Steris Inc.

Alain Chouinard

Maxime Robert

Louis Martineau

Nicolas Verreault

Rotational speed of a spray arm is regulated based on centrifugal force and a liquid jet to create a variable angle corner spray nozzle. The regulator includes a weight on a pivot and a fluid jet, the weight having a curved surface to produce a variable angle corner spray nozzle depending on the weight angle. Centrifugal force created during rotation pushes the weight outward, which increases as the spray arm rotation speed increases. The liquid jet is located out from a pivot point and tends to push the weight inward. The pushing force of the liquid jet is maximum when the weight is most inward and minimum when the weight is most outward. The regulator stabilizes the arm speed at a specific speed independent from center pivot friction and the spray arm nozzle's orientation tolerance. Speed stabilizes when centrifugal force on the weight is equal to the pushing force of the fluid jet.

Spray arm speed regulator

A method of cleaning an endoscope in a computer-controlled washer/disinfector comprising the steps of connecting each lumen of an endoscope to a fluid distribution system for selectively conveying pressurized air or pressurized fluids through lumens in an endoscope; identifying the type of endoscope to be cleaned in said washer/disinfector; determining a blockage threshold flow coefficient for each lumen for said endoscope to be cleaned; pressurizing each lumen in said endoscope individually and determining an actual flow coefficient through said lumen; determining whether said endoscope is suitable for cleaning by comparing said actual flow coefficients for a lumen in said endoscope to said blockage threshold flow coefficient for said lumen; and determining whether a connection to a lumen in said endoscope is properly connected based upon said flow coefficient through said lumen.

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Alain Chouinard