Ethicon, Gmbh

Sherwood Services Ag

Covidien Ag

Johnson & Johnson Gmbh

Advanced Sterilization Products

Robert C Platt

Szu-Min Lin

Peter C Zhu

Anthony Lemus

Mitch Agamohamadi

Alfredo M Choperena

Vinod Mirchandani

Paul Taylor Jacobs

Jenn-Hann Larry Wang

Harold R Williams

Richard Jackson

John Chien

Richard A Jackson

A method and apparatus provide for automatically cleaning and decontaminating medical instruments. The method comprising the steps of: a) placing the medical instruments into a container after their use in a medical procedure; b) closing the container to seal the instruments inside whereby to prevent personnel contact with the instruments and any contaminants which might be thereon; c) inserting the sealed container into a washer/decontaminator and sealing the washer/decontaminator; d) the washer/decontaminator automatically opening the container and applying a washing fluid thereto to wash the instruments within the container; and e) the washer/decontaminator automatically applying a disinfectant to the container to disinfect the instruments whereby to allow safe handling thereof by personnel.

Washer and decontaminator with lid control

A method for coagulating tissue is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an electrosurgical apparatus including: an elongated flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis and at least one electrode mounted proximate to the tube for ionizing pressurized ionizable gas. The method also includes the steps of moving the distal end of the tube from a first position wherein the distal end is disposed in a generally parallel fashion relative to the tissue to a second position wherein the distal end directs pressurized ionizable gas flowing through the tube at an angle &#x3b1; with respect to the longitudinal axis and igniting the pressurized ionized gas through the at least one electrode.

Articulating ionizable gas coagulator

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue used in combination with an endoscope which includes an elongated flexible tube having a plurality of side-ports located therethrough. The tube extends through a working channel of the endoscope and an ionizable gas is supplied to the tube at or near the proximal end of the tube. A diffusing member directs the ionizable gas from the proximal end of the tube through each of the side-ports towards the tissue. An electrode is used for ionizing the gas prior to the gas exiting the side-ports.

Multi-port side-fire coagulator

A method provides flow to multiple channels in an endoscope during an endoscope decontamination procedure. A member is inserted into a chamber in a body of an endoscope through an opening into the chamber, the chamber being intersected by a first lumen and a second lumen. The member separates fluidly the first lumen from the second lumen. Fluid is flowed through a first channel through the member into the first lumen and through a second channel through the member into the second lumen. Additional lumens can be so treated at the same time. Fluids can include detergents and other cleaning fluids, disinfectants and sterilants.

Apparatus and method for providing flow to endoscope channels

A method detects proper connection of an endoscope to an endoscope processor by measuring pressure pulses applied to the connection point. The method can include measuring for the pressure pulses at a second connection point on the endoscope processor and measuring for a beat frequency produced variations in the frequency of pressure pulses input at each connection point. The method can also include looking for echoes of the pressure pulsations from physical structures within a lumen of the endoscope connected to the connection point.

Method of detecting proper connection of an endoscope to an endoscope processor

An endoscope processor, according to the present invention, provides for cleaning and sterilizing an endoscope having a body, and a first flexible tube attached to the body. It includes an operational housing and an enclosure which is attachable to and detachable from the operational housing, the enclosure being sealed from ingress of potentially contaminating microorganisms when detached from the operational housing. The enclosure is shaped, sized and oriented to receive the endoscope in an orientation with the first flexible tube depending vertically downwardly from the endoscope body. The enclosure includes a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The operational housing includes a circulating system comprising at least one liquid pump having a pump outlet connected to the liquid inlet of the enclosure when the enclosure is attached to the operational housing, and a pump inlet connected to the liquid outlet of the enclosure when the enclosure is attached to the operational housing, whereby to circulate liquid through the enclosure. A source of sterilizing fluid is associated with the pump and a control system is programmed to control a sterilization procedure whereby the pump circulates a liquid comprising the sterilizing fluid through the enclosure.

