Apparatus and method for sterilizing internal channel surface of endoscope
AssigneePukyong National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
InventorsHyun Wook KANG, Don Haeng LEE
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Abstract
Provided are an apparatus and method for sterilizing an internal channel surface of an endoscope, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for sterilizing an internal channel surface of an endoscope, in which ultrasonic and infrared rays are irradiated to an internal channel of the endoscope to partially or entirely sterilize and removing a biofilm generated on the internal channel surface of the endoscope during a procedure or diagnosis.
Claims14
An apparatus for sterilizing an internal channel surface of an endoscope, the apparatus comprising:
- an ultraviolet light source configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays;
- an infrared light source configured to irradiate infrared rays;
- a porous catheter inserted into the endoscope;
- an optical fiber disposed in the porous catheter to irradiate the ultraviolet rays and the infrared rays to a surface of the inside of the endoscope;
- a coupling part configured to couple the ultraviolet rays and the infrared rays, which are respectively emitted from the ultraviolet light source and the infrared light source, to each other and thereby to output the coupled rays to the optical fiber;
- a pull-back driver configured to provide pull-back of the optical fiber;
- an injection device configured to inject a sterilant into the endoscope through the porous catheter;
- and
- an injection tubing configured to connect the injection device to the porous catheter.
A method for sterilizing an internal channel surface of an endoscope, the method comprising:
- (A) checking an inner diameter of the endoscope to insert a porous catheter according to a size of the checked inner diameter of the endoscope into the endoscope;
- (B) injecting a sterilant into the porous catheter to inject the sterilant into the endoscope;
- (C) inserting an optical fiber into the porous catheter to irradiate ultraviolet and infrared rays and thereby to pull back the optical fiber;
- and
- (D) removing the optical fiber after turning off an ultraviolet light source and an infrared light source to remove the porous catheter from the inside of the endoscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.