FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device for sterilising infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste. In particular, this device can be used inside hospitals, dental practices and in any place where it is necessary to provide the prior sterilisation of waste before its actual disposal. It should be noted that, although from here and hereafter we will preferably and mainly refer to hospital-type waste, nevertheless any infectious risk material is comprised within the scope of this patent.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

The management of infectious medical waste currently has some management problems, mainly linked to organisational shortcomings in the disposal chains implemented. To reinforce an already precarious situation, there is also a legislative shortcoming that does not properly govern that part of the infectious risk waste disposal chain represented by the “pre-storage step”. This term means that step that precedes the delivery of the hazardous waste generated to the local temporary local warehouse, while waiting to entrust it to the reference carrier to be sent to the disposal plant. Current sector regulations, in fact, govern very well the management of this type of waste only after it has been delivered to the temporary warehouse, whereby strict and very precise disposal schedules are provided. The entire step prior to delivery to the local temporary warehouse, on the other hand, is left to the common sense of the local administrator. The step of pre-storing medical waste is in fact the weak link in the disposal chain.

The consequences are quite serious and involve a drastic increase in the risk of internal infection, precisely in those healthcare facilities where the control of this type of hazard should be at its maximum levels.

The increase in infectious risk, linked to what has been stated above, falls both on the healthcare workers who work daily in the designated facilities and on the present assisted inpatient population. This problem is caused not only by inadequate logistical management but also by the lack of a system capable of handling infectious risk waste in real time, so as to knock down its dangerousness, within a short period of time from its production. In fact, the difficulties in the logistical management of infectious medical waste are known, due to compliance with the regulations in force that require it to be moved, for disposal purposes, within rigid time intervals much shorter than those provided for other types of waste.

Furthermore, this is made even more complicated by the fact that there is a quantity of infectious risk waste produced, which becomes more marked in particular periods linked to the development of pandemics (such as the current COVID 19). Serious consequences on the final disposal chains with an increase in the amount of waste to be treated and an increase in the possibility of critical situations occurring due to exceeding accommodation capacity limits.

According to known art, devices are known that enable the disposal of hospital waste. For example, the document WO2016/028593 describes a device for the treatment of medical waste by using steam at high temperature and pressure. This device combines both the sterilising chamber and the steam generator. The device can be self-contained or can be displaced by a person of average strength and skill. The device of self-contained type requires no special installation, connections, plumbing systems or permanent or semi-permanent electrical connections.

This solution is not free from drawbacks. In fact, not only does the device in question not allow to obtain accurate sterilisation of the stored waste, but it still requires a large amount of energy for heating the water used in the form of steam for the sterilisation. Furthermore, the operators are in any case forced to reach the device, thus carrying the waste from the wards to the device, resulting in health risks for both operators and people who still pass through the areas through which the aforementioned device for waste sterilisation is reached.

Additionally, the document US2007196232A1 in the name of Klaptchuk Peter describes a device used in the field of waste treatment and, in particular, in the treatment and disposal of biomedical waste products.

The document RU2692631 in the name of Zlobinova Valentina Sergeevna also describes a mobile plant for the treatment of waste by means of ozone. The plant comprises an ozone generator, a grinder, an auger, a container and a supporting structure. The unit is made as a single module.

Therefore, object of the present invention is to make a sterilisation device for infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste, which is structurally simple, is capable of ensuring a high level of safety for the personnel using it and is also much more effective than devices for sterilising infectious risk material of known art.

Further object of the present invention is to make a sterilisation device that can be easily carried.

Finally, object of the present invention is to implement a method to make the operation of the sterilisation device, according to the invention, simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by means of a device for sterilising infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste, comprising a frame, at least one first chamber integrally constrained to said frame for the treatment of said medical waste, and at least one first gate integrally constrained to said at least one first chamber and movable between a first position to allow the introduction of said hospital waste, directly or indirectly, into said at least one first chamber and a second position for preventing the introduction of said medical waste into said at least one first chamber, said device further comprising means for administering ozone in a controlled manner within said at least one first chamber for sterilising said waste, directly or indirectly, within said at least one first chamber.

