Endoscope unblocking flush system
OwnerSharon A. Hibbs, James E. Hibbsinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscope unblocking flush system for back flushing a suction lumen of an endoscope includes a flush source providing pressurized water and a valve mechanism to cut off a suction source from the suction lumen and to open the suction lumen to flow of back flush water from the flush source. The valve mechanism includes a valve housing with ports to connect to the suction lumen, the suction source, and the flush source. A valve member within the housing has passages to connect the suction source to the suction lumen in a run state and to connect the flush source to the suction lumen in a flush state.
Claims14
A flush apparatus for flushing a suction lumen of an endoscope to clear a blockage thereof and comprising:
- (a) a suction source communicating with a suction lumen of an endoscope by way of a suction line;
- (b) a flush source having a flush fluid which can be pressurized;
- (c) a flush valve mechanism having the suction line and the flush source connected thereto;
- (d) the flush valve mechanism having a run state in which communication through the suction line from the suction source to a suction lumen of an endoscope is enabled;
- and
- (e) the flush valve mechanism having a flush state in which communication from the suction source through the suction line is prevented and in which the flush source communicates with the suction line whereby pressurization of the flush source urges the flush fluid through the suction line to clear a blockage in a suction lumen of an endoscope.
A flush apparatus for flushing a suction lumen of an endoscope to clear a blockage thereof and comprising:
- (a) a suction source communicating with a suction lumen of an endoscope by way of a suction line;
- (b) a flush source having a flush fluid which can be pressurized;
- (c) a flush valve mechanism including a valve housing and a valve member positioned within the valve housing and movable between a run position and a flush position;
- (d) the valve housing including a suction port communicating with the suction source, an endoscope port communicating with suction lumen, and a flush port communicating with the flush source;
- (e) the valve member including a run passage which enables communication between the suction port and the endoscope port in the run position;
- and
- (f) the valve member including a flush passage which enables communication between the flush source and the endoscope port in the flush position and being configured to prevent communication between the suction port and the endoscope port in the flush position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.