, the processing section including preferably according to the invention a header section for each supply or discharge conduit.

Description

216269~

A WASTE DISPOSAL DEVICE

BACRGROUND OF T~E lNv~N-llON

Field of the Invention The invention relates to a device for disposing of preferably infectious waste and to a vehicle on which the device according to the invention may be arranged, as set forth in the preambles of claims 1 and 27 respectively.

Description of the Related Art One such device comprises a processing (treatment) chamber including a processing section with spaces for waste-receiving containers. At least one heat source is located in the processing chamber. Connecting members, preferably hollow needles connectable to supply or discharge conduits are also provided in the processing chamber.

In hospitals, joint medical practice facilities, biological and gene laboratories and the like it is often the case that large quantities of waste result which are classified as infectious waste. Such infectious waste needs to be disposed of as hazardous waste.

In-house systems in hospitals for such purposes are hardly a paying proposition due to the procurement costs, operating and maintenance expense etc, involved, since such systems fail to be made full use of by usual-size hospitals or joint medical practice facilities, biological or gene laboratories, the same applying to incineration systems.

Furthermore, disposal is currently handled such that the infectious waste is transported in sealed waste-receiving containers from the waste originators to a remote disposal system, e.g. an incineration plant for hazardous waste, the 2l~2693 average travelling distance involved being between 280 and 350 km. In addition, the waste to be transported cannot be compressed prior to being hauled off, so as to ensure effective haulage and effective disposal. On top of this, such waste transport means could possible be involved in an accident underway which may risk contaminating the environment. The transport containers receiving the hazardous waste need to be incinerated and cannot be recycled, which at the rate of roughly 2 kg plastics material per transport container results in quite considerable losses.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to propose a device and/or a vehicle for the disposal of infectious waste which eliminates the disadvantages of prior art as far as possible. More particular, it is the object of the present invention to propose a device which, as compared to known systems, is rugged, less susceptible to failure and is reliable.

This object is achieved by a device and a vehicle in accordance with claim 1 and claim 27 respectively.

Advantageous embodiments are defined by the features of the sub-claims.

In accordance with the invention a header is provided at least for some, preferably for each, of the supply or discharge conduits.

It is of advantage when preferably all headers together with the connecting members, preferably piercing or injection needles, are movable at least vertically, this then 21 f~ 6~3 eliminating the complicated arrangement of hoses and cables necessary with known devices which is often the cause of accidents, unsafe operation and malfunction of known disposal devices.

Instead of the piercing or injection needles, connecting members having threaded or bajonet lock connector ends may also be used which permit connection to the containers with suitably formed ports.

In this respect the spaces locate containers, particularly sealed waste-receiving containers which are pierced by the connecting members when the latter are lowered together with the headers.

Another possibility of providing an equivalent solution may result when the connecting members are stationary and the containers are moved up and down.

The header sections form conveniently a frame-like arrangement movable up or down, preferably vertically, by hydraulic means, a gear rack, a worm drive or the like.

The device to be used in accordance with the invention in conjunction with the containers provides the possibility of reusing the containers or recycling their material which on the basis of several million containers alone in Germany results in quite considerable material savings and in a noticeable reduction in the burden on the environment.

Preferably, each of the header sections, supplying or discharging liquid and/or gaseous media to and from the waste-receiving containers is connected substantially in the middle of the corresponding supply or discharge conduits. In this way it is assured that when a plurality of containers containing waste are lined up, all containers may be filled substantially with the same flow resistance, for example with water, evacuated of steam or gases or charged with compressed air, so that totally the same conditions materialize for a plurality of waste-receiving containers.
Reliable and consistent sterilization can be regularly assured by such an arrangement, as opposed to known devices having a plurality of supply or discharge conduits of differing lengths wherein the infection conditions and the infectional environment, respectively, materializing in the various containers holding infectious waste differ to such an extent that it is not at all assured that the infectious waste is reliably sterilized.

The insensitivity of the device according to the invention may be further enhanced by arranging all header sections in a separate or common header or means thereof, supporting preferably also the connecting members, for example, injection needles.

The connecting members feature a connector end at or into which a plurality of conduits end and port respectively.
This connector end has preferably a cutting surface for perforating or piercing each container holding waste at a preferably prescribed location. The sidewalls of the connecting members are provided expediently with the ports of the supply or discharge conduits, this having the enormous advantage that the port assigned to the cutting surface, when provided, may clog up without this obstructing the sterilization procedure as such. Should namely the connecting member come up against wadding material and the like when piercing a container holding infectious waste, which clogs it up, then the sterilization procedure can be continued with no interruption through the side outlet ports.

