Device for disinfecting and/or rinsing endoscopes with limited escape of fumes

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus (10) and for disinfecting and/or rinsing an endoscope (34) and a device for disinfecting at least one endoscope (34). Automated machines for disinfecting and/or rinsing an endoscope are expensive and they are limited to disinfecting and rinsing at most two flexible endoscopes at the same time. Manual methods of disinfecting and/or rinsing endoscopes can lead to the escape of fumes which can cause irritation and sensitisation to the skin of personnel. The apparatus (10) comprises a basin (14); a reservoir (22); a disinfectant supply conduit (26) and a gas conduit (30). The basin (14) includes a body (16) and a lid (18). The body (16) is configured to receive an endoscope (34) such that the endoscope (34) can be submersed in liquid with a headspace in the basin (14) above the liquid. The lid (18) is configured to be coupled to the basin (14) and provide an airtight seal between the lid (18) and body (16). The reservoir (22) includes a top and is configured to receive a liquid with a headspace between the liquid and top. The disinfectant supply conduit (26) is coupled to the basin (14) and to the reservoir (22) and it is configured to communicate liquid from the reservoir (22) to the basin (14). The gas conduit (30) is coupled to the basin (14) and to the reservoir (22). The gas conduit (30) is configured to communicate gas between the headspace of the basin (14) and the headspace of the reservoir (22).