Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-09-11
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C134S16900A, C134S16900A, C422S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286179
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to endoscopic systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for cleaning the endoscopic system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to devices and methods for removing debris from the nozzle associated with the cleaning of the lens of the endoscopic system.
BACKGROUND ART
Endoscopic instruments have been developed to provide surgeons with an internal view of the organ or body passage requiring treatment. Such endoscopes typically have channels through which a miniaturized forceps, commonly called flexible instruments, are inserted and advanced. The endoscope assembly includes an elongated flexible cable equipped at one end with an eyepiece or other viewing means and at the other end with an optical head. Only the head is directly and externally connected to the instrument. The cable transmits images or image-producing signals from the illuminated operative site to the viewing means so that the surgeon will have visual confirmation of the action of the instrument's working end. A coherent optic bundle extends from the head and through the flexible cable through the eyepiece for providing the surgeon with visual confirmation of the instrument's tip or jaw action. The illuminating means may take the form a light-transmitting waveguide extending through the cable to illuminate the operative area. The waveguide is connected at its proximal end to a suitable high-intensity light source. The cable also provides a flow passage for the delivery of fluid (liquid or gas) for irrigation or other purposes. Typically, the flow passage and the illuminating means are disposed on opposite sides of the coherent image-transmitting waveguide.
In conventional practice, it is necessary to provide the optic head with a flow of sterile water. The passage of the sterile water across the optic head prevents the buildup of materials on the optic head. This flow of water operates, in a sense, like a windshield wiper/washer assembly.
In normal practice, the endoscopic instrument has a control body which is connected by a light guide tube to a light guide connector. The connector will include a plurality of connectors that can suitably receive various fittings. For example, the light guide connector can include a connector orifice that receives a grounding lug, a suction port, an air inlet, and a water inlet. As such, the air and water are delivered through the light guide connector, through the light guide tube and into the control body. Alternatively, the control body can also include a water port so as to allow water to be directly provided to the control body. Suitable valves are provided on the control body so as to control the flow of water through the control body and over the optic head of the instrument.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, there is shown an example of such an endoscopic system. The endoscopic system
10
, in
FIG. 1
, shows an endoscope
12
into which an air/water inlet line
14
connects and from which an insertion tube
16
extends. The endoscope
12
has a control body
18
with a plurality of control members positioned thereon. A pair of control knobs
20
and
22
extend outwardly from one side of the control body
18
. Remote control switches
24
,
26
and
28
are positioned on the control body
18
so as to allow the surgeon to operate the distal end
30
of the insertion tube
16
. A suction valve
32
is formed on the control body
18
which can be depressed so as to activate suction at the distal end
30
. An air/water valve
34
is positioned below the suction valve
32
on the control body
18
. The air/water valve
34
has a hole formed thereon. The surgeon can cover the hole with a finger for air sufflation. The valve
34
can be depressed so as to activate water feeding for the washing of the lens on the distal end
30
. An instrument channel opening
36
is positioned adjacent to the control body
18
so as to allow for the insertion of forceps or other accessories into the insertion tube
16
. The endoscope
12
allows the surgeon to carry out surgical activities within the human body while, simultaneously, viewing the action of such surgery through a lens formed on the distal end
30
of the insertion tube
16
.
FIG. 2
is a detailed view of the distal end
30
of the insertion tube
16
. As can be seen in
FIG. 2
, the distal end
30
has a lens
40
positioned for viewing outwardly of the distal end
30
. An instrument channel
42
allows for forceps, and other accessories, to be extended outwardly of the distal end
30
. A light guide
44
is provided on the distal end
30
so as to emit light outwardly of the distal end
30
so as to facilitate viewing through the objective lens
40
. An auxiliary water nozzle
46
is also provided on distal end
30
so as to allow water feed in the same direction as the direction of viewing. Importantly, an air/water nozzle
48
is provided on the distal end
30
to feed water and air for the cleaning of the lens
40
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 3
, the air/water nozzle
48
emits a stream
50
of air and water across the surface of the objective lens
40
. The air and water are fed into the nozzle
48
through an air/water delivery tube
52
. Air/water delivery tube
52
extends through the interior of the insertion tube
16
. The air/water
50
is emitted from nozzle
48
so as to clean the outer surface of the objective lens
40
during use. In this manner, the nozzle
48
operates in the manner of a windshield washer/wipe assembly on an automobile. The nozzle
48
is important for the purpose of keeping debris, and other obstructions, from interfering with the view through the objective lens
40
. A fiberoptic line
54
will extend to the objective lens
40
so as to allow the surgeon to view action on the interior of the human body.
FIG. 4
shows an example of what can occur when the nozzle
48
becomes obstructed with a piece of debris
56
. In
FIG. 4
, it can be seen that the debris
56
is lodged in the wide portion of passageway
58
in nozzle
48
. When the obstruction is lodged in this position, the spray
50
will be diminished or blocked. When this occurs, it is no longer possible to clean the objective lens
40
. The obstruction
56
can occur on the interior of the passageway
58
for a variety of reasons. Accumulations of human debris around the objective lens
40
can wedge themselves in the area of the nozzle opening
60
. Alternatively, the debris
56
can occur during the conventional cleaning of the endoscope
12
. Even a small amount of blockage can result in the ineffective operation of the endoscopic system.
In conventional practice, whenever a sufficient amount of debris
56
resides in the area adjacent to the opening
60
of nozzle
48
, it is necessary to send the endoscopic system
10
to a remote location for cleaning and repair. A very complicated proceeding is required so as to effectively remove the debris
56
from the nozzle
48
so as to allow the nozzle
48
to operate in a desired manner. When it is necessary to clean the endoscopic system
10
, many costs can result. Initially, there is the repair cost for the endoscopic system. There is also the cost of shipping the unit to a suitable cleaning facility. Furthermore, there is a cost associated with the loss of use of the endoscopic system
10
by the hospital. Furthermore, there are costs associated with potential damage that can occur during shipping or repair. As such, a need has developed so as to allow the endoscopic system
10
to be suitably cleaned in the hospital environment at minimal costs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscopic cleaning system which effectively serves to remove debris from the air/water nozzle of the endoscopic instrument.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the cleaning of the air/water nozzle which can be carried out in a minimal amount of time and with a minimal amount of difficulty.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and appa
Coe Philip R.
Harrison & Egbert
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