Scrubbing element with leader

Abstract

A cleaning element comprises a leader and a brush. The leader allows the brush to be pulled through a surgical instrument or lumen. The brush allows for beneficial cleaning of surgical lumens. Also, a method for cleaning surgical instruments by pulling a brush through a surgical instrument is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleaning element for lumen of surgical instruments comprising: 
 (a) a brush having a first end, a second end, and a core, the core defining a longitudinal axis extending throughout a first length of said brush;    (b) a leader having a second length, first end, and a second end, wherein the second end of said leader is connected to the first end of said brush.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the first length is between about 0.15 m to about 4 m, and wherein the second length is between about 0.1 m to about 4 m.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the first length is about equal to the second length.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the first length is shorter than the second length.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the second length is between 5 cm to 300 cm longer than the first length.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the said leader is connected to the first end of said brush by a joint.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning element of  claim 6  wherein the joint is positioned in between the first length and the second length, such that the first length is about equal to the second length.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning element of  claim 6  wherein the joint is positioned in between the first length and the second length, such that the first length is shorter than the second length.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the lumen has a third length, and wherein the second length is longer than the third length.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader is made of plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader is made of thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, rubber, natural rubber latex, acetal, butyrate, cast acrylic, ECTFE, extruded acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone, PVDF, nylon, and polyurethane.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader has a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader is a tube.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning element of  claim 14  wherein said leader further comprises a support wire within the tube.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the core has a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the core is made a pair of twisted wire segments.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning elements of  claim 17  wherein the twisted wire segments are made of a 0.010 to 0.016 inch diameter wire.  
     
     
         19 . The cleaning elements of  claim 17  wherein the twisted wire segments are made of a 0.020 inch diameter wire.  
     
     
         20 . The cleaning element of  claim 17  wherein said brush further comprises a plurality of bristles secured between the pair of twisted wire segments to form a brush portion throughout the length of the core.  
     
     
         21 . The cleaning element of  claim 20  wherein the bristles are made of material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, cotton, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, nylon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The cleaning element of  claim 20  wherein the bristles are made of material selected from the group consisting of polyamide derivatives, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said brush further comprises a coating layer made of a hydrophilic polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning element of  claim 23  wherein the coating film further comprises at least one reservoir.  
     
     
         25 . The cleaning element of  claim 24  wherein the reservoir has a surface, wherein disposed upon the surface of the reservoir is cleaning solution.  
     
     
         26 . The cleaning element of  claim 23  wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a hydrophilic urethane.  
     
     
         27 . A method of cleaning a soiled lumen having a first end and a second end comprising: 
 (a) providing a cleaning element comprising a brush having a first end, a second end, and a core, the core defining a longitudinal axis extending throughout the length of said brush; and a leader having a first end, and a second end, wherein the second end of said leader is connected to the first end of said brush;    (b) inserting the leader into the first end of the lumen;    (c) passing the first end of the leader through the lumen to create an exposed leader portion;    (d) pulling the exposed leader portion away from the second end so that the brush passes through the lumen.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of providing a cleaning element further comprises providing a brush further comprising a plurality of bristles secured between a pair of twisted wire segments to form a brush portion throughout the length of the core.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of providing a cleaning element further comprises providing a brush further comprising a plurality of bristles secured between a pair of twisted wire segments to form a brush portion throughout the length of the core, wherein the brush portion is coated with cleaning solution.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of pulling the exposed leader portion away from the second end so that the brush passes through the lumen further comprises contacting cleaning solution with the lumen.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of pulling the exposed leader portion away from the second end so that the brush passes through the lumen further comprises contacting wetting agent to the lumen.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of providing a cleaning element further comprises selecting a brush having a bristle portion having a diameter of from about 2.0 mm to about 20 mm.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of providing a cleaning element further comprises selecting a brush having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lumen.  
     
     
         34 . A kit for cleaning a soiled lumen having a first end and a second end comprising: 
 (a) the cleaning element of  claim 1;     (b) a pouch having an inner space for holding liquid solution; and    (c) a liquid cleaning solution.    
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 34  wherein said liquid cleaning solution is a water-based buffer.  
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 34  wherein said liquid cleaning solution is a water-based buffer containing detergents suitable for cleaning soiled surgical instruments.  
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 34  wherein said liquid cleaning solution is a water-based enzyme cocktail.  
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 34  wherein the inner space is of a predetermined volume capable of holding between 10 to 500 ml of liquid cleaning solution, preferably about 75 ml.  
     
     
         39 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein the leader is made of wire.  
     
     
         40 . The cleaning element of  claim 42  wherein the wire is made of stainless steel.  
     
     
         41 . The cleaning element of  claim 42  wherein disposed upon the wire is a polymer cover.  
     
     
         42 . The cleaning element of  claim 44  wherein the polymer cover selected from the group consisting of plastic, PVC, and Nylon.  
     
     
         43 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  wherein said leader has a diameter of from about 1.5 mm to about 2.7 mm.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of providing a cleaning element further comprises selecting a brush having a length shorter than the length of the lumen.  
     
     
         45 . The kit of  claim 34  further comprising a hand pad having an outer surface.