Passive, gravity-driven system for treatment of an effluent in a diagnostic system
Inventors
Crum, Nathan • Jakubowski, Joseph M. • Kosmeder, II, Jerome W. • May, Eric • Otter, Michael • Shingler, Taylor J. • STEVENS, Benjamin C.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12252417-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
Automated systems to make target compounds from slide stainer waste streams inactive utilizing advanced oxidation processes are described herein. Advanced oxidation processes are promoted by UV irradiation and further accelerated by use of radical initiators, such as hydrogen peroxide. The automated systems further include mechanisms for segregating components of the waste streams.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a method for treating a waste stream of a diagnostic system by directing the waste stream through a treatment system that includes a homogenizing reservoir coupled to the diagnostic system and a radical generating reservoir coupled to the homogenizing reservoir. A radical initiator and the waste stream are introduced to the homogenizing reservoir to form a target effluent comprising at least one target compound, and the target effluent is then flowed to the radical generating reservoir.
In the radical generating reservoir, the target effluent is irradiated with a radical generator such that, when the radical initiator is exposed to the radical generator, a detectable concentration of the at least one target compound in the target effluent is reduced to provide a treated effluent. The homogenizing reservoir has a residence time sufficient to promote substantially even mixing of fluid components, and gravity facilitates flowing the target effluent from the homogenizing reservoir to the radical generating reservoir.
A further architectural refinement is directed to waste streams that include an oil-phase fluid component and an aqueous fluid component comprising at least one target compound, where the oil-phase fluid component rises and floats above the aqueous fluid component to form an upper layer of oil effluent and a lower layer of target effluent. The treated effluent is drained to a first disposal unit or a waste outlet into disposal units and is not flowed back to the diagnostic system, where the diagnostic system is a slide stainer.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00013, and clm-00017. Across these claims, the core inventive features are introduced to a homogenizing reservoir of a treatment system, flowing a target effluent to a radical generating reservoir, irradiating the target effluent with a radical generator to reduce a detectable concentration of a target compound, and draining the treated effluent to disposal without returning it to the diagnostic system.
Homogenizing diagnostic waste stream with a radical initiator
introducing to a homogenizing reservoir of a treatment system a radical initiator and the waste stream of the diagnostic system, wherein the homogenizing reservoir is fluidically coupled to the diagnostic system, and promoting substantially even mixing of fluid components to form a target effluent
Fluidically coupled radical generation using a target effluent
flowing a target effluent formed in the homogenizing reservoir to a radical generating reservoir of the treatment system, wherein the radical generating reservoir is fluidically coupled to the homogenizing reservoir, and gravity facilitates the flowing of the target effluent from the homogenizing reservoir to the radical generating reservoir
Irradiating target effluent to reduce detectable concentration of a target compound
irradiating the target effluent with a radical generator coupled to the radical generating reservoir, wherein when the radical initiator is exposed to the radical generator a detectable concentration of the at least one target compound in the target effluent is reduced to provide a treated effluent
Drain treated effluent to disposal without returning to the diagnostic system
draining the treated effluent from a waste outlet of the radical generating reservoir into a first disposal unit, wherein the treated effluent is not flowed to the diagnostic system
Slide stainer as the diagnostic system
wherein the diagnostic system is a slide stainer
Oil and aqueous layer separation to form target effluent
wherein the waste stream includes an oil-phase fluid component and an aqueous fluid component comprising at least one target compound, wherein the oil-phase fluid component rises and floats above the aqueous fluid component in the homogenizing reservoir so as to form an upper layer of oil effluent and a lower layer of target effluent
Oil component draining into a second disposal unit
draining an oil component from a homogenizing reservoir into a second disposal unit using gravity to facilitate the draining
The independent claims cover methods that treat diagnostic waste by introducing a radical initiator into a homogenizing reservoir coupled to the diagnostic system, flowing the target effluent into a radical generating reservoir, irradiating the target effluent so exposure of the radical initiator reduces a detectable concentration of a target compound, and draining the treated effluent to disposal without returning it to the diagnostic system. Dependent features explicitly specify slide stainer, even mixing via residence time, gravity-facilitated flow, oil/aqueous layer formation, and gravity-facilitated oil draining.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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