Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02458432 2004-02-18
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE FLUIDS
1. Bacl~r~f the Invention
A. Field of Invention
This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for disposing of waste
fluids. More
particularly, this invention relates to apparatuses and methods for disposing
of waste fluids
generated during medical procedures to a sanitary sewer.
B. Descrintion of the Related Art
It is well known that blood, other body fluids and irrigating solutions must
be removed
from the body of patients when they undergo medical procedures, such as
surgery. Medical
providers, such as doctor's offices and hospitals, use a variety of different
containers and
apparatuses for collecting such fluids, These fluids must then be disposed of
in an appropriate
manner.
Different methods of disposing of such fluids are known. One method is to
dispose of
the fluids and the container they are held in together as a unit, While this
method works well for
its intended purpose, medical waste removers typically charge by the weight of
material being
disposed. Thus, including the collected fluids along with the container
increases the cost of such
removal.
Another method is to solidify the fluids rendering them either non-infectious
or viscous.
This method also works well for its intended purpose but also is relatively
expensive because the
solidified fluids are still a significant portion (weight) of the waste to be
disposed. As noted
above, medical waste removers typically charge by the weight of material being
disposed.
Another method, assuming the waste fluids are of the type that can be placed
within the
sanitary sewer, is to simply pour the fluids out of the container and down the
sanitary drain. This
CA 02458432 2008-12-09
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method has the advantage of minimizing the disposal costs because, without the
fluids, the overall weight of
items that must be removed by medical waste removers is reduced. As such, this
method works well for its
intended purpose when done carefully. However, heightened awareness concerning
employee safety makes
this method less attractive. Pouring of such waste fluids may disperse
aerosols and may result in residual
spilling and splattering of the waste fluids.
It is known to reduce these disadvantages with the use of a venturi device.
Venturi devices are well
known to be effective in removing fluids from a container. Examples are
provided in U.S. Patent Nos.
954,270, 997,584, 1,068,102, and 1,118,971. Pinder, in U.S. Patent No.
5,217,038, utilizes pressurized
water and a venturi device to remove surgical waste fluids from a container
and transport the fluids into a
sanitary drain. Bemis Manufacturing Company, Health Care Products Group, of
Sheboygan Falls,
Wisconsin, provides a similar assembly.
However, neither the Pinder nor Bemis assemblies have the advantages provided
by the inventors
of this patent. These advantages are described below.
II. Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for use in
ttansporting associated
waste fluid from an associa.ted receptacle to an associated disposal site,
comprising. a first conduit having a
first end adapted to receive the associated waste fluid from the associated
receptacle and a second end,
wherein the first conduit is adapted to be substantially received within the
associated receptacle; a first
connector attached to the second end of the first conduit; a second conduit
having a first end and a second
end adapted to connect to the associated suction means; a second connector
attached to the first end of the
second conduit, wherein the second connector includes a flow direction device,
wherein the first connector
and second connector are selectively connectable to each other, and wherein an
upper end of the first
connector opposes the second connector and includes at least one scallop
formed thereon that provides a
channel for air to flow through; an eductor pump assembly comprising: (i) a
water inlet adapted to receive
associated water from an associated pressurized water source; (u) a valve for
use in activating the eductor
pump assembly; (iii) an eductor having a first inlet that receives water from
the valve and a second inlet that
receives the associated waste fluid; and (iv) an outlet for use is
communicating the associated water and the
associated waste fluid to the associated disposal site.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is used in
environments where the
associated waste fluid is a fluid from a human body, such as is generated
during surgery.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the control means for
conttolling the flow of the
associated waste fluid includes a flow direction device. The flow direction
device includes a flap. The flap
is selectively movable between an open and a closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first connector which is
attached to the second
end of the first conduit includes an outer wall and an inner wa11, both of
which are generally cylindrical. An
inner support member is disposed between the inner and outer walls and thereby
joins them into an
integral member. Holes located in the inner support member enable pressure on
one side of the connector
to be equalized with pressure on the other side of the connector.