This solution allows to significantly increase the level of sterilisation of infectious risk waste, especially of the hospital type, since this process is carried out through means for administering ozone in a controlled manner without requiring a huge level of energy, as is instead required in devices of known art which use steam under pressure.

Additionally, the device comprises at least one second chamber for loading said waste within said device, wherein said at least one second chamber is positioned above said first chamber in such a way that, at least when said first gate is in said first position, said waste is directly or indirectly introduced into said at least one first chamber. Again, the device comprises at least one second gate integrally constrained to said at least one second chamber and movable between a first position to allow the loading of said waste, directly or indirectly, within said at least one second chamber, and a second position for preventing the introduction of said waste into said at least one second chamber.

In practice, therefore, the second chamber allows infectious risk waste to be loaded by separating it from the first chamber where the actual waste treatment takes place.

Additionally, said at least one first chamber comprises a removable container within which said infectious risk waste introduced into said at least one first chamber is directly transferred to be sterilised. In particular, said at least one first chamber further comprises an airtight door for inserting/extracting said container into/from said at least one first chamber.

This allows sterilisation to take place within containers that can then be carried to the hospital waste collection and disposal centre, while still allowing the sterilisation device to operate by simply inserting another container within the first sterilisation chamber or inserting the same container after the waste has been transferred to another container.

Furthermore, said means for administering ozone in a controlled manner comprise at least one ozone generator and at least one delivery conduit for the administration of said ozone within said at least one first chamber and/or within said at least one container.

According to the embodiment described herein, the device also comprises suctioning means for suctioning the ozone present within said at least one first chamber and/or said at least one second chamber, at least after the administration of such ozone within said at least one first chamber, wherein said suctioning means are integrally constrained to said frame.

Furthermore, said device comprises one or more activated charcoal filters for filtering the ozone suctioned by said ozone suctioning means from said at least one first chamber and/or from said at least one second chamber and converting it back to its non-hazardous diatomic form. Additionally, said device composes at least one first ozone level detection sensor arranged within said at least one first chamber and/or at least one second ozone level detection sensor arranged within said at least one second chamber.

This allows both to control the level of ozone concentration present in the first and/or second chambers as well as to control the delivery of ozone within the first chamber and/or to verify the presence of ozone in the first and/or second chambers so as to allow the second gate to then be safely opened.

Additionally, said device comprises at least one level sensor for determining the filling of said container contained in said at least one first chamber. This level sensor is in said first chamber. Preferably, such device also comprises a sensor for determining the presence of said container in said at least one first chamber.

Advantageously, said device comprises at least one control unit for controlling the opening of said at least one first gate and/or said at least one second gate and/or the actuation of said ozone generating means and/or said suctioning means depending on said at least one first ozone concentration detection sensor and/or said at least one second ozone concentration detection sensor and/or said at least one level sensor and/or said at least one occupancy sensor for detecting the waste collection container in said at least first chamber.

Again, said at least one second chamber comprises grinding means for grinding said loaded hospital waste.

Finally, said device comprises a plurality of wheels constrained to said frame for moving said device in such a way that it can be carried from ward to ward and, then, once the waste collected from time to time has been sterilised and loaded into the container and the container has been completely filled, it is possible to replace the container with a new one or to reinsert the container emptied of the sterilised waste and to transport the sterilised waste to the waste collection and disposal centre.

Furthermore, the device comprises an assisted movement system operated by the user and again managed by the control unit.

The objects of the invention are also achieved thanks to a device for sterilising infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste, according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps of a) introducing into said at least one first chamber said infectious risk waste at least when said at least one first gate is in its first position; b) bringing said at least one first gate to its second position; characterised by comprising step c) of administering ozone within said at least one first chamber for sterilising said infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste, directly or indirectly introduced into said at least one first chamber during said step a).

Additionally, step a) comprises step aO) of inserting said removable container within said at least one first chamber, said hospital waste being directly introduced into said at least one removable container.

