Method and apparatus for disinfecting electronic surgical probes
AssigneeTetrad Corporation
InventorsClyde G. Oakley, Don Michal, Joseph V. Ranalletta
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Abstract
Apparatus for disinfecting electronic probes used in surgical procedures comprises a housing for containing a disinfecting fluid and including a dummy connector for forming a sealed connection to the cable connector by which the probe is connected to associated equipment, whereby the contacts of the cable connector are protected from exposure to the disinfecting fluid.
Claims20
A method for disinfecting electronic probes used in surgical procedures, wherein said electronic probes comprise a probe head sealed to a distal end of a flexible cable, and a cable connector secured to a proximal end of said cable, said cable connector comprising a housing sealed to said cable and a plurality of contacts, said cable connector being adapted to mate in a predetermined manner with a cooperating connector comprised by associated equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a disinfecting apparatus for receiving a probe to be disinfected, said apparatus being adapted to contain a disinfecting medium, and said apparatus comprising a dummy connector for receiving a cable connector of said probe, and for forming a sealed connection with a housing thereof;
- disposing said probe in said apparatus;
- inserting said cable connector into said dummy connector, such that a sealed connection is formed between said dummy connector and said housing, such that said contacts of said cable connector are sealed from disinfecting medium in said apparatus;
- exposing substantially all external surfaces of said probe to said disinfecting medium;
- allowing said medium to contact said surfaces of said probe for at least a predetermined period of time;
- removing said medium from said apparatus;
- and
- removing said probe from said apparatus.
Apparatus for disinfecting electronic probes used in surgical procedures, wherein said electronic probes comprise a probe head sealed to a distal end of a flexible cable, and a cable connector secured to a proximal end of said cable, said cable connector comprising a housing sealed to said cable and having a plurality of exposed contacts, said cable connector being adapted to mate with a cooperating connector connected to associated equipment such that said contacts of said cable connector abut a corresponding plurality of contacts comprised by the cooperating connector, said apparatus for disinfecting comprising means for receiving said electronic probe, said means for receiving being adapted to contain a disinfecting medium, and said means for receiving comprising a dummy connector for receiving said cable connector of said electronic probe and forming a sealed connection with said housing of said cable connector, such that said contacts of said cable connector are sealed from said disinfecting medium.
In apparatus for disinfecting electronic probes used in surgical procedures, wherein said probes comprise a probe head connected by a cable to a multi-pin cable connector for establishing electrical connection to associated equipment, said associated equipment comprising a cooperating connector for physically mating and forming electrical connection with a multi-pin cable connector of such a probe, said apparatus comprising means for containing a quantity of a disinfecting medium together with equipment to be disinfected, the improvement comprising:
- a dummy connector disposed in said means for containing such that in normal use said dummy connector is exposed to said disinfecting medium, said dummy connector being adapted to physically mate with a multi-pin cable connector of a probe to be disinfected in substantially the same manner as the cooperating connector of the associated equipment, and said dummy connector being adapted to form a sealing connection with said cable connector, whereby when a cable connector is inserted into and secured to said dummy connector, the pins of said cable connector are prevented from contact with said disinfecting medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.