摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for cleaning hollow elements (6), such as medical instruments having cannulae, is disclosed in which a pulsed flow of cleaning fluid is passed through the element whilst ultrasonic waves are simultaneously applied to the fluid. The ultrasonic waves loosen any debris during the time when the fluid is substantially at rest, and the pulses of fluid then remove the debris. The apparatus can include a tank (2) containing cleaning fluid (3) into which the element is placed, the cleaning fluid being pumped from the tank into the hollow element. The frequency of the fluid pulses is preferably between zero and 300 Hz, and that of the ultrasonic waves is preferably greater than 15 kHz.</p> |