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US 5,494,530 AGranted
Method of and apparatus for testing and cleaning of endoscopes
AssigneeF. Gehrig & Co. AG
InventorMarcel Graf
Life of this patent
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AssigneeF. Gehrig & Co. AG
InventorMarcel Graf
Estimating the term…
In the program-controlled cleaning of endoscopes in a cleaning apparatus, the head parts are cleaned, rinsed, disinfected and rinsed clean in pressure chambers and, at the same time, the insertion tubes are cleaned, rinsed, disinfected and rinsed clean in pipes, attached to these pressure chambers, in a number of cleaning stages using cleaning liquid which is introduced via a circulation pump at a pressure of approximately 200 mbar. Prior to each of these cleaning stages, compressed air generated in the compressed air unit of the cleaning apparatus is introduced from there through the pressure test attachment of each endoscope, which pressure test attachment is connected by means of a pressure test adaptor to a compressed air attachment of the cleaning apparatus, until an internal pressure of 250 mbar is reached. If this pressure is not reached within 5 min or if the internal pressure of the endoscope drops by more than 30 mbar during a subsequent holding time of 30 sec, the circulation pump is not set in operation and the cleaning is discontinued. Otherwise, the internal pressure in the endoscope is kept at 250 mbar during the cleaning stage. The endoscope is tested in this way for leakproofness and is protected from penetration of cleaning liquid, even when a leak occurs during cleaning.
A method for program-controlled testing and cleaning of an endoscope comprising the steps of
A method for program-controlled testing and cleaning of an endoscope with a head part, an insertion tube and a pressure test attachment, comprising the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Operational features of endoscopes: provided with means for testing or calibration
Provided with means for cleaning post-use: using fluid circuits
Medical diagnosis and surgery
Term ended 8 Dec 2013 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for program-controlled testing and cleaning of endoscopes having a head pan with an attached insertion tube and a pressure test attachment, and to a cleaning apparatus for carrying out testing and cleaning.
2. Description of the Related Art
The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to figures which represent only one exemplary embodiment, and in which
FIG. 1a shows a cleaning apparatus according to the invention in a front view, without door,
FIG. 1b shows the components of the cleaning apparatus according to FIG. 1a in a side view,
The cleaning apparatus has a cleaning chamber 1, in which two pressure chambers 2a, b made of stainless steel are incorporated, these consisting in each case of a lower part and of an upper part which can be swivelled open, and also a basket 3. Plastic pipes 4a, b of helical line configuration are attached to the pressure chambers 2a, b. Washing arms 5a, b are suspended in a rotatable manner in the vicinity of the lid and the base of the cleaning chamber 1. Arranged on the back wall are two pressurized water attachments 6a, b, which are connected to the pressure chambers 2a, b via pipes 7a, b, and also, directly underneath the lid, compressed air attachments 8a, b. A control panel 9 is arranged alongside the opening of cleaning chamber 1 on the front of the cleaning apparatus.
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lower part of the cleaning chamber 1 is formed by a tank 10 which is connected via a circulation pump 11 to a collecting line 12, which supplies the washer arms 5a, b via a first branch 12a and supplies the compressed water attachments 6a, b via a second branch 12b. The tank 10 can be emptied by means of a suction pump 13. It is additionally provided with a heating arrangement 14 and a temperature sensor 15, and also with a pressure sensor 16 for monitoring its degree of filling. A heater fan 17 is connected to the first branch 12a of the collecting line 12.
The cleaning apparatus is supplied with water via three attachments. One attachment for demineralized water 18 is connected via a first valve 19a directly to the cleaning chamber 1 and via a second valve 19b to a boiler 20. A hot water attachment 21 is connected via a valve 22 and a decalcifier (ion exchanger) 23 likewise to the cleaning chamber 1, while a cold water attachment 24 is connected via a first valve 25a likewise to the decalcifier 23, via a second valve 25b to a regenerating salt storage unit 26, upstream of the decalcifier 23, and finally via a third valve 25c to a heat exchanger 27 which is arranged in the boiler 20. A line leads in each case through the boiler 20 and from the heat exchanger 27 via a valve 28 and 29, respectively, into the cleaning chamber 1, a further line additionally leading via a valve 30 to an outlet 31. A storage unit 36 for a cleaner and a storage unit 37 for disinfectant are likewise connected to the cleaning chamber 1 in each case via a pump 32 and 33, respectively, and a flow rate indicator 34 and 35, respectively.