To ensure that the containers are sealed during sterilization, at least one sealing means, for example a silicone disk, a silicone pad, a rubber plate or the like is arranged above the connector end and/or the connector ports of the corresponding connecting member, capable of sealing it off to the surroundings in which a container holding waste is pierced. To further safeguard this seal, the sealing means may be supported by it being in contact with, for example, a metal plate on the side opposite the container to be sealed.

Since in practice the containers receiving the infectious waste are mostly introduced into the processing chamber in a fixed formation, the header sections and accordingly also the connecting members are to be arranged longitudinally or vertically to the formation of the containers containing the infectious waste.

Instead of the connecting members, particularly injection needles, the containers or both the containers and the connecting members may also be movable at least vertically.

The supply or discharge conduits accommodated in the header section comprise preferably conduits for the liquid and/or gaseous media which for the purpose of safe sterilization are to be provided insert/retractable. Belonging to these conduits in particular is a vacuum conduit, a water supply conduit and a compressed air supply conduit, the vacuum conduit also being employable simultaneously for disposal of the steam. In addition, electrical supply and control cables may be provided.

If the supply or discharge conduits for the liquid and/or gaseous media have a large cross-section, preferably as large as possible, a pressure equalization among the 21 62~93 .

containers holding infectious waste may be achieved via these conduits. Since the containers holding infectious waste often involve differing materials with differing water and fluid percentages and differing quantities of infectious waste, the pressure and conditions existing during the sterilization procedure may be equalized so that absolutely the same conditions for disinfection materialize in all containers even when the filling degree of the containers to be disinfected differs, thus permitting sterilization with maximum-possible reliability.

To enable the sterilization conditions to be checked at least now and again (temporarily), it is preferred that at least one measuring sensor is provided at the section of each connecting member, preferably of an injection needle introduced into the container holding the waste. This sensor may be capable of measuring temperature, pressure and/or moisture, it being possibly a resistance thermometer, a pressure-sensitive capacitor or the like for this purpose.
It is natural that in the run of the supply or discharge conduits or at each supply or discharge source, for example at a vacuum pump, a water tank, etc. at least one such sensor may be provided, which may also be configured as a means of measuring temperature, pressure and/or moisture to enable all parameters of the sterilization procedure to be monitored optimally.

In the steam evacuation conduit or in the vacuum conduit a filter means, e.g. a sub-microfilter is preferably provided to hold back any bacteria, viruses etc.

It is of particular advantage if upstream of the filter means a cooling means, preferably a condenser, is provided to condense the condensable liquid content in the evacuation steam as far as possible, since this would otherwise clog up the sub-microfilter means in next to no time. The condensate regained from the cooling means may be subsequently additionally sterilized for later return to a sterilizing fluid tank, preferably a water tank, from which it may in turn be reintroduced into a container filled with waste via supply conduits which may be arranged in a header section.
This makes it possible to maintain the quantity of liquid needing to be stored in the device according to the invention at a relatively low level, so that a vehicle carrying the device according to the invention needs to carry a relatively low amount of water required for sterilizing, since this may be recycled to a major proportion following sterilization.

Conveniently, the evaporation and thus the sterilization is affected by microwave radiation, generated by microwave generators assignable to each container holding infectious waste.

The spaces or positions for the containers receiving the waste are conveniently arranged on a movable means which is preferably introducable into/withdrawable from the processing chamber, thus making it possible to maintain the overall height of the device according to the invention low, since the containers may be charged away from the device according to the invention and personal access to the device itself is only required for maintenance purposes. Due to the low overall height the containers or the connecting members, termed "injection needles" in the following, have to be arranged relatively closely above each of the spaces for the containers directly upstream of the sterilization procedure.
In this way only minor vertical distances have to be covered which reduces the malfunction liability of the device according to the invention, thus further improving its reliability.

21 6~ 69 ~

It will be appreciated that the object forming the basis of the invention may be achieved to more advantage and more effectively by a combination of the modification features according to the invention or to advantage, this applying also to the features discussed in the following.

