WHAT IS BIO-MEDICAL WASTE?

The waste generated in the hospital can be either infectious or non-infectious waste. Typically the non-infectious waste would consist of kitchen waste, office waste and clinical waste. But, it is the infectious waste which is dangerous by nature. Infectious waste is the refuse that is contaminated with pathogenic germs and can cause diseases. It includes :

Studies and surveys of hospital waste have been done to find the quantity of waste generated in a hospital. In a hospital, about 1.5 kg of waste is generated per bed per day, of which only 0.5 Kg is infectious waste. If the 0.5 Kg of infectious waste is not segregated then it infects the remaining 1.0 Kg of waste as well. This results in increased quantity of infectious waste.

There had been absolutely no awakening on this issue among our hospitals or corporations dealing in Health Care till 1998 when the Ministry of Environment and Forests issued the Bio-Medical Waste ( Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 on 20th July 1998 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. This is the first step the government has taken towards finding a solution to the problem of treatment and safe disposal of Bio-Medical Waste. The rules specify the approved technologies and their standards for treatment and disposal of Bio-Medical Waste.

The rules have approved four technologies – Incinerators, Autoclaves, Microwaves and Chemical Treatment. The option of deep burial is available for Human Anatomical Waste and Animal Waste.

METEKA MEDISTER – HF MICROWAVE DISINFECTION DEVICES

Q - What is the principle on which this device works?
Microwave are electromagnetic waves that enter into or penetrate materials. When exposed to microwave energy, all dipole molecules of a mass are put to vibrations. The friction of vibrating molecules produces heat which safely disinfects even fatty (ointments, pastes etc.) and albuminous substances (blood, pus, serum,etc.) liquids in closed containers, used dialiser, tubing, syringes, needles, blood bags, plastic disposals, catheters, metallic parts and many more.

Q - What kind of waste is treated by Microwave Disinfection Device?
All waste except cytotoxic, hazardous or radioactive waste, body parts and large metal items.

Q- What kind of germs are killed while disinfecting the device?
The High Frequency of Microwave Disinfection Device kills

Q-What is the maximum volume of waste the Medister can handle?
Medister 10 handles upto 6 liters capacity and Medister 160 can handle upto 60 liters capacity.

Q-How much time it takes for disinfection?
Both Medister 10 and Medister 160 take around 40 minutes for disinfection.

Q-Can we disinfect the infectious Metallic waste in Medister device?
Yes, we can disinfect the metallic waste in Medister devices.

Q-What are the different parameters which can be monitored on the display available on the device?
The parameters that can be monitored on the display are as follows : Temperature, Time, Date, Number of cycles completed, Number of hours the system has run.

Q-How is the efficacy of the device tested?
The microwave completely and consistently kills the bacteria and other pathogenic organisms. This is ensured by approved biological indicator at the maximum design capacity of each microwave unit. Biological indicators for microwave is Bacillus Subtilis spores using vial or spore strips with at least 4log 10 spores per milliliter.

Q-Why is it essential to carry out these test?
It is important to carry out the Bacillus Subtilis test as this would enable to know the efficacy of the device i.e. disinfection capability of the device.

Q-What is the maximum temperature achieved during one cycle?
Maximum temperature achieved during one cycle is 100 ± 2 degree centigrade.

Q-What will happen if the door is opened when the cycle is in progress?
The machine will stop automatically if the door is opened when the cycle is in progress. This is a safety feature in the device.

Q-Why is it essential to add water while disinfecting the device?
The reason for adding water is to make the waste humid as microwave disturbs the molecular setup of water due to which heat is generated which in turn disinfects the waste.

Q-Are there any specific types of plastic bags that are to be used for disinfecting the waste?
The bags required for disinfecting the waste must be microwave stable and made from first quality plastic of high density molecule.

Q-Does the waste smell? if yes what is the remedy?
Negligible amount of odour is observed during the treatment by Microwave Disinfection Device However microwave has an inbuilt arrangement to add deodorizer /viscit which neutralizes the bad odour incase of M-160 but deodorizer is added manually in case of M-10.

Q-What are the advantages of Meteka Disinfection Device?
The advantages of Meteka Microwave Disinfection Device are as follows

1. Twenty Four(24) hours operation is possible.
2. High daily throughput with lowest possible hand labour involvement.
3. No handling of infectious waste because the waste is collected only in puncture proof reusable Meditanier waste container.
4. Disinfection of the container itself during each treatment in the Medister.
5. Currently printed documentation of each cycle (date, time, temperature progression).
6. No melting of plastic parts - therefore no problem with exhaust air due to higher temperature (toxic emission). No air pollution at all.
7. Low running cost by contract free energy.
8. Neither oil nor gas is required for heating .
9. No chemical is required.
10. No external steam generator and only ordinary water is required.
11. Reduction of waste volume 30% to 50% only by disinfection process without shredding.
12. Low installation cost. Installation possible in existing buildings with only small reconstruction work.

Q-What kind of After Sales Service do you provide?
We have engineers trained by our principals in Austria and all spares are available off the shelf.

Q-Are these units installed in India?
Yes, there are over 10 units installed in the country.

NEEDLE DESTROYERS

Q-How much time does it take to destroy a needle?
1-2 seconds per needle

Q-What is the capacity of the machine?
1800 needles/hour

Q-How much electricity does it consume?
One KWH per 36000 needles

Q-Is it possible to cut the tip of the syringe?
Yes, it is possible to cut the tip of the syringe.

Q- Is it capable of cutting the plunger of the syringe?
Yes, it is possible to cut the plunger of the syringe.