Pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly

Abstract

A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly (10) for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste comprises a first receiver body (19) and a first reaction agent (287). The first receiver body (19) receives the pharmaceutical waste. The first receiver body (19) includes a receiver bottom (283), The first reaction agent (287) is positioned within the first receiver body (19) and spaced apart from the receiver bottom (283), The pharmaceutical waste reacts with the first reaction agent (287) to change the pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the pharmaceutical waste is unrecoverable. The first receiver body (19) can receive fluid pharmaceutical waste and / or solid pharmaceutical waste. The first reaction agent (287) may include one or more of a denaturant, an emetic and a bittering agent. For example, the first reaction agent (287) may include one or more of quinine, ipecac and denatonium benzoate.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 587,656, filed August 16, 2012, entitled "PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE DISPOSAL ASSEMBLY," which is a continuation-in-part and claimed in 2010 Co-pending US Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 768,044, filed April 27, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted. Background technique [0003] The disposal of pharmaceutical waste has long been the focus of medical professionals. Pharmaceutical waste can include both liquids and solids, to name a few, expired medications, partially filled vials, mixed IV products, broken or spilled substances, undispensed compounded products, expired items that have been discontinued, Unused unit-dose items, unused IV products, patient personal medications, and certain hazardous waste. Additionally, pharmaceutical waste can be "raw," such that the waste does not include any ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] Attempts to address these issues have not been entirely satisfactory

For example, some relatively expensive waste receiver systems require that waste medications remain in their original barcoded containers, which may be impractical in some cases, e.g., raw waste

Plus, utilizing dozens or even hundreds of these types of waste systems in one hospital can be cost-prohibitive

Additionally, the size of these types of waste disposal systems may make it impractical to provide such systems at every point of use around a healthcare facility

Furthermore, such systems can be relatively bulky and difficult to move, and can take up a lot of valuable floor space in, for example, a hospital

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