Method for determining the existence of obstructions in the passageways of a medical instrument
A method for the reprocessing of a device having internal passageways by applying a fluid at a plurality of pressures to the internal passageways of the device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment includes applying a fluid having a single input pressure to a pressure differentiation device having first and second pressure control fittings for providing first and second differing pressure outputs in accordance with the single input pressure and transmitting the fluid at the first and second differing pressures from the pressure differentiation device to the internal passageways. The internal passageways are reprocessed with the transmitted fluid at the first and second differing pressures, whereby the internal passageways are reprocessed at differing pressures in accordance with the single input pressure.
1. A method for the reprocessing of a device having a plurality of internal passageways by applying a plurality of fluid channel flows to said internal passageways of said device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a pressurized fluid flow to an input of a manifold having a plurality of manifold outputs for forming a plurality of manifold output channel flows;
(b) transmitting each of the manifold output channel flows of said plurality of manifold output channel flows through a respective flowmeter for measuring an individual flow rate for each of said manifold output channel flows to provide measured output channel flows;
(c) transmitting said measured output channel flows to said plurality of internal passageways;
(d) reprocessing said internal passageways using said measured output channel flows; and
(e) determining an obstruction in an internal passageway of said plurality of internal passageways in accordance with a measured individual flow rate.
2. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 1 , further comprising the step of aborting said reprocessing of said device in accordance with the determining of step (e).
3. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of determining and indicating which internal passageway of said plurality of internal passageways is obstructed in accordance with said measured individual flow rate.
4. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a medical instrument.
5. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 4 , further comprising the further step of measuring said output channel flows using a non-intrusive flow measuring device.
6. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 5 , wherein said non-intrusive flow measuring device is an in-line flow through sensor.
7. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 6 , wherein said non-intrusive device is an ultrasonic measuring device.
8. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 6 , further comprising the step of measuring an output channel flow by means of a pressure measuring device.
9. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 4 , wherein step (e) comprises the further step of determining said obstruction in accordance with a predetermined minimum flow rate.
10. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of manifold output channel flows includes first and second output channel flows having corresponding first and second differing pressures for reprocessing said internal passageways at said first and second differing pressures.
11. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of transmitting said first and second output channel flows through respective first and second flowmeters for detecting an obstruction in accordance with first and second differing minimum flow rates.
12. The method for the reprocessing of a device of claim 10 , further comprising the step of applying a single pump pressure to a pressure differentiation device to provide said differing pressures.