Leakage detection in a medical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772252-B2
Application number	US-201313778274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2013
Priority date	Feb 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

There is provided a method of channel leakage detection in a medical device having one or more channels and a housing having an internal volume surrounding at least a portion of the one or more channels, comprising the steps of (a) pressurizing one or more of the channels by introducing air or gas into the channel; and (b) detecting leakage by monitoring pressure increase in the internal volume of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for reprocessing an endoscope having an elongate portion, a plurality of channels extending through the elongate portion, and a housing having an internal volume, wherein the plurality of channels pass through the internal volume, comprising the steps of:
(a) pressurizing the internal volume of the housing by introducing air or a gas into the internal housing;
(b) detecting leakage by monitoring pressure decrease in the internal volume of the housing;
(c) venting the internal volume of the housing;
(d) pressurizing one or more of the channels by introducing air or a gas into the channel; and
(e) detecting leakage by monitoring pressure increase in the internal volume of the housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an indication is provided if a pressure decrease in step (b) or an increase in pressure in step (e) is detected, each of which exceeds predetermined baseline values.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the internal volume of the housing is pressurized to about 2 to 5 psig in step (a), and the one or more channels is pressurized to about 2 to 30 psig in step (d), and the indication is provided if the pressure decrease in step (b) exceeds 0.05 to 0.3 psig within 1 minute or the increase in pressure in step (e) exceeds 0.05 to 0.3 psig within 1 minute.

4. A method for reprocessing an endoscope having an elongate portion, a plurality of channels extending through the elongate portion, and a housing having an internal volume, wherein the plurality of channels pass through the internal volume, comprising the steps of:
(a) creating a vacuum in the internal volume of the housing;
(b) detecting leakage by monitoring pressure increase in the internal volume of the housing;
(c) venting the internal volume of the housing;
(d) pressurizing one or more of the channels by introducing air or a gas into the channel; and
(e) detecting leakage by monitoring pressure increase in the internal volume of the housing.

Assignees

• Ethicon Inc

Inventors

• Williams Hal

Classifications

• A61B1/012

  characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor · CPC title

• A61B90/70

  Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments · CPC title

• A61B2090/0809

  Indication of cracks or breakages · CPC title

• A61B2090/701

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

• G01M3/2846 Primary

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