EP0744153A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Endoscope pressure equalization system and method
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A pressure equalization device connects to a port (16) on an endoscope (10) and equalizes the pressure within the endoscope (10) to an environment thereabout. An outlet check valve (58) allows flow out of the port and blocks flow into the port. A filter (74) may be provided for preventing known chemical agents from entering the port. If the agent is hydrogen peroxide, the filter (74) preferably comprises a catalyst, such as copper wool, for decomposing the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An inlet check valve (56) may also be provided to communicate with the endoscope port (16) and allow flow into the port (16) in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie A. Feldman
- 👤 Henry Hui
- 👤 Reinhard Kowatsch
- 👤 Tsutomu Hayashida
- 👤 Michael Hahs
- 👤 Charles Howlett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/012; A61B1/015; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00057; A61B1/12; A61B1/121; A61B1/125; F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/18; F16K17/19; F16K17/196; F16K17/20; F16K17/22; F16K17/24; F16K17/28; F16K17/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A pressure equalization device for equalizing the pressure within an endoscope having a port to an internal space thereof from an environment thereabout, the device comprising: connection means for connecting the device to the endoscope port; an outlet check valve in communication with the endoscope port when the connection means is connected to the endoscope port, the outlet check valve being oriented to allow flow out of the port and inhibit flow into the port, whereby when the endoscope is subjected to a reduced pressure in the environment, gas within the endoscope interior space may escape to the environment through the outlet check valve to relieve pressure within the interior space, and whereby, after the pressure in the interior space is equalized with the pressure in the environment, the outlet check valve inhibits reverse flow therethrough of gas from the environment into the interior space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 1 and further comprising an outlet flow path from the port through the outlet check valve and a filter means in the outlet flow path for preventing a chemical agent from entering the port in an active form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the filter means comprises a catalyst for decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the filter means comprises copper, platinum, silver, iron or an alloy thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the filter means comprises copper wool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 1 and further comprising an inlet check valve means in communication with the endoscope port when the connection means is connected thereto; wherein the inlet check valve means allows flow therethrough toward the port only in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a first predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 6 and further comprising an inlet flow path through the inlet check valve into the port and a filter means in the inlet flow path for preventing a chemical agent from entering the port in an active form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the filter means comprises a catalyst for decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein the filter means comprises copper wool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein the predetermined value is in the range of 1.5 to 5 pounds per square inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein the outlet check valve further comprises a positive closure means whereby the outlet check valve is closed to all flow except in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a second predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the outlet check valve further comprises a positive closure means whereby the outlet check valve is closed to all flow except in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a second predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the second predetermined value is in the range of 1.5 to 5 pounds per square inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1 and further comprising opening means associated with said connection means for opening a valve member in the port when the connection means is connected thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 14 and further comprising a sterilization container for containing the endoscope during a sterilization procedure, the sterilization container being sealable, gas transmissive and microbe impervious, the device being connected to the sterilization container whereby its presence may remind a user to employ the device during a sterilization procedure.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for equalizing the pressure within an interior space of an endoscope with a pressure in an environment about the endoscope, the method comprising the steps of: when the pressure in the interior space exceeds the pressure in the environment by more than a predetermined first value, opening a port between the interior space and the environment to equalize the pressure therebetween; when the pressure within the interior space is equalized with the pressure in the environment, blocking the port to inhibit flow of gas or other matter from the environment into the interior space through the port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 16 and further comprising the step of: when the gas in the environment contains a known agent, preventing the known agent from entering the port in an active form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein when the agent comprises hydrogen peroxide, decomposing the hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst which decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according claim 18 wherein the step of decomposing the agent comprises passing the agent over a filter comprising copper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the first value is in the range of 0 to 5 pounds per square inch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the first value is in the range of 1.5 to 5 pounds per square inch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 16 and further comprising the step of, when the pressure in the environment exceeds the pressure in the interior space by a predetermined second value, opening the port to allow gas within the environment to flow into the interior space.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein the first and second values are equal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein the second value exceeds the first value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 22 and further comprising the steps of: placing the endoscope into a sterilization chamber; lowering the pressure within the sterilization chamber below atmospheric pressure and introducing an antimicrobial gas into the sterilization chamber; scavenging the antimicrobial gas from the sterilization chamber; and raising the pressure within the sterilization chamber back to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 25 and further comprising the step of placing the endoscope within a sealed, gas transmissive, microbe impervious container prior to the step of introducing the antimicrobial gas into the sterilization chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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