Furthermore, said step a) is preceded by the step dl) of loading said infectious risk waste within said at least one second chamber, at least when said at least one first gate is in its second position and said at least one second gate is in its first position, and by the step d2) of returning said second gate to said second position at the end of said step dl).

Step c) is carried out even if the first chamber, or the container, is not completely filled with infectious risk waste. In practice, steps a), b) and c) can be repeated until the first chamber, or the container, is completely filled. This allows, therefore, infectious risk waste to be sterilised as it is introduced into the first chamber (or into the container, if present in the first chamber). The device can therefore be carried from one chamber to another, e.g., of a hospital and, during transport, the hospital waste that was previously loaded is sterilised before new hospital waste is loaded within the chamber or the container. This procedure ends when the first chamber or the container is completely full. Thus, the transport of hospital waste always takes place in utmost safety, since there is no possibility that such waste can in any way contaminate environments or people when it is inside the device 1.

Additionally, said step c) is followed by the step e) of suctioning ozone from said at least one first chamber and/or from said at least one removable container and/or from said at least one second chamber, wherein said suctioning step e) comprises the step eO) of measuring the level reached by said waste in said at least one first chamber or in said container.

Depending on the level reached by the waste within said at least one first chamber, or in said container, we will have two distinct ways in which the suctioning step is performed during step e).

In particular, if said level reached by said waste within said first chamber, or said container, and measured in said step e) is lower than the maximum attainable level, said step e) comprises step el) of suctioning the contents of said at least second chamber at least when said first gate is in said second closed position; conversely, if said level reached by said waste within said first chamber, or said container, and measured in said step e) is equal to or higher than the maximum attainable level, said step e) comprises step e2) of suctioning the contents of said first chamber and said second chamber at least when said first gate is in said first open position. In particular, in said step el) and in said step e2), said second gate is in said second closed position.

Additionally, step e) further comprises step e3) of detecting the ozone concentration within said at least one first chamber and/or said at least one second chamber and allowing the opening of said second gate and/or said door only after the ozone value within said at least one first chamber and/or said at least one second chamber has dropped to a level that is not dangerous to humans, i.e. a minimum level of about 0.3 ppm.

Additionally, said step e) is followed by the step of extracting said container containing risk material/hospital waste sterilised for their disposal from said at least one first chamber.

Finally, said step c) comprises the step of detecting the concentration of said ozone within said at least one first chamber, or said container, and the step of controlling the actuation of said ozone generator depending on the concentration detected in said at least one first chamber, or said container, preferably, the flow of ozone introduced into said at least one first chamber, or in said container, being varied in such a way as to maintain the ozone concentration constant within said at least one first chamber or within said container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES These and other aspects of the present invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided here only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1A is an axonometric view of the device, according to the invention, for sterilising infectious risk material, preferably hospital waste;

Figure IB is a front view of the device of figure 1 A;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the device of figure 1 during the introduction/extraction of the container into/from the first chamber^

Figure 3A is a schematic front view of the device according to the invention, in accordance with a second embodiment;

Figure 3B is an axonometric view of the device of figure 3 A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in figures 1A and IB, the device 1 for sterilising medical waste such as, e.g., gauze, gloves, cannulae, drainages, catheters, intravenous drips, masks and the like, comprises a frame 2, a first chamber 3 integrally constrained to the frame 2 for the treatment of the medical waste, and a first gate 4 integrally constrained to the first chamber 3, above it, and movable between a first position to allow the introduction of hospital waste into the first chamber 3 and a second position for preventing the introduction of medical waste into the first chamber 3. This device 1 further comprises means 50 for administering ozone in a controlled manner within the first chamber 3 for sterilising said medical waste introduced into the first chamber 3. This is carried out when the gate 4 is in its second position, i.e. in the closed position in order to avoid dispersion of the ozone into the environment.

Additionally, the device 1 comprises a second chamber 5 for loading medical waste within the device 1. This second chamber 5 is integrally constrained to the frame 2 and is positioned above the first chamber 3 in such a way that, at least when the first gate 4 is in said first (open) position, the medical waste is introduced into the first chamber 3 while it remains in the second chamber 5, when such gate 4 is in its second (closed) position.

