Endoscope decontamination rack
A decontamination rack is particularly suitable for decontaminating medical devices, such as endoscopes, for being designed to minimize shadowed surface area. The decontamination rack may be provided with internal channels through which a decontamination fluid may be supplied to the locations where a device contacts decontamination rack. These locations may comprise receiving areas having ejection ports with flexible nozzles disposed therein. The device may be disposed atop the nozzles such that the decontamination fluid exits the nozzles to impinge directly on those portions of the device that rest upon the nozzles. The use of the decontamination rack promotes improved or complete coverage of exposed external surfaces of the device with the decontamination fluid because decontamination fluid may be ejected into the receiving area to lift the device at the shadowed surface.
1 . A decontamination rack, comprising:
a central portion comprising a fluid inlet;
an extension portion, extending from the central portion, including a first receiving area and a second receiving area, the first and second receiving areas having different numbers of fluid ejection ports as well as different shapes to receive different parts of a device to be decontaminated; and
a fluid pathway fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid ejection ports at the first and second receiving areas.
2 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , in which a first number of fluid ejection ports are located in a lowermost area of the first receiving area, or at least one ejection port is located in a lowermost area of the second receiving area.
3 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , in which second receiving area comprises a curved portion to receive a tubular section of the device to be decontaminated.
4 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fluid nozzles located in each of the fluid ejection ports.
5 . The decontamination rack of claim 4 , in which a portion of each fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles extends vertically above a surface of the first or second receiving area.
6 . The decontamination rack of claim 4 , in which the plurality of fluid nozzles are configured to expel decontamination fluid with sufficient force to lift at least a portion of the device from the first or second receiving area.
7 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of extension portions, extending radially from the central portion.
8 . The decontamination rack of claim 7 , in which the plurality of extension portions are arranged symmetrically around the central portion.
9 . The decontamination rack of claim 8 , in which the fluid pathway comprises a plurality of pathway sections such that each of the plurality of pathway sections extends into one of the plurality of extension portions.
10 . The decontamination rack of claim 9 , in which the plurality of extension portions comprises a plurality of receiving areas arranged to facilitate coiling of tubular sections of the device.
11 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , in which the first and second receiving areas are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the extension portion.
12 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , in which the first and second receiving areas on the extension portion have a different distance from the central portion.
13 . The decontamination rack of claim 1 , in which the device is an endoscope, and the first receiving area has a shape suitable for supporting a control portion of the endoscope.
14 . The decontamination rack of claim 4 , in which a first fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles includes a first aperture having a first cross-sectional area and a second fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles includes a second aperture having a second cross-sectional area that is different than the first cross-sectional area.
15 . A decontamination system, comprising:
a tray; and
the decontamination rack of claim 1 disposed in the tray,
in which the fluid inlet is connected to a source of decontamination fluid.
16 . The decontamination system of claim 15 , in which the decontamination rack is configured to use the first receiving area to receive a control portion of an endoscope and use the second receiving area to receive a tubular portion of the endoscope.
17 . A method of decontaminating an instrument, comprising:
receiving a non-tubular section of the instrument at a first receiving area of a decontamination rack;
receiving a tubular section of the instrument at a second receiving area of the decontamination rack; and
ejecting decontamination fluid through respective fluid ejection ports of the first or second receiving areas such that the decontamination fluid contacts the instrument.
18 . The method of claim 17 , in which the ejecting comprises ejecting the decontamination fluid with sufficient pressure to lift at least a part of the instrument away from the first or second receiving area.