An endoscope includes: a connector to which a waterproof cap is detachably attachable; an RFID tag that is arranged in the connector; an RFID tag storing member that has an opening and is made of a conductive material, the RFID tag storing member being configured to store the RFID tag; an opening and closing member that is made of a conductive material shielding a radio wave, the opening and closing member being configured to open or close the opening; and a moving mechanism configured to move the opening and closing member to a position of releasing shielding of the radio wave in conjunction with attachment of the waterproof cap to the connector, and move the opening and closing member to a position of shielding the radio wave in conjunction with detachment of the waterproof cap from the connector.

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.

Presented is a method and apparatus for aiding medical procedures. An apparatus includes a housing defining a first opening, a second opening, and a interior, and a first cleaning element maintained within the interior relative to the first opening, the first cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning agent operable to remove extraneous debris from an object. The apparatus further includes a second cleaning element maintained with the interior relative to the second opening, the second cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning material and at least one white reference material, the at least one cleaning material operable to remove debris from an object. The apparatus also includes a conduit defining a passage from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing.

Based on image data obtained by imaging a state in which preliminary cleaning of an endoscope by a manual work, a cleaning status determination unit determines whether or not the preliminary cleaning has been performed on the endoscope. A notification control unit generates notification data regarding the determination result in the cleaning status determination unit and outputs the notification data from the output apparatus. When the cleaning status determination unit identifies a step that has not been properly performed, the notification control unit generates notification data including information regarding the step that has not been properly performed. The notification control unit may generate notification data including image data obtained by imaging the state of the step.

A method for conditioning a flexible medical endoscope (10) having internal channels (12), so as to maintain disinfection of said endoscope (10) following processing to a state of high level disinfection, comprises the steps of: (a) connecting the internal channels (12) of the endoscope (10) to connectors (31-34) enabling fluid communication with a reservoir (24) of disinfectant fluid (25); (b) charging the internal channels (12) with disinfectant fluid (25) from the reservoir (24); (c) disconnecting the internal channels (12) from the connectors (31-34); (d) sealing the endoscope (10) in a pouch (56) having a substantially air-tight seal (57) and a valve (55) enabling connection to suction means (53); and (e) connecting and activating the suction means (53) so as substantially to reduce pressure within the pouch (56), thereby partially evacuating the pouch (56).

An apparatus and method for reprocessing a medical device includes a decontamination basin, a first flush conduit, a second flush conduit, and a manifold. The first and second flush conduits have respective first and second coupling ports configured to fluidly connect to the medical device positioned within the decontamination basin. The manifold is fluidly connected to the first and second flush conduits and configured to distribute the fluid received therein accordingly. The apparatus also includes a first valve, a second valve, and a primary pump configured to discharge the fluid into the manifold at a predetermined supply flow rate. The first and second valve are positioned respectively in the first and second flush conduits for balancing the respective flow rates discharged therefrom at a first predetermined conduit flow rate and a second predetermined conduit flow rate.

A connecting device through which a gas can flow, for connecting a port of a surgical instrument to a reprocessing device for cleaning the surgical instrument, the connecting device including: a self-actuating valve with a swellable material body.

An endoscope cleaning station for cleaning an endoscope includes a sink having an inlet connected to a water supply for filling the sink and a drain for draining the sink, a fill solenoid for controlling a flow of water to the inlet of the sink, a detergent pump and detergent valve that cooperate to selectively dispense detergent into another flow of water thus creating a detergent solution, a manifold for injecting the detergent solution into the endoscope, a lumen solenoid for controlling the flow of the detergent solution to the manifold, a pressure regulator disposed downstream of the lumen solenoid and upstream of the manifold to reduce a pressure of the detergent solution delivered to the manifold, and a high-pressure port connected to a narrow channel of the endoscope, the high-pressure port receiving the detergent solution that bypasses the pressure regulator so that the detergent solution exiting the high-pressure port into the narrow channel has a higher pressure than the pressure of the detergent solution delivered to the manifold.

The invention relates to a decontamination device for medical instruments and a method for decontaminating medical instruments. The device includes a reception unit arranged for receiving a to be treated medical instrument. The device further includes a washing unit arranged for washing and/or drying the instrument. The device includes a disinfection unit arranged for disinfecting the instrument. The device includes a delivery unit arranged for presenting the disinfected instrument to be taken out of the decontamination device.

An apparatus and method for pre-cleaning or cleaning of objects such as medical, surgical and endoscope devices especially having lumens or channels are described of a sink for holding cleaning liquid. The PLC and software controls operators, doctors, patients and instruments through every step during the procedure which includes integrated leak test automatically, integrated channel rinsing, integrated camera, automatic brush control and endoscope layers with lift system.