Apparatus and method for cleaning an instrument
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises a lumen;
providing a vessel defining a chamber;
providing a rack defining a cavity and a projection extending towards the cavity with the projection having a length, an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid channel extending along the length between the inlet and the outlet;
providing a rotatable device defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the rotatable device comprises the rack such that the rack can be rotated;
loading the instrument in the cavity defined by the rack such that the projection extends at least partially within the lumen of the instrument;
disposing the rack with the loaded instrument inside the chamber of the vessel;
at least partially filling the chamber with the cleaning fluid to submerge the instrument in the cleaning fluid;
sonicating the cleaning fluid in the chamber with an ultrasonic transducer;
rotating the rotatable device including the rack about the longitudinal axis within the chamber while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen of the instrument; and
circulating the cleaning fluid through the fluid channel of the projection such that the cleaning fluid exits the projection through the outlet and contacts the lumen of the instrument, wherein the circulating step is performed while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen and while the rack and instrument remain within the chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid includes a vessel defining a chamber and a port for at least partially filling the chamber with the fluid. The apparatus further includes an ultrasonic transducer for delivering ultrasonic energy to the fluid, and a vacuum pump for depressurizing the chamber. The apparatus further includes a rotatable device removably disposable in the chamber and having a rack defining a cavity for supporting the instrument. The rotatable device also has a fluid delivery member extending toward the cavity and having a fluid channel between an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus further includes a fluid transmission system in fluid communication with the chamber and the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member for circulating the fluid from the chamber through the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member. A method of cleaning an instrument is also provided.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises a lumen; providing a vessel defining a chamber; providing a rack defining a cavity and a projection extending towards the cavity with the projection having a length, an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid channel extending along the length between the inlet and the outlet; providing a rotatable device defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the rotatable device comprises the rack such that the rack can be rotated; loading the instrument in the cavity defined by the rack such that the projection extends at least partially within the lumen of the instrument; disposing the rack with the loaded instrument inside the chamber of the vessel; at least partially filling the chamber with the cleaning fluid to submerge the instrument in the cleaning fluid; sonicating the cleaning fluid in the chamber with an ultrasonic transducer; rotating the rotatable device including the rack about the longitudinal axis within the chamber while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen of the instrument; and circulating the cleaning fluid through the fluid channel of the projection such that the cleaning fluid exits the projection through the outlet and contacts the lumen of the instrument, wherein the circulating step is performed while the projection extends at least partially within the lumen and while the rack and instrument remain within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises an interior and an exterior; providing an apparatus having a vessel defining a chamber and a port, a rack defining a cavity for supporting the instrument, and a fluid delivery member extending towards the cavity and having an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet and the outlet; loading the instrument in the cavity of the rack such that the fluid delivery member extends into the interior of the instrument when the instrument is loaded in the cavity; placing the rack inside the chamber of the vessel; at least partially filling the chamber with the cleaning fluid to submerge the instrument in the cleaning fluid; sonicating the cleaning fluid in the chamber with an ultrasonic transducer; rotating the rack about a longitudinal axis within the chamber during the sonicating step while the fluid delivery member extends into the interior of the instrument; and circulating the cleaning fluid through the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member such that the cleaning fluid exits the fluid delivery member and contacts the interior of the instrument, wherein the circulating step is performed while the fluid delivery member extends into the instrument'"'"'s interior and while the rack and instrument remain within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification