GB2369893A

GB2369893A - A fluid distribution system for supplying cleaning/sterilizing fluids to multiple devices

Info

Publication number: GB2369893A
Application number: GB0030034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Guess
Original assignee: Bioquell Medical Ltd
Current assignee: Bioquell Medical Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-08
Filing date: 2000-12-08
Publication date: 2002-06-12
Also published as: GB0030034D0

Abstract

A fluid distribution system for delivering a fluid in a cleaning process to multiple devices comprises a fluid supply 12 for the cleaning process, a manifold 10 having a conduit 11 connected to the fluid supply and multiple outlet conduits 14 for connection to respective devices to be cleaned. A flow sensor 13 is provided in the conduit between the fluid supply 12 and the manifold 10 for determining flow to the manifold 10 and each outlet 14 from the manifold 10 has a control valve 15 for controlling flow from the outlet 14 to the device to be cleaned. Means are provided for controlling opening and closure of the valves 15 whereby one valve is open at a time to enable flow to the device to which the outlet 14 controlled by that valve is connected to be verified by the flow sensor 13.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS This invention relates to fluid distribution systems and is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to fluid distribution systems for supplying cleaning/sterilizing fluids to medical devices such as endoscopes for cleaning prior to use.

Originally fluid distribution systems for supplying multiple medical devices such as endoscopes comprised a manifold having an inlet connected to a pump for supplying cleaning fluid to the manifold with a flow sensor in the connection to the manifold to enable the flow of fluid to be verified and multiple outlets for the manifold for connection to a corresponding number of endoscopes to be subjected to cleansing. With this arrangement, it was not possible to verify the flow through individual endoscopes.

To meet the requirement to verify the flow of fluid through individual endoscopes, more recently the manifold has been dispensed with and separate pumps each having its own flow sensor have been provided for the respective endoscopes. An alternative approach has been to retain the manifold and to provide separate flow sensors in the outlet conduits from the manifold to enable the flow to be verified to each endoscope. Both arrangements increase the costs and complexity of the apparatus in view of the number of flow sensors required.

This invention provides a fluid distribution system for delivering a fluid in a cleaning process to multiple devices, the distribution system comprising means to supply a fluid for the cleaning process, a manifold having an input connected to the fluid supply and multiple outlets for connection to respective devices to be cleaned, a flow sensor being provided in

the connection between the fluid supply and the manifold for determining flow to the manifold, each outlet from the manifold having a control valve for controlling flow from the outlet to the device to be cleaned and means be provided for controlling opening and closure of the valves whereby only one valve is open at a time to enable flow to the device to which the outlet controlled by that valve is connected to be verified by the flow sensor.

More specifically the means to supply fluid to the manifold may comprise a pump having a conduit connection to the manifold.

In the latter arrangement the flow sensor may be coupled in the conduit connection between the pump and the manifold.

In any of the above arrangements the manifold may have a plurality of outlet conