Systems and methods for drying and/or cleaning endoscopic devices
AssigneeGI Scientific, LLC
InventorsScott Miller, Frank Carter, Carl Gauger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods for cleaning and/or drying endoscopic instruments, such as endoscopes, are provided. A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument comprises an elongate member configured for advancement through an internal lumen within the endoscopic instrument and a drying member removably coupled to a portion of the elongate member. The drying element comprises a variable pressure region shaped and configured to increase the hydrodynamic fluid friction force and fluid pressure force applied to the wall of the internal lumen of the endoscope to more effectively remove all of the moisture and fluid from the internal surfaces of an endoscopic instrument.
Claims28
A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument, the device comprising:
- an elongate member configured for advancement through a lumen within the endoscopic instrument;
- at least one drying member coupled to a portion of the elongate member, wherein the drying member comprises distal and proximal end portions and a central portion between the distal and proximal end portions, wherein the drying member has one or more centering elements positioned on either end of the drying member for centering the drying member as the drying member is advanced through a lumen;
- and
- wherein the central portion is shaped to create a pressure gradient along the central portion from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion.
A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument, the device comprising:
- an elongate member configured for advancement through a lumen within the endoscopic instrument;
- at least one drying member coupled to a portion of the elongate member, wherein the drying member comprises distal and proximal end portions and a central portion between the distal and proximal end portions;
- and
- wherein the central portion is shaped to increase a force applied by a fluid within the lumen against an internal wall of the lumen as the drying member is advanced through the lumen, wherein the force creates a pressure of at least about 100 Pa in at least one area between the distal and proximal end portions of the drying member.
A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument, the device comprising:
- an elongate member configured for advancement through a lumen within the endoscopic instrument;
- at least one drying member coupled to a portion of the elongate member, wherein the drying member comprises distal and proximal end portions and a central portion between the distal and proximal end portions;
- and
- wherein the central portion is shaped to increase a force applied by a fluid within the lumen against an internal wall of the lumen as the drying member is advanced through the lumen, wherein the force creates a shear stress of at least about 5 Pa in at least one area between the distal and proximal end portions of the drying member.
A drying device for use with an endoscopic instrument, the device comprising:
- an elongate member configured for advancement through a lumen within the endoscopic instrument;
- at least one drying member coupled to a portion of the elongate member, wherein the drying member comprises distal and proximal end portions and a central portion between the distal and proximal end portions;
- and
- wherein the central portion is shaped to increase a force applied by a fluid within the lumen against an internal wall of the lumen as the drying member is advanced through the lumen, wherein the central portion has a distance and the force creates a pressure of at least 50 Pa in at least 25% of the distance between the proximal and distal end portions of the drying member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.