As shown in the accompanying figures, the device 1 further comprises a second gate 6 integrally constrained to the second chamber 5 and movable between a first position to allow the loading of said hospital waste within the second chamber 5 and a second position for preventing the introduction of medical waste into the second chamber 5.

The gates 4 and 6 comprise EPDM-type seals at the side edges to increase edge sealing and thus prevent the ozone produced within the first chamber 3 and/or introduced into the second chamber 5 from escaping from the device 1 at the opening of the first gate 4.

According to the preferred embodiment shown herein, the first chamber 3 comprises a removable container 10 within which the medical waste introduced into the first chamber 3 is directly transferred to be sterilised.

The presence of the removable container 10 allows it to be replaced with another one once the previously loaded hospital waste has been sterilised.

Additionally, the first chamber 3 further comprises an airtight door 7 for inserting/ extracting the removable container 10 into/from said first chamber 3.

In particular, the door 7 comprises seals along the edges, preferably of the EPDM type.

Both the door 7 for accessing the first (sterilising) chamber 3 and the gate 6 for accessing the second (loading) chamber 5 are equipped with two safety clamping systems consisting of at least one electric lock and an end stop sensor which allows to detect when the closed position of the door 7 is reached. This clamping system is designed to avoid accidental openings in all those steps of the sterilisation cycle in which ozone gas is present in the first chamber 3 or the second chamber 5.

The door 7 further comprises a lever handle for the actuation of a mechanical lock. This way, a manual-lever clamping system is configured, which is adapted to prevent the opening of door 7 in the event of power cut. In the absence of electric current, in fact, the electric locks would unlock automatically and ₂ in particular, the door 7 would open letting escape any ozone gas present therein.

Furthermore, said means 50 for administering ozone in a controlled manner comprise an ozone generator 15 and a delivery conduit 16 for the administration of ozone within the first chamber 3 and, consequently, also within the removable container 10.

This delivery conduit 16 enters the first chamber 3 and delivers ozone from the bottom of the first chamber 3.

As shown in the accompanying figures, the device 1 comprises suctioning means 20 for suctioning the ozone present within the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5, at least after the administration of ozone within the first chamber 3. These suctioning means 20 are integrally constrained to the frame 2.

In particular, such suctioning means 20 comprise a first pump 21 for suctioning ozone from the first chamber 3 and a second suctioning pump 22 for suctioning ozone from the second chamber 5.

Again as shown in the accompanying figures, the device 1 comprises activated charcoal filters 23 to filter the ozone suctioned by the ozone suctioning means 20 from the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5 and convert it back to its non-hazardous diatomic form.

In particular, the suctioning means 20 comprise a first conduit 25 to connect the first suctioning pump 21 to the first chamber 3 and a second conduit 26 to connect the second suctioning pump 22 to the second chamber 5.

Finally, the suctioning means 20 comprise a third conduit 27 and a fourth conduit 28 that connect, respectively, the first pump 21 and the second pump 22 to the activated charcoal filters 23.

Again, the device 1 comprises a first ozone concentration detection sensor 30 arranged within the first chamber 3 and a second ozone concentration detection sensor (not shown here) arranged within the second chamber 5.

Additionally, the device 1 further comprises a level sensor 32 to determine the filling of the removable container 10. Additionally, the device 1 also comprises a sensor 33 to determine the presence of the removable container 10 within the first chamber 3.

The device 1 further comprises a control unit 60 for controlling the operation of the first gate 4, the second gate 6, the ozone generator 15 and said suctioning means 20, depending on the information coming from the first ozone concentration detection sensor 30, the second ozone concentration detection sensor and the level sensor 32. Preferably, the operation of the aforementioned components is also influenced by the occupancy sensor 33 which allows to enable the subsequent ozonisation of the first chamber 3 and the subsequent suction of the residual ozone present in the first chamber 3 and/or the second chamber 5. The ozonisation of the first chamber 3 is preferably only carried out after the control unit 60 has performed the safety checks on the partitions 6 and 4, and the door 7. In the absence of the container 10, the above-mentioned features of the device 1 are not activated.