The movable means, preferably embodied drawer-like withdrawable, conveniently includes a supporting plate. The means and/or the supporting plate are formed, at least partly, of a material containing substantially no materials having metallic properties, preferably glass, particularly polycarbonate, Teflon and/or plastic and the like, so that this material presents no obstacles to the microwave radiation of the microwave generators which may be provided under this plate. A plate consisting a conductive material would result in the microwaves being reflected which would greatly limit or obstruct making effective use of the microwave energy for sterilization.

The plate is supported advantageously by at least one spacer from the base of the processing chamber. Via this spacer the plate and thus the movable means are movable within the processing chamber, that is to say, the spacers may be supported by roller rails in or on the base of the process-ing chamber. On the other hand threaded or worm drives and the like may be arranged on or in the base of the processing chamber which engage the spacer(s) and so that the drawer-like withdrawing means, termed "sterilization drawer" in the following, can be moved into a desired position.

In or on the plate recesses and/or protuberances may be formed which preferably permit positioning the waste-receiving containers, termed "waste containers" in the following, as regards the injection needles and/or their support with respect to the injection needles. These 2162~g~

recesses or protuberances are also made of a material constituting no obstruction to microwave radiation, preferably of a dielectric material.

At an end region of the sterilization drawer an end section is arranged which closes off the processing chamber sub-stantially when the sterilization drawer is in a processing position in the processing chamber, resulting in the processing chamber being automatically closed when the sterilization drawer is introduced into the processing chamber, the latter being lockable, particularly microwave-tight, by the end section.

The end section preferably has a preloading means allowing the sterilization drawer to engage the processing chamber with improved sealing effect. This preloading means may be produced by material properties or by an angling of the end section with respect to the wall of the processing chamber or by spring means.

To prevent germs forming and to eliminate any escape of microbes or viruses even more reliably, some or all of the supply or discharge conduits may be provided at least in regions thereof with heating means which generate high temperatures and thus kill off any remaining germs and the like. For this purpose particularly the water supply and condensate discharge conduits may be used, which may be wrapped with electric resistance heating means.

To eliminate the escape of nuisance odors from the device according to the invention filter means, for example, an activated carbon filter and the like may be disposed in the waste air conduit, for example in the discharge conduit for the vacuum pump which may also serve for steam evacuation.

2l62693 It is most particularly advantageous to mount the device according to the invention on a vehicle, for example on a truck.

In this arrangement a water storage tank may be located in the headway of the processing chamber or above the process-ing chamber in the vehicle, this tank including at least one recessed region which is connectable to the injection needles.

Arranging the device according to the invention on a vehicle is particularly of advantage since disinfection can be undertaken at the point of production of the infectious waste in suitably prepared containers. This disinfection may also be carried out when the vehicle is on its way to a waste compactor facility and to a safe garbage disposal plant. In this way, long distances do not need to be covered, since the hazardous waste is converted into safe garbage directly prior to or during transportation.

A processor or computer control may be incorporated in the device or in the vehicle according to the invention to ensure maximum-possible safety irrespective of how attentive the operating personnel is. This corresponding control device ensures stable and consistent disinfection and may alert the operating personnel to a malfunction in operation, for example by means of warning lights and cause the processing chamber to be locked to prevent disposal of infectious waste as safe garbage or household garbage.

The disinfection drawer may be introduced into the processing chamber mounted on the vehicle both from the rear and from the side.

In summary the advantages afforded by the present invention

2~ 62693 are as follows:

Highly infectious waste now no longer needs to be transported over long distances to be able to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Contamination of non-infected areas and germ entrainment are eliminated. Disinfection is possible directly in disposable recycling containers without chemical means, without any odor nuisance and without burdening the environment. A reduction in volume of roughly 80~ by a container compactor and no-problem disposal are possible. In addition, it is possible to reduce the waste, since food and kitchen waste may be disinfected in the same system, but in correspondingly identified containers and made available, for instance, for animal feeding. Thanks to particularly favorable disposal, personnel-intensive sorting operations with the risk of malassignments are eliminated. Waste originators may now assure cost-effective disposal requiring no major investments, this cost-effectiveness resulting in "boot-leg" disposal no longer needing to be feared, since such disposal activities, possibly in violation of regulations, have no cost benefits as compared to disposal provided by the device according to the invention.

