Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and assembly each adapted for enabling an imaging element cleaning apparatus to be placed through an abdominal wall of the patient without the use of a trocar or cannula. By eliminating the need for and use of a cannular or trocar, such embodiments advantageously overcome dimensional compatibility issues exhibited between the inside diameter of the central passage of commercially-available trocars and cannulas and the outside diameter of the sheath of an imaging element cleaning apparatus comprising such a sheath. Such dimensional compatibility issues are overcome by enabling an imaging element cleaning apparatus of the present disclosures to be placed through the abdominal wall of a patient without the use of a trocar or cannula. As a result, the sheath of the aforementioned imaging element cleaning apparatus can be in direct contact with the abdominal wall tissue.

An improved apparatus for cleaning a scope during a surgical procedure using a hinged tip. A scope cleaning apparatus can include a tube configured to be slidably received by a cannula, a hinged tip connected to the tube, and a lens-cleaning portion. The tube can include a proximal portion and a distal portion. Furthermore, the tube, across the proximal portion and the distal portion together can include an outer surface, an inner surface, and a lumen. The inner surface can be configured to slidably receive a viewing scope. The lumen can be defined by the inner surface. The lens-cleaning portion can be coupled to the hinged tip and can be configured to engage at least a portion of the viewing scope.

A device and methodology for cleaning optical instruments. The device includes a sheath, a wiper mechanism, and an actuator. The sheath attaches to the optical instrument such that the wiper mechanism is in proximity to the lens of the optical instrument. The wiper mechanism includes an blade and an compliant deployment system having first and second curved cross members attached to the blade and sheath such that they bias the blade in a first state where the blade in a deployed position but can deform allowing the blade to transition to a second state in a stored position. The actuator maintains tension on the blade to keep the blade in a second state and when the actuator releases tension on the blade spring energy stored by the deformation of the curved cross members is released transitioning the blade to the first deployed position providing a wipe of the wiper mechanism.

A washing appliance for efficient and through cleaning of medical devices and methods of using the appliance are disclosed. The appliance can clean exteriors of medical devices, and lumens of devices comprising a lumen such as cathlab devices.

A brush includes a wire core, a round tip formed on a distal end of the wire core, the round tip being unitary with the wire core section and being formed by melting or welding a portion of the wire core at the distal end, and a molded tip attached to the wire core at the distal end via a ball-and-socket connection.

Embodiments of the disclosures made herein are directed to facilitating adjustability of operative apparatuses. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosures made herein are directed to mitigating adverse implications of having to adjust a control portion of an operative apparatus to a user-defined setting that is not otherwise a predefined setting position of the control portion. Such adverse implications may arise, for example, due to the time required for performing such adjustment with a required degree of precision. Thereby, such embodiments serve to mitigate, if not eliminate, that manner in which adjusting the control portion of the operative apparatus to the user-defined setting during a procedure can undesirably and/or unacceptably limit efficiency and/or effectiveness of the procedure.

Described are a system, method, and computer program product for tracking endoscopes in a forced-air drying cabinet including a compressor, a support arrangement, and an inner area accessible by a door. The method includes receiving a signal from a signal emitting member attached to or associated with an endoscope and determining an identifier of the endoscope. The method includes determining a drying protocol for the endoscope based on the identifier and identifying the support arrangement, associated with an airflow output, to support the endoscope. The method includes determining a connection status indicative of whether the endoscope has been connected to the airflow output. The method includes, in response to the connection status indicating the endoscope has been connected to the airflow output, initiating a drying process according to the drying protocol for the endoscope by causing the compressor to create an airflow from the airflow output through the endoscope.

A method and device for high-pressure, high-temperature steam sterilization of endoscopes includes pressure resistant fittings to attach a steam generator to the ports of an endoscope. The method and device allows for high-pressure, high-temperature steam to circulate throughout the endoscope, exposing various surfaces to steam for sterilization. The method and device also allows for high-pressure, high-temperature steam to circulate selectively through the channels of the endoscope, selectively sterilizing the channels and allowing for use of this method with current high-level disinfection methods. The method and device also allows for movement of the scope elevator channel during the sterilization process, allowing for steam to reach the crevices around the elevator and other moving parts of an endoscope.

In accordance with one embodiment, an automated probe system includes a probe configured to be reversibly inserted into a live body part, a robotic arm attached to the probe and configured to manipulate the probe, a first sensor configured to track movement of the probe during an insertion and a reinsertion of the probe in the live body part, a second sensor configured to track movement of the live body part, and a controller configured to calculate an insertion path of the probe in the live body part based on the tracked movement of the probe during the insertion, and calculate a reinsertion path of the probe based on the calculated insertion path while compensating for the tracked movement of the live body part, and send control commands to the robotic arm to reinsert the probe in the live body part according to the calculated reinsertion path.

An automated medical instrument cleaning system is particularly adapted to provide a complete application of wet/dry detergent foam to medical instruments in a point of use cleaning operation for instrument reprocessing, in a consistent and fully adjustable manner. The system comprises a microprocessor, a user interface, and an adjustable wand for the application of foam that covers surface and internal lumens of the instruments to be cleaned, using wand applicators, to quickly and easily coat all external and internal instrument surfaces with detergent foam before the bio burden has a chance to harden.