Reusable instruments and related systems and methods

• US 20040052679A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: Krupa, Robert J., Root, Thomas V.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20040052679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Reusable instruments, such as reusable medical instruments, and related systems and methods, are disclosed. In some embodiments, the reusable instrument can be an endoscope.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a treatment chamber for treating a reusable instrument; and

a cleaning device coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the cleaning device is capable of interacting with an interior channel of the reusable instrument to at least partially clean the interior channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of brushes, fluid emission devices, radiation emission devices, a pipe cleaner, a thread, and a rope.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device controller configured to control a position of the cleaning device within the treatment chamber so that the cleaning device can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the cleaning device being at least partially disposed within the interior channel of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second cleaning device coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the second cleaning device interacts with an exterior surface of the reusable instrument to at least partially clean the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a cleaning device controller configured to control a position of the second cleaning device within the treatment chamber so that the second cleaning device can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the second cleaning device being adjacent the exterior surface of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a fluid source Coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the fluid source can dispose a fluid into the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fluid source controller configured to control a position of the fluid source within the treatment chamber so that the fluid source can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the fluid source being adjacent an opening in the interior channel of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the fluid source can dispose a fluid into the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a fluid source controller configured to control a position of the fluid source within the treatment chamber so that the fluid source can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the fluid source being adjacent an opening in the interior channel of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

60. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

12. A system, comprising:

a treatment chamber for treating a reusable instrument;

a cleaning device coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the cleaning device interacts with an exterior surface of the reusable instrument to at least partially clean the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of brushes, fluid emission devices, radiation emission devices, a pipe cleaner, a thread, and a rope.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a cleaning device controller configured to control a position of the cleaning device within the treatment chamber so that the cleaning device can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the cleaning device being adjacent the exterior surface of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a fluid source coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the fluid source can dispose a fluid into an interior channel of the reusable instrument.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a fluid source controller configured to control a position of the fluid source within the treatment chamber so that the fluid source can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the fluid source being adjacent an opening in the interior channel of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

61. The system of claim 12, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

19. A system, comprising:

a treatment chamber for treating a reusable instrument;

a fluid source coupled to the treatment chamber so that, when the reusable instrument is disposed in the treatment chamber, the fluid source is adjacent an opening in an interior channel of the reusable instrument so that the fluid source can dispose a fluid into an interior channel of the reusable instrument.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a fluid source controller configured to control a position of the fluid source within the treatment chamber so that the fluid source can be moved from a first position in the treatment chamber to a second position in the treatment chamber that is different from the first position, the fluid source being adjacent an opening in the interior channel of the reusable instrument when in the second position.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the fluid source comprises a fluid emission device.

24. The source of claim 19, wherein the fluid source is in contact with the opening in the reusable instrument.

62. The system of claim 19, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

25. A system, comprising:

a sterilization chamber; and

a first cleaning device coupled to the sterilization chamber so that, when an endoscope is disposed in the sterilization chamber, the first cleaning device is capable of interacting with an interior channel of the endoscope to at least partially clean the interior channel, the first cleaning device being selected from the group consisting of brushes, fluid emission devices, radiation emission devices, pipe cleaners, threads, ropes;

a first cleaning device controller configured to control a position of the first cleaning device within the sterilization chamber so that the first cleaning device can be moved from a first position in the sterilization chamber to a second position in the sterilization chamber that is different from the first position, the first cleaning device being at least partially disposed within the interior channel of the endoscope when in the second position;

a second cleaning device coupled to the sterilization chamber so that, when the endoscope is disposed in the sterilization chamber, the second cleaning device interacts with an exterior surface of the endoscope to at least partially clean the exterior surface of the endoscope, the cleaning device being selected from the group consisting of brushes, fluid emission devices, and radiation emission devices, pipe cleaners, threads, and ropes;

a second cleaning device controller configured to control a position of the second cleaning device within the sterilization chamber so that the second cleaning device can be moved from a first position in the sterilization chamber to a second position in the sterilization chamber that is different from the first position, the second cleaning device being adjacent the exterior surface of the endoscope when in the second position;

a fluid source coupled to the sterilization chamber so that, when the endoscope is disposed in the sterilization chamber, the fluid source can dispose a fluid into the interior channel of the endoscope, the fluid source including a fluid emission device; and

a fluid source controller configured to control a position of the fluid source within the sterilization chamber so that the fluid source can be moved from a first position in the sterilization chamber to a second position in the sterilization chamber that is different from the first position, the fluid source being adjacent an opening in the interior channel of the endoscope when in the second position.

26. A method of cleaning an interior channel of a reusable instrument, the method comprising:

disposing the reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

at least partially disposing a cleaning device within the interior channel of the reusable instrument to clean the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising causing relative motion between the cleaning device and the reusable instrument so that the cleaning device passes into different portions of the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the interior channel is substantially stationary during cleaning.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the cleaning device is substantially stationary during cleaning.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the method includes contacting the cleaning device with the interior surface of the channel of the reusable instrument.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the method includes contacting the interior channel of the reusable instrument with a cleaning solution emitted by the cleaning device.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the method includes contacting the interior channel of the reusable instrument with a radiation emitted by the cleaning device.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising cleaning an exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

36. The method of claim 26, further comprising disposing a fluid into the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising treating the reusable instrument.

63. The method of claim 26, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

38. A method of cleaning an exterior surface of a reusable instrument, the method comprising:

disposing the reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

disposing a cleaning device adjacent an exterior surface of the reusable instrument to remove contaminants from the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising causing relative motion between the cleaning device and the reusable instrument so that the cleaning device passes along different regions of the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the exterior surface of the reusable instrument is substantially stationary during cleaning.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the cleaning device is substantially stationary during cleaning.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the method includes contacting the cleaning device with the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the method includes contacting the exterior surface of the reusable instrument with a cleaning solution emitted by the cleaning device.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the method includes contacting the exterior surface of the reusable instrument with radiation emitted by the cleaning device.

47. The method of claim 38, further comprising disposing a fluid into an interior channel of the reusable instrument.

48. The method of claim 38, further comprising treating the reusable instrument.

64. The method of claim 38, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

49. A method of cleaning an interior channel of a reusable instrument, the method comprising:

disposing the reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

disposing a fluid in an interior channel of the reusable instrument to clean the interior channel.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the treatment chamber is a sterilization chamber or a disinfection chamber.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of cleaning fluids, treating fluids and gases.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising treating the reusable instrument.

65. The method of claim 49, wherein the reusable medical instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

54. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

disposing the reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

at least partially disposing a cleaning device within the interior channel of the reusable instrument to clean the interior channel of the reusable instrument.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

56. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

disposing the reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

disposing a cleaning device adjacent an exterior surface of the reusable instrument to remove contaminants from the exterior surface of the reusable instrument.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

58. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

disposing a reusable instrument in a treatment chamber; and

disposing a fluid into an interior channel of the reusable instrument to clean the interior channel.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.