Apparatus and method for cleaning microsurgical instruments

摘要

A cleaning apparatus for microsurgical instruments has a flush chamber closed off at one end by a first plug adapted to liquid-tightly grip one end of the instrument, allowing a portion of the instrument to extend past the first plug and out of the flush chamber. The other end of the flush chamber is closed off by a second plug having an inlet port. Liquid injected through the inlet port on the second plug passes through an internal passageway formed in the instrument and exits the instrument through the portion that extends past the first plug. In another embodiment the instrument has an internal passageway and an end cap through which flushing ports are formed which communicate with the passageway. A first plug having an inlet port is liquid-tightly attached to the end cap and liquid injected into the first plug passes through the plug, through the flushing ports and through the passageway to clean detritus from the instrument.

主权项

1. Apparatus for cleaning surgical instruments, said instruments having a hollow body with a longitudinally-extending internal passageway, a plunger having first and second ends and positioned within and moveable longitudinally along said passageway, said hollow body having a first body end having an aperture through which said first plunger end extends, a second body end from which said second plunger end is extendable and retractable responsive to the motion of said first plunger end, and a passageway inlet, said passageway inlet formed at said first body end, said apparatus comprising:
a first, hollow plug liquid-tightly attachable to said first body end, said first, hollow plug having a sidewall and an end wall defining therebetween an interior cavity, said interior cavity sized and shaped to receive said first plunger end; said first, hollow plug having an inlet port communicating with said interior cavity, whereby liquid injected through said inlet port into said interior cavity enters said passageway inlet, passes through said passageway and exits through said second body end in a flowpath away from said inlet port whereby contaminants in said instrument are flushed in a direction away from said first body end.