Patent ID: 8065772

Claim:
A cleaning element for lumen of surgical instruments comprising: a brush having a plurality of bristles, a first end, a second end, and a metal core, the metal core defining a longitudinal axis extending throughout said brush; a metal leader having a first end and a second end, the second end of said metal leader being welded to the first end of the metal core of said brush; a weld where said leader is welded to said core, and a jacket or coating covering said metal leader and said weld between said metal leader and the metal core of said brush; wherein the jacket or coating has a first end covering a portion of the bristles of said brush and has a second end terminating in an area adjacent to the bristles of said brush; and wherein said metal leader is adapted to be fed through the lumen of the surgical instruments and pulled by the first end thereof through the lumen, with said brush also being adapted to be threaded through the lumen due to its being welded to the second end of said metal leader.