Device for testing the leakproofness of a surgical instrument, reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments, and use of a swellable material body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096556-B2
Application number	US-201916245288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A connecting device through which a gas can flow, for connecting a port of a surgical instrument to a reprocessing device for cleaning the surgical instrument, the connecting device including: a self-actuating valve with a swellable material body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reprocessing device for cleaning a surgical instrument, the reprocessing device comprising:
a connecting device through which a compressed gas can flow, for connecting a port of the surgical instrument to the reprocessing device for cleaning the surgical instrument, the connecting device comprising:
a compressed gas hose for connection to the port of the surgical instrument, the compressed gas hose being configured to provide the compressed gas to the port of the surgical instrument through an internal conduit;
wherein the compressed gas hose having a self-actuating valve with a swellable material body disposed in the internal conduit;
wherein the self-actuating valve comprises a replaceable cartridge through which the compressed gas can flow from an inlet side to an outlet side of the self-actuating valve;
the cartridge having a first sieve arranged at the inlet side of the self-actuating valve, a second sieve arranged at the outlet side of the self-actuating valve, and the swellable material body being arranged between the first sieve and the second sieve; and
the swellable material body is configured to swell upon contact with a liquid and, when swelled, to block the flow of the compressed gas to the outlet side of the self-actuating valve.

2. The reprocessing device according to claim 1 , wherein the swellable material body is one or more of a hygroscopic material body, a cellulose material body, a fiber-reinforced cellulose material body, and a swellable membrane body.

3. The reprocessing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid sensor in communication with the compressed gas flow.

4. The reprocessing device according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid sensor is a water sensor.

5. The reprocessing device according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid sensor is arranged at an inlet side of the self-actuated valve before the swellable material body relative to a flow direction of the compressed gas.

6. A reprocessing device for cleaning a surgical instrument, the reprocessing device comprising:
a connecting device through which a compressed gas can flow, for connecting a port of the surgical instrument to the reprocessing device for cleaning the surgical instrument, the connecting device comprising:
a compressed gas hose for connection to the port of the surgical instrument, the compressed gas hose being configured to provide the compressed gas to the port of the surgical instrument through an internal conduit;
wherein the compressed gas hose having a self-actuating valve, the self-actuating valve comprises:
a projection partially disposed in a flow path of the compressed gas through the self-actuating valve between an inlet side and an outlet side of the self-actuating valve;
a recess disposed so as to oppose the projection; and
a swellable material body disposed in the recess, the swellable material body being configured to swell upon contact with a liquid and, when swelled, engages the projection to block the flow of the compressed gas to the outlet side of the self-actuating valve.

7. The reprocessing device according to claim 6 , wherein the swellable material body is one or more of a hygroscopic material body, a cellulose material body, a fiber-reinforced cellulose material body, and a swellable membrane body.

8. The reprocessing device according to claim 6 , further comprising a liquid sensor in communication with the compressed gas flow.

9. The reprocessing device according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid sensor is a water sensor.

10. The reprocessing device according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid sensor is arranged at an inlet side of the self-actuated valve before the swellable material body relative to a flow direction of the compressed gas.

Assignees

• Winter & Ibe Olympus

Inventors

• Lengsfeld Michael
• Delzer Christoph
• Thate Henning
• Ottens Benjamin

Classifications

• F16K31/001

  actuated by volume variations caused by an element soluble in a fluid or swelling in contact with a fluid (life-boats B63C9/24) · CPC title

• G01M3/2846

  for tubes (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/00057 Primary

  provided with means for testing or calibration · CPC title

• G02B23/2476

  Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports · CPC title

• A61B1/123

  using washing machines · CPC title