Systems for cleaning instruments

Hand-held pumps are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hand-held pump is configured to produce a jet containing water, a sanitizing solution, or a combination thereof for the purpose of cleaning an object such as a medical device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to systems configured for cleaning foreign materials from instruments, especially instruments having small crevices, dimples, pores, or other, similar features such as medical or dental equipment.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of instruments exist for use by health care professionals, including those for surgery, wound care and treatment, exploratory procedures, dentistry, and other applications. Medical instruments are sometimes designed and constructed for a specific purpose, e.g., cutting and dissecting, clamping, grasping and holding, suctioning, retracting, dilating, etc. Maintaining proper sterility of non-disposable instruments can be paramount in hospital and other clinical care settings where medical instruments are sometimes re-used after proper cleaning and sterilization techniques. Disease can be spread between patients if appropriate measures are not taken to thoroughly clean and disinfect instruments such as saws, scissors, bone chisels, endoscopes, and the like before they are reused on another patient.

Medical equipment can be prepared for re-use following a three step process including cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. Cleaning is a macro-scale process that includes removing visible debris, blood, tissue, bone, and other, similar materials from the instrument. Disinfection commonly includes the application of chemicals or subjecting the instrument to physical processes capable of destroying pathogens. Sterilization commonly refers to processes that destroy all viable forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores by either physical or chemical processes and includes, for example, irradiation and autoclave methods.

Medical instruments can be very expensive to hospitals and clinics, therefore, they are often reused if it the risk of infection or disease transmission from one patient to another can be minimized. Thus, proper cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization can not only reduce risk to the patient, but provide cost savings to hospitals and clinics.

SUMMARY

In general, devices for cleaning medical instruments are described. In one embodiment, such a device is a hand-held wand capable of producing strong, focused jets of cleaning solution or pure water. In this embodiment, the focused jet of water is emitted at a head portion of the wand and capable of driving bone, tissue, blood, and other bodily substances from small crevices and other areas of a medical instrument. In this embodiment, the head member also includes a shield configured to reduce the likelihood of splash-back when the operator is using the device.

In one exemplary aspect, a hand-held pump for cleaning foreign matter from an object is disclosed. The pump includes a pump housing that includes an internal pump capable of pumping water and soap solution from one or more supply reservoirs to a nozzle body. The nozzle body is capable of producing a jet for dislodging the foreign matter from the object, and the nozzle body is interchangeable with other, different nozzle bodies that produce jets having unique jet characteristics. The pump housing or the nozzle body can be configured to receive a reversibly-attachable splash guard to prevent the foreign matter from splashing on a user of the hand-held pump.

In one exemplary aspect, a hand-held, medical device cleaning system is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a pump housing itself including an internal pump capable of pumping a cleansing solution from a first inlet lumen to a nozzle body. The nozzle body is configured to produce a jet of the cleansing solution which is capable of removing foreign contaminants from the medical device.

In one embodiment, the medical device is an instrument used in medical or dental surgery.

In one embodiment, the nozzle body is configured to produce a jet of the cleansing solution having a jet cross-diameter from about 0.25 mm to about 5.0 mm. In various embodiments, the instrument is a scalpel, saw, drill bit, clamp, forceps, tweezers, retractor, needle driver, hemostat, scissors, catheter, mirror, probe, bur, excavator, burnisher, scaler, prosthodontic, elevator, or chisel.

In one embodiment, the pump housing is configured to reversibly couple with one of a plurality of nozzle bodies each capable of producing jets having unique jet characteristics. In a related embodiment, the pump housing includes a shoulder body on a distal end portion having a threaded bore configured to threadingly engage a correspondingly threaded proximal end portion of the nozzle body. In one embodiment, the pump housing includes a threaded shoulder body configured to threadingly engage a cap body of a nozzle turret. In one embodiment, the nozzle turret includes the cap body, and a plurality of unique nozzle bodies extending substantially perpendicularly from the cap body. The nozzle turret is configured to allow the cleansing solution to flow through a selected one of the plurality of nozzle bodies to produce the jet. In one embodiment, the plurality of nozzle bodies includes a first nozzle body configured to produce a straight stream; a second nozzle body configured to produce a fan-stream; and a third nozzle body configured to produce a pulsating straight stream. In one embodiment, the nozzle body includes a progressively narrowing interior lumen extending from a proximal portion of the nozzle body to a distal portion of the nozzle body where the jet emerges from the nozzle body. In one embodiment, the nozzle body includes a bend between the angles of about ninety (90) degrees and about thirty (30) degrees.