According to another aspect of the invention, the mode of power to move the
fluid from the
receptacle to the sanitary sewer is supplied by an eductor device.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
conduit means
adapted to transport associated waste fluid from an associated receptacle to
an associated suction
means, comprising: a first conduit having a first end adapted to receive the
associated waste fluid
from the associated receptacle and a second end, wherein the first conduit is
adapted to be
substantially received within the associated receptacle; a first connector
attached to the second end
of the first conduit; a second conduit having a first end and a second end
adapted to connect to the
associated suction means; a second connector attached to the first end of the
second conduit,
wherein the second connector includes a flow direction device; wherein the
first connector and
second connector are selectively connectable to each other, and wherein an
upper end of the first
connector opposes the second connector and includes at least one scallop
formed thereon that
provides a channel for air to flow through.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a conduit
means adapted to transport associated waste fluid from an associated
receptacle, comprising: a first
conduit having a first end adapted to receive the associated waste fluid from
the associated
receptacle and a second end, wherein the first conduit is adapted to be
substantially received within
the associated receptacle; and, a first connector attached to the second end
of the first conduit, the
first connector having an outer wall and an inner wall that protrudes above
the outer wall, the inner
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wall for use in attaching the first connector to an associated second
connector, and wherein an upper
end of the first connector includes at least one scallop formed thereon that
provides a channel for
air to flow through.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a A method of
transporting associated waste fluid from an associated receptacle to an
associated sanitary sewer,
comprising the steps of: providing an eductor pump assembly comprising (i) a
water inlet adapted to
receive associated water from an associated pressurized water source; (ii) a
valve; (iii) an eductor
having a first inlet that receives water from the valve and a second inlet
that receives the associated
waste fluid; and, (iv) an outlet for use in communicating the associated water
and the associated
waste fluid to the associated sanitary sewer; providing a conduit means
adapted to transport
associated waste fluid from the associated receptacle to the eductor pump
assembly comprising (i) a
first conduit having a first end adapted to receive the associated waste fluid
from the associated
receptacle and a second end; (ii) a first connector attached to the second end
of the first conduit; (iii)
a second conduit having a first end and a second end; (iv) a second connector
attached to the first
end of the second conduit, wherein an upper end of the first connector opposes
the second
connector and includes at least one scallop formed thereon that provides a
channel for air to flow
through and the second connector includes a flow direction device; attaching
the second end of
second conduit to the second inlet of the eductor; positioning the first
conduit substantially within
the associated receptacle; connecting the first connector to the second
connector; and activating the
eductor pump assembly.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art
to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following
detailed specification.
III. Brief Description of the Drawines
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of
parts, a preferred
embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and
illustrated in the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
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FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention.
FIGURE 2 is an assembly view of the eductor pump assembly of the apparatus
shown
in Figure 1.
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FIGURE 2A is a perspective view of a first receptacle and cap with a cap
atta.chment shown unatta,ched.
FIGURE 2B is a perspective view of a first receptacle and cap similar to
FIGLJRE
2A except with the cap attachment shown attached to the cap.
FIGURE 2C is a perspective view of a first receptacle and cap sitnalar to
FIGURE
2B except with the first lid shown unattached to the first tower.
FIGURE 2D is a perspective view of a first receptacle and cap similar to
FIGURE
2C except with a fust conduit shown within the first receptacle and with a
first connector shown
attached to the first tower.
FIGURE 2E is a perspective view of a first receptacle and cap similar to
FIGURE
2D except with the first lid shown attached to the first connector.
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first connector according to the
invention.
FXGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second connector according to the
invention.
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first and second connectors of
Figures
3 and 4 in their connected position, and further with the flap in the open
position.
FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 are of a flow direction device, including the flap.
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FIGURE 9 is a side view of the conduit material used for the first and second
conduits according to the mvention.
FIGURES 10-12 are fiuther views of a first connector according to the
invention.
FIGURES 13-17 are of a second connector according to the invention.
FIGURES 17A-20 are of a second connector according to the invention.
FIGURES 21-22A are of a third connector according to the invention.