One function cycle of the device according to the invention is described in the following by way of example:

Following charging/closing of the containers, 10 of these for example are placed on the disinfection drawer of the device according to the invention. Pressing the start button causes a program stored in the control device to cycle fully automatically. First, the for instance 10 waste containers are drawn into the processing chamber. Together with the header sections, the injection needles, 10 of which may be provided for example, are lowered to pierce the containers with simultaneous sealing of the piercing point. The air is 2162~93 evacuated from the containers via intermediate bacterial filters, for example sub-microfilters. In each of the containers roughly 1 liter of water is injected via the injection needles. Subsequently, a corresponding number of microwave generators of, for instance, 1.2 kilowatt capacity is activated, until a supply of saturated steam of at least approx. +105C at a slight overpressure of for example 0.2 bar is attained.

Disinfection is then cycled in keeping with all authority regulations and requirements of the Federal Health Agency.
Killing off in accordance with the effectiveness and/or test spectrum A, B and C is implemented depending on the category of hazardous waste concerned. If necessary, via the control device a printout may be assigned via the batch No. to a specific waste batch of containers for demonstrating lawful disposal, listing date, time, temperature and pressure as well as, if needed, the nature of the infectious hazardous waste converted into safe garbage.

The subsequent evacuation of the disinfected waste containers is then also cycled through the injection needles or hollow needles, the evacuated steam being condensed and the condensate being recycled. The containers may then be removed from the device according to the invention and the disinfected waste compacted to reduce its volume with or without the container, there then being nothing standing in the way of subsequent disposal together with garbage as usual.

The heating capacity of, for example, 1.2 kilowatt is generated as a rule by preferably water-cooled microwave generators at a usual high frequency of 2.45 Ghz. Generators of this kind are able to provide the capacity needed for disinfection within a few minutes.

-13- 21 62sg~

It will be further appreciated that the device/vehicle according to the invention may also be employed for disinfection and for the treatment of water, for example in disaster areas, after an earthquake, for instance.
Accordingly, the water can be sterilized in the containers or also evaporated, to be obtained from the condensate, this water then being absolutely clean. It merely needs to be enriched with minerals to become potable, or it may be used as distilled water, for instance for medical purposes.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, from which further advantages and features in accordance with the present invention or combination invention are evident, in which:
IG. 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a device configured according to the invention;
IG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with the disinfection drawer partly retracted;
IG. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of the connecting members and their supply or discharge conduits;
IG. 4 iS a schematic representation of a vacuum system of a device congifured according to the invention;
IG. 5 compares a plan view and a side view of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;
and IG. 6 shows an injection needle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention escription of the Preferred Embodiments FIG. 1 represents a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, i.e. a device 10 for disposing of infectious waste. In the device 10 spaces 12 are provided in which containers 14 may be placed. The containers 14 contain as a rule hazardous waste. This hazardous waste may contain infectious and even toxic waste, for example hospital waste, etc.

Behind the plates 16 energy sources are concealed, capable of making energy available for a sterilization procedure.
Concealed behind these plates 16 are usually generators providing a relatively far-reaching energy which may also pass through the walls of the containers 14. For this purpose microwave generators are thus recommended, but also sources of x-ray and other radiation, if required, the radiation needing to be sufficiently intensive to destroy viruses, bacteria and the like. As a rule, however, microwave generators are preferred.

The connecting members 18 are capable of supplying fluids to the containers 14 or discharging the fluids therefrom. These connecting members 18 feature a cutting surface 32 which needs to be sufficiently rugged and sharp to pierce the covers or walls of the containers 14. To enable a tight connection to be achieved between the containers and the sterilization means of the disposal device 10 a sealing means 34, 36 is provided above the cutting surface 32. This sealing means may include, for example, a silicone disk 34, supported by a steel ring, preferably a stainless-steel (V2A) ring 36, so that the seal 34 will not lose its shape 21 626g3 when forced against the wall or cover of the container 14.
The cover of the waste container may be provided with vee-shaped recesses including grooves or other sections, to permit a better seal of the functioning region between the silicone disk and the cover with respect to the environment.