In one embodiment, the nozzle body is resiliently flexible.

In one embodiment, the pump housing or the nozzle body is configured to receive a reversibly-attachable splash guard configured to confine splashing of the cleansing solution or the foreign contaminants to the area of the nozzle body. In one embodiment, the splash guard is a dome-shaped shield configured to reversibly attach to the nozzle body, wherein a concave side of the shield faces a distal tip of the nozzle body.

In one embodiment, the cleaning system further includes a second lumen in fluid communication between a reservoir of a selected cleaning agent and the pump, and the first inlet lumen is connected to a water source. In one embodiment, the cleaning system further includes one or more selector bodies operably configured on the pump housing to control one or more of: the resulting temperature of the jet, the resulting force of the jet, or the concentration of the cleaning agent in the cleansing solution. In one embodiment, the one or more selector bodies is configured to selectively allow a user to choose between: a wash setting, wherein the jet is composed of water and the cleansing agent mixed in a selected ratio; a rinse setting, wherein the jet is composed of water only; and a pulse setting, wherein the jet is composed of either water only, or water plus the cleansing agent, and the jet is produced in a pulsating stream.

In one exemplary aspect, a medical instrument cleaning system is disclosed. The medical instrument cleaning system includes a hand-held housing, including a pump, first and second inlet lumens in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water and a selected cleansing agent respectively, and a shoulder body. The cleaning system further includes means for selectively producing a desired liquid jet from one of a plurality of nozzle bodies for cleaning the medical instrument.

In one embodiment, the cleaning system further includes one or more controls operable to selectively adjust the concentration of the cleansing agent in the liquid jet.

In one embodiment, the cleaning system further includes means for reducing the likelihood of splash-back of the liquid jet during cleaning of the medical instrument.

Certain advantages of the systems and methods include: the ability to focus a strong jet of cleaning solution onto targeted areas of a medical device for the purpose of removing foreign substances; a corresponding advantage of the systems and methods described herein is the ability to reuse medical instruments that may otherwise be discarded for lack of being able to remove small bits of foreign matter; a further advantage is a potential cost savings to a hospital or clinic in cleaning expenditures, as nurses, technicians, and other hospital employees can pre-clean an instrument to a greater extent than using brushes, bin washers, and other approaches; among others.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of any described embodiment, suitable methods and materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. In case of conflict with terms used in the art, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In one exemplary aspect, systems and methods are described for removing contaminants from medical instruments. In a preferred embodiment, a cleaning system includes a hand-held wand operably connected to a water source that is capable of producing a small, powerful jet of water or other cleaning solution for removing contaminants from medical devices having small crevices, apertures, protrusions, and the like. As used herein, “contaminants” can include gross contaminants such as blood, bone, tissue, and other substances that can adhere to various parts of medical and dental devices. As used herein, “devices” such as “medical devices” or “dental devices” can refer to any of a variety of devices used by health care practitioners, e.g., physicians, surgeons, medical assistants, and the like during a medical or dental procedure. A “procedure” can refer to, without limitation, operations on humans or other animals where various instruments are used for, e.g., cutting, sawing, drilling, or inserting a device into a patient's physiology. “Medical equipment” can refer to instruments such as those previously mentioned, including instruments used in dentistry.

FIG. 1is a system100for cleaning medical equipment according to one embodiment. The cleaning system100can be used for many purposes; however, in one exemplary aspect the device can be used for cleaning medical instruments. The cleaning device100is operable to produce a focused, powerful stream or jet of solution, e.g., water or cleaning solution that can be used to dislodge foreign contaminants such as blood, bone, or tissue from medical instruments after use.

