Systems and methods for cleaning an endoscopic instrument
A system comprises a nozzle and a pressure augmenting mechanism connected to the nozzle. The pressure augmenting mechanism is configured to provide a pressurized fluid at a pressure that is higher than a standard operating room pressure. The system further comprises a valve between the pressure augmenting mechanism and the nozzle, the valve configured to control provision of the pressurized fluid from the pressure augmenting mechanism. The system further comprises a valve control mechanism and a control system configured to instruct the valve control mechanism to open the valve to release a flow of the pressurized fluid from the pressure augmenting mechanism through the nozzle and over a surface of a medical instrument. An amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid is determined based on a position of the medical instrument in a patient anatomy.
1. A system comprising:
a nozzle;
a pressure augmenting mechanism connected to the nozzle, wherein the pressure augmenting mechanism is configured to provide a pressurized fluid at a pressure that is higher than a standard operating room pressure;
a valve between the pressure augmenting mechanism and the nozzle, the valve configured to control provision of the pressurized fluid from the pressure augmenting mechanism;
a valve control mechanism; and
a control system configured to instruct the valve control mechanism to open the valve to release a flow of the pressurized fluid from the pressure augmenting mechanism through the nozzle and over a surface of a medical instrument, wherein an amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid is determined based on a position of the medical instrument in a patient anatomy.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve includes a high-speed valve.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the high-speed valve comprises a solenoid valve or a pneumatic valve.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve control mechanism includes a trigger comprising at least one of a foot pedal, a finger button, a mouse button, or a touchscreen button.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow of the pressurized fluid is configured to be released for a predetermined duration within a range of about 0.5 to 50 milliseconds.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure augmenting mechanism is configured to provide the pressurized fluid at a pressure higher than 50 psi.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a high speed valve, and wherein the system further comprises a shunt valve configured to redirect an excess fluid from the high speed valve.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical instrument comprises an imaging instrument.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to instruct the valve control mechanism to open the valve to release the flow of the pressurized fluid for a predetermined duration, wherein the predetermined duration is set so that the amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid is below a threshold amount.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the control system determines the threshold amount based on the position of the medical instrument in the patient anatomy.
11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a shape sensor, wherein the control system is further configured to determine the position of the medical instrument in the patient anatomy based on shape data received from the shape sensor.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid includes a first amount when the medical instrument is in a first position in the patient anatomy and a second amount when the medical instrument is in a second position in the patient anatomy.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein when the medical instrument is in the first position, the medical instrument is in a first anatomical passageway of the patient anatomy, wherein when the medical instrument is in the second position, the medical instrument is in a second anatomical passageway of the patient anatomy, and wherein the first anatomical passageway is larger than the second anatomical passageway.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid is greater than the second amount of the flow of the pressurized fluid.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to instruct the valve control mechanism to open the valve to release the flow of the pressurized fluid for a predetermined duration.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined duration of the flow of the pressurized fluid is based on the position of the medical instrument in the patient anatomy.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the valve control mechanism includes a timer configured to control the flow of the pressurized fluid for the predetermined duration.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve control mechanism includes a trigger and a timer.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the trigger comprises at least one of a foot pedal, a finger button, a mouse button, or a touchscreen button, and wherein the timer is configured to control the flow of the pressurized fluid for a predetermined duration.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure augmenting mechanism comprises a compressor configured to pressurize a fluid to generate the pressurized fluid.