Leak detection method for endoscopes

A method of reprocessing endoscopes, the method comprising:

• (a) positioning an endoscope in a reprocessing region;
• (b) connecting a leak detector to the endoscope;
• (c) supplying a quantity of compressed gas to an internal passage of the endoscope to pressurize the internal passage;
• (d) electronically calculating whether the endoscope has leaks from changes in the temperature and pressure of the gas with time;
• (e) releasing a portion but not all of the gas within the endoscope such that the pressure of the gas is above ambient pressure during step (f);
• and
• (f) in response to calculating that the endoscope does not have leaks, supplying an antimicrobial fluid to the reprocessing region to contact and decontaminate the endoscope.

An apparatus for processing endoscopes, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a structure which receives an endoscope to be reprocessed;
• (b) a pressurized gas source;
• (c) a means for supplying the pressurized gas from the gas source to an internal passage of the endoscope for selectively pressurizing the internal passage and for holding a quantity of gas in the internal passage fixed;
• (d) a gas temperature and pressure measuring means for repeatedly measuring a temperature and pressure of the fixed quantity of gas in the internal passage;
• (e) a leakage determining means for receiving the measured temperatures and pressures and determining from changes in the measured temperature and pressure whether the gas in the internal passage is leaking at a rate greater than a predicted acceptable leakage rate;
• (f) a source of antimicrobial fluid;
• (g) a means for supply the antimicrobial fluid to the structure and for contacting and decontaminating surfaces of the endoscope with the antimicrobial fluid, the pressurized gas supplying means supplying pressurized gas to the internal passage to maintain the pressure of the gas in the internal passage above an ambient pressure in the structure while the antimicrobial fluid is contacting and decontaminating the surfaces of the endoscope.

An apparatus for reprocessing endoscopes, the apparatus comprising:

• a source of compressed gas;
• a means for releasably connecting the compressed gas source with an internal passage of an endoscope to be reprocessed and for controlling a supply of compressed gas to the internal passage;
• a temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of the gas in the internal passage;
• a pressure measuring means for measuring a pressure of the gas in the internal passage;
• a source of decontamination solution;
• a decontamination solution supply means for controllably contacting surfaces of the endoscope with the decontamination solution from the decontamination source;
• a control means connected with the compressed gas connecting and controlling means, the temperature measuring means, the pressure measuring means, and the decontamination solution supply means for:
• (a) controlling the compressed gas connecting and controlling means to pressurize the internal passage,
• (b) controlling the temperature and pressure measuring means to measure temperature and pressure of the gas in the internal passage at least twice,
• (c) determining whether the internal passage has leaks from changes in the measured temperatures and pressures,
• (d) after determining whether the internal passage has leaks, controlling the compressed gas connecting and controlling means to reduce gas pressure in the internal passage to a lower, above ambient pressure,
• (e) after determining whether the internal passage has leaks, controlling the decontaminant solution supply means to contact and decontaminate the endoscope with the decontaminant solution.