No splashes and spills, no heavy lifting of canisters and no hefty hazardous waste disposal bills. The benefits of automated fluid waste disposal systems are clear-cut, especially if, like us, you congeal fluid waste by pouring disinfecting solidifiers into suction canisters. We detail 6 automated systems over the next few pages and outline what to pay close attention to when trialing them below.

• Noise level. Every type of suction adds some level of noise to the surgical environment, and automated systems can vary dramatically in the amount that they produce. We know that rising noise levels in the OR can create the potential for errors, so a system's operational sound is an increasingly important consideration.
• Suction efficiency. The whole point of the system is to remove fluid waste from the surgical site as quickly as possible. Surgeons will want the amount of suction a system delivers to be at least as efficient as what they've become accustomed to using, and they'll be able to tell whether it is right away during a product trial. The ability to adjust the level of suction offers the versatility to use a system for a range of procedures.
• Capacity. Automated systems have collection capacities that are greater than individual traditional suction canisters, but they all vary in how much they can hold, total. If you host a lot of fluid-intensive procedures, make sure that the system will meet your needs and serve at least an entire case at a time.
• Between-case processes. Most automated systems have a process for emptying and cleaning between cases. The ease by which this process is accomplished will impact the system's overall efficiency during OR turnovers. Some systems require the unit to be transported to a docking station or drainage unit. The number and placement of these stations or units is an important consideration, as is how long the emptying and cleaning process takes, as both factors will have an influence on how well you'll keep up with your case volume. If you have several orthopedic ORs turning over at the same time, for example, having only 1 docking station will delay the next cases while the systems are waiting to be emptied and cleaned.
• Special features. The added features that some systems incorporate make it possible to match their functions to your needs. Would multiple suction lines be useful in your ORs? Does each line require an independently adjustable suction level? How accurately do you need to measure the amounts of fluid you're collecting? (Some units have marked gradations or digital displays for varying levels of precision.) Would your staff benefit from the inclusion of a smoke evacuator in a fluid management device?

Bemis Health Care
Quick-Drain Waste Management System
(800) 558-7651
www.bemishealthcare.com
Price range: $7,600 to $9,800
FYI: Bemis Health Care's Quick-Drain Waste Management System offers a safe, cost-effective method of emptying the contents of canisters used throughout your facility. The device, which connects to your existing plumbing and requires no electricity to operate, disposes of fluids directly into the sanitary sewer, preventing staff exposure to splash risks. It drains at 500cc per second to save staff time, while reducing red bag waste and eliminating solidifier costs to save your facility money.

Cardinal Health
SAF-T Pump
www.cardinalhealth.com
(800) 964-5227
Price range: not disclosed
FYI: The SAF-T Pump from Cardinal Health quickly and safely empties canisters of fluid waste directly into the sanitary sewer with no pouring required. It is easy to use: Just insert a dip tube into a suction canister, connect the pump and turn it on. Powered entirely by tap water, with no moving parts to wear out, it can drain a liter of liquid in 4 seconds. The system accommodates all Guardian, CRD and Flex Advantage suction canister sizes to eliminate the need for and expense of disposing of full canisters.

DeRoyal
Aqua-Box Waste Fluid Evacuation System
(800) 251-9864
www.deroyal.com
Price range: $3,000 to $8,000 per unit, depending on size and rinse option
FYI: A compact, standalone, wall-mounted unit, the DeRoyal Aqua-Box quickly, efficiently and safely empties and discards fluid from any suction canister, liner, bag, kick bucket or other collection source in a matter of seconds. Optionally, the system can also add a disinfectant before disposing the waste down existing sewer lines. The simple-to-operate, low-maintenance device can be installed on nearly any wall, saving floor space. According to the company, the red bag waste disposal costs it saves will pay for the device in less than 4 months.

Dornoch Medical Systems
Ultra Duo Flex with Smoke Evacuator
(888) 466-6633
www.dornoch.com
Price range: $18,304
FYI: Designed to be left in the OR all day long, Ultra Duo Flex Fluid Carts from Dornoch Medical Systems incorporate separate, sealed reservoirs for each patient, which are automatically cleaned and terminally disinfected after each case with the compact Ultra Evac Station. Reusable reservoirs and inexpensive, recyclable lids replace single-use canisters, manifolds and gelling agents and lower the cost of red bag waste. Ultra Flex carts also feature the ViroVac System from Buffalo Filter for surgical smoke evacuation.

MD Technologies
Environ-Mate ?DM6000 Series Suction-Drain Systems
(800) 201-3060
www.mdtechnologiesinc.com
Price range: $3,000 to $8,000, depending on unit and application
FYI: Eliminate canister costs from your fluid management process and cut your hazardous waste costs with MD Technologies' Environ-Mate DM6000 Suction-Drain Systems. The compact, wall-mounted units silently suction fluid from the surgical field and send it directly to the sewer, without manual transport to a disposal interface, completely isolating staff from exposure to potentially infectious materials. Three models are available: DM6000, for sterile processing departments, which includes a footswitch; DM6000-2, for endoscopy, which includes 2 suction inputs; and DM6000-2A (pictured), for surgery, which has unlimited capacity and an optional fluid totalizer.

Stryker Instruments
Neptune 2 Waste Management System
(800) 253-3210
www.stryker.com
Price range: not disclosed
FYI: Stryker's Neptune 2 Waste Management System minimizes risk to OR staff by virtually eliminating all contact with fluid waste and surgical smoke. A totally closed, all-in-one unit, it quickly and efficiently collects and disposes of surgical waste without operator assistance. The Neptune features 2 independently adjustable suction lines and a dual canister design with 4L and 20L capacities. A quiet smoke evacuator with an ULPA filter captures plumes, while the fully enclosed canister enables easy, safe exterior cleaning.