US 12,758,666 B2 · Flushing systems for surgical instruments

Abstract

A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a shaft extending distally from the drive housing, a distal seal arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and a flush tube extending from the drive housing within the shaft and terminating proximal to the distal seal. A flushing fluid conveyed distally through the flush tube is discharged from the flush tube and impinges upon the distal seal. A proximal drain is arranged within the drive housing and in fluid communication with an annulus defined between the flush tube and an inner wall of the shaft. The flushing fluid discharged from the flush tube circulates proximally within the annulus to the proximal drain to be discharged from the drive housing.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A surgical tool, comprising:

a drive housing;
a shaft extending distally from the drive housing;
a distal seal arranged at a distal end of the shaft;
a flush tube extending from the drive housing within the shaft and terminating proximal to the distal seal, wherein a flushing fluid conveyed distally through the flush tube is discharged from the flush tube and impinges upon the distal seal;
and
a proximal drain arranged within the drive housing and in fluid communication with an annulus defined between the flush tube and an inner wall of the shaft,
wherein the flushing fluid discharged from the flush tube circulates proximally within the annulus to the proximal drain to be discharged from the drive housing.

4 more elements

A method of flushing a surgical tool, comprising:

conveying a flushing fluid into a flush tube arranged within a shaft extending distally from a drive housing of the surgical tool;
discharging the flushing fluid from the flush tube proximal to a distal seal arranged at a distal end of the shaft;
impinging the flushing fluid on the distal seal and portions of the shaft and thereby removing debris and bioburden from the distal seal;
circulating the flushing fluid back to the drive housing within an annulus defined between the flush tube and an inner wall of the shaft;
receiving the flushing fluid at a proximal drain arranged within the drive housing and in fluid communication with the annulus;
and
discharging the flushing fluid from the drive housing via the proximal drain.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/531,554Filed 6 Dec 2023

Published

US 2025/0186640 A112 Jun 2025

Granted

13 Oct 2026

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61L 2/18
Using chemical substances: liquid substances
A61L 2/26
Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor: accessories
A61L 2103/15
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps
A61L 2202/123
Apparatus for isolating biocidal substances from the environment: connecting means

Flushing systems for surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Flushing systems for surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14