Granted Patent B2

US 12,690,756 · App. 17/882,871 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Inventor: Daniel G. Maurice (Monument Beach, MA)

Assignee: ERBE-USA, Inc.

A61B1/015A61B1/00119A61B1/00128A61B1/00142A61B1/126A61B1/127A61B1/31

Abstract

Claims (32)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a cap defining a first port, a second port, and a third port; the cap configured to be coupled to a container defining an interior volume;

a first tube coupled to the first port;

a second tube coupled to the second port such that a portion of the second tube is disposed within the second port, a first end of the second tube is disposed on a first side of the cap, and a second end of the second tube is disposed on a second side of the cap;

a third tube coupled to the third port such that a portion of the third tube is disposed within the third port, a first end of the third tube is disposed on the first side of the cap, and a second end of the third tube is disposed on the second side of the cap; and

a check valve coupled to the second tube and, when the first end of the second tube is coupled to an endoscope, configured to prevent a flow from the endoscope to the interior volume of the container.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first port includes a fitting configured to be coupled to the first tube.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is disposed coaxially with the second tube.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first tube forms an annular space around a portion of the second tube.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the check valve is a first check valve and the apparatus further comprises:

a second check valve to selectively prevent a flow from the second end of the second tube and out of the first end of the second tube.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the check valve is a first check valve and the apparatus further comprising a second check valve configured to prevent a flow of liquid through the first port and into the first tube.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cap is ventless.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cap is configured to be coupled to the container such that the interior volume of the container is sealed from atmospheric air.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the first tube is configured to be coupled to a gas source and a second end of the first tube is configured to be coupled to the first port.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the gas source is a CO2 gas source.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the second tube and the first end of the third tube are configured to be coupled to the endoscope such that the endoscope is in fluidic communication with the second tube and the third tube.

12 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first connector configured to be sealingly mated to a second connector defining a passageway and coupled to a container defining an inner volume, the first connector defining a first port, a second port, and a third port;

a first tube coupled to the first port;

a second tube coupled to the second port such that a portion of the second tube is disposed within the second port, a first end of the second tube is disposed on a first side of the first connector, and a second end of the second tube is disposed on a second side of the first connector;

a third tube coupled to the third port such that a portion of the third tube is disposed within the third port, a first end of the third tube is disposed on the first side of the first connector, and a second end of the third tube is disposed on the second side of the first connector; and

a check valve coupled to the second tube and, when the first end of the second tube is coupled to an endoscope, configured to prevent a flow from the endoscope to the inner volume of the container.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first port includes a fitting configured to be coupled to the first tube.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first tube is disposed coaxially with the second tube.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first tube forms an annular space around a portion of the second tube.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the check valve is a first check valve and the apparatus further comprises:

a second check valve to selectively prevent a flow from the second end of the second tube and out of the first end of the second tube.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the check valve is a first check valve and the apparatus further comprising a second check valve configured to prevent a flow of liquid through the first port and into the first tube.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a first end of the first tube is configured to be coupled to a gas source and a second end of the first tube is configured to be coupled to the first port.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the gas source is a CO2 gas source.

20 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the second tube and the first end of the third tube are configured to be coupled to the endoscope such that the endoscope is in fluidic communication with the second tube and the third tube.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (231)