Cabinet type endoscope processor

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue includes an elongated flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a source for supplying pressurized ionizable gas to the proximal end of the tube. The apparatus also includes a hollow sleeve made from a shape memory alloy having a generally curved austenite state and displaying stress-induced martensite behavior. The hollow sleeve is restrained in a deformed stress-induced martensite configuration within the tube and partial extension of a portion of the hollow sleeve from the tube transforms the portion of the sleeve from the deformed configuration to the generally curved austenite configuration such that the gas is directed transversely at the tissue. An electrode ionizes the gas in the region between the sleeve and the tissue. Other embodiments of the present disclosure also include a wire connected to the distal end of the tube which movable from a first postion wherein the tube is disposed in a generally rectilinear, parallel fashion relative to the tissue to a second retracted position wherein the distal end of the tube flexes at an angle to direct the gas towards the tissue. Still other embodiments of the present disclosure include a corona electrode for inducing ignition of the gas.

A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.

Monitoring of cleaning process

The present invention provides a power feedback control system for controllably maintaining a predetermined average power value of a power applied to a plasma of a sterilization system. The power has a frequency of from 0 to approximately 200 kHz. The power feedback control system includes a power monitor including a current monitor and a voltage monitor. The current monitor is adapted to produce a first signal indicative of a current applied to the plasma. The voltage monitor is adapted to produce a second signal indicative of a voltage applied to the plasma. The power monitor is adapted to produce a third signal in response to the first signal and second signal. The third signal is indicative of the power applied to the plasma. The power feedback control system further includes a power control module adapted to produce a fourth signal in response to the third signal from the power monitor and to a reference signal corresponding to the predetermined average power value. The power feedback control system further includes a power controller adapted to adjust, in response to the fourth signal, the power applied to the plasma to maintain the predetermined average power value of the power applied to the plasma.

Power system for sterilization systems employing low frequency plasma

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue includes an elongated flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a source for supplying pressurized ionizable gas to the proximal end of the tube. The apparatus also includes a hollow sleeve made from a shape memory alloy having a generally curved austenite state and displaying stress-induced martensite behavior. The hollow sleeve is restrained in a deformed stress-induced martensite configuration within the tube and partial extension of a portion of the hollow sleeve from the tube transforms the portion of the sleeve from the deformed configuration to the generally curved austenite configuration such that the gas is directed transversely at the issue. An electrode ionizes the gas in the region between the sleeve and the tissue. Other embodiments of the present disclosure also include a wire connected to the distal end of the tube which movable from a first position wherein the tube is disposed in a generally rectilinear, parallel fashion relative to the tissue to a second retracted position wherein the distal end of the tube flexes at an angle to direct the gas towards the tissue. Still other embodiments of the present disclosure include a corona electrode for inducing ignition of the gas.

A sterilization system applies power to a plasma within a chamber to remove gas or vapor species from an article. The sterilization system includes a power feedback control system for controlling the power applied to the plasma. The power feedback control system includes a current monitor adapted to produce a first signal indicative of a current applied to the plasma within the chamber. The power feedback control system further includes a voltage monitor adapted to produce a second signal indicative of a voltage applied to the plasma within the chamber. The power feedback control system further includes a power control module comprising a programmable digital signal processor. The digital signal processor is adapted to receive and process the first signal and the second signal by multiplying the current and the voltage and producing a third signal indicative of the product of the current and the voltage. The power feedback control system further includes a plasma generator coupled to the power control module and adapted to adjust, in response to the third signal, the power applied to the plasma within the chamber.

Sterilization system with a plasma generator controlled by a digital signal processor

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue includes an elongated flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one aperture located therein. The proximal end of the tube receives a supply of pressurized ionizable gas and is disposed within a working channel of the endoscope. At least one electrode ionizes the gas prior to the gas exiting the aperture of the tube and an agitator causes the gas to exit the tube with predetermined flow characteristics. In one embodiment, the agitator includes a helically-shaped baffle disposed within the tube. In another embodiments, the agitator can include a rotatable baffle having apertures disposed therethrough for causing the gas to exit the tube in a swirl-like manner. Alternatively, a pair of elongated ribbons can be disposed within the tube which, under flow conditions, will cause turbulence within the gas flow.

Growing community of inventors

Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

Robert C Platt