Method and system for sterilizing an electrosurgical instrument
An apparatus and method for use in sterilizing a surgical instrument is provided. The apparatus includes a surgical instrument that includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft includes one or more grooves defined therein that extends at least partially along the length thereof. The one or more grooves is configured to allow a sterilant passage therethrough. The apparatus also includes a jacket that encloses the shaft and allows the sterilant to travel along the one or more grooves.
1. A method for sterilizing a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
providing the surgical instrument with a shaft having at least one groove defined therein that extends at least partially along the length thereof, wherein the at least one groove defines a recess with a depth and a width and the least one groove includes at least one aperture extending to an inner surface of the shaft such that a sterilant passes therethrough and to specific target areas of the surgical instrument;
enclosing the shaft with a shrink wrap; and
introducing the sterilant into the at least one groove.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of grooves extending the entire length thereof disposed in a fixed spatial relation relative to each other.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of grooves are disposed in a generally orthogonal relation to each other.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the depth is about 0.002″ and the width is about 0.004″.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the shrink wrap is a heat shrink wrap.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilant includes ethylene oxide.
7. A method for sterilizing a laparoscopic surgical instrument the method comprising:
providing the surgical instrument with a housing having a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft including at least one groove defined therein that extends at least partially the length thereof, wherein the at least one groove defines a recess with a depth and a width and the least one groove includes at least one aperture extending to an inner surface of the shaft such that a sterilant passes therethrough and to specific target areas of the surgical instrument;
enclosing the shaft with a shrink wrap;
placing the surgical instrument into a sterilization apparatus;
introducing the sterilant into the sterilization apparatus for; and
subjecting the shrink wrap to a final shrinking stage, wherein after the final shrinking stage is completed the shrink wrap forms a tight seal against the shaft.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the sterilization apparatus is a sterilization chamber.