# US 10,499,800 B2 · Endoscope reprocesssor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,800 B2 - Document ID: US10499800B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/807,637 - Filed: 2017-11-09 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-21 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation; HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Olympus Corporation; HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideto Onishi; Hiromasa Akahori; Yumiko Awau; Akihisa Ogawa; Shintaro Suzuki; Yoshihiko Kawaguchi; Satoko Kai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499800B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/121: {provided with means for cleaning post-use} - A61B 1/00057: {provided with means for testing or calibration} - A61B 1/123: {using washing machines} - A61B 1/125: {using fluid circuits} - A61B 1/128: {provided with means for regulating temperature} - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - B08B 9/023: Cleaning the external surfaces {(B08B9/021 takes precedence)} - B08B 9/0325: {Control mechanisms therefor} - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract An endoscope reprocessor includes a concentration sensor including a concave section in which a sensing section is housed and a permeable membrane configured to cover the concave section, a medicinal solution tank, to an inside of which at least the permeable membrane is exposed and on the inside of which a disinfection solution is stored, and a heating section configured to heat at least the permeable membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope reprocessor comprising: a concave housing; a concentration sensor disposed in the concave housing, the concentration sensor being configured to detect a fluid concentration in the concave housing; a permeable membrane configured to cover the concave housing; a medicinal solution tank, at least the permeable membrane being exposed to an inside of the medicinal solution tank and a medicinal solution being stored in the inside of the medicinal solution tank; and a heater configured to heat at least the permeable membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 1, further comprising: an internal solution sealed in the concave housing by the permeable membrane, and the concentration sensor includes an electrode, at least a part of the electrode being immersed in the internal solution. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 1, wherein the medicinal solution tank includes: a main body in which the medicinal solution is stored; a concentration measurement chamber, a capacity of the concentration measurement chamber being smaller than a capacity of the main body, the concentration sensor being disposed on an inside of the concentration measurement chamber to expose at least the permeable membrane; and a medicinal-solution lead-in conduit configured to introduce the medicinal solution into the concentration measurement chamber from the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 3, wherein the medicinal solution tank further includes a medicinal-solution lead-out conduit configured to introduce the medicinal solution into the main body from the concentration measurement chamber, the medicinal-solution lead-in conduit includes a medicinal-solution pump configured to transfer the medicinal solution in the main body, and the medicinal solution is circulated between the main body and the concentration measurement chamber via the medicinal-solution lead-in conduit and the medicinal-solution lead-out conduit according to driving of the medicinal-solution pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 3, wherein, in the medicinal-solution lead-in conduit or in the concentration measurement chamber, the heater is configured to further heat the medicinal solution to thereby heat the permeable membrane via the medicinal solution and heats the medicinal solution to a temperature higher than a service temperature of the medicinal solution. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 1, wherein the heater is configured to directly heat the permeable membrane in the medicinal solution tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscope reprocessor according to claim 1, further comprising: a dryness detecting sensor configured to detect a dryness degree of the permeable membrane; and a controller comprising hardware, the controller being connected to the heater and to the dryness detecting sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control driving of the heater when the dryness degree of the permeable membrane detected by the dryness detecting sensor is equal to or larger than a reference value.