Apparatus And Method To Repeatedly Fill And Purge Channels of Endoscope

Abstract

A medical device reprocessor is operable to perform a method of cleaning an internal channel of a medical device. The method entails activating a pump assembly to deliver a detergent to the internal channel for a first predetermined duration, activating the pump assembly to deliver water to the internal channel to rinse out the detergent for a second predetermined duration, and activating the pump assembly to deliver pressurized air to the internal channel to purge out the water or detergent contained within the internal channel for a third predetermined duration. Subsequently, the method involves activating the pump assembly to deliver a predetermined volume of disinfectant to the internal channel, and activating the pump assembly to deliver pressurized air to purge out the disinfectant into a chamber. The method repeats filling the internal channel with detergent, water and disinfectant and the subsequent purging of the internal channel with pressurized air.

1 . A medical device reprocessor system comprising:
 a medical device;   a port that is in fluid communication with a portion of the medical device;   a first fluid source having a first fluid;   a second fluid source having a second fluid;   a pump system, wherein the pump system is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid sources and the port; and   a control module operable to execute a control algorithm to sequentially deliver the first and second fluids to the port and terminate delivery of the first and second fluids at first and second predetermined time thresholds,   wherein the control module is configured to repeat the sequential delivery of the first and second fluids for at least a predetermined number of cycles.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber configured to receive the medical device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fluids each comprise either a detergent, water, pressurized air, or a disinfectant. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second fluid sources is a chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second fluids delivered to the port for the predetermined number of cycles is maintained within the medical device for a third predetermined time threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure testing feature configured to pressure test the medical device to check for leaks. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is operable to execute the control algorithm to conduct a pre-rinse of the medical device prior to delivery of at least one of the first or second fluids to the port. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump system is in fluid communication with an alcohol, wherein the control module is operable to execute the control algorithm to deliver alcohol to the medical device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a concentration measurement subsystem configured to determine a concentration of at least one of the first or second fluids within the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filtering feature configured to filter microbes from at least one of the first or second fluids to the medical device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating feature configured to heat at least one of the first or second fluids delivered to the medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control module is operable to execute the control algorithm to circulate a mixture of the first and second fluids in the chamber thereby exposing an outer surface of the medical device to the mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the mixture is circulated for a third predetermined time threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of the mixture circulated in the chamber differs from the concentration of the mixture in the medical device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flow sensors, wherein each of the flow sensors is in fluid communication with at least one of the first or second fluids. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of valves, wherein each of the valves is in fluid communication with at least one of the first or second fluids. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump system comprises a plurality of pumps, wherein each of the pumps is in fluid communication with at least one of the first or second fluids. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising multiple ports each configured to couple the medical device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pump system is configured to deliver the first and second fluids to the multiple ports coupled with the medical device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second fluids is received from an air supply system separate from the system but configured to be in fluid communication with the system.