Suspension cleaning

Abstract

A method of cleaning a contaminated surface, such as cleaning the elongate interior lumen of an endoscope contaminated with flesh, bone, blood, mucous, faeces or biofilm, said method comprising the steps of: providing a suspension of solid particles in a liquid to said contaminated surface, and flowing said suspension along said surface thereby to remove contaminant from the surface. The suspension is preferably a paste, where the solid material may be e.g. crystals of a salt, silicon oxide or organic material. The paste preferably has a solid fraction between 5 and 55%. A rheology modifier may be present.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of cleaning an interior surface of an elongate lumen, comprising:
 providing a suspension of solid particles in a liquid; and   iteratively pulsing the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen to remove contaminants from the interior surface.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the elongate lumen is at least one of an air or water channel of an endoscope. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 after iteratively pulsing the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen, flowing a liquid without any portion of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen to rinse the interior surface.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the solid particles are salt crystals. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the salt crystals are crystals of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, borax, calcium carbonate or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the solid particles are particles of water insoluble material. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the liquid is selected from a group consisting of a saturated solution of a salt, a water/alcohol mixture, a water glycol mixture, and a water glycerol mixture. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein iteratively pulsing the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen comprises:
 providing a portion of the solid particles in the liquid from a cartridge; and   applying at least one flow of fluid to accelerate the portion of the suspension of solid particles into the elongate lumen.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein applying the at least one flow of fluid comprises:
 applying a first flow of fluid and a second flow of fluid.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 mixing the solid particles with the liquid in a cartridge.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 drawing a portion of the solid particles in the liquid from a cartridge.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein iteratively pulsing the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen comprises:
 pumping a portion of the solid particles in the liquid from a cartridge.   
     
     
         50 . A method of cleaning an interior surface of an elongate lumen, comprising:
 providing a suspension of solid particles in a liquid;   flowing a plurality of portions of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid through the elongate lumen; and   interspersing one or more fluid only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 after flowing a plurality of portions of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid through the elongate lumen, flowing a liquid without any portion of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid through the elongate lumen to rinse the interior surface.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the solid particles are salt crystals. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the salt crystals are crystals of sodium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein interspersing one or more fluid only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid comprises:
 interspersing one or more liquid only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein interspersing one or more fluid only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid comprises:
 interspersing one or more gas only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein interspersing one or more fluid only flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid comprises:
 interspersing one or more mixed gas and liquid flows between at least two portions of the suspension of solid particles in the liquid.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein flowing a plurality of portions of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid through the elongate lumen comprises:
 separately drawing each of the plurality of portions of the solid particles in the liquid from a cartridge.