Fluid spray system for cleaning and sterilizing medical devices supported on a rack

A system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating an endoscope, the system comprising:

• a chamber for receiving the endoscope;
• a source of a microbial decontaminant solution;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying the decontaminant solution over an external surface of the endoscope;
• at least one connection port disposed within the chamber for supplying the decontaminant solution to an internal passage of the endoscope;
• a fluid distribution system connecting the source of the decontaminant solution, the chamber, and the nozzles and connection port, the distribution system delivering the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port and receiving sprayed decontaminant solution from the chamber;
• a pump, connected with the fluid distribution system which pumps the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port;
• a removable rack, supported within the chamber, for positioning the endoscope within the chamber;
• an endoscope clip which releasably couples a tip portion of the endoscope to one of the rack and another portion of the endoscope, to keep the tip portion securely positioned, the clip being adapted for interconnection with the fluid distribution system and including:
• at least one upper finger and at least one lower finger,
• apertures defined in the fingers for delivering decontaminant solution to portions of the endoscope contacted by the fingers, and
• a fluid pathway inside the clip which connects the fluid distribution system with the apertures;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port.

A system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device, the system comprising:

• a chamber for receiving the device;
• a source of a microbial decontaminant solution;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying the decontaminant solution over an external surface of the device;
• a pump which pumps the decontaminant solution to the nozzles;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the decontaminant solution to the nozzles, the control system sequentially causing a first set of the spray nozzles to spray the decontaminant solution for a first period of time and then causing a second set of the spray nozzles to spray the decontaminant solution for a second period of time.

A system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device with at least two internal passages, the system comprising:

• a chamber for receiving the device;
• a source of a microbial decontaminant solution;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying the decontaminant solution over an external surface of the device;
• at least two connection ports disposed within the chamber for interconnection with the at least two internal passages for supplying the decontaminant solution to the at least two internal passages;
• a fluid distribution system connecting the source of the decontaminant solution, the chamber, and the nozzles and connection ports, the distribution system delivering the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection ports and receiving sprayed decontaminant solution from the chamber, the fluid distribution system including:
• a first fluid pathway connected with a first connection port;
• a first regulator regulating the pressure of the decontaminant solution flowing through the first fluid pathway to a first internal passage of the device;
• a second fluid pathway connected with at least a second connection port;
• and
• a second regulator regulating the pressure of the decontaminant solution flowing through the second fluid pathway to a second internal passage of the device, such that maximum pressure ratings of the first and second internal passages are not exceeded;
• a pump, connected with the fluid distribution system which pumps the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection ports;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection ports.

A system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating an endoscope, the system comprising:

• a chamber for receiving the endoscope;
• a source of a microbial decontaminant solution;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying the decontaminant solution over an external surface of the endoscope;
• a fluid distribution system connecting the source of the decontaminant solution, the chamber, and the nozzles, the distribution system delivering the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and receiving sprayed decontaminant solution from the chamber;
• a valve reprocessor connected with the fluid distribution system, for receiving an endoscope valve, the reprocessor opening the valve while flowing the solution over and through the valve;
• a pump, connected with the fluid distribution system which pumps the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and valve reprocessor;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and valve reprocessor.

A system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating an endoscope, the system comprising:

• a chamber for receiving the endoscope, the chamber including:
• stationary rear, two opposed side, and top panels and an open front adjacent the side panels that is closed by an access door, the side panels being spaced by greater than a minimum bend diameter of the endoscope;
• a rack supported by the rear panel and configured to support the endoscope in a coiled configuration on a plurality of pegs;
• a source of a microbial decontaminant solution;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying the decontaminant solution over an external surface of the endoscope, the spray nozzles including a plurality of nozzles mounted to the side panels and at least one of the door and rear panels for spraying the endoscope with focused sprays from a multiplicity of directions;
• at least one connection port disposed within the chamber for supplying the decontaminant solution to the internal passage;
• a fluid distribution system connecting the source of the decontaminant solution, the chamber, and the nozzles and connection port, the distribution system delivering the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port and receiving sprayed decontaminant solution from the chamber;
• a pump, connected with the fluid distribution system which pumps the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the decontaminant solution to the nozzles and connection port.

