| 摘要 |
Disclosed are a peristaltic pump (2); sterilisation apparatus and method of using the sterilisation apparatus. The present peristaltic pump (2) ensures that a medical instrument such as an endoscope is sufficiently sterilised and not damaged whilst being cleaned unsupervised. The peristaltic pump (2) is suitable for use in sterilising the lumen of an endoscope in a sterilisation compartment of a sterilisation apparatus. The pump (2) comprises a flexible pump hose (44); a motor-driven impeller (46); first and second electrodes (52a, 52b); means for applying a voltage across the first and second electrodes (52a, 52b); and means for measuring an electrical property between the conductive fittings (53a, 53b). The flexible hose (44) includes an outlet end and an inlet end. The electrically conductive fittings (53a, 53b) are disposed at each end and are in contact with fluid in the pump hose (44). The motor-driven impeller (46) is disposed in relation to the pump hose (44) such that when the impeller (46) is driven it will intermittently bear against the pump hose (44) so as to bring the internal walls of the pump hose (44) together. The first (52a) and second (52b) electrodes are in contact with the conductive fittings (53a, 53b) at, respectively, the outlet and inlet ends of the pump hose (44). The outlet end of the pump hose (44) is connected to one end of an endoscope having a lumen to be sterilised and immersed in a conductive sterilant liquid in the sterilisation compartment. The inlet end of the pump hose (44) is in fluid connection with the sterilant liquid in the sterilisation compartment. The only conductive path, apart from via the pump hose (44), that will exist between the first (52a) and second (53b) electrodes when the pump hose (44) is operated will be via the lumen of the endoscope. |
