Method and apparatus for decontaminating a medical instrument
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10384237-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another involves mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument during an automated decontamination cycle of the decontaminating apparatus. The instrument may be a surgical instrument having an operating portion arranged to remotely control operation of a working portion in use. The method may involve engaging a part or parts of the operating portion to transmit motion thereto for creating the relative movement. An instrument carrier insertable in a decontaminating apparatus in use may be modified to incorporate an instrument manipulator.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another by mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus having a fluid flow path for receiving decontaminating fluid during a decontamination cycle. The method automatically manipulates the instrument during the cycle to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument.
A central feature is that automatically manipulating the instrument includes hydraulically driving an instrument manipulation means by the flow of decontaminating fluid moving along the fluid flow path, thereby putting the instrument engaging means in motion during the decontamination cycle. The approach addresses the challenges posed by relative motion, which can expose different surfaces of movable portions during wet decontamination.
The disclosed systems and mechanisms include modified instrument carriers with engagement means and internal flushing, adapted to retrofit existing deluge washer systems. The carrier and manipulation architecture use hydraulically driven engagement and kinematic mechanisms such as cams/gears/linkages to move relatively movable portions in a manner that is timed with deluge decontamination while avoiding interference with ultrasonic wave development, including cycle options such as deluge decontamination means and a soaking stage.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim (clm-00001). This claim covers a hydraulically driven instrument manipulation approach using a decontaminating apparatus fluid flow path to create relative motion between movable parts during an automated decontamination cycle.
Hydraulically driving instrument manipulation means with decontaminating fluid flow to create relative movement
A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another, including providing an instrument manipulation means having an instrument engaging means engageable with the instrument, mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus having a fluid flow path for receiving decontaminating fluid during a decontamination cycle, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts during the decontamination cycle, wherein automatically manipulating includes hydraulically driving the instrument manipulation means by the flow of the decontaminating fluid moving along the fluid flow path so the instrument engaging means is put in motion during the decontamination cycle.
The claim coverage centers on automated decontamination of movable-part medical instruments where instrument manipulation is hydraulically driven by decontaminating fluid flowing along the apparatus fluid flow path to generate relative motion between movable instrument portions during the cycle.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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