An endoscope reprocessor for reprocessing an endoscope. An actuation mechanism of the reprocessor includes an actuator housing and a plunger removably attachable to an elevator guidewire lever of the endoscope. A receiving chamber receives pressurized fluid from a pump to impart a pressurized fluid biasing force that displaces the plunger relative to the actuator housing in a first direction and a return actuator that imparts a return biasing force that displaces the plunger relative to the actuator housing in a second direction. A controller controls the pump to provide the pressurized fluid at a first pressure at which the pressurized fluid biasing force is greater than the return biasing force to displace the plunger lever in the first direction and a second pressure at which the return biasing force is greater than the pressurized fluid biasing force to displace the plunger and the lever 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 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.

An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. At least a portion of the insertion shaft is flexible or articulated. Controls on the handle permit control of flex or articulation of the insertion shaft to permit direction of illumination and field of view of the imaging circuitry. Control force transfer elements permit a surgeon to direct a direction of the imaging circuitry by transfer of mechanical force directed by a surgeon to the bendable distal portion to cause the bendable portion to bend under the surgeon's control.

A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying at least one of pressure waves, shockwaves, and ultrasound waves in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

An apparatus and method for using an endoscope pre-cleaning and cleaning device. The device includes an elongated and flexible substrate and an abrasive element running along the length of the substrate. The abrasive element extends in an outward direction from the substrate and can have bristles in a continuous line along the substrate. The bristles can be various lengths, thicknesses, materials, and grouped in various densities along the substrate.

Endoscopic instruments, such as endoscopes, and devices and methods for cleaning endoscopic instruments are provided. A cleaning device for use with an endoscopic instrument comprises an elongate member configured for advancement through an internal lumen within the endoscopic instrument and a cleaning member removably coupled to a portion of the elongate member. The cleaning element comprises a variable pressure region shaped and configured to increase the hydrodynamic fluid friction force and fluid pressure force of a cleaner or detergent against the wall of the internal lumen of the endoscope to more effectively clean all internal surfaces of an endoscopic instrument, including crevasses, scratches or other irregularities, without further damaging these surfaces.

A method and device for the remote eradication of pathogens comprising a light source for emitting UV light in the pathogen killing wave length range, and a tangible transmission medium, which is at least initially resistant to degradation by the UV light. An optical interface between the UV light source and the tangible transmission medium is provided whereby the emitted UV light is collected from the light source and transmitted through the tangible transmission medium, whereby UV light emitted from the tangible transmission medium and directed against a pathogen in proximity thereto is at a power level sufficient to substantially effectively kill the pathogen within a reasonable period of time. The device is used for sanitization of biopsy channels of endoscopes and for treating of pathogens within humans and animals.

An endoscope sterilization device irradiates a distal end portion of an endoscope with light for sterilization. The endoscope sterilization device includes a housing that has a bottomed tubular shape including an opening portion, a peripheral surface portion, and a bottom surface portion and into which at least a portion of the distal end portion is insertable through the opening portion and a sterilization light source that is provided in the housing and that irradiates the distal end portion inserted into the housing with the light for sterilization.

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.