Method and apparatus for cleaning an endoscope lens

• US 6,447,446 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Aaron C., Peters, Gary F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/432,093
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/155-159, 600/118
• US Class Current: 600/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments

Abstract

An endoscope lens cleaning system for use in removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope has a sheath adapted to receive the endoscope, carrying a control switch and having an open distal end in fluid communication with a proximally mounted luer lock for removably engaging the distal luer connection of a tubing set. The tubing set is connected to and engaged with a peristaltic pump including a microprocessor or controller adapted to respond to actuation of the control switch and execute software including program steps for operation of the pump. The pump controller is programmed to execute a scrub cycle each time the clinician actuates the control switch mounted on the preferably disposable sheath. Scrub cycles are executed in a sequence of steps including a forward or outflow motion of the pump to dispense a first selected volume of irrigation fluid through the sheath and over the endoscope objective lens; a brief pause follows, to allow any residual fluid pressure to dissipate, and a reverse or inflow motion of the pump next withdraws or retracts any residual fluid droplets from the endoscope objective lens and into the sheath. The pump controller is programmed to perform two normal scrub cycles followed by a clear or purge cycle wherein the forward portion of the cycle dispensing irrigation fluid over the endoscope objective lens is longer than usual, thereby flushing any residual body fluids, other surgical debris or air from the sheath and restoring optimal lens cleaning system performance. The finger activated control switch is preferably releasably mounted directly on a disposable sheath, as opposed to being incorporated in a foot pedal.

Claims

1. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated;

a computer controlled pump;

including a pump motor and pump controller;

said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal;

a sheath having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen sized to receive the endoscope;

said sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen, said tubular member having an end including a fluid-tight connector;

a releasably connectable flexible tubing set in fluid communication between said pump and said sheath and having a distal end including a fluid tight connector configured to releasably interlock said sheath fluid tight connector to releasably connect said tubing set to said sheath.

2. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sheath sized to receive a differently dimensioned endoscope and having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen sized to receive the endoscope;

said second sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen and terminated in a fluid-tight connector.

3. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 1, said sheath fluid tight connector comprising a Luer connector female member.

4. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated, said momentary contact pump actuation control switch including a housing with a partial cylindrical wall segment sized to receive and to be releasably mounted on said sheath sleeve housing;

a computer controlled pump;

including a pump motor and pump controller;

said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal;

a sheath having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen sized to receive the endoscope;

said sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen and terminated in a fluid-tight connector;

a releasably connectable flexible tubing set in fluid communication between said pump and said sheath and having a distal end carrying a fluid tight connector releasably connectable with said sheath fluid tight connector.

5. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 4, said control switch housing partial cylindrical wall segment including a longitudinal notch sized to receive said sleeve housing transversely projecting tubular member.

6. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated;

a computer controlled pump;

including a pump motor and pump controller;

said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal and including a controller memory, said pump being responsive to program steps stored in said controller memory to clean said endoscope lens in a sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps comprising an irrigation flush interval with a first forward run time followed by a pause interval and a suction pulse interval, said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a plurality of pre-programmed flush intervals of differing durations;

a sheath having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen sized to receive the endoscope;

said sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen and terminated in a fluid-tight connector;

a releasably connectable flexible tubing set in fluid communication between said pump and said sheath and having a distal end carrying a fluid tight connector releasably connectable with said sheath fluid tight connector.

7. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 6, said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a pre-programmed provision to maintain an irrigation flush interval duration lasting for as long as said momentary contact pump actuation control switch remains actuated, followed by a pause interval and a suction pulse interval.

8. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated;

a computer controlled pump;

including a pump motor and pump controller;

said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal;

a sheath having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen sized to receive the endoscope;

said sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen and terminated in a fluid-tight connector;

a releasably connectable flexible tubing set in fluid communication between said pump and said sheath and having a distal end carrying a fluid tight connector releasably connectable with said sheath fluid tight connector, said releasably connectable flexible tubing set including a first tubing segment of a first selected durometer and a second tubing segment of a second selected durometer greater than said first selected durometer and in fluid communication with said first segment.

9. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 8, said second tubing segment distal end carrying said fluid tight connector releasably connectable with said sheath fluid tight connector.

10. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a sheath having a sleeve member terminated proximally in a sleeve housing, said sheath sleeve member having an open proximal end opposite an open distal end and in fluid communication therewith via an interior lumen irrigation space sized to receive the endoscope;

said sheath sleeve housing further including a transversely projecting tubular member defining an intersecting transverse fluid lumen in fluid communication with said sheath sleeve interior lumen;

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated;

a computer controlled pump in fluid communication with said sheath, said pump including a pump motor and pump controller, said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal;

said momentary contact pump actuation control switch including a housing dimensioned to receive and be releasably mounted on said sheath sleeve housing.

11. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 10, said control switch housing including a partial cylindrical wall segment dimensioned to receive and be releasably mounted on said sheath sleeve housing.

12. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 11, said control switch housing partial cylindrical wall segment including a longitudinal notch sized to receive said sleeve housing transversely projecting tubular member.

13. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 10, said pump controller including a controller memory,

said pump being responsive to program steps stored in said controller memory to clean said endoscope lens in a sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps comprising an irrigation flush cycle with a first forward run time followed by a pause time and a reverse run time;

said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a plurality of pre-programmed forward run times of differing durations.

14. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 13, said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a pre-programmed provision to maintain a forward run time for so long as said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated, followed by a pause time and a reverse run time.

15. An endoscope lens cleaning system for removing surgical debris from the objective lens of an endoscope by rinsing the objective lens with irrigation fluid, comprising:

a momentary contact pump actuation control switch for generating a pump actuation signal when said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated;

a computer controlled pump;

including a pump motor and pump controller;

said pump controller being responsive to said control switch pump actuation signal;

said pump controller including a controller memory,

said pump being responsive to program steps stored in said controller memory to clean said endoscope lens in a sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps comprising an irrigation flush cycle with a first forward run time followed by a pause time and a reverse run time;

said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a plurality of pre-programmed forward run times of differing durations.

16. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 15, said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a pre-programmed provision to maintain a forward run time for so long as said momentary contact pump actuation control switch is actuated, followed by a pause time and a reverse run time.

17. The endoscope lens cleaning system of claim 15, said sequence of irrigation fluid pumping steps including a first forward run time of a first selected duration, followed by a pause time and a reverse run time.