Computer Software for an Endoscope Leak Tester

• US 20070149848A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minntech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Minntech Corporation
• Inventors: Kubach, Melissa
• Application Number:
  US11/683,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20070149848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2846 for tubes G01M3/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

Computer systems and software for controlling an endoscope integrity tester. The pressurization measurement and calculations, and the resulting determination of passage or failure is automated and controlled by the computer as directed by software with minimal human prompting to eliminate concerns of human error in the detection process. Further, the computer system is capable of adapting its calculations to specific endoscopes and particular conditions of testing to further improve accuracy.

Claims

1. A computer system for performing endoscope integrity testing, the system comprising:

a pressure sensor for generating a signal indicative of air pressure inside an endoscope;

a memory storing testing parameters; and

a processor coupled to said pressure sensor, said processor having access to instructions for;

retrieving said testing parameters from said memory;

deriving a set pressure from said testing parameters;

directing production of said set pressure inside said endoscope;

obtaining said signal indicative of air pressure;

comparing said signal indicative of air pressure against at least a portion of said testing parameters; and

determining if said comparison indicates a compromise of integrity in said endoscope.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor further has instructions for ordering and dependently executing said for retrieving, deriving, directing, obtaining, comparing, and determining.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein information collected by a data input device is used by said processor for selecting said testing parameters for at least one of said steps of determining.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said information is used by said processor for altering said testing parameters prior to said step of determining.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory is also capable of storing information generated by at least one of said pressure sensor or processor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein at least said signal indicative of air pressure is stored in said memory.

7. A computer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions for operating an endoscope integrity tester, the memory comprising:

computer-executable instructions for deriving a set pressure from testing parameters;

computer-executable instructions for producing said set pressure inside an endoscope;

computer-executable instructions for comparing an output of a pressure sensor inside said endoscope to a testing parameter related to pressure; and

computer-executable instructions for determining if said output of said pressure sensor indicates that an endoscope has had its integrity compromised.

8. The memory of claim 7 further comprising computer-executable instructions for ordering and dependently executing said computer-executable instructions for deriving, said computer-executable instructions for producing, said computer-executable instructions for comparing, and said computer-executable instructions for determining.

9. The memory of claim 7 further comprising computer-executable instructions for storing said output of said pressure sensor in said memory.

10. The memory of claim 7 further comprising computer-executable instructions for obtaining information from a user.

11. The memory of claim 7 wherein said testing parameters are stored in said memory.

12. A computer system for testing endoscopes, the system comprising:

pressure generating means;

pressure sensing means;

memory means storing testing parameters; and

processing means coupled to said pressure generating means, said pressure sensing means, and said memory means;

said processing means being capable of;

retrieving said testing parameters from said memory;

obtaining a pressure reading from said pressure sensing means;

comparing said pressure reading against said testing parameters; and

determining whether said comparison indicates that said endoscope passed or failed a test.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein said processing means is further capable of selecting, ordering, and executing instructions for said retrieving, said obtaining, said comparing, and said determination.