Endoscope Integrity Tester Including Context-Sensitive Compensation and Methods of Context-Sensitive Integrity Testing

• US 20070238923A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Inventors: Kubach, Melissa
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,871 B2
• 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: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors

Abstract

Computer systems and software for controlling an endoscope integrity tester. The pressurization and humidity measurement and calculations, and the resulting determination of passage or failure is automated and controlled 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 testing changes to further improve accuracy by being context-sensitive.

Claims

1. A method for testing the integrity of an endoscope, the method comprising:

obtaining an endoscope;

supplying gas to an air enclosure which includes an internal volume of said endoscope to pressurize said air enclosure;

sealing said air enclosure;

measuring the pressure of said gas in said air enclosure over time;

detecting an first rate of decrease in air pressure;

recognizing a second rate of decrease in air pressure, said second rate being less than said first rate;

discarding said first rate; and

comparing said second rate to a predetermined target rate to determine if said second rate is sufficiently high to indicate a leak in said endoscope.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

instructing a user to manipulate said endoscope while said air enclosure is pressurized

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said instructing includes instructing manipulation of endoscope buttons.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said instructing includes instructing manipulation of knobs which causes movement of endoscope tubing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined target rate is stored in a computer memory.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying said endoscope as having been tested previously.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said predetermined target rate is determined based on at least one previous test of said endoscope.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein in said measuring, said pressure of said gas is at least 4 lbf/in².

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

placing said endoscope in a holding device prior to said step of measuring.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said holding device comprises a holding bin having a mat on its base, said mat including a plurality of fingers.

11. A method for testing the integrity of an endoscope comprising the steps of:

obtaining an endoscope to be tested;

retrieving a plurality of calibrating humidity values from a plurality of prior endoscope tests from a memory;

obtaining an environmental humidity value from air external to said endoscope to be tested;

manipulating at least a portion of the combination of said plurality of calibrating humidity values and said environmental value to produce a target humidity value;

supplying a gas to an air enclosure which includes an internal volume of said endoscope to be tested;

venting said gas in said air enclosure to a humidity detector;

determining the level of humidity in said vented gas; and

comparing said level of humidity to said target humidity value to determine if said level of humidity in said endoscope is sufficiently high to indicate fluid invasion into said endoscope to be tested.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein in said retrieving, said plurality of prior tests do not include a prior test of said endoscope to be tested.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein in said retrieving, said plurality of prior tests only include prior tests of said endoscope to be tested.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein in said manipulating, an average of calibrating humidity values is determined.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein in said manipulating a weighted average of calibrating humidity values is determined using said environmental humidity value as the weighting factor.

16. A computer implemented method for performing endoscope integrity testing, the method comprising:

providing to a computer controlled endoscope tester an endoscope to be tested;

said tester identifying said endoscope as having been tested previously;

said tester retrieving from a memory, a retrieved value of property of air determined from at least one prior test of said endoscope;

said tester testing said endoscope by supplying air into an internal enclosure of said endoscope;

said tester determining a current value of said property of air from said air supplied into said internal enclosure of said endoscope;

said tester comparing said current value to said retrieved value;

said tester determining if said comparison indicates a compromise of integrity in said endoscope; and

said tester supplying said determination to a user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said retrieved value is an average of all prior tests of said endoscope.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said property of air is pressure.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said property of air is humidity.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said identifying includes, identifying a serial number associated with said endoscope.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

recording said current value.

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

at least one sensing means;

memory means; and

processing means coupled to said sensing means and said memory means;

said processing means being capable of;

identifying an endoscope to be tested as having been tested previously;

retrieving from said memory, a retrieved value of a property of air determined from at least one prior test of said endoscope;

testing said endoscope by supplying air into an internal enclosure of said endoscope;

determining a current value of said property of air from said air supplied into said internal enclosure of said endoscope;

comparing said current value to said retrieved value;

determining if said comparison indicates a compromise of integrity in said endoscope; and

supplying said determination to a user.