A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying pressure waves with direct contact of the pressure wave applicator to the reusable apparatus in an open bath in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

A medical valve may comprise a valve stem and an operation portion. The operation portion may include a stationary portion, a movable portion which is movable relative to the stationary portion and fixed relative to the valve stem, a seal disposed between the stationary portion and the movable portion, and a biasing member. Movement of the movable portion in a first direction may cause deformation of the biasing member, such that a restorative force of the biasing member urges movement of the movable portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. A frictional force between the seal and one of the stationary portion and the movable portion resists the movement of the movable portion in the second direction.

A valve may have a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The valve may include a valve stem having a lumen extending from a first opening at a proximal portion of the valve stem to a second opening at a distal end of the valve stem. A plurality of seals may be positioned relative to the valve stem. The valve stem and seals may be configured so that a fluid entering the inlet is prevented from flowing to the outlet in a first position of the valve stem and relative to the inlet and the outlet. The valve stem and the seals may be configured so that a fluid entering the inlet flows to the outlet in a second position of the valve stem relative to the inlet and the outlet, the second position being more distal than the first position relative to the inlet and the outlet.

An ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic vibrator; a distal end portion body disposed continuously with a proximal end side of the ultrasonic transducer; an erecting base housing portion that is disposed in the distal end portion body and has an opening which opens toward one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the distal end portion body; a treatment tool lead-out port that communicates with the inside of the erecting base housing portion; an erecting base that is disposed in the inside of the erecting base housing portion and changes a lead out direction of a treatment tool led out from the treatment tool lead-out port; and a cleaning communication hole that is formed in a wall surface on a side opposite to a side where the opening of the erecting base housing portion is disposed and communicates with an outside.

A minimally invasive device for cleaning surgical instruments includes a rod having first and second ends. The rod includes a primary section with a primary outer diameter, and an adjacent, reduced section having a reduced outer diameter, the reduced outer diameter being smaller than the primary outer diameter. A shoulder is defined where the primary section and the reduced section abut one another. A sponge assembly is fitted about the first end of the rod distally from the shoulder. A sheath extends over at least a portion of the sponge assembly and at least a portion of the reduced section and terminates at the shoulder, the sheath having an installed outer diameter substantially the same as the primary outer diameter.

A device and method for testing for the presence of liquid in a cannula of a medical instrument is described. The device includes a flexible guide member having a first end, a second end and a length extending from the first end to the second end, an elongated member arranged within the flexible guide member, and an absorbent material attached to one of the elongated member. The flexible guide member is inserted into the cannula, the flexible guide member is manipulated to cause the absorbent material to move through the cannula. The absorbent material is analyzed for the presence of liquid.

There are provided an endoscopic image processing device, an endoscopic image processing method, and an endoscope system that appropriately notify region-of-interest information about a region of interest included in an endoscopic image according to an endoscope operator's action.

An endoscope operator's action on a portion to be observed of an endoscopic image is recognized from endoscopic images, and first emphasis display where region-of-interest information is displayed in the endoscopic image at a first emphasis level and second emphasis display where the region-of-interest information is displayed at a second emphasis level relatively lower than the first emphasis level are switched according to a recognition result.

A cleaning device, especially an instrument cleaning device, having a thin, flexible threadlike object with a first straight end and a second looped end and a swab member attached to the looped end.

The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. The devices of systems can also include a fluid remover in the form of a sorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof that is configured to remove fluid from a working channel of the device or system and/or from a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.

The present invention describes a cleaning device used for cleaning an implant or for the debridement of an implant surface 1 comprising two combined main parts 2, 3, the first main part 2 being a handle shaft 2 which is stiff, plastic deformable or elastic deformable, the second main part 3 being at least one cleaning element 4 comprising a base part 5 and several bristles 6, bristle loops 7 or a cam 8 of spikes 9, wherein the base part 5 is joined together with the handle shaft 2 so as to form a cleaning device 1 with a handle.