Cleaning device for an endoscopic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968247-B2
Application number	US-201514703426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	May 2, 2014
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A cleaning device for use with an endoscope. The device includes an elongated and flexible base and a set of discs axially spaced along the base. Each disc is positioned along the base at a center point of the disc. The size and spacing of the discs may vary within the set of discs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device for use with an endoscope, the device comprising:
an elongated and flexible base;
a set of discs axially spaced along the base, each disc positioned along the base at a center point of the disc;
a brush component, positioned on one side of the set of discs,
a mechanical barrier, positioned between the set of discs and the brush component, and limiting insertion depth of the cleaning device into an endoscopic device, and
a ball, positioned at one end of the cleaning device, and preventing from entry of the cleaning device into undersized and undesired channels and ports,
wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has a circumference which is not equal to a circumference of an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the base is a catheter.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the base is a twisted wire.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein an axial length between any two adjacent discs of the set of discs is less than the maximum radial distance from the base of at least one of the two adjacent discs of the set of discs.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has a maximum radial distance from the base which is not equal to a maximum radial distance from the base of an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has a minimum radial distance from the base which is not equal to a minimum radial distance from the base of an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a second set of discs axially spaced along the base, each disc of the second set of discs positioned along the base at a center point of the disc, and the second set of discs axially spaced from the first set of discs.

8. A cleaning device for use with an endoscope, the device comprising:
a catheter;
a set of discs axially spaced along the catheter, each disc secured to the catheter at a center point of the disc;
a brush component, positioned on one side of the set of discs,
a mechanical barrier, positioned between the set of discs and the brush component, and limiting insertion depth of the cleaning device into an endoscopic device, and
a ball, positioned at one end of the cleaning device, and preventing from entry of the cleaning device into undersized and undesired channels and ports,
wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has maximum radial distance from the catheter which is greater than an axial distance to an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has a circumference which is not equal to a circumference of an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

10. A cleaning device for use with an endoscope, the device comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a squeegee component secured to the catheter, the squeegee component having a sheath and a set of circular discs axially spaced along the sheath, each disc is positioned on the sheath at a center point of the disc;
a brush component, positioned on one side of the set of discs,
a mechanical barrier, positioned between the set of discs and the brush component, and limiting insertion depth of the cleaning device into an endoscopic device, and
a ball, positioned at one end of the cleaning device, and preventing from entry of the cleaning device into undersized and undesired channels and ports,

wherein at least one disc of the set of discs has a maximum radial distance from the catheter which is not equal to a maximum radial distance from the catheter of an adjacent disc of the set of discs.

11. The cleaning device of claim 10 , wherein an axial length between any two adjacent discs of the set of discs is less than the maximum radial distance from the catheter of at least one of the two adjacent discs of the set of discs.

Assignees

• United States Endoscopy Group Inc
• United States Endoscopy Inc

Inventors

• Kaye Christopher J
• Mann Gary E
• Hauser Michael Charles
• Mrva Joseph
• Eikens Kelsey G

Classifications

• A61B1/122 Primary

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

• A61M2025/0019

  Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement · CPC title

• A61B2090/701

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

• A46B2200/3013

  Brushes for cleaning the inside or the outside of tubes · CPC title