In this embodiment, the cleaning device100includes a handle body105that can be ergonomically shaped according to preference, e.g., for comfort and convenience of the user. For example, in this embodiment, the handle body105includes two recesses defined by two concave wall portions110a,110bthat can be engineered into the body105during manufacture, and provide a desired degree of ergonomic comfort.

In general, the handle body105can include one or more features for enhanced gripping ability and to reduce the likelihood of slippage from the user's hand during use. In this embodiment, a series of protruding ribs112(wherein only two ribs are specifically referred to by reference number112for clarity) can provide a textured surface to provide a better grip for the user. In this and other embodiments, the one or more features for enhanced gripping ability (e.g., the protruding ribs112) can be integral with the material of the handle body105, or they can be part of a separate housing, sleeve, or other structure that engages the handle body105and is held by friction, elastic tension, or other forces.

In this embodiment, the handle body105further includes an on/off switch115capable of powering the device100for use. The on/off switch115can be of the push-button type, a slide-switch, or any other configuration of on/off switch known in the art. In this embodiment, the on/off switch can be conveniently located near the location of the user's thumb as it is being held, providing easy on/off capabilities.

In this embodiment, a first supply tube145can be reversibly coupled to the handle body105for the purpose of transporting water or a cleansing solution from a storage tank (not shown inFIG. 1) to the handle body105. A second, optional supply tube150can be reversibly coupled to the handle body105for the purpose of transporting soap, disinfectants, or other cleaning chemicals to the handle body105.

Referring in toFIGS. 1 and 1A, in this embodiment, the first (145) and second (150) supply tubes merge into a single lumen151within the interior of the handle body105. The lumen151connects to a pump153within the handle body105capable of receiving the fluid from the lumen151and expelling it into a second lumen155that extends to a distal nozzle body120under pressure. The nozzle body120discharges the cleansing supply (or water) alone, or in combination with any soap, disinfecting solution, or other cleaning chemicals supplied by the second supply tube150. The nozzle body120can be any desirable length as denoted inFIG. 1and can be configured in any shape according to preference. In general, the first supply tube145can be connected to a water source—which can be a plumbed water supply, a reservoir, or any other type of storage tank. Similarly, the second supply tube150can be connected to a storage container containing soaps, detergents, or disinfecting solutions.

In this embodiment, the water supply and the soap, detergent, or disinfecting solution can be provided to the handle body under pressure by auxiliary pumps or other mechanisms, including static water pressure. In this embodiment, the pump153is housed within the handle body105and is capable of producing a jet of water of from the distal tip129of the nozzle body120with sufficient energy to dislodge foreign materials from objects such as medical instruments and the like. The miniature pump can be any pump type known in the art that produces sufficient pressure for a particular cleaning activity.

In this embodiment, the nozzle body120includes a slight bend125as illustrated. The angle of the bend can be chosen so as to provide a desired level of comfort and convenience to the user when cleaning objects such as medical instruments. Although not depicted, it will be understood that the bend125can be configured in any shape, size or orientation to satisfy the needs of the user for any particular purpose. In one example, the bend125can be such that it allows a distal tip129of the nozzle body120to reach interior portions of objects such as medical devices that would normally be difficult to reach.

In this embodiment, the distal tip129of the nozzle body120is configured to create a jet of cleaning solution131. In general, the characteristics of the jet can be configured for one or more purposes, e.g., the output velocity, cross-sectional diameter, focus, and other characteristics of the jet131can be adapted to clean certain types of surfaces, instruments, or other aspects.

In this embodiment, the handle body105further includes a toggle switch160that allows a user to select from two or more operating configurations. The toggle switch160can be coupled to an internal electronic control system (not shown inFIG. 1) that mechanically controls the jet output characteristics; alternatively, the toggle switch can be in signal communication with a remote pump (not shown inFIG. 1) that controls the jet output characteristics. In one example, the toggle switch160can allow a user to switch between low and high pressure jet131output settings. In another example, the toggle switch160can allow a user to switch between three different operating modes of the jet: straight stream, pulsed-low pressure, and pulsed-high pressure. Other operating modes will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In this embodiment, a power cord140can supply requisite power for driving a pump, if the pump is integral with the handle (described below), powering electronic control devices, lights, and other features of the device100. In some embodiments, the nozzle body120can include a distal light source162oriented at or near the distal tip129for the purpose of illuminating the target area of the object that the user is cleaning. The light source162can be any light source known in the art including, but not limited to light emitting diodes.

