Medical implement drying apparatus
AssigneeCenorin, LLC
InventorsDrew R. Radford, Paul Leung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a novel medical implement drying apparatus and a method for holding and drying certain medical implements during a reprocessing sequence. This is accomplished by forcing air through the apparatus. The apparatus and method disclosed herein is useful for many medical implements having a hollow casing. The medical implement drying apparatus is particularly well suited for use with a drying cabinet containing one or more of the medical implements during the drying process which will facilitate drying of the exterior of each medical implement, while the disclosed apparatus removes water and water vapor from the interior of each medical implement. Specialized holders, racks, and drying gas pumping systems are also disclosed.
Claims17
A medical implement drying apparatus comprising:
- a drying gas source;
- at least one gas conduit fluidly connecting the drying gas source to a medical implement having an inner space defined by a housing comprising a tool manipulating mechanism;
- the mechanism connected through the housing to a robotic mechanism configured for use in surgical procedures;
- the medical implement comprising a second portion forming an elongate lumen connected to the first portion and extending therefrom;
- the elongate lumen further defining the inner space;
- the lumen enclosing actuators configured for manipulation of a surgical tool configured to be inserted and manipulated within a patient;
- the drying gas source fluidly coupled to the inner space of the medical implement;
- the housing of the medical implement having an inlet port coupled to the gas conduit in fluid communication with the inner space of the medical implement;
- the gas conduit removably attached to the inlet port;
- and
- wherein the medical implement drying apparatus is configured such that drying gas flows from the drying gas source, through the gas conduit into the inner space, absorbs liquid, from within the medical implement, to expel the liquid from the medical implement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.