FIGURE 23 iIlustrates the basic operation of an eductor used in the preferred
embodiment of this invention.
IV. Descriiption of the Preferred Embodiment
Refierring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of
illustratin,g a
preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting
the same, FIGURE
1 shows the inventive apparatus 10 that is used to remove waste fluid (not
shown) from a
canister or first receptacle 12. It should be noted that the inventive device
will work with
virtually any fluid, including fluids with certain solid matter mixed in. A
cap 16 fits over the
first receptacle 12 and operates as a lid. Preferably the cap 16 fits snuggly
onto the top of the
first reaeptacle 12 as is commonly known in the art ln the preferred
embodiment, the first
receptacle 12 sits in a wire basket 120. It is also preferred that the wire
basket 120 is large
enough to carry at least two fust receptacles 12.
With reference now to FIGURES 2A, 2B and 2C, a typical first receptacle 12 and
cap 16
is shown. Also shown is an optional, but sta.radard, cap attachment 220. The
cap attachment 220
shown includes four lids 222, 224, 226, 228 each properly sized to cover and
seal four
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correspomding towers 230, 232, 234, 236 that extend from the cap 16. FIGURE 2B
shows the
lids 222, 224, 226, 228 attached to and covering the towers 230, 232, 234,
236. While the
number and piuposes for the towers can vary as required, it is noted that
first tower 230 defines
an opening 23 S through the cap 16. Thus, when the cap 16 is properly attached
to the first
receptacle 12, the first tower 230 communicates with the contents of the first
receptacle 12. The
lids are preferably attached to each other, such as with webbing 240, so that
only a portion of the
lids need to be attached to the corresponding towers for the cap attachment
220 to be attached to
the cap 16. FIGURE 2C, for example, shows the cap attachment 220 attached to
the cap 16
except that the first lid 222 is not attached to the first tower 230. This
frees the first lid 222 to be
available for another purpose that will be discussed below.
With reference now to FIGURES 1 and 2, the appaiatus 10 includes a suction
means 22
and a conduit means 32. The suction means 22 is used to draw fluid waste (not
shown) from
within the first receptacle 12 through the conduit means 32 and then to a
disposal site (one
embodiment shown with reference 14 in FIGURE 2). The disposal site can be any
appropriate
destination for the fluid waste. In some applications, the disposal site may
be a second
receptacle (not shown). In such cases, the fluid is transferred from the first
receptacle 12 into the
second receptacle. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGURE 2,
the disposal site is
actually the plumbing system of the hospital, specifically the sanitary sewer
14,
With continuing reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the suction means 22 can be of
any type
chosen with sound engineering judgment including a mechanically or
electrically driven pump.
In the preferred embodiment, the suction means 22 is an eductor pump assembly
24. Waste fluid
enters the eductor pump assembly 24 at the pump inlet 142, which preferably
includes a quick
connect fitting 144, and exits the eductor pump assembly 24 to the sanitary
sewer 14. With
special reference to FIGURE 2, the preferred eductor pump assembly 24 includes
a decorative
housing 124. A top 148, with hinge 150, can be used to cover and protect the
pump inlet 142
when it is not being used. Within the housing 124 can be seen the eductor 134.
The eductor
134, as is commonly known, operates with a venturi and a source of water, such
as is available
CA 02458432 2004-02-18
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from the hospital water supply system. The operation of the eductor 134 will
be discussed
further below. A source of pressurized clean water, such as is readily
available from city or well
water sources, enters at water inlet 128, A valve 130, preferably a quarter
turn valve, is operated
via a handle 132. By a quarter tura valve it is meant that the valve can be
operated from its fiill
closed position to its full open position by moving the handle 132 through a
range of 90 degrees.