A method of cleaning and microbially decontaminating a flexible endoscope having at least one internal passage comprising:

• a) coiling an endoscope on a rack and hanging the rack vertically within a chamber;
• b) placing a valve of the endoscope in a valve reprocessor within the chamber;
• c) spraying a washing solution over the endoscope from nozzles within the chamber to remove soil from exterior surfaces of the endoscope, the washing solution draining from the endoscope and collecting in the chamber below the endoscope;
• d) delivering the washing solution to the internal passage of the endoscope to remove soil from the internal passage of the endoscope, the washing solution coursing through the internal passage and draining into the chamber below the endoscope;
• e) spraying a microbial decontaminant solution over the endoscope from nozzles within the chamber to microbially decontaminate the exterior surfaces of the endoscope;
• f) delivering the microbial decontaminant solution to the internal passage of the endoscope to microbially decontaminate the internal passage of the endoscope;
• and
• g) delivering the microbial decontaminant solution to the valve reprocessor, the reprocessor opening the valve while the microbial decontaminant solution flows over and through the valve.

A method of cleaning and microbially decontaminating a flexible endoscope having at least one internal passage comprising:

• a) coiling the flexible endoscope around a rack and releasably coupling a tip portion of the endoscope to one of the rack and another portion of the endoscope with an endoscope clip to keep the tip portion securely positioned;
• b) positioning the rack and the endoscope within a chamber;
• c) spraying a washing solution over the endoscope from nozzles to remove soil from exterior surfaces of the endoscope;
• d) delivering the washing solution to the internal passage of the endoscope to remove soil from the internal passage of the endoscope;
• e) spraying a microbial decontaminant solution over the endoscope from nozzles within the chamber to microbially decontaminate the exterior surfaces of the endoscope;
• f) delivering the microbial decontaminant solution to the internal passage of the endoscope to microbially decontaminate the internal passage of the endoscope;
• and
• g) delivering the microbial decontaminant solution to an internal fluid path in the clip, the solution passing through apertures in the clip to contact the endoscope, spray jets of the washing solution and the microbial decontaminant solution from the nozzles impinging on exterior surfaces of the endoscope during steps c)and e).

A method of cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device having at least one internal passage comprising:

• a) positioning the device within a chamber;
• b) spraying a washing solution over the device from nozzles within the chamber to remove soil from exterior surfaces of the device;
• c) delivering the washing solution to the internal passage of the device to remove soil from the internal passage of the device;
• d) spraying a microbial decontaminant solution over the device from nozzles within the chamber to microbially decontaminate the exterior surfaces of the device;
• e) delivering the microbial decontaminant solution to the internal passage of the device to microbially decontaminate the internal passage of the device;
• and
• during steps b) and d):
• pulsing at least two sets of the nozzles in sequence such that the device is impacted by spray jets from one set of nozzles for a first period of time and is then impacted by spray jets from another set of nozzles for a second period of time, the pulsing causing the device to wobble, changing points of contact of the device.

A method of cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device having internal passages comprising:

• a) positioning the device within a chamber;
• b) spraying a washing solution over the device from nozzles within the chamber to remove soil from exterior surfaces of the device;
• c) supplying the washing solution to a first internal passage of the device at a first washing solution pressure;
• d) supplying the washing solution to a second internal passage of the device at a second washing solution pressure, different from the first washing solution pressure;
• e) spraying a microbial decontaminant solution over the device from nozzles within the chamber to microbially decontaminate the exterior surfaces of the device;
• f) supplying the decontaminant solution to the first internal passage at a first decontaminant solution pressure;
• g) supplying the decontaminant solution to the second internal passage at a second decontaminant solution pressure, different from the first decontaminant solution pressure.