The connecting members 18 are connected via headers or header sections 20, 22 to the various supply or discharge sections of the device 10 according to the invention. Via valves 60 the connecting members 18 are connectable for instance to a water tank 50 or to a vacuum pump or a discharge block 26, these valves 60 being openable or closable for providing a prescribed amount of water for directing water from the water tank 50 via the supply conduits 22 and the connecting members 18 into the pierced containers 14. As soon as a corresponding amount of water has been introduced into the corresponding container 14, the valves 60 concerned are closed and the microwave generators (not shown) come into action. Via sensing means at the tips of the connecting members 18 or in sections in direct fluid contact with the containers 14 within the connecting members 18 the temperature or the moisture content may be measured within the containers 14. Should the amount of water introduced into the container fail to be sufficient, to make the steam atmosphere necessary for the sterilization procedure available, a corresponding valve 60 may be opened to introduce an additional specified amount of water from the water tank 50 into the container 14 concerned. The sterilization procedure is then continued for the containers 14 or also, however, for selected containers 14 until the prescribed parameters are sensed which guarantee materialization of a sterilization atmosphere in any container 14 concerned.

The containers 14 permit being sealed, preferably hermetically, and are still sufficiently tight so as not to contaminate the environment when pressurized, even at a pressure or overpressure of approx. 0.1 to 1 bar or at a vacuum pressure.

Before and, where needed, after the sterilization procedure has taken place, preferably by means of the steam atmosphere, each container 14 concerned may be evacuated by a vacuum system 26 via vacuum conduits 20 and the connecting members 18, the evacuated atmosphere being possible directed through a condenser, for example, a cold water tank (see FIG. 4), to eliminate moisture and condensable constituents from the evacuated atmosphere within the containers 14. If it is feared that the atmosphere evacuated from the containers 14 concerned still contains active bacterial, viral or toxic constituents, the waste gas preferably substantially or totally scrubbed of condensable constituents may be further directed through micro- or sub-microfilters 30 so that no unsterilized waste constituents possibly containing bacteria or toxic remnants are able to escape to the environment from the atmosphere pumped from the containers 14.

In the condenser 26 any condensed water constituents may be returned to the water storage tank 50. At the water storage tank a water level sensor 48 is provided capable of sig-nalling when one or more prescribed water level(s) are no longer attained. The water tank 50 is connected via a flexible connecting hose 24 to the supply conduit 22 and is thus connected to the connecting members 18.

The supply or discharge conduits 20, 22 are configured substantially as rigid tubular frame structures which preferably together with the connecting members or injection needles 18 are moved downwardly onto the containers 14 and 21626~3 returned upwardly following a successful sterilization procedure. This frame-like configuration of the supply or discharge conduits 20, 22 endows the device 10 according to the invention additional stability and an exceptional safety which is a very special substantial advantage of the present invention most particularly in the disposal of highly infectious waste. The structure comprising the supply or discharge conduits 20, 22 is movable up and down via a mechanical mimic arrangement 52, 56 carried by a supporting frame 54. Sensors or displacement detectors are able to dictate the up or down movement over a prescribed distance.
This structure substantial to the invention, allowing also preferably conduits 18, 20, 22 to be selected with large cross-sections and middle connections, where possible, results in high reliability and seal, representing a major advantage in disposal. Here too, materialization of identical sterilization parameters in the, for instance, eight, ten or twelve containers 14 is reliably possible.

The containers 14 are placed on a retractable drawer-like structure 34 accommodating the spaces 12 for the containers 14. The surface of this sterilization or disinfecting drawer structure 34 includes a plate 36 consisting at least in the majority of a dielectric material, having locating markings in the form of protuberances 40, having a counterpart at the base section of each container 14, thus enabling the con-tainers to be precisely arranged so that the cutting surface 32 of each connecting member 18 is able to pierce each con-tainer 14 in a highly restricted region and each container is precisely located with respect to the microwave generators or the irradiating surfaces 16 thereof. The plate 36 may be held in arrangement by spacers or feet consisting at least in part of a dielectric material, preferably of the same kind as that of the plate 36. Since the space or supporting plate 36 is relatively large, large temperature 216~6~93 gradients may materialize due to the spatially restricted effect of each microwave generator assignable to each container 14. This is the reason why the plate 36 should consist of a high-quality glass, polycarbonate, plastic or Teflon and the like, at least in part, so that the material of the plate 36 is not destroyed by the heavy heat gradient and the tension involved. The disinfection or sterilization drawer 34 includes at its one end a cover or a closure 42 which shields off the disinfection space or disinfection chamber, surrounding at least parts of the device 10, from the environment, to prohibit any, possibly hazardous, microwave leakage. Depending on the nature of irradiation selected, the disinfection chamber may be of stainless steel, lead or the like.

