IP Library Granted Patent US 12,208,175
Granted Patent B2
US 12,208,175 · App. 17/824,258 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Disposable cleaning units for a reusable medical device

Inventors: Matthew A. Rootes (Crystal, MN); Nathan J. Knutson (Long Lake, MN)
Assignee: Covidien LP
A61L2/26A61L2/18A61L2/24B08B9/027B08B9/032B08B9/04A61L2202/122A61L2202/15A61L2202/17A61L2202/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,208,175
App. No.
17/824,258
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disposable cleaning unit is described herein including an inner receptacle and an outer receptacle.

Claims (37)

1. A disposable cleaning unit for a reusable medical device comprising:

an inner receptacle including:

a first cavity configured to receive a reusable medical device therein, the reusable medical device including a working channel defined therethrough, the working channel extending between a first opening and a second opening on the reusable medical device;

a first inner tubular connector defining a first inner channel extending between a first receptacle port and a first device port; and

a second inner tubular connector defining a second inner channel extending between a second receptacle port and a second device port, the first and second device ports configured to connect to the first and second openings, respectively, of the reusable medical device; and

an outer receptacle including:

a first chamber configured to receive the inner receptacle therein,

a first reservoir configured to store a cleaning fluid,

a second reservoir configured to store a first cleaning device portion of a cleaning device,

a second chamber including at least a portion of an actuator connected to a second cleaning device portion of the cleaning device,

a first outer tubular connector defining a first outer channel and extending between a first base end attached to the second reservoir and a first outer port, the first outer port configured to fluidly communicate with the first receptacle port of the first inner tubular connector when attached thereto, and

a second outer tubular connector defining a second outer channel and extending between a second base end attached to the second chamber and a second outer port, the second outer port configured to fluidly communicate with the second receptacle port of the second inner tubular connector when attached thereto.

2. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle is a thermoform.

3. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 2 , wherein the inner receptacle further comprises one or more sidewalls extending from a base wall defining the first cavity, and optionally including a cover opposite the base wall.

4. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the first tubular connector is defined within a first wall portion of the at least one sidewall and at least a portion of the second tubular connector is defined within a second wall portion of the at least one sidewall.

5. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the outer receptacle is a sealable pouch.

6. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the cleaning device extends between a reservoir end and a first free end, the reservoir end stored within the second reservoir and the first free end extending through the first outer port of the first outer tubular connector.

7. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the cleaning device extends between a chamber end and a second free end, the chamber end secured to the actuator in the second chamber and the second free end extending through the second outer port of the second outer tubular connector.

8. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 7 , wherein the first end of the first portion of the cleaning device and the second free end of the second portion of the cleaning device are configured to lock to each other to form a single cleaning device extending from the first chamber of the outer receptacle, through the inner receptacle and the reusable medical device, to the second chamber of the outer receptacle.

9. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning fluid is selected from antiseptic liquids, antimicrobial liquids, antiviral liquids, sterile water, sterile saline, liquid detergents, and combination thereof.

10. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of a pipe cleaner, a brush, and combinations thereof.

11. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one outer sidewall extending from an outer base wall and a supplemental base wall spaced from the outer base wall define the first and second chambers of the outer receptacle.

12. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the second reservoir is positioned beneath the first reservoir and separated by a frangible member configured to maintain separation of the cleaning fluid from the cleaning device until broken.

13. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 1 , wherein the reusable medical device is an endoscope.

14. The disposable cleaning unit of claim 13 , wherein the endoscope is a bronchoscope.

15. A disposable cleaning unit for a reusable bronchoscope comprising:

a thermoform inner receptacle including:

a first cavity configured to receive a reusable bronchoscope therein, the reusable bronchoscope including a working channel defined therethrough, the working channel extending between a first opening and a second opening on the reusable bronchoscope;

a first inner tubular connector defining a first inner channel extending between a first receptacle port and a first device port; and

a second inner tubular connector defining a second inner channel extending between a second receptacle port and a second device port, the first and second device ports configured to connect to the first and second openings, respectively, of the reusable bronchoscope; and

an outer pouch including:

a first chamber configured to receive the thermoform inner receptacle therein,

a first reservoir configured to store a cleaning fluid,

a second reservoir configured to store at least a first portion of a cleaning device,

a second chamber including at least a portion of an actuator connected to a second portion of the cleaning device,

a first outer tubular connector defining a first outer channel and extending between a first base end attached to the second reservoir and a first outer port, the first outer port configured to fluidly communicate with the first receptacle port of the first inner tubular connector when attached thereto,

a second outer tubular connector defining a second outer channel and extending between a second base end attached to the second chamber and a second outer port, the second outer port configured to fluidly communicate with the second receptacle port of the second inner tubular connector when attached thereto.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2022
From: ROOTES, MATTHEW A.; KNUTSON, NATHAN J.
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 060309/0796 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63193026 · May 25, 2021
Related Publication 20220378965A1 · Dec 1, 2022
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