Additionally, the end stop sensor combined with the door 7 sends information to the control unit 60 to allow it to detect when the closed position of the door 7 has been reached.

Additionally, the device 1 comprises a first solenoid valve 54 arranged within the first chamber 3 to allow or not the fluidic connection between the inside and the outside of the first chamber 3, at least during the suction of ozone from the first chamber 3, in order to avoid that a depression atmosphere is created within the first chamber 3. Also said first solenoid valve 54 is controlled by the control unit 60 in the various operating steps of the device 1. Again, the device 1 comprises a second solenoid valve 55 to allow or not the fluidic connection between the inside and the outside of the second chamber 5, at least during the suction of the ozone from the second chamber 5, in order to avoid that a depression atmosphere is created within the second chamber 5. This second solenoid valve 55 is also controlled by the control unit 60 in the various operating steps of the device 1.

Again, the control unit 60 also allows to control the operation of the first electrically actuated lock and the second electrically actuated lock. In practice, when the ozone generator 15 is actuated, these locks are activated in order to prevent inadvertent openings of the second gate 6 and the door 7. Subsequently, at the end of the final step preceding the change of the container 10 for the sterilisation of the infectious risk waste, these locks are deactivated and, therefore, the opening of the second gate 6 and the door 7 is only allowed after the concentration of ozone within the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5 is reduced to a level that is not dangerous to humans, i.e. having a level lower than about 0.3 ppm. The device 1 also comprises a display 80 through which the user can manage the operation of the device 1, by starting the various programmes available to the user or stopping its operation, if necessary.

The device 1 is powered either by means of batteries 61 integrally arranged to frame 2 or by using the power supply. The batteries 61 are of the rechargeable type.

A device 1 of the type depicted in figure 2 is shown in figures 3A and 3B but distinct from the latter in that the second chamber 5 comprises grinding means 70 for grinding the hospital waste loaded in the second chamber 5.

Finally, the device 1 comprises four wheels 40 (only two are shown in the figures) constrained to the frame 2 for moving the device 1 among the various wards in order to fill the container 10 contained in the first chamber 3, with hospital waste.

The device 1 in the second embodiment described herein and shown in figures 3A and 3B, as well as the device 1 shown in figures 1A, IB and 2, also comprises an assisted movement system operated by the user and again managed by the control unit 60. This assisted movement system allows energy to be recovered from the movement of the wheels and to be supplied to a differential system combined with the wheels in such a way as to facilitate the movement of the device 1.

The device 1 operates according to a method comprising the steps of: a) introducing the hospital waste into the first chamber 3 at least when the first gate 4 is in its first open position; b) bringing the first gate 4 to its second closed position (starting from its first open position); wherein the method comprises, after step b), the step c) of administering ozone within the first chamber 3 for sterilising the medical waste directly or indirectly introduced into the first chamber 3 during step a).

Still according to the invention, step a) comprises the step aO) of inserting the removable container 10 into the first chamber 3 so that the hospital waste is directly introduced into the removable container 10.

It should be emphasised that step c) is carried out even if the first chamber 3, or the container 10 (in case it is present within the first chamber 3), is not completely filled with infectious risk waste. In practice, steps a), b) and c) can be repeated cyclically; this cycle of steps a), b), c) ends when the first chamber 3, or the container 10, is completely filled. This allows, therefore, the infectious risk waste to be sterilised as it is introduced into the first chamber 3 (or into container 10 if present in the first chamber 3). The device 1 can therefore be carried from one chamber to another, e.g., of a hospital, and during transport, the hospital waste that was previously loaded is sterilised before new hospital waste is loaded within the chamber 3 or the container 10. This procedure ends when the chamber 3 or the container 10 is completely full. Thus, the transport of hospital waste always takes place in utmost safety, since there is no possibility that such waste can in any way contaminate environments or people when it is inside the device 1.