Via for example a hydraulic mechanism 46,44 the sterilization drawer 34 is retractable from/reinsertable into the sterilization chamber. By the added force of the additional articulated link 44 the cover 42 can be pressed into place on the bordering region of the sterilization chamber. Apart from this, the cover 42 may be used via the articulated link as a ramp.

In FIG. 2, the same as in all others FIGS., like reference numerals identify like components or components having the same function, the same also applying to reference numerals elevated by 100 (14 and 114, for instance).

FIG. 2 shows the device 10 in accordance with FIG. 1 with the sterilization drawer 34 partly retracted, the double-ended arrow 34a indicating the possible directions of movement of the sterilization drawer 34. In the situation represented, the connecting members 18 are still to pierce the containers 14, or are already withdrawn therefrom. In the first case the containers 14 still contain unsterilized waste, whilst in the second case they contain sterilized waste which may be processed further as safe garbage.

As is evident, the frame containing the supply or discharge conduits 20, 22 is supported with respect to the carrying frame 54 with the the connecting members 18 together in an elevated position in which the containers together with the sterilization drawer 34 are freely movable under the cutting surfaces 32 as indicated by the double-ended arrow.

In FIG. 2 the unit comprising the supply or discharge conduits 120, 122 together with the connecting members 118 provided thereon is represented movable in common as the function frame 100. The supply frame 22, via which water is directable from the water tank 15 to the connecting members 118 is connectable to/disconnectable from the connecting members 118 via the valves 160. The discharge conduits or the discharge frame 120 assigned to the discharge conduits is connectable to a pump or vacuum block 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) via filter means 130, for instance micro- or sub-microfilters.

In the operating situation represented in FIG. 3 the connecting members 118 are in the down position, that is to say the cutting surfaces 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) have pierced the covers 115 of the containers 114, so that the disinfection system of the device 10 configured in accordance with the invention is in connection with the containers 114. The silicone sealing disk 134 or the stainless steel disk 136 ensures the necessary tight jointing of the sterilization system to the corresponding containers 114.

FIG. 4 depicts the pump and vacuum system 226 of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present 2162~9~

invention. A cold water tank 202 may serve as a condenser for the atmosphere evacuated from the containers 14, 114, here too a cooling unit being provided, if necessary. Valves 206, 208 serve to interconnect each of the conduits or for venting, dumping or the supply of fresh coolant or water.

Each vacuum pump 204 capable of generating at least a vacuum in the prevacuum range evacuates the atmosphere stemming from the containers 14, 114 through the cooling water tank 202, for example, via spiral conduit passing through the cooling tank 202. The condensate may be evacuated from the condenser or coolant tank 202, for example, via the valving 208.

A compressor 203 supplies each of the systems concerned of the device configured in accordance with the invention with compressed air. The atmosphere last to be evacuated from the containers may be passed through an odor filter 201, for example, an activated carbon filter or the like, to avoid an odor nuisance to the environment.

In FIG. 5 the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is again depicted. In addition to the features also to be found in FIGS. 1 and 2 a cavity 17 for the microwave generators is illustrated in FIG. 5. Depending on the geometry of the treatment or processing chamber of the device according to the invention in the arrangement shown here only nine microwave generators are disposed as compared to a total of ten containers 14, 114, these generators generating a field sufficient to make the steam atmosphere available for sterilizing the contents of the containers.

In FIG. 5 various drive shafts or articulated links 52a, b, c are further evident, which are necessary for synchronous movement of the function frame 100 which is particularly 216269~J

evident in FIG. 3. For the movement both hydraulic as well as mechanical spindle drives and comparable devices may be used.

Evident in FIG. 6 is an injection needle 18 which is configured in accordance with the present invention, it comprising a cutting surface 32 and a lower water outlet.
Since the cutting surface is liable to clog up with waste in piercing a container 14, side water outlets or side pump ports 32a are provided at the side walls which permit the necessary disinfection conditions to materialize even if the cutting surface 32 with the the lower water outlet is clogged up. At the lower water outlet of the injection needle 18 sensors may also be provided, for example, to measure temperature, pressure and moisture and any further parameters necessary within the containers 14 during the disinfection procedure.

Above the side outlet ports 32a and the lower outlet port 32 a seal 34, 36, preferably as a silicone sealing ring 34, is disposed which may be supported by a steel ring 35, particularly a stainless-steel (V2A) ring.

