Cleaning tool

• US 6,802,103 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuell Inc
• Original Assignee: Nuell Inc
• Inventors: Holsclaw, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US10/263,948
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 15/1, 152/68, 152/570.1, 269/3, 269/6, 269/100, 269/47, 248/75
• US Class Current: 15/268
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 11/02 Devices for holding articles during cleaning B08B9/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 13/00 Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning

Abstract

In the broader aspects of the invention, there is provided a cleaning tool for electrically and pneumatically powered surgical instruments having either a pneumatic hose connector or an electrical plug connector thereon comprising a tool body having opposite ends. An instrument connector is at one of the ends. A handle is at the other of the ends. The handle allows positive control of the positioning of the surgical instrument and positive control over both axial movement and rotary movement of the instrument during cleaning. The instrument connector of the cleaning tool provides a secure mechanical connection to the surgical instrument and a hermetic seal between the body of the tool and the body of the instrument utilizing the existing pneumatic hose or electrical plug connector structure of the instrument in a new and novel manner whereby the surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and disinfected without damage to the instrument or unnecessarily exposing the handle or the instrument to the cleaning and disinfectant agents utilized or the unintentional separation of the tool and the dropping of the instrument.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to said conventional power hose cord connector, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said secure instrument connector is adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said secure instrument connector has the outward structure of a pneumatic hose connector.

4. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said secure instrument connector comprises a plug fitting within said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument.

5. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said secure instrument connector comprises a tubular portion having a bore therein, said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument being slideably positioned within said bore.

6. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said handle has a radiused configuration and a smooth surface, said surface being free of corners, edges, protrusions, snags and catches whereby said handle is incapable of cutting, puncturing, catching or snagging rubber gloves worn by a person utilizing the tool.

7. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said tool has a cross bar extending through said body on opposite sides thereof, said cross bar being adjacent said other end, whereby said cross bar may be held in the palm of one'"'"'s hand with one'"'"'s fingers wrapped around the cross bar and said body extending from said hand between said fingers.

8. The cleaning tool of claim 7 wherein said handle has an anvil at said other end, said cross bar extending on opposite sides of said anvil.

9. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said tool body and handle are made of rugged, rigid material to withstand pounding on said handle, dropping the tool, a person stepping on the tool, all without misshaping the tool.

10. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said body and handle are made of materials chosen from the group of materials consisting of metals and plastics.

11. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said secure instrument connector has a diameter, said body between said secure instrument connector and said other end having a diameter less than said secure instrument connector diameter, said cross bar having a diameter less than said handle diameter.

12. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said cross bar has a diameter less than one-half of said handle diameter.

13. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said tool has an O-ring groove extending circumferentially around said secure instrument connector groove and extending radially thereof, an O-ring in said groove, said O-ring being compressed in said O-ring groove and between said hose connector and said tool when said tool is connected to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, the compression of said O-ring frictionally securing said tool and said surgical instrument together.

14. The cleaning tool of claim 13 further comprising a lock, said lock including a pair of diametrically opposed detents, and an L-shaped opening in which the detents are positioned, said detents being on one of said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument and said secure instrument connector, said L-shaped opening being on the other of said secure instrument connector and said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said detents being positioned in said L-shaped opening by moving said secure instrument connector and said power hose/cord connector both axially and rotatably of each other.

15. The cleaning tool of claim 14 wherein said O-ring holds said detents in said L-shaped opening whereby said secure instrument connector and said pneumatic hose connector are frictionally secured together.

16. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said-power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected.

17. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected, said handle having a radiused configuration and a smooth surface, said surface being free of corners, edges, protrusions, snags and catches whereby said handle is incapable of cutting, puncturing, catching or snagging rubber gloves worn by a person utilizing the tool.

18. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected, said tool having a cross bar extending through said body on opposite sides thereof, said cross bar being adjacent said other end, whereby said cross bar may be held in the palm of one'"'"'s hand with one'"'"'s fingers wrapped around the cross bar and said body extending from said hand between said fingers.

19. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected, said tool having a cross bar extending through said body on opposite sides thereof, said cross bar being adjacent said other end, whereby said cross bar may be held in the palm of one'"'"'s hand with one'"'"'s fingers wrapped around the cross bar and said body extending from said hand between said fingers, said secure instrument connector having a diameter, said body between said secure instrument connector and said other end having a diameter less than said secure instrument connector diameter, said cross bar having a diameter less than said handle diameter.

20. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected, said secure instrument connector having a diameter, said body between said secure instrument connector and said other end having a diameter less than said secure instrument connector diameter.

21. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to both sizes of said conventional power hose/cord connectors, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle allowing control of said tool body over axial movement and rotary movement and the accurate positioning of said instrument securely connected to said body single-handedly, said handle being spaced from said secure instrument connector, said secure instrument connector providing a hermetic seal between said tool body and said surgical instrument when secured to said surgical instrument whereby said surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and sterilized without damaging said instrument or unnecessarily exposing said instrument or said handle to the cleaning and sterilization agents used, said secure instrument connector being adapted to be securely fastened to said power hose/cord connector of said surgical instrument, said power hose/cord connector and said secure instrument connector having sliding contiguous surfaces thereon providing said hermetic seal, and a lock, whereby said surgical instrument and said tool body may be connected and not be unintentionally disconnected once connected, said tool having a cross bar extending through said body on opposite sides thereof, said cross bar being adjacent said other end, whereby said cross bar may be held in the palm of one'"'"'s hand with one'"'"'s fingers wrapped around the cross bar and said body extending from said hand between said fingers, said secure instrument connector having a diameter, said body between said secure instrument connector and said other end having a diameter less than said secure instrument connector diameter, said cross bar having a diameter less than said handle diameter, said cross bar has a diameter less than one-half of the diameter of said handle diameter, said handle having a radiused configuration and a smooth surface, said surface being free of corners, edges, protrusions, snags and catches whereby said handle is incapable of cutting, puncturing, catching or snagging rubber gloves worn by a person utilizing the tool.

22. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to said conventional power hose/cord connector, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle having a finger grasping portion, a central locator for positioning two fingers on both sides of said locator and on said finger grasping portion, and a central portion which may be pulled by the fingers comfortably into the palm of the hand thereby allowing the person grasping the handle to have positive control over the positioning and the axial and rotary movement of the tool during the cleaning process and to have the “

physical feel”

in both fingers and the palm confirming said control over a surgical instrument during the cleaning process without touching the tool.

23. A cleaning tool for powered surgical instruments having a conventional power hose/cord connector thereon comprising a tool body, said tool body having opposite ends and an axis extending between said ends, a secure instrument connector at one of said ends adapted to be secured to said conventional power hose/cord connector, a handle at the other of said ends, said handle having a finger grasping portion, a central locator for positioning two fingers on both sides of said locator and on said finger grasping portion, and a central portion which may be pulled by the fingers comfortably into the palm of the hand thereby allowing the person grasping the handle to have positive control over the positioning and the axial and rotary movement of the tool during the cleaning process, thereby-the surgical instrument may be cleaned, scoured and disinfected without damage to the surgical instrument or unnecessarily exposing the handle or the instrument to the cleaning and disinfectant agents utilized or unintentional separation of the tool from the instrument or dropping of the instrument.