A cleaning device (100) enables cleaning of a lens (18) of an endoscope (10) during a surgical procedure to maintain a clear image without having to remove the endoscope (10) from the patient's body. The cleaning device (100) includes a suction ring (500) that selectively encloses the lens (18) of the endoscope (10) and retains the cleaning fluid during cleaning of the lens (18).

An endoscope includes an insertion portion; a first projecting portion; a second projecting portion; an illumination window disposed on an outer peripheral surface side of the first projecting portion, the illumination window being disposed about an axis along a longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion, the illumination window having a light emitting surface from which an illumination light for illuminating an inside of a subject is emitted in a direction which includes a sideward direction of the insertion portion; and a mask configured to restrict sideward emission of the illumination light from the illumination window, wherein the mask has a shape inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis direction so as to increase a quantity of the illumination light emitted toward the second projecting portion from a distal end side toward a proximal end side of a distal end portion of the insertion portion.

A method is provided for reprocessing an internal channel of a medical device with a reprocessing system having a valve, a fluid line fluidly coupled with the valve, and at least one sensor coupled with the fluid line. The method includes performing an actuation of the valve to direct liquid through the fluid line and into the internal channel, and detecting with the at least one sensor a predetermined condition within the fluid line while the liquid is being directed into the internal channel. In response to detecting the predetermined condition, a time duration measured from the actuation of the valve is recorded. The method further includes purging the liquid from the internal channel, and directing liquid through the fluid line and into the internal channel for the time duration.

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.

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.

A holding apparatus for holding a sterilizable medical product and for storing the medical product before and/or after the cleaning process, and a product monitoring system featuring such a holding apparatus. The holding apparatus includes a data processing device connectable to at least one sensor in a signal-conducting manner. The sensor is a temperature sensor for determining a temperature during the cleaning process and/or a pressure sensor for determining a static and/or dynamic pressure of a cleaning fluid during the cleaning process. The data processing device processes the sensor signals to form cleaning information and is connectable to a memory apparatus in a data-conducting manner, on which memory apparatus the cleaning information is storable. The cleaning information is retrievable or readable from the memory apparatus by an evaluation device such that a cleaning profile of the medical product can be determined based on the cleaning information.

A medical device reprocessor is operable to perform a method of cleaning an internal channel of a medical device. The method entails activating a pump assembly to deliver a detergent to the internal channel for a first predetermined duration, activating the pump assembly to deliver water to the internal channel to rinse out the detergent for a second predetermined duration, and activating the pump assembly to deliver pressurized air to the internal channel to purge out the water or detergent contained within the internal channel for a third predetermined duration. Subsequently, the method involves activating the pump assembly to deliver a predetermined volume of disinfectant to the internal channel, and activating the pump assembly to deliver pressurized air to purge out the disinfectant into a chamber. The method repeats filling the internal channel with detergent, water and disinfectant and the subsequent purging of the internal channel with pressurized air.

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.

Described herein is a cleaning apparatus (10) for a medical device (12) having one or more internal channels. Further described is a method for cleaning the medical device using the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus includes at least two cleaning pumps (20) adapted to pump a viscoelastic liquid (22), each cleaning pump having individual flow control. Each cleaning pump is also fluidly connectable to one or more of the internal channels to allow the viscoelastic liquid to be pumped therethrough thereby removing contaminants.

A reprocessing system for balloon endoscopes including an endoscope reprocessing system including cleaning functionality and disinfection functionality, and a leak testing device including inflation and deflation functionality, the inflation and deflation functionality being operative to selectably inflate and deflate a balloon of a balloon endoscope.