CLEANING SYSTEMS FOR REPROCESSING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20190321130A1
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: OLSON, JESSICA E.C., ALLEN, IV, JAMES D., STAMM, STEPHEN J., SONI, PURVISHKUMAR H., SAWYER, ALYSSA M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,945,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid

Abstract

A cleaning fixture for a surgical instrument includes a handle receiving portion configured to receive a housing of a surgical instrument, a shaft receiving portion configured to receive a shaft and an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument, and a knife actuation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion or the shaft receiving portion. The shaft receiving portion extends distally of the handle receiving portion. The knife actuation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a knife trigger assembly of the surgical instrument to advance a knife of the surgical instrument between jaw members of the end effector assembly thereof.

Claims

1. A cleaning fixture for a surgical instrument, the cleaning fixture comprising:

a handle receiving portion configured to receive a housing of a surgical instrument;

a shaft receiving portion extending distally of the handle receiving portion and configured to receive a shaft and an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument; and

a knife actuation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion or the shaft receiving portion, wherein the knife actuation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a knife trigger assembly of the surgical instrument to advance a knife of the surgical instrument between jaw members of the end effector assembly thereof.

2. The cleaning fixture according to claim 1, wherein the knife actuation assembly includes a lever protruding into the handle receiving portion, the lever being movable relative to the handle receiving portion to actuate the knife trigger assembly of the surgical instrument.

3. The cleaning fixture according to claim 2, wherein the lever has a proximal end configured to contact the knife trigger assembly of the surgical instrument.

4. The cleaning fixture according to claim 1, wherein the handle receiving portion is releasably securable with the shaft receiving portion to enclose the surgical instrument therein.

5. The cleaning fixture according to claim 1, wherein the shaft receiving portion includes an elongate muzzle defining a longitudinal axis and a lumen configured to house the shaft and the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument.

6. The cleaning fixture according to claim 5, wherein the shaft receiving portion further includes a proximal section releasably coupled to a distal section of the handle receiving portion, the elongate muzzle extending distally from the proximal section.

7. The cleaning fixture according to claim 5, wherein the shaft receiving portion defines an opening disposed towards a distal end portion of the elongate muzzle, such that the opening is positioned adjacent the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument upon receipt of the shaft and end effector assembly of the surgical instrument within the shaft receiving portion.

8. The cleaning fixture according to claim 7, wherein the opening is configured to facilitate the passage of a cleaning fluid proximally through the elongate muzzle to flush the lumen thereof.

9. The cleaning fixture according to claim 7, wherein the opening is configured to facilitate the passage of a cleaning fluid proximally towards the knife of the surgical instrument while the knife actuation assembly is actuated.

10. The cleaning fixture according to claim 5, further comprising a jaw-prop mechanism movably coupled to a distal end portion of the elongate muzzle, the jaw-prop mechanism including a foot disposed in the lumen of the elongate muzzle and configured to maintain the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument in an open position.

11. The cleaning fixture according to claim 1, further comprising a lever activation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion or the shaft receiving portion, wherein the lever activation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a handle assembly of the surgical instrument.

12. The cleaning fixture according to claim 11, wherein the knife actuation assembly is disposed between an elongate muzzle of the shaft receiving portion and the lever activation assembly.

13. A cleaning fixture for a surgical instrument, the cleaning fixture comprising:

a handle receiving portion configured to receive a housing of a surgical instrument;

a shaft receiving portion extending distally of the handle receiving portion and configured to receive a shaft and an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument; and

a monopolar actuation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion, wherein the monopolar actuation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a monopolar assembly of the surgical instrument to move the monopolar assembly relative to the end effector assembly.

14. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, wherein the monopolar actuation assembly is supported on an upper surface of the handle receiving portion.

15. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, wherein the monopolar actuation assembly includes a lever protruding into the handle receiving portion, the lever being movable relative to the handle receiving portion to actuate the monopolar assembly of the surgical instrument.

16. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, wherein the handle receiving portion is releasably securable with the shaft receiving portion to enclose the surgical instrument therein

17. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, wherein the shaft receiving portion includes an elongate muzzle defining a central longitudinal axis and a lumen dimensioned to house the shaft and the end effector assembly of the surgical instrument.

18. The cleaning fixture according to claim 17, wherein the shaft receiving portion further includes a proximal section releasably coupled to a distal section of the handle receiving portion, the elongate muzzle extending distally from the proximal section.

19. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, further comprising a lever activation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion or the shaft receiving portion, wherein the lever activation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a handle assembly of the surgical instrument.

20. The cleaning fixture according to claim 13, wherein the cleaning fixture is configured to direct a cleaning fluid toward the monopolar assembly of the surgical instrument while the monopolar actuation assembly is actuated.