MEDICAL APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR LUBRICATING AND STERILIZING MEDICAL APPLIANCE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide medical appliances taking in solid lubricants capable of withstanding an oxidative sterilization process. SOLUTION: The solid lubricants without contg. disulfide, such as molybdenum disulfide and diselenide compds., are used for the medical appliances taking in the solid lubricants. The medical appliance 12 is disclosed to withstand the oxidative sterilization process if the appliance is maintained in the state not having such compds. PTFE, powder graphite and baron nitride are the preferable solid lubricants. A flexible endoscope using the solid lubricants for a fiber optic tube bundle 18 enclosed by an elastomer cover 20 is particularly important.