Patent · US Expired

Method of cleaning endoscope channels

US4579597A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
9References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 27, 1984
Grant dateApr 1, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B1/125
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a method of cleaning an endoscope, the open ends of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder, a suction valve cylinder, and a gas supply valve cylinder which are arranged in a control section of the endoscope are closed by stops. An air supply channel, a liquid supply channel, a suction channel, and a gas supply channel of the endoscope open at one end to a connector mounted on the distal end of the light guide cable of the endoscope. The connector is submerged in the liquid held in a tank. A cap is mounted on the distal end of the insertion section so that a nozzle communicating with the channels and a suction opening communicating with the suction channel open to the interior of the cap. The cap is connected to a suction pump by a suction tube. The pump is operated, thus sucking the liquid from the nozzle and suction opening through the four channels and the three cylinders, thereby cleaning the interiors of these channels and cylinders.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.