# US 10,245,339 B2 · Apparatus and method of sterilizing lumens in medical instruments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,339 B2 - Document ID: US10245339B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/391,041 - Filed: 2016-12-27 - Published: 2017-06-29 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-29 - Applicants: Webb Medical LLC - Inventors: Daniel Hyun Shin; Steven B. Krupnick; Casey Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245339B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61B 1/121: {provided with means for cleaning post-use} - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61L 2/104: Ultraviolet C [UVC] - G02B 23/2453: {of the proximal end} - G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports} - A61B 1/012: characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor - A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes} - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Disclosed are apparatus and a method for sterilizing an internal surface of a lumen in a medical instrument, e.g., an endoscope. The apparatus is in the form of an elongated UVC light guide, e.g., an optic fiber, having a central longitudinal axis and which is configured to be extended down the lumen in the instrument, and a housing including a source of UVC light. The UVC light guide includes a distal end portion and is configured to carry UVC light internally from the source of UVC light to the distal end portion. The distal end portion includes a reflective surface for directing the UVC light radially outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis, whereupon when the UVC light guide is extended into the lumen in the medical instrument the radially directed UVC light impinges the internal surface of the lumen to sterilize it. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for sterilizing an internal surface of a lumen in a medical instrument, said apparatus comprising: an elongated UVC light guide having a central longitudinal axis, said UVC light guide being configured to be extended down the lumen in the instrument and including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion being configured to be coupled to a source of UVC light suitable for sterilizing the internal surface of the lumen, the UVC light source including at least one LED for producing UVC light when the at least one LED is energized, whereupon the UVC light is carried internally by said UVC light guide from the source of UVC light to said distal end portion of said UVC light guide; and a reflective attachment comprising a sleeve or tube and at least one reflective surface, said sleeve or tube being secured to said distal end portion of said UVC light guide and being formed of a material through which UVC light can readily pass, said at least one reflective surface being located within said sleeve or tube and extending at an angle to said central longitudinal axis and being configured to direct said UVC light radially outward from said central longitudinal axis through said sleeve or tube, whereupon when said UVC light guide is extended into the lumen in the medical instrument the radially directed UVC light passing through said sleeve or tube impinges the internal surface of the lumen to sterilize it. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective attachment comprises plural reflective surfaces, each of said reflective surfaces extending at an angle to said central longitudinal axis, but facing in a different radial direction with respect to said central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plural reflective surfaces comprise respective facets of a body formed of a material which is itself reflective of UVC light or which is coated with a material which is reflective of UVC light. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said optic fiber comprises a single optic fiber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber bundle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a liquid light guide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a holey photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a hollow photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sleeve or tube comprises fused silica or sapphire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises said source of UVC light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source of UVC light located within a housing and wherein said housing includes a switch to control the operation of said source of UVC light and an indicator to indicate when said source of UVC light is providing said UVC light into said fiber optic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said optic fiber comprises a single optic fiber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber bundle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a liquid light guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a holey photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a hollow photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 19 A method of sterilizing an internal surface of a lumen in a medical instrument comprising: a) providing an apparatus including an elongated UVC light guide having a central longitudinal axis, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said distal end portion including a reflective attachment comprising a sleeve or tube and at least one reflective surface, said sleeve or tube being secured to said distal end portion of said UVC light guide and being formed of a material through which UVC light can readily pass, said at least one reflective surface being located within said sleeve or tube and extending at an angle to said central longitudinal axis and being configured for directing UVC light radially outward from said central longitudinal axis through said sleeve or tube; b) coupling a source of UVC light to said proximal end portion of said elongated UVC light guide, said source of UVC light including at least one LED for producing UVC light when said at least one LED is energized; c) inserting said UVC light guide within said lumen of said instrument; d) energizing said source of UVC light to produce UVC light, whereupon said UVC light guide carries said UVC light from said source of UVC light internally down said UVC light guide to said reflective attachment from whence said UVC light is directed radially outward through said sleeve or tube to impinge said internal surface of said lumen to sterilize that surface; and e) moving said UVC light guide through said lumen while said source of UVC light is producing said UVC light to thereby sterilize the length of said internal surface of said lumen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein said optic fiber comprises a single optic fiber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein UVC light guide comprises an optic fiber bundle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a liquid light guide. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a holey photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said UVC light guide comprises a hollow photonic crystal fiber.