Apparatus and method for cleaning an instrument
Inventors
Vasquez, Jose • Diaz, Luis • Peterson, Dan • Cantey, Ed • Berkey, Jody • Fowler, Dan • Thomas, Brian • Gonzalez, Miguel J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10286427-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid includes a vessel defining a chamber and a port for at least partially filling the chamber with the fluid. The apparatus further includes an ultrasonic transducer for delivering ultrasonic energy to the fluid, and a vacuum pump for depressurizing the chamber. The apparatus further includes a rotatable device removably disposable in the chamber and having a rack defining a cavity for supporting the instrument. The rotatable device also has a fluid delivery member extending toward the cavity and having a fluid channel between an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus further includes a fluid transmission system in fluid communication with the chamber and the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member for circulating the fluid from the chamber through the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member. A method of cleaning an instrument is also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid using an apparatus that includes a vessel defining a chamber and a rack that supports the instrument within the chamber. The instrument includes a lumen, and the rack has a projection or a fluid delivery member configured to extend into the lumen while the instrument remains within the chamber during operation. Cleaning fluid is circulated and exits through an outlet such that it contacts the lumen interior while sonication is performed in the chamber with an ultrasonic transducer.
A central aspect is that the rack is on a rotatable device defining a longitudinal axis so that the instrument is rotated about the longitudinal axis while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen. The circulating step of the cleaning fluid is performed while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen and while the rack and instrument remain within the chamber. In a related implementation, a fluid delivery member extends into the interior of the instrument and the rack is rotated during the sonicating step while the fluid delivery member extends into the instrument interior.
The cleaning fluid circulation is implemented through a fluid channel of the projection or the fluid delivery member, where the cleaning fluid exits through the outlet and contacts the lumen or interior of the instrument. The apparatus uses ultrasonic transducers to sonicate the cleaning fluid in the chamber, and includes a vacuum pump to depressurize the chamber. A controller or processor is described as controlling operation.
Claims Coverage
Two independent method claims are provided, each centered on cleaning an instrument by submerging it in a chamber of cleaning fluid, sonicating with an ultrasonic transducer, rotating a rack about a longitudinal axis, and circulating cleaning fluid through a lumen-contacting projection or fluid delivery member while the instrument and rack remain within the chamber. The key inventive elements are the lumen-extending projection or fluid delivery member, the in-chamber sonication combined with rotation, and the concurrent circulation of cleaning fluid into the lumen or interior through an outlet.
Lumen-extended projection with in-chamber jetting circulation during sonication and rack rotation
A method in which the instrument having a lumen is loaded in a rack cavity such that a projection with an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid channel extends at least partially within the lumen; the rack with the loaded instrument is disposed inside a chamber, the chamber is at least partially filled with cleaning fluid to submerge the instrument, the cleaning fluid is sonicated with an ultrasonic transducer, the rack is rotated about a longitudinal axis within the chamber while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen, and the cleaning fluid is circulated through the fluid channel so the cleaning fluid exits the projection through the outlet and contacts the lumen of the instrument while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen and the rack and instrument remain within the chamber.
Interior-extending fluid delivery member with in-chamber jetting circulation during sonication and rack rotation
A method in which an apparatus includes a vessel defining a chamber and a port, a rack defining a cavity, and a fluid delivery member extending towards the cavity with an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid channel; the instrument having an interior and an exterior is loaded in the cavity such that the fluid delivery member extends into the interior, the rack is placed inside the chamber, the chamber is at least partially filled with the cleaning fluid to submerge the instrument, the cleaning fluid is sonicated with an ultrasonic transducer, the rack is rotated about a longitudinal axis within the chamber during the sonicating step while the fluid delivery member extends into the interior, and the cleaning fluid is circulated through the fluid channel such that the cleaning fluid exits the fluid delivery member and contacts the interior of the instrument while the fluid delivery member extends into the instrument's interior and while the rack and instrument remain within the chamber.
The claim set is directed to cleaning an instrument by combining in-chamber ultrasonic sonication and simultaneous rotation with a lumen-contacting circulation system. Both independent claims emphasize that the projection or fluid delivery member extends into the instrument lumen or interior and that circulation is performed while the instrument remains within the chamber, with cleaning fluid exiting through an outlet to contact the lumen or interior during sonicating and rack rotation.
Stated Advantages
Cleaning fluid exits the projection or fluid delivery member and contacts the lumen or interior of the instrument while the cleaning fluid is sonicated in the chamber and while the instrument is rotated.
Documented Applications
Cleaning an instrument with a lumen by submerging it in cleaning fluid in a chamber, sonicating the cleaning fluid, rotating a rack, and circulating cleaning fluid into the lumen via a projection or fluid delivery member.
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