In this and other embodiments, a splash shield170can reduce the likelihood of foreign matter such as blood, bone, or tissue, cleansing soaps or chemicals splashing onto the user. The splash shield170can be reversibly coupled to the nozzle body120, the handle body105, or any other structure of the device100that provides a desired level of splash protection. Although the splash shield170is depicted as dome-shaped inFIG. 1, it will be understood that the shield can be configured in any shape or size to provide a desired level of splash protection for the user. In one embodiment, the splash shield can be constructed of a hydrophobic material, or include a hydrophobic outer layer to repel water and other water-based materials from adhering to its surface. Such a configuration can allow a user to clearly visualize a target area of an instrument while cleaning.

In this and other embodiments, the handle body105can be disassembled for one or more of cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the nozzle body120can be removed separately for the same purpose.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A-2E, in this and other embodiments, the handle body105can accommodate interchangeable nozzle bodies. For example, a user can swap a first nozzle body that provides a first jet131pattern for a second, different nozzle body that provides a different jet pattern and vice-versa. In one embodiment, the handle body105can include an interiorly-threaded bore185configured to correspondingly receive an exteriorly-threaded distal portion121of a nozzle120at the distal end175of the handle body as specifically illustrated inFIG. 2D. The bore185can be in fluid communication with the second lumen155such that fluid can flow from the second lumen155into the bore185and subsequently into the nozzle120. In this embodiment, a nozzle can be removed from, or attached to the handle body by screwing the threaded portions together. It will be understood that other coupling mechanisms can be employed for this and other purposes.

In one embodiment, the handle body105can be configured to reversibly couple to a nozzle turret200to allow a user to select from a plurality of different nozzle types.FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate one embodiment of a nozzle turret200shown in top- and isometric views, respectively. In this embodiment, the nozzle turret200includes an interiorly-threaded turret body205that can be coupled to a corresponding exteriorly-threaded collar portion163of the nozzle body105as specifically shown inFIG. 2E. The nozzle turret200can allow a user to select from three different nozzles,210,215,220, respectively, by rotating a plate member207into a position that aligns the bore185of the handle body105with one of the three nozzles. In this embodiment, each of the nozzles210,215,220can produce a different jet pattern or otherwise provide different jet characteristics. For example, nozzle210may produce a straight-stream jet; nozzle215may produce a fan-shaped stream; and nozzle215may produce a spray pattern, each of which can be selected by the user by orienting the nozzle turret on the handle body accordingly. It will be understood that while the bore185is illustrated as being centrally-disposed in the handle body105, the bore185can be offset to allow activation of a selected nozzle when using a nozzle turret. Components for selectably activating a nozzle in a nozzle turret are not shown for figure clarity. In one embodiment, the plate member207includes gaskets, seals, and other plumbing components necessary to allow the plate member207to be rotated into a selected position such that only one of the selected nozzles210,215,220produces a jet output.

In one embodiment, the handle body105can include a second toggle switch (not shown inFIG. 1or2) that allows a user to switch between a water jet, a blended water/soap solution jet, and a pure soap or disinfecting solution jet. Accordingly, a user can, for example, clean an instrument with a desired amount of cleaning or soap solution, then rinse the cleaning or soap solution using water only.

In general, a cleaning device of the type described herein can be advantageously used for cleaning medical devices. Medical devices such as surgical instruments commonly include small crevices, cracks, notches, or other structures that can harbor foreign matter such as blood, bone and bone fragments, tissue, and other bodily matter. In one use of a device of the type described herein, a user can activate the device to produce a fine, but powerful jet of water capable of dislodging foreign matter from surgical instruments. In those embodiments that include interchangeable nozzles, or a nozzle turret of the type described herein, a user can change the nozzle to produce a selected jet pattern for reaching small, hidden, or hard-to-reach areas of the medical instrument for the purpose of cleaning the instrument.

A number of illustrative embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments presented herein. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.