Integrated system for cleaning medical instruments
First Claim
1. An integrated system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments, said system comprising:
- (a) a first reprocessing unit and a second reprocessing unit, said first and second reprocessing units being capable of operating at the same time, each of said first and second reprocessing units being adapted for receiving therein a medical instrument carrier, said medical instrument carrier being adapted to receive at least one of a predetermined type of contaminated medical instruments for the reprocessing thereof;
(b) electronic controller means including electronic processor means and associated memory means, said controller means being operably coupled to each of said first and second reprocessing units to enable simultaneous and/or individual control of the operation of said first and second reprocessing units;
(c) a control program for said controller means for disposition in said memory means, said control program establishing respective protocols of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instruments in each of said first and second reprocessing units, said respective protocols being preestablished in accordance with the specific type of medical instrument to be reprocessed in the associated reprocessing unit; and
,(d) said respective protocols comprising a first protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said first reprocessing unit and a second protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said second reprocessing unit, said first protocol of processing steps being different from said second protocol of processing steps.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments, e.g., scopes, surgical instruments, scope accessories, etc. The system includes plural, e.g., four, instrument processing units and a remotely located common controller for effecting the simultaneous control of each processing unit. Each processing unit includes various components, e.g., pumps, solenoids, valves, sensors etc., and a processing chamber. Each chamber is adapted for receiving a medical instrument carrier to which plural medical instrument in need of processing are connected. The controller includes a microprocessor, an associated memory storing a control program, a keyboard, a video display, and a printer. The control program establishes respective protocols of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instruments in each of the reprocessing units by the microprocessor controlling the operation of the various components of the processing units via an electrical interface. The respective protocols are preestablished in accordance with the specific type of medical instrument to be reprocessed in the associated reprocessing unit. A database of information regarding previously processed instrument is stored within the system. Operation of the system can be monitored by viewing the video display. That display is selectable to graphically depict the various operational steps being accomplished in one or more of the processing units as those units are operated.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An integrated system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments, said system comprising:
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(a) a first reprocessing unit and a second reprocessing unit, said first and second reprocessing units being capable of operating at the same time, each of said first and second reprocessing units being adapted for receiving therein a medical instrument carrier, said medical instrument carrier being adapted to receive at least one of a predetermined type of contaminated medical instruments for the reprocessing thereof; (b) electronic controller means including electronic processor means and associated memory means, said controller means being operably coupled to each of said first and second reprocessing units to enable simultaneous and/or individual control of the operation of said first and second reprocessing units; (c) a control program for said controller means for disposition in said memory means, said control program establishing respective protocols of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instruments in each of said first and second reprocessing units, said respective protocols being preestablished in accordance with the specific type of medical instrument to be reprocessed in the associated reprocessing unit; and
,(d) said respective protocols comprising a first protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said first reprocessing unit and a second protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of contaminated medical instruments in said second reprocessing unit, said first protocol of processing steps being different from said second protocol of processing steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification