Method and arrangement for pre-cleaning an endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025082188-A1
Application number	US-202418883396-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 12, 2024
Priority date	Sep 13, 2023
Publication date	Mar 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for pre-cleaning an endoscope. The method including: fluidly connecting channels for transporting fluids within an endoscope to each other at a distal end of the endoscope by arranging a container onto the distal end of the endoscope such that the channels are fluidly connected to each other at the distal end of the endoscope, the channels extending from a respective connection port to the distal end of the endoscope; connecting a suction pump to at least one of the connection ports; connecting at least one liquid source to the at least one of the connection ports; and flushing at least one of the channels with a liquid by activating the suction pump so that the liquid is drawn from the liquid source through the at least one channel via the distal end towards the suction pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for pre-cleaning an endoscope, the method comprising:
fluidly connecting channels for transporting fluids within an endoscope to each other at a distal end of the endoscope by arranging a container onto the distal end of the endoscope such that the channels are fluidly connected to each other at the distal end of the endoscope, the channels extending from a respective connection port to the distal end of the endoscope; connecting a suction pump to at least one of the connection ports; connecting at least one liquid source to the at least one of the connection ports; and flushing at least one of the channels with a liquid by activating the suction pump so that the liquid is drawn from the liquid source through the at least one channel via the distal end towards the suction pump.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting at least one liquid source to the at least one of the connection ports comprises connecting at least one vessel that holds liquid to the at least one of the connection ports.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting the at least one liquid source to the at least one of the connection ports comprises connecting two or more vessels that each hold liquid to two or more respective connection ports.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising connecting closure elements to each of the connection ports to which no liquid source and no suction pump is connected.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flushing comprises flushing two or more of the channels with the liquid by activating the suction pump so that liquid is drawn through the two or more channels via the distal end towards the suction pump.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the channels comprise two or more of:
an air channel that extends from an air channel connection port to the distal end of the endoscope, a suction channel that extends from a suction channel connection port to the distal end of the endoscope, a water channel that extends from a water channel connection port to the distal end of the endoscope, and an auxiliary water channel that extends from an auxiliary water channel connection port to the distal end of the endoscope.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the arranging of the container onto the distal end of the endoscope comprises arranging the container such that the distal end, including the outer surface of the distal end, is arranged entirely inside the container.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the container is filled with liquid and the whole distal end, including the outer surface of the distal end, is in contact with the liquid.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the arranging of the container on the distal end of the endoscope comprises arranging the container such that the distal end of the endoscope is one of sealed liquid-tight or sealed gas-tight, from an environment that surrounds the container.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the connection ports is connected to a vessel, except for the at least one of the connection ports that is connected to the suction pump.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the suction pump is fluidly connected to a suction container that is configured to receive liquid drawn out of the endoscope by the suction pump.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid that is drawn through at least one of the channels is one of water, a disinfectant solution, or a detergent solution.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one liquid source comprises immersing the endoscope in a liquid so that the connection ports are in contact with the liquid.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the connection port connected to the suction pump is connected to the suction pump via a hose.

15 . An arrangement for pre-cleaning an endoscope comprising:
a container arranged onto a distal end of an endoscope such that channels for transporting fluids within the endoscope are fluidly connected to each other at a distal end of the endoscope, the channels extending from a respective connection port to the distal end of the endoscope; at least one liquid source connected to at least one of the connection ports; and a suction pump connected to one of the connection ports.

16 . The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the suction pump is configured to flush at least one of the channels with a liquid by activating the suction pump so that the liquid is drawn from the liquid source through the at least one channel via the distal end towards the suction pump.

17 . The arrangement according to claim 15 , further comprising the endoscope.

18 . The arrangement according to claim 17 , further comprising closure elements connected to each of the connection ports to which no liquid source and no suction pump is connected.

Assignees

• Winter & Ibe Olympus

Inventors

• Ottens Benjamin

Classifications

• A61B2090/701

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

• A61B2017/00296

  mounted on an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B90/70

  Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments · CPC title

• A61B17/00234

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/00

  Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00) · CPC title