Claims (28)

What is claimed is:

1. A device (10) for disposing of preferably infectious waste comprising a processing (treatment) section including spaces (12) for the waste-receiving containers (14), at least one source of energy or heat (16), and at least one connecting member (18), preferably a piercing hollow or injection needle which is connectable to at least one supply and/or discharge conduit (20, 22, 24) characterized by the following features:
said treatment or processing section is provided with at least one header section (20, 22, 24) for each supply conduit or discharge conduit.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that preferably all said header sections (20, 22, 24) are movable vertically together with said connecting members (18).

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 and 2, characterized in that said header section(s) form(s) a frame-like arrangement.

4. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said header sections (20, 22, 24) supplying or discharging the liquid and/or gaseous fluids are connectable substantially in the middle to each said supply or discharge (26, 28, 30) so that the fluids to be supplied or discharged cover preferably substantially the same distances.

5. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in each of said header sections is arranged in a separate or common header pipe or header means (20, 22) on which preferably also said connecting members (18) are supported.

6. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said connecting members (18) comprise a connector end, particularly a piercing needle or cannula (32) at which a plurality of conduits end or port.

7. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the connector end a cutting surface is disposed and/or the sidewalls of said connecting members (18, 32) comprise the connecting ports of said conduits (20, 22, 24).

8. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that above said connecting end and/or said connecting ports a sealing means (34, 36), for example a silicone disk (34), a silicone pad, a rubber plate and the like is provided, capable of sealing a container (14) in the pierced condition of the connecting members (18, 32).

9. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said header section(s) (20,22) is/are extendible longitudinal or vertically to the formation order of said containers (14).

10. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said containers (14) and/or said connecting members (18, 32) are movable vertically.

11. The device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that fluid or liquid and/or gaseous media are suppliable and dischargable via said conduits (18, 20, 22, 24), in particular that at least one vacuum conduit, one water supply conduit, one compressed air conduit and one steam discharge conduit each and/or electrical supply and control cables are provided.

12. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims characterized in that said supply or discharge conduits (20, 22) feature a large cross-section.

13. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at said connecting members (18, 32), preferably at the piercing tips (32) thereof, sensors are disposed, preferably for measuring temperature, pressure and/or moisture content.

14. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said discharge conduit for the steam or in said vacuum conduit a filter means, e.g. a sub-microfilter is disposed, preferably for holding back bacteria, viruses and the like.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that upstream of said filter means a cooling means, preferably a condenser, is disposed.

16. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the condensed liquid is sterilizable and treatable for reuse.

17. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containers receiving said waste are connectable via said connecting members and said water conduits and/or said vacuum conduits to permit an equalization between said containers holding said infectious waste so that during the disinfection treatment uniform conditions of treatment or processing may materialize.

18. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that spaces (12) for the waste-receiving containers are disposed on a movable means (34) which is preferably inserted retractable as a kind of drawer in said processing chamber.

19. The device as set forth in claim 18, characterized in that said means (34) includes a supporting plate (36) and this at least including a substantially dielectric material, preferably glass, polycarbonate, Teflon and/or the like or consisting thereof.

20. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate is supported by at least one spacer (38) and is preferably movable thereby from and into said processing chamber, said spacer being at least partly or sectionwise of the same material as said plate.

21. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that on said plate recesses and/or protuberances (40) are formed which preferably permit positioning of said waste-receiving containers as regards said connecting members and their support.

22. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at an end region of said movable means (34) or of said plate an end section (42) is arranged which closes off said processing container substantially when said movable means (34) is in a processing position in said container.

23. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a microwave generator (16) is arrangable in said processing chamber preferably for each of the waste-receiving containers (14).

24. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end section (42) is introducable into said system to seal off the bordering regions of said processing chamber, tight, particularly microwave-tight.

25. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end section (42) includes preloading endowing said end section with an improved sealing effect.

26. The device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of said supply or discharge conduits (20, 22) are provided at least in regions thereof with heating means, for example, in that the water supply and condensate discharge conduits are wrapped with electrical resistance heating elements.

27. A vehicle, characterized in that said device as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 26 is arranged on or at said vehicle.

28. The vehicle as set forth in claim 27, characterized in that in said vehicle in the headroom of said processing chamber or above said processing chamber a water storage tank (50) is disposed which includes in particular at least one recess area which is connectable to said connecting members (18, 32).