Contamination protection system for endoscope control handles
AssigneeOpielab, Inc.
InventorsEric Opie, Fred E. Silverstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contamination system for endoscopes having a handle, an insertion tube projecting from the handle, and control knobs detachably mounted on control shafts projecting from the handle to control the angular orientation of distal end of the insertion tube. The handle is placed in a liquid-impermeable bag, with the control shafts projecting through an aperture in the bag. The control knobs are then attached to the shafts prior to performing an endoscopic procedure. After the procedure has been completed, the control knobs are removed from the shafts and decontaminated, the handle is removed from the bag, and the bag is discarded.
Claims18
A system for protecting an endoscope from external contamination, said endoscope having a handle, an elongated insertion tube extending from said handle to a distal end, a set of control cables for controlling the angular orientation of the distal end of said insertion tube, and control knobs applying control forces to said control cables, said system comprising:
- a fluid-impermeable bag surrounding the handle of said endoscope, said bag having an aperture formed therein to allow said control knobs to be positioned externally of said bag;
- and
- fastening means for allowing said control knobs to be detached from said handle so that said control knobs can be decontaminated between uses of said endoscope.
An endoscope having a handle and an elongated insertion tube extending from said handle to a distal end, said endoscope comprising:
- a set of up/down cables for controlling the vertical orientation of the distal end of said insertion tube;
- a set of right/left cables for controlling the horizontal orientation of the distal end of said insertion tube;
- a first control shaft operating one set of said control cables;
- a second control shaft operating the other set of said control cables, said second control shaft being concentrically positioned within said first control shaft;
- an elongated support projecting from said handle, said support being concentrically positioned within said second control shaft;
- a threaded stud surrounding said control shafts;
- a first brake actuating member threaded onto said stud, said brake actuating member having an annular layer of frictional braking material mounted on an external surface of said brake actuating member and surrounding said stud;
- an annular brake plate surrounding said threaded stud adjacent the frictional braking material on said brake actuating member, said brake plate being keyed to said first control shaft so that said brake plate and said shaft rotate together, whereby rotation of said brake actuating member in one direction causes said actuating member to move toward said brake plate, thereby forcing said layer of frictional braking material against said brake plate with increasing force in order to restrain rotation of said first control shaft;
- a first control knob releasably attached to said first control shaft so that rotation of said first control knob rotates said first control shaft;
- a brake actuating lever rotatably mounted on said first control knob, said brake actuating lever being releasably coupled to said brake actuating member;
- a second control knob releasably attached to said second control shaft so that rotation of said second control knob rotates said second control shaft, said second control knob being rotatably mounted on said first control knob, said second control shaft further including an annular braking surface concentrically surrounding said elongated support;
- a second brake actuating member rotatably secured to said second control knob, said second brake actuating member having a second annular layer of frictional braking material positioned closely adjacent the braking surface of said second control knob, said brake actuating member further including adjusting means for causing said second brake actuating member to move in one direction toward said layer of frictional braking material, thereby forcing said layer of frictional braking material against the braking surface of said second control knob with increasing force in order to restrain rotation of said second control shaft;
- and
- fastening means for releasably and rotatably securing said second brake actuating member to said elongated support to secure said control knobs, said brake actuating lever and said second brake actuating member to the handle of said endoscope while allowing said control knobs, said brake actuating lever and said second brake actuating member to be removed from said endoscope handle as a unit.
A method of protecting an endoscope from external contamination, said endoscope having a handle, an elongated insertion tube extending from said handle to a distal end, a set of control cables for controlling the angular orientation of the distal end of said insertion tube, and control knobs applying control forces to said control cables, said method comprising:
- placing a fluid-impermeable bag around the handle of said endoscope, said bag having an aperture formed therein to allow said control knobs to be positioned externally of said bag;
- attaching control knobs to said handle externally of said bag;
- using said endoscope to perform an endoscopic procedure;
- detaching said control knobs from said handle;
- removing said endoscope from said bag;
- and
- decontaminating or sterilizing said control knobs before they are once again attached to said endoscope to perform an endoscopic procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.