APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CLEANING THE LENS OF AN ENDOSCOPE
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for cleaning at least one of the lens of an endoscopic camera and endoscopic illumination source, the endoscope being deployable into an internal site of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a removable conduit for attachment to an endoscope deployable into an internal site of a patient, the conduit defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end and being structured for the passage of fluid therethrough;
the distal end of the conduit defining at least one fluid delivery port;
an alignment system for aligning the delivery port in a desired position relative to a lens of at least one of the camera and the illumination source of the endoscope; and
,a supply tube attached to the proximal end of the conduit, the tube defining at least one lumen for passage of fluid therethrough.
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Abstract
An apparatus for cleaning a lens, or one or more lenses, of an endoscopic camera while the endoscope is deployed in a patient during a medical procedure, such as a minimally invasive procedure, or a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure, is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus generally includes a conduit having a fluid delivery port, an alignment system, and a flexible supply tube to fluidly connect the conduit to one or both of a source of a fluid and a suction device.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cleaning at least one of the lens of an endoscopic camera and endoscopic illumination source, the endoscope being deployable into an internal site of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a removable conduit for attachment to an endoscope deployable into an internal site of a patient, the conduit defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end and being structured for the passage of fluid therethrough; the distal end of the conduit defining at least one fluid delivery port; an alignment system for aligning the delivery port in a desired position relative to a lens of at least one of the camera and the illumination source of the endoscope; and
,a supply tube attached to the proximal end of the conduit, the tube defining at least one lumen for passage of fluid therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for cleaning a lens of at least one of an endoscopic camera and an endoscopic illumination source, the endoscope being deployable into an internal site of a patient, the method comprising:
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attaching a removable cleaning apparatus to the endoscope, the cleaning apparatus comprising a rigid conduit defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and being structured for the passage of fluid therethrough, the distal end of the conduit defining at least one fluid delivery port;
an alignment system for aligning the fluid delivery port in a desired position relative to at least one of a lens of the camera and the illumination source; and
, a flexible supply tube attached to the proximal end of the conduit, the tube defining at least two lumens for passage of fluid therethrough;aligning the fluid delivery port into the desired position facing the lens of the camera and the illumination source; locking the conduit and the fluid delivery port into the desired position; directing a cleaning fluid selected from a liquid, a gas or a combination thereof from at least one source of cleaning fluid external to the patient through the supply tube, the conduit and to the at least one delivery port; directing the cleaning fluid onto the surface of the lens of at least one of the camera and the illumination source; and
,suctioning from the distal surface of the endoscope.
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Specification