Process for maintaining the sterility of a medical instrument

US6004509A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• DMV-Medizintecknik GmbH · DE
• JAKOUBEK MEDIZINTECHNIK GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Dey · Berlin, DE
• Bernd Muller · Spicheren, FR
• Peter Hartwig · Berlin, DE
• Torsten Thiel · Fürstenwalde, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 1996
• Grant date: Dec 21, 1999
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B17/00234
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Process for maintaining the cleanliness of the inner cavity of a medical operating instrument (I), particularly a surgical instrument used in minimally invasive medicine, having an outer casing (M) and operating or actuating elements (SS, SH) arranged therein, said instrument being used to enter the body of a living person or animal, wherein during its use the instrument is acted upon essentially from its proximal end through a fluid connection (A) with a medically clean fluid (G) in such a way that essentially all the crevices and cavities in the inner space, in fluid contact with the inside of the body, between the operating or actuating elements (SS, SH) or between the latter and the casing (M) are filled with the fluid.