The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2001
James C. Hlebovy, Chardon, OH (US);
Alan J. Greszler, Elyria, OH (US);
Nancy A. Robinson, Hudson, OH (US);
Steris Inc., Temecula, CA (US);
Abstract
A fluid delivery system ( ) for an automated processor (A) delivers washing, microbial decontaminant, and rinse fluids to spray nozzles ( ) in a chamber ( ) for sequentially spraying the fluids over a lumened device (B), such as an endoscope. Sets of nozzles are operated in sequence to avoid the spray jets canceling each other out. The endoscope is supported on a rack ( ) which is agitated by an activation system ( ). This ensures ever changing points of contact between the device and the rack so that all external surfaces are contacted by the spray. A computer control system ( ) controls cleaning, decontamination, rinsing, and drying stages of a cycle, and agitation of the rack at appropriate times, which are all carried out within the chamber, obviating the need for human contact with the device during processing.