To provide an endoscope that can be easily cleaned by dismounting an elevator after endoscopic examination. The endoscope includes a lever that is rotatably provided at a distal tip of an insertion portion (30), an elevator (80) that can be attached to and detached from the distal tip of the insertion portion (30), and includes a lever connection portion connected to the lever, and an elevator shaft (82) arranged to rotate coaxially with the lever when the lever connection portion and the lever are connected, and an endoscope cap (50) that can be attached to and detached from the distal tip of the insertion portion (30), and includes a bottomed cylindrical cover (52), an elevator support portion (761) that is provided inside the cover (52) and has an inlet through which the elevator shaft (82) enters when mounted to the distal tip of the insertion portion (30), and an elevator pivot portion (764) provided at the inlet.

To provide an elevator or the like that facilitates cleaning of an endoscope by dismounting the endoscope after endoscopic examination. The elevator (80) is attached to and detached from an endoscope which includes a lever rotatably provided at a distal tip of an insertion portion of the endoscope and a rotating portion that rotates the lever. The elevator (80) includes a first elevation portion (831) having a recessed portion (84) on one surface, a second elevation portion (832) protruding from an end of the first elevation portion (831), a lever connection portion (81) that is provided in an end portion of the second elevation portion (832) and connected to the lever, an elevator fixing portion (812) fixing the lever connection portion (81) and the lever, and a handle holding portion that holds a handle portion used when dismounted from the endoscope.

A surgical instrument comprises a heat generating component, a heat sink, an elongate shaft extending from the heat generating component to the heat sink, and an elongate thermal conduit extending within the elongate shaft between the heat generating component and the heat sink. The surgical instrument also comprises a movable contact structure thermally coupled between the elongate thermal conduit and the heat generating component. The elongate thermal conduit extends into the movable contact structure and the movable contact structure is movable relative to the heat generating component.

The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein are directed to an exchangeable working channel for a surgical instrument comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an instrument channel configured to receive the exchangeable working channel. The exchangeable working channel may comprise a shaft comprising a proximal region and a distal region; an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the shaft; and an outer surface configured to interface with the instrument channel of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may further comprise one or more locking members configured to releasably couple to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may increase a service life of the surgical instrument as a worn working channel can be exchanged with a new one.

A sterilization-assistance device is described herein. In some embodiments, the sterilization-assistance device comprises a dry booster and at least one measurement device attached to the dry booster. In various embodiments, the at least one measurement device may include a strain gauge. In various embodiments, the at least one measurement device may include a pressure sensor. In various embodiments, the at least one measurement device may include a pressure sensor and a strain gauge. The sterilization assistance device may also include a communication module. The communication module may be a wireless-communication module. The measurement device may provide indications that the dry booster has become detached from an endoscope during a sterilization procedure.

A device to support an article with an oblong and flexible configuration, to be subjected to a washing, sterilization and/or heat disinfection treatment, including a frame defining a support plane configured to receive and support one article to be treated. The support device includes a plurality of holding and positioning elements associated with the frame and that define a plurality of housing seatings disposed aligned along a positioning path and each configured to receive and hold a portion of the article in a predefined position.

A method for cleaning a medical instrument and for detecting residue thereon is provided in which method a non-sterile or conventionally sterilized medical instrument is exposed to pressure below 100 hPa, and, subsequently, exposed to at least one gas reactive to the residue.

A user assistance system for reusable medical devices and a method for monitoring processing. The user assistance system includes data glasses and a data memory in which a plurality of type datasets are saved that each include information relating to an identifying feature of a specific medical device type, and information relating to instructions for reprocessing these medical device types. The user assistance system records a user identifying feature and activates an associated user profile, to record a location identifying feature and to activate an associated location profile, and to display, as visual information, instructions assigned to the active user profile and the active location profile for reprocessing the medical device.

In an endoscope cleaning work support device, an operation reception unit received an input from a cleaner. A display control unit controls the display unit to display a procedure for manual cleaning of an endoscope on a display unit step by step. A measurement unit measures a first period of time from a start time of a procedure in a current step marked by reception of an input for displaying the procedure in the current step by the operation reception unit, to an end time of the procedure in the current step marked by reception of an input for displaying a procedure in a subsequent step by the operation reception unit. A comparison determination unit compares a reference period of time defined for each step for displaying the procedure with the first period of time. The display control unit displays information for alerting the cleaner when the first period of time is shorter than the reference period of time on the display unit.

A lubricant for a medical device to be subjected to gas low temperature sterilization includes an anti-friction material and an ion exchanger.