TWs invention will work equally well with valves having different handle
operating ranges. The
eductor 134 is next in line in the piping system followed by the outlet 38 to
the sanitary sewer
14. The eductor 134 has a fxrst inlet 42 that receives the water source and
also a second inlet or
ingress 140 that receives the waste fluid. When the valve 130 is opened, water
flows through the
water inlet 128, through the valve 130 and through the eductor 134. This water
flow causes the
eductor 134 to create a suction force on the second inlet 140 thereby drawing
the waste fluid into
the eductor 134. Both the water and the waste fluid are then disposed into the
sanitary sewer 14.
With reference now to FIGURES 2 and 23, the operation of the eductor 134 will
be
illustrated The eductor 134 includes a venturi 136. As explained above, the
valve 130 is
operated by the handle 132. When the valve 130 is opened, tap water from the
hospital's water
system flows through the venturi 136, This tap water flow is shown with
reference arrows 122.
It should be noted that an optional anti-backflow device 146 may be used
upstream of the valve
130. Such an anti-backflow device 146 may be required by local plumbing codes
as to prevent
back contamination to the tap water supply. Since the operation of an anti-
backflow device 146
is well known in the art, it will not be discussed further. Because of the
narrower diameter at
point 208, an area of lower pressure is created at point 210. This low
pressure area creates a
suction force at the second inlet 140 that is used to draw the waste fluid
through the conduit
means 32 and into the eductor 134. The waste fluid flow is shown with
reference arrows 126.
At this point, the waste fluids are flushed into the moving stream of tap
water that is flowing at a
relatively high velocity through the venturi 136 and on to the sanitary sewer
14. The
combination tap water / waste fluid flow is shown with reference arrows 138.
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With reference now to FIGURE 1, the conduit means 32 communicates the waste
fluid
from the first receptacle 12 to the pump inlet 142. Preferably the conduit
means 32 includes a
first conduit 20 that communicates the waste fluid from inside the first
receptacle 12 to a point
just above the cap 16 and a second conduit 30 that communic~tes the waste
fluid from the first
conduit 20 to the pump inlet 142. The furst conduit 20 has a first end 26 and
a second end 28 and
a first connector 40 is attached to the second end 28 of the first conduit 20.
Most preferably, as
shown in FIGURE 2D, the fust conduit 20 extends through the first tower 230
and the first
connector 40 attaches to the first tower 230 as will be discussed further
below.
With reference again to FIGURE 1, the second conduit 30 also has a first end
34 and a
second end 36 with a secomd connector 60 attached to the first end 34. The
fitst connector 40
easily connects to the second connector 60, defining a selectively connecting
quick connect
fitting, thereby conmecting the first conduit 20 to the second conduit 30. A
third connector 70,
also shown in FIGURES 21 and 22 and 22A, is attached to the second end 36 of
the second
conduit 30 and easily connects to the pump inlet 142 via quick connect fitting
144.
With reference to FIGURE 9, the first and second aonduits 20, 30 are hollow
and, in the
preferred embodiment, have an interior diameter of 0.375 inches with a wall
thickness of
between 0.06 inches and 0.10 inches. Preferably the first and second conduits
20, 30 are
flexible, bendable and resistant to kinking and xesistant to collapse under
vacuum pressure. It is
also prefenW that the first conduit 20 be of sufficient length to be usable in
multiple receptacle
sizes. In the preferred embodiment, at least a first hole 116, and preferably
also including a
second hole 118 oppositely positioned, is located near the first end 26 of the
first condnit 20.
The presence of holes 116, 118 reduce the likelihood of occlusion by allowing
the first end 26 of
the first conduit 20 to lay against the bottom of the first receptacle 12 in
any alignment. The
holes 116, 118 also create a total of three openings at the f rst end 26 of
the first conduit 20
thereby maintaining fluid flow even if one on the holes becomes occluded.
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With reference now to FIGURES 1, 2, 2D, 2E, 3, and 10-12, the first connector
40 is
illustrated. The first connector 40 includes an outer wall 104 and an itmer
wall 106. Both the
outer wall 104 and the inner wall 106 have inner and outer surfaces.
Preferably the inner wall
106 protrudes both above, at first end 202, and below, at second end 204, the
outer wall 104, as
shown. In a typical configuration, the outer wall 104 has an upper end 1.54
and a lower end 156.
