A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.
A61B 90/70 - Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
A61B 50/39 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles the containers containing antimicrobial, antiviral or disinfectant agents
A61B 50/36 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
B08B 3/10 - Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
2.
METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN AUTOMATED APPARATUS FOR THE CLEANING OF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
Disclosed is a process challenge device for use in testing the effectiveness of an automated apparatus for the cleaning of medical instruments. The PCD is flexible and defines a main body having a test soil material disposed thereon. A plurality of attachment formations project from the main body which may be used to mount the PCD directly to an instrument carrier for an automated cleaning apparatus by cooperation with a mesh of the instrument carrier. Also disclosed is a method for testing the effectiveness of an automated apparatus for the cleaning of medical instruments wherein the PCD is directly mounted to the instrument carrier.
A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
A61L 2/28 - Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour
A61B 19/02 - Protective casings or covers for appliances or instruments, e.g. boxes or sterile covers; Instrument tables or cupboards; Doctors' bags
3.
Method and apparatus for decontaminating a medical instrument
A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another involves mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument during an automated decontamination cycle of the decontaminating apparatus. The instrument may be a surgical instrument having an operating portion arranged to remotely control operation of a working portion in use. The method may involve engaging a part or parts of the operating portion to transmit motion thereto for creating the relative movement. An instrument carrier insertable in a decontaminating apparatus in use may be modified to incorporate an instrument manipulator.
A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.
A61B 90/70 - Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
A61B 50/39 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles the containers containing antimicrobial, antiviral or disinfectant agents
A61B 50/36 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles
B08B 3/10 - Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument (50) that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector (1). The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal (9) into an internal cavity (11) of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.
A61B 19/02 - Protective casings or covers for appliances or instruments, e.g. boxes or sterile covers; Instrument tables or cupboards; Doctors' bags
A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
6.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECONTAMINATING A MEDICAL INSTRUMENT
A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another involves mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument during an automated decontamination cycle of the decontaminating apparatus. The instrument may be a surgical instrument having an operating portion arranged to remotely control operation of a working portion in use. The method may involve engaging a part or parts of the operating portion to transmit motion thereto for creating the relative movement. An instrument carrier (20) insertable in a decontaminating apparatus in use may be modified to incorporate instrument manipulation means (40).
A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
A61B 19/02 - Protective casings or covers for appliances or instruments, e.g. boxes or sterile covers; Instrument tables or cupboards; Doctors' bags
patents
