Method and apparatus for disposing of liquid surgical waste for protection of healthcare workers

An apparatus for handling waste fluid, comprising: a) a source of negative pressure; b) a separation chamber (9), in fluid communication (9A) with said negative pressure source, said separation chamber (9) having an inlet (1) through which waste fluid from a source waste fluid is extracted to said separation chamber by said negative pressure source; c) a holding chamber (10) in fluid communication with said separation chamber (9); d) an outlet in fluid communication with said holding chamber (10); e) a pump (P) for pumping said waste fluid from said chamber (10) through said outlet, while said negative pressure is maintained in said separation chamber (9); f) a first sensor (HS) electrically coupled to said pump and adapted to detect when said waste fluid reaches a predetermined high level in said holding chamber (10), in which said pump is activated to begin pumping said waste fluid from said holding chamber (10) through said outlet; g) a second sensor (LS) electrically coupled to said pump (P) and designed to detect when said waste fluid reaches a of predetermined low level in said chamber (10), in which said pump (P) is disabled; h) a microprocessor (50) electrically coupled to said first sensor (HS) and said second sensor (LS), said microprocessor (50) is programmed to determine and record a volume of fluid pumped waste through said outlet by the pump (P).