Preferably the lower end 156 includes a flange pordton 94 that extends
radially outward beyond
the outer wal1104, Most preferably, with reference to FIGURE 10, a pair of
ears 98 extend
radially outward beyond the flange portion 94. In the configuration shown in
FIGURES 1 and 2,
the lower end 156 faces inward toward the first receptacle 12 while the upper
end 154 faces
outward toward the second receptacle or sanitary sewer. The first connector 40
further
comprises an inner support member 110 which connects the outer wall 104 to the
inner wall 106.
In the preferred embodiment, the inner support member 110 has the
configuration as illustrated
in FIGURE 3, to add stability to the fu=st connector 40. The preferred
configuration also defines
a groove 96, generally ring shaped, between the outer wall 104 and the support
member 110.
With continuing reference to FIGURES 1, 2, 2D, 2E, 3, and 10-12, the first
connector 40
may include a plurality of holes 160 and the upper end 154 of the outer
wa11104 may have
scallops or cutouts 166, The holes 160 can be most clearly seen in FIGURE 10
while the
scallops 166 can be most clearly seen in FIGURE 11. The scallops 166 and holes
160 combine
to enable air to flow through the space between the outer wall 104 and the
inner wall 106 on
either side of the inner support member 110. This enables the pressure inside
the first container
12 to be equalized with pressure outside the first container 12 thereby
allowing air from
atmosphere to fill the space that is left void when the waste fluid is removed
from the first
container 12. If manufacturing tolerances are poor, the upper end 154 may
define a mating edge
of the first connector 40 with the second connector 60. Even in this case, the
scallops 166
provide a channel for air to flow through the space between the outer wall 104
and the inner wall
106.
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With reference now to FIGURES 2D, 3 and 11, to comnect the first connector 40
to the
cap 16, the first end 26 of the first conduit 20 is extended through the first
tower 230 and into the
first receptacle 12. The walls of the ftrst tower 230 are then received within
the groove 96 in the
first connector 40. Preferrably, the walls of the first tower 230 are tapered
generally outward
from the upper edge of the tower down to the cap 16. In this case, the first
connector 40 fits
easily, yet with a snug fit, as a press fit to the first tower 230. Most
preferably, the first tower
230 does not contact the support member 110 but only the inner surface of the
outer wall 104. If
it is desired to remove the first connector 40 from the cap 16, it is only
necessary to exert an
upward force on the ears 98 and lift the connector 40 from the first tower
230.
With reference now to FIGURES 4, 5, 6-8, and 13-17, the second connector 60
will now
be described. The second connector 60 is comprised of three primary sections,
namely the inlet
176, the outlet 178, and the flow direction device 80. The inlet 176 can be
most easily seen in.
FIGURES 13-17. As seen in FIGURE 14, preferably at least a first scaIIop or
cutout 170 is
formed on the end surface of the inlet 176. More preferably three scallops 170
are evenly spaced
around the end surface of the inlet 176. These scallops 170 prevent fluid
backflow surge in the
event that the inlet 176 is covered during use. This could occur, for example,
if someone used
the inlet 176 separate from the first connector 40 to "vacuum" waste fluid
from a plan,ar surface.
The scallops 170 prevent the inlet 176 from fomting a vacuum seal with sucla a
planar surface.