Again, step a) is preceded by step dl) of loading the infectious risk waste within the second chamber 5, at least when the first gate 4 is in its second (closed) position and the second gate 6 is in its first (open) position, and by step d2) of returning the second gate 6 to its second position at the end of step dl).

Furthermore, step c) is followed by step e) of suctioning ozone from the first chamber 3 and, simultaneously, from the removable container 10 and/or also from the second chamber 5. The suction of the first chamber 3, or the container 10, and/or the second chamber 5 can take place at different times depending on the level reached by the waste within the first chamber 3 or in the container 10. In this regard, step e) comprises step eO) of measuring the level reached by the waste within the first chamber 3 or the container 10. In the event that the container 10, or the first chamber 3, has not yet been completely filled, prior to any new loading of waste, step e) comprises step el) of suctioning the contents of the second chamber 5 at least when the first gate 4 is in its second closed position. In practice, this step el) can only take place after the first gate 4 is brought to its second closed position. In fact, following the introduction of the waste into the first chamber 3, or the container 10, the opening of the first gate 4 and, therefore, the unavoidable escape of part of the ozone contained in the first chamber 3 in the direction of the second chamber 5 take place.

During this step el), the second gate 6 remains in its second position, i.e. it remains closed until the level of ozone concentration measured by the ozone concentration sensor is below a pre-set value and, in any case, is not dangerous for the end user. Therefore, before opening the second gate 6 for the loading of new infectious risk waste, it is necessary that the second chamber 5 is deprived of the ozone present therein to prevent it from escaping into the external environment.

In the event that the level sensor 32 detects the complete filling of the first chamber 3, or the container 10, step e) comprises the step e2) of suctioning the contents of the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5 at least when the first gate 4 is in its first open position. In this step e2), just as takes place in step el), the second gate 6 is in its second closed position. In short, the first gate 4 is brought to its first open position and then the suction of ozone is started from both the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5, thus allowing the fluidic connection between the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5. Also in this case, the second gate 6 is in its second position, i.e. it remains closed until the level of ozone concentration in the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 5 is at levels lower than a pre-set value and, in any case, is not dangerous for the end user.

During the suctioning steps, the control unit 60 also controls the opening of the first solenoid valve 54 and the second solenoid valve 55 in order to allow the connection with the outside and to prevent depression phenomena from being created within the first chamber 3 and/or the second chamber 5.

Step e) further comprises the step e3) of detecting the ozone concentration within the first 3 and/or the second 5 chambers and to allow the opening of the second gate 6 and/or door 7 only after the ozone value has dropped to a level that is not dangerous to humans.

After step e), the opening of the second gate 6 and/or the door 7 is only allowed after the ozone value has dropped to a level that is not dangerous to humans.

Still after the suctioning step e), preferably after enabling the opening of the second gate 6 and/or the door 7, the first gate 4 reaches the second closed position. The first gate 4 is in fact connected to an automatic drive controlled by the control unit 60 capable of displacing it from the first to the second position, and vice versa, after reading the information from the sensors present in the device 1. Additionally, step e) is followed by the step of extracting the container 10 containing hospital waste sterilised for its disposal from the first chamber 3. This is only done after opening the airtight door 7.

Finally, step c) comprises the step of detecting the ozone concentration within the first chamber 3, or the container 10, and the step of controlling the delivery of the ozone generator 15 depending on the concentration detected in the first chamber 3 or the container 10. Preferably, the flow of ozone introduced into the first chamber 3, or the container 10, is varied in such a way as to maintain the ozone concentration constant within the first chamber 3 or the container 10. For example, the ozone delivery may always be maintained at a constant value between 10 and 60 ppm, preferably between 20 and 40 ppm, for a pre-set period of time. This period of time may vary from treatment to treatment and be chosen by the operator based on requirements and/or the load contained within the container 10.

The choice of treatment time and ozone concentration to be used depends on the characteristics of the infectious risk material to be sterilised. In the event of waste with increased risk of infectivity, more stringent working conditions can be chosen. Basically, there are no automatic programmes to be set up but, depending on the waste treated, the sterilisation time and the ozone concentrations to be used will be varied.