Method for cleaning a lumen
AssigneeAmerican Sterilizer Company
InventorsJude A. Kral, Michael A. Centanni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing soil from an inner surface of a lumen wall of a medical instrument are disclosed. A carrier gas entrains particles capable of sublimation at room temperature and transports the particles into and through the lumen. As the particles collide with the soil attached to the inner surface of the lumen wall, and as the particles sublime, the soil is removed from the inner surface of the lumen wall and transported out an exit of the lumen.
Claims19
A method for simultaneously cleaning and deactivating an inner surface of a lumen of a medical instrument, comprising the steps of:
- creating a directional flow of a carrier gas that includes a gas or vapor for effecting deactivation of biocontamination;
- generating particles of a material capable of sublimation at room temperature;
- regulating a metering device to entrain the particles in the carrier gas, wherein said metering device is regulated to change concentration of the particles entrained in the carrier gas according to at least one of the following parameters:
- (a) amount of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen,
- (b) type of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen,
- (c) length of the lumen, and
- (d) velocity of the carrier gas;
- directing said carrier gas and particles into a first end of the lumen of the medical instrument;
- and
- maintaining flow of said carrier gas and particles until at least a portion of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen is removed therefrom.
A method for simultaneously cleaning and deactivating an exterior surface of a medical instrument, comprising the steps of:
- creating a directional flow of a carrier gas that includes a gas or vapor for effecting deactivation of biocontamination;
- generating particles of a material capable of sublimation at room temperature;
- regulating a metering device to entrain the particles in the carrier gas, wherein said metering device is regulated to change concentration of the particles entrained in the carrier gas according to at least one of the following parameters:
- (a) amount of soil adhered to the external surface of the medical device,
- (b) type of soil adhered to the external surface of the medical device, and
- (c) velocity of the carrier gas;
- directing said carrier gas and particles at an exterior surface of the medical instrument;
- and
- maintaining flow of said carrier gas and particles until at least a portion of soil adhered to the exterior surface of the medical instrument is removed therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.