Reusable instruments and related systems and methods

• US 20040024290A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: Krupa, Robert J., Root, Thomas V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,115,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Reusable instruments, such as reusable medical instruments, and related systems and methods, are disclosed. In some embodiments, the reusable instrument can be an endoscope.

Claims

1. An endoscopic device, comprising:

an endoscope body, including;

an elongated portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the longitudinal channel being sealed at the distal end; and

a manipulation portion having an interior, the manipulation portion being coupled to the proximal end of the elongated portion; and

a light source disposed in the interior of the manipulation portion, the light source being in optical communication with the distal end of the elongated portion through the longitudinal channel.

2. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the light source is an incandescent light source, a florescent light source, an arc light source, a gas discharge light source, or a solid-state light source.

3. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising a light conductive element housed within the longitudinal channel to provide the optical communication between the light source and the distal end of the elongated portion.

4. The endoscopic device of claim 3, wherein the light conductive element comprises a fiber optic conductor, a light transmissive cylinder, or a liquid-filled tube.

5. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the endoscopic device is devoid of a light source outside the interior of the manipulation portion.

6. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to provide sufficient light to the distal end of the elongated portion to use the endoscopic device in a procedure.

7. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data, the transmitter being integral with the endoscope body, disposed on an exterior of the endoscope body, or disposed in an interior of the endoscope body.

8. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to provide recognition data for the endoscopic device, the indicator being integral with the endoscope body, disposed on the exterior of the endoscope, or disposed in the interior of the endoscope.

9. The endoscopic device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to provide recognition data for the endoscopic device, the indicator being integral with the endoscope body, disposed on an exterior of the endoscope, or disposed in an interior of the endoscope.

10. The endoscopic device of claim 1, wherein the endoscopic device is untethered.

11. An endoscopic device, comprising:

an endoscope body having an interior, an exterior, and an opening capable of allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior; and

a pressure regulator coupled to the opening in the endoscope body so that the pressure regulator is capable of regulating fluid communication between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope.

12. The endoscopic device of claim 11, wherein the pressure regulator comprises a valve.

13. The endoscopic device of claim 11, wherein the pressure regulator is configured to maintain a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope of at most about five psi.

14. The endoscopic device of claim 11, further comprising a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data, the transmitter being integral with the endoscope body, disposed on the exterior of the endoscope body, or disposed in the interior of the endoscope body.

15. The endoscopic device of claim 11, further comprising an indicator configured to provide recognition data for the endoscopic device, the indicator being integral with the endoscope body, disposed on the exterior of the endoscope, or disposed in the interior of the endoscope.

16. The endoscopic device of claim 11, wherein the endoscope body includes a manipulation portion, and the endoscopic device further includes a light source disposed in the interior of the manipulation portion.

17. A system, comprising:

an endoscope body having an interior, an exterior, and an opening capable of allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior;

a pressure regulator coupled to the opening in the endoscope; and

a gas source coupled to the pressure regulator,

wherein the pressure regulator and the gas source are configured so that the pressure gas source is capable of regulating fluid communication between the gas source and the interior of the endoscope body, and the gas source is capable of removing gas from the interior of the endoscope body or adding gas to the interior of the endoscope body.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the pressure regulator comprises a valve.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an article, the article being a treatment chamber or a holder for a reusable medical instrument that is configured to be removably housed in a treatment chamber for the reusable medical instrument,

wherein the endoscope disposed in the article.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the pressure regulator is coupled to the article.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a controller for controlling a position of the pressure regulator between a first position and a second position, the pressure regulator allowing fluid communication between the gas source and the interior of the endoscope body in the first position, and the pressure regulator preventing fluid communication between the gas source and the interior of the endoscope body in second position.

22. A method of operating an endoscope, the endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the method comprising:

generating light in the proximal end of the endoscope; and

transmitting the light generated in the proximal end of the endoscope to the distal end of the endoscope through the longitudinal channel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the longitudinal channel houses an optical element, and the light is transmitted through the optical element from the proximal end of the endoscope to the distal end of the endoscope.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein light emitted from the distal end of the endoscope illuminates a region adjacent the distal end of the endoscope.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising collecting video data from the illuminated region.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the video data from the endoscope.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising viewing a video signal based on the video data.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising manipulating the endoscope based on the video signal.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising performing a procedure with the endoscope based on the video signal.

30. A method of sterilizing an endoscope having an interior, an exterior, and a distal end, the method comprising:

sterilizing a portion of the interior of the endoscope while maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope of at most about five psi,

wherein the portion of the interior of the endoscope is sealed at the distal end of the endoscope.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the endoscope includes an elongated portion having an interior channel, the elongated portion being configured to be inserted in a subject during use of the endoscope in a medical procedure, and the method includes sterilizing the interior channel of the elongated portion of the endoscope.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising, prior to sterilizing:

reducing a pressure on the exterior of the endoscope; and

obtaining a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope of at most about five psi.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising, prior to sterilizing:

increasing a pressure on the exterior of the endoscope; and

obtaining a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope of at most about five psi.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the pressure differential is maintained using a pressure regulator coupled to endoscope.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining the pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope, and regulating a pressure in the interior of the endoscope based on the pressure differential.

36. A method, comprising:

determining a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope while the endoscope is disposed in a treatment chamber; and

regulating a pressure in the interior of the endoscope based on the pressure differential while the endoscope is disposed in the treatment chamber.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the pressure in the interior of the endoscope is increased if the pressure in the interior of the endoscope is more than a predetermined value below the a pressure on the exterior of the endoscope.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the pressure in the interior of the endoscope is decreased if the pressure in the interior of the endoscope is more than a predetermined value above than a pressure on the exterior of the endoscope.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the pressure is regulated while evacuating the treatment chamber.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the pressure is regulated while pressurizing the treatment chamber.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the pressure is regulated while sterilizing the endoscope.

42. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

transmitting light from a proximal end of an endoscope to a distal end of the endoscope through a longitudinal channel.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

44. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

sterilizing at least a portion of an interior of an endoscope while maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of the endoscope and an exterior of the endoscope of at most about five psi.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

46. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

determining a pressure differential between the interior of an endoscope and the exterior of the endoscope while the endoscope is disposed in a treatment chamber; and

regulating a pressure in the interior of the endoscope based on the pressure differential while the endoscope is disposed in the treatment chamber.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.