Patent ID: 9669436
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F,B08B,Y10T

Claim:
1. An apparatus for cleaning a surgical instrument, said instrument having a body with a proximal end and a distal end, an internal passageway having an outlet at said instrument body distal end, and a tip at said body distal end for contacting a patient, said apparatus comprising: a hollow chamber extending between proximal and distal ends, said chamber proximal end having a flushing liquid inlet port; and a tip protector attachable to said chamber distal end, said tip protector having at least a first seal adapted to provide a liquid-tight fit around said instrument distal end with said instrument substantially within said chamber, wherein with the tip protector assembled with the hollow chamber said tip of said instrument extends through a portion of said tip protector; whereby a flushing liquid injected into said inlet port enters said chamber adjacent said instrument proximal end, said flushing liquid passes through said chamber and said instrument internal passageway, and said flushing liquid exits said instrument body distal end through said outlet of said instrument internal passageway whereby a contaminant in said instrument is flushed in a direction away from said instrument proximal end and out of said instrument internal passageway outlet, wherein said tip protector has at least one observation window therein, wherein said flushing liquid exiting said instrument tip is visible through said observation window.