# US 12,181,355 B2 · Method for identifying a connection, and rinsing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,355 B2 - Document ID: US12181355B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/835,177 - Filed: 2022-06-08 - Published: 2022-12-15 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-09 - Assignees: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH - Applicants: OLYMPUS Winter & Ibe GmbH - Inventors: Alexander Werner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181355B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/123: {using washing machines} - G01L 19/0007: {Fluidic connecting means} - A61B 1/125: {using fluid circuits} - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - B08B 9/0325: {Control mechanisms therefor} - G01L 7/00: Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements ({G01L11/004 takes precedence;} transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric {, e.g., photoelectric} or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00) - A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes} - B08B 2209/032: by the mechanical action of a moving fluid - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device. The method including: applying a first testing pressure to the first channel; reading in a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; and detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure and above a predetermined first threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, wherein the method comprises: applying a first testing pressure to the first channel; receiving a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; and identifying a connection between the first channel and at least one third channel located in the rinsing device, wherein the receiving comprises, receiving a second pressure signal representing a second pressure in the third channel, and the detecting comprises detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least third channel when the second pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined second ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined second threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a connection between the at least one second channel and the at least the third channel wherein the applying comprises, applying a second testing pressure to the at least one second channel element, and the detecting comprises, detecting the connection between the at least one second channel and the at least third channel when the second pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined ratio to the second testing pressure; and above the second threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein, before the applying of the second testing pressure to the second channel, the testing pressure is at least reduced from the first channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing information in a table about a presence of the connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the table comprises rows and the columns each representing one of the first channel and the at least one second channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the applying, one or more of compressed air and a liquid is pumped into the first channel to build up the testing pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure is applied into a first medical device as the first channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein, of the receiving comprises, receiving a pressure in a second medical device as the second channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure to the first channel and the at least one second channel using a 3/2-way valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure to the first channel and the at least one second channel by a pressure connection of a pulsation module and wherein, the receiving comprises, receiving the first pressure signal by a pressure sensor of the pulsation module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor and the pressure connection are arranged in a common pulsation module housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) He method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the applying, receiving and detecting are executed whether a recirculation pump for recirculating a treatment liquor is switched on or switched off. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising conducting a treatment liquor through one or more of the first channel and the second channel in response to the detected connection. ### Claim 14 A control device for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, the control device comprising: a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: control a first testing pressure to be applied to the first channel; receive a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; determine the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; and identify a connection between the first channel and at least one third channel located in the rinsing device, wherein the receiving comprises, receiving a second pressure signal representing a second pressure in the third channel, and the detecting comprises detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least third channel when the second pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined second ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined second threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A rinsing device comprising: the control device according to claim 14 for identifying the connection between the first channel and the at least one second channel located in the rinsing device. ### Claim 16 A computer-readable device for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, the computer-readable device storing instructions that cause a computer to at least perform: controlling a first testing pressure to be applied to the first channel; receiving a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; determining the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; and identifying a connection between the first channel and at least one third channel located in the rinsing device, wherein the receiving comprises, receiving a second pressure signal representing a second pressure in the third channel, and the detecting comprises detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least third channel when the second pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined second ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined second threshold. ### Claim 17 A method for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, wherein the method comprises: applying a first testing pressure to the first channel; receiving a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; and detecting the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure to the first channel and the at least one second channel by a pressure connection of a pulsation module and wherein, the receiving comprises, receiving the first pressure signal by a pressure sensor of the pulsation module. ### Claim 18 A control device for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, the control device comprising: a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: control a first testing pressure to be applied to the first channel; receive a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; and determine the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure to the first channel and the at least one second channel by a pressure connection of a pulsation module and wherein, the receiving comprises, receiving the first pressure signal by a pressure sensor of the pulsation module. ### Claim 19 A computer-readable device for identifying a connection between a first channel and at least one second channel located in a rinsing device, the computer-readable device storing instructions that cause a computer to at least perform: controlling a first testing pressure to be applied to the first channel; receiving a first pressure signal representing a first pressure in the at least one second channel; and determining the connection between the first channel and the at least second channel when the first pressure is one or more of: at a predetermined first ratio to the testing pressure; and above a predetermined first threshold; wherein, the applying comprises, applying the first testing pressure to the first channel and the at least one second channel by a pressure connection of a pulsation module and wherein, the receiving comprises, receiving the first pressure signal by a pressure sensor of the pulsation module.