System and method for managing liquid waste

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12006930-B2
Application number	US-202017608456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A system for managing liquid waste includes a first liquid container that receives waste liquid, a liquid transfer pump fluidly connected to the first liquid container; and a second liquid container fluidly connectable to the liquid transfer pump. The liquid transfer pump is can be selectively activated to transfer liquid waste from the first liquid container to the second liquid container when the second liquid container is fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump. A method for managing liquid waste includes the steps of receiving waste liquid into a first liquid container, monitoring the amount of liquid in the first container, connecting a second liquid container to a liquid transfer pump that is connected to the first liquid container, after the amount of liquid received into the first liquid container reaches a predefined level, transferring liquid from the first liquid container into the second liquid container with the liquid transfer pump, and removing liquid transferred to the second liquid container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for managing liquid waste, the system comprising:
a first liquid container configured to receive a liquid from a liquid source;
a liquid transfer pump fluidly connected to the first liquid container;
a second liquid container fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump, wherein the liquid transfer pump is configured to be selectively activated to transfer liquid from the first liquid container to the second liquid container;
a connector fitting for fluidly connecting the second liquid container to the liquid transfer pump, wherein the connector fitting comprises a female connector member and a male connector member received within the female connector member;
a drip management system configured to draw liquid from the connector fitting into the first liquid container, wherein the drip management system comprises a connection port in communication with the female connector member, a fluid conduit connecting the connection port to the first liquid container, and a drip control valve, wherein the drip control valve is configured to permit fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the drip control valve is in an open configuration and to prevent fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the drip control valve is in a closed configuration; and
a vacuum pump to which the first liquid container is connected to draw liquid into the first liquid container from the liquid source and to draw liquid into the first liquid container from the connector fitting when the drip control valve is in the open configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a filter between the vacuum pump and the first liquid container.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a mounting block on which the filter and the first liquid container are mounted.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a filter loop fluidly connecting a top portion of the first liquid container to a bottom portion of the filter supported on the mounting block.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid transfer pump comprises a bellows pump.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor for operating the liquid transfer pump and a transmission coupling the motor to the liquid transfer pump.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a poppet valve associated with the second liquid container for controlling liquid flow into the second liquid container.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a float switch within the first liquid container, wherein the float switch is in communication with the liquid transfer pump to activate the liquid transfer pump when liquid within the first liquid container reaches a predefined level.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drip control valve is configured and controlled to be in the open configuration after the liquid transfer pump is deactivated following a transfer of liquid from the first liquid container to the second liquid container.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the drip control valve is configured and controlled to be in the open configuration for a prescribed period of time after the liquid transfer pump is deactivated following the transfer of liquid from the first liquid container to the second liquid container and to be in the closed configuration all other times.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid container comprises:
a main body; and
a connector shelf extending laterally from the main body and including a horizontal portion and defining a bottom wall;
wherein the male connector member extends downwardly from the bottom wall of the horizontal portion of the connector shelf for fluidly connecting the second liquid container to the liquid transfer pump.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a connector interface fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump and including an upwardly facing liquid connector fitting forming the female connector member and configured to be operably coupled to the downwardly extending male connector member of the second liquid container to fluidly connect the liquid transfer pump to the second liquid container.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a liquid tray formed in the connector interface and surrounding the upwardly facing liquid connector fitting of the connector interface.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the drip management system is configured to draw liquid from the liquid tray to the first liquid container.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drip control valve is configured and controlled to be in the open configuration when the liquid transfer pump is deactivated following a transfer of liquid from the first liquid container to the second liquid container.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the drip control valve is configured and controlled to be in the open configuration for a prescribed period of time after the liquid transfer pump is deactivated following the transfer of liquid from the first liquid container to the second liquid container and to be in the closed configuration all other times.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drain line connected to the second liquid container; and
a drain pump fluidly connected to the drain line for transferring liquid from the second liquid container to a drain via the drain line.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a second float switch within the second liquid container, wherein the second float switch is in communication with the drain pump to activate the drain pump when liquid within the second liquid container reaches a predefined level.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump are supported in a drawer of an instrument, wherein the drawer is configured to be laterally movable between an open position providing access to one or more of the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump and a closed position concealing the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump are supported in a drawer of an instrument, wherein the drawer is configured to be laterally movable between an open position providing access to one or more of the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump and a closed position concealing the first and second liquid containers and the liquid transfer pump, and wherein the connector interface is affixed to the drawer.

Assignees

• Gen Probe Inc

Inventors

• Combs David H
• Baker Ayra A
• Hagen Norbert D
• Buse David A

Classifications

• A61M1/78

  Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems (combined with drainage containers A61M1/60) · CPC title

• A61M1/60

  Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69) · CPC title

• A61M1/631

  Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction · CPC title

• A61M1/784 Primary

  by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves · CPC title

• C02F2301/063

  Underpressure, vacuum · CPC title