The outlet 178 can be most easily seen in FIGURES 17A-20. The flow control
device 80 can be
best seen in FIGURES 6-8. The flow control device 80 is made of a flexible
elastomer,
preferably polyisoprene. Preferably, the durometer requirement is 25-35. With
continuing
reference to FIGURES 6-8 and special reference to FIGURE 8, the flow control
device 80
comprises a disk 82 which is essentially cylindrical in shape. The outer most
diameter 182 of the
disk 82 is thicker than an inner most diameter 184. The inner most portion of
the disk 82
comprises a flap 88. The flap 88 is hinged at one point by an elastomeric
hinge 190_ The flap 88
is created by the binge 190 at one point around the circumference with a
cutout 192 around the
major portion of the circumference. In this way, the flap 82 can move from a
first closed
position to a second open position by pivoting about the hinge 190. With
reference to FIGURE
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4, the tXap is shown in the closed position while with reference to FIGURE 5
the Oap is shown in
the open position. The second connector 60, when fully assembled, has the flow
direction device
80 mounted between the inlet 176 and the outlet 178. It should be noted that
when the second
connector 60 is not connected to the first connector 40, as shown in FIGURE 4,
the flap 88 acts
as a check valve, allowing flow only in one direction - into the inlet 176,
through the flow
direction device 80 and out through the outlet 178. Attempted flow in the
opposite direction will
fail because the flap 88 will prevent flow from passing farom the outlet 178
to the inlet 176. This
feature is important so that the body waste fluids do not drip or run out of
the device onto the
floor, onto a user, etc,
With reference to FIGURE 5, the first connector 40 and the second connector 60
are
shown in their operative position being connected. The first end 202 of the
inner wal1106 is
pressed fit against the inner surface of the inlet 176. A clear passage for
air into the first
receptacle 12 is shown by path 196. The flap 88 opens approximately 25 degrees
to allow waste
fluid flow from the fust receptacle 12 through the first conduit 20 into the
second conduit 30.
With reference to FIGURES 3, 5 and 11, it should be noted that preferably at
least a first
scallop or cutout 168, most preferably two scallops 168, is formed on the end
surface of the first
end 202 of the inner wa11106 of the first connector 40. As noted above, the
first end 202 of the
inner wall 106 contacts the flap 88. The scallops 168 help assure fluid flow
from the inner wall
106 through the flap 88 by preventing the first end 202 from sticking and/or
sealing to the flap
88. In this way the scallops 168 help prevent occluding of waste fluid flow at
the interface of
first end. 202 and flap 88.
In operation, with reference to all the FIGURES, the second end 36 of the
second conduit
30, being attached to the third connector 70, is connected to the suction
means 22 preferably via
quick connect fitting 144. The first conduit 20 is inserted into the first
receptacle 12 either prior
to placing waste fluid into the first receptacle or after. The first
receptacle 12 is then placed
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within the wire basket 120. Next, the first conduit 20 is attached to the
second conduit 30 by
connecting the first connector 40 to the second connector 60. As explained
above, this
connection causes the f rst end 202 of the inner wall 106 to contact, and
pivot the flap 88,
thereby opening the flap 88 to pezmit fluid flow. The suction means 22 may
then be activated.
In the preferred embodiment, the suction means 22 is the eductor pump assembly
24 and it is
activated by opening the valve 130. Once the waste fluid has been emptied from
the first
receptacle 12, the first conduit 20 is detached from the second conduit 30 by
separating the first
connector 40 from the second connector 60. Optionally, as shown in FIGURE 2E,
at this point
the first lid 222 can be placed over the first connector 40 to close and seal
the first conduit 20 and
the openiM 238. In order to have a well sealed connection between the fi.rst
lid 222 and the first
connector 40, it is preferred that the outer diameter of the upper end 154 of
the outer wall 104 be
similar to the outer diameter of the upper end of the first tower 230. The
:first conduit 20 along
with the first receptacle 12 is then, preferably, discarded. The second
conduit 30, including the
second connector 60 and flap 88, may be reused By discarding the first conduit
20 along with
the first receptacle 12, a medical worker discarding the waste fluid is never
exposed directly to
the waste fluid. If another receptacle has waste fluid to be discarded, a new
first conduit is
inserted into the other receptacle as explained above. This new $rst conduit
can be attached to
the same second conduit 30 as explained above. Again the eductor pump assembly
24 is
activated by opening the valve 130 and the waste fluid is drawn out of the
other receptacle and
discarded into the sanitary sewer. This new first conduit along with the other
first receptacle is
then preferably discarded while the second conduit 30 remains available to be
reused.
The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be
apparent to
those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and
modifications
without departang from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to
include all such
modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scape of the
appended claims or
the equivalents thereof.
Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:
