Cleaning apparatus for surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016143641-A1
Application number	US-201514829771-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surgical instrument includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end configured for disposal within a cavity of a surgical instrument. The elongate member defines a longitudinal channel and a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the elongate member. The apertures are in communication with the longitudinal channel. The first end of the elongate member is configured to be coupled to a source of fluid such that fluid passes through the longitudinal channel and out of the elongate member through the plurality of apertures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate member having a first end and a second end configured for disposal within a cavity of a surgical instrument, the elongate member defining:
a longitudinal channel; and
a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the elongate member and communicating with the longitudinal channel;
wherein the first end of the elongate member is configured to be coupled to a source of fluid, wherein the longitudinal channel is configured to allow passage of fluid to the plurality of apertures.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to direct fluid toward the first end of the elongate member.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the elongate member defines a longitudinal axis and each of the plurality of apertures define an aperture axis, the longitudinal axis and the aperture axis intersecting and defining an angle β, wherein the angle β is between 0.1 degrees and 179.9 degrees.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the angle β is between 1 degree and 90 degrees.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures has an inner opening communicating with the longitudinal channel and an outer opening disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the elongate member, at least a portion of the outer opening being disposed closer to the first end of the elongate member than the inner opening.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cap supported on the first end of the elongate member.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cap includes:
a wall extending radially from the elongate member; and a hood extending from the wall in a direction toward the second end of the elongate member, the hood being configured to redirect fluid away from the first end of the elongate member.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cap includes a mating part configured to be coupled to a distal end of a surgical instrument such that upon coupling the mating part to the distal end of the surgical instrument, the second end of the elongate member is disposed distally of the distal end of the surgical instrument.

9 . A surgical system, comprising:
a surgical instrument having a distal end configured to be coupled to an end effector, the distal end defining a longitudinal cavity; and an apparatus for cleaning the surgical instrument, the apparatus including:
an elongate member having a first end and a second end configured for disposal within the cavity of the surgical instrument, the elongate member defining:
a longitudinal channel; and
a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the elongate member and communicating with the longitudinal channel,

wherein the first end of the elongate member is configured to be coupled to a source of fluid, wherein the longitudinal channel is configured to allow passage of fluid to the plurality of apertures and into the cavity of the surgical instrument.

10 . The surgical system according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to direct fluid toward the first end of the elongate member and the distal end of the surgical instrument.

11 . The surgical system according to claim 10 , wherein the elongate member defines a longitudinal axis and each of the plurality of apertures define an aperture axis, the longitudinal axis and the aperture axis intersecting and defining an angle β, wherein the angle β is between 0.1 degrees and 179.9 degrees.

12 . The surgical system according to claim 11 , wherein the angle β is between 1 degree and 90 degrees.

13 . The surgical system according to claim 10 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures has an inner opening communicating with the longitudinal channel and an outer opening disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the elongate member, at least a portion of the outer opening being disposed closer to the first end of the elongate member than the inner opening.

14 . The surgical system according to claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further includes a cap supported on the first end of the elongate member.

15 . The surgical system according to claim 14 , wherein the cap includes:
a wall extending radially from the elongate member; and a hood extending from the wall in a direction toward the second end of the elongate member, the hood being configured to redirect fluid away from the first end of the elongate member and the distal end of the surgical instrument.

16 . The surgical system according to claim 14 , wherein the cap includes a mating part configured to be coupled to the distal end of the surgical instrument such that upon coupling the mating part to the distal end of the surgical instrument, the second end of the elongate member is disposed distally of the distal end of the surgical instrument and encloses a trocar extending distally from the distal end of the surgical instrument.

17 . The surgical system according to claim 16 , wherein the mating part includes:
a cylindrical extension disposed about the first end of the elongate member, the cylindrical extension and the elongate member defining a space configured for disposal of the distal end of the surgical instrument; and at least one projection extending from the cylindrical extension into the space, the projection configured to be coupled to a mating part of the distal end of the surgical instrument.

18 . A method of using a surgical system, comprising:
disposing an elongate member of an apparatus within a cavity formed in a distal end of a surgical instrument; dispensing fluid into a first end of the elongate member such that the fluid moves through a longitudinal channel defined by the elongate member and through apertures defined transversely through the elongate member into the cavity of the surgical instrument.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising removing the second end of the elongate member from within the cavity of the surgical instrument.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising coupling the first end of the elongate member to the distal end of the surgical instrument, wherein upon coupling the first end of the elongate member to the distal end of the surgical instrument, a second end of the elongate member is disposed distally of the distal end of the surgical instrument to enclose a trocar extending distally from the distal end of the surgical instrument.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Sapienza Jonathan W
• Richard Paul D
• Cabrera Ramiro
• Paul Stephen R

Classifications

• A61B1/125

  using fluid circuits · CPC title

• A61B17/115 Primary

  Staplers for performing anastomosis, e.g. in a single operation · CPC title

• A61B1/122

  using cleaning tools, e.g. brushes · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B2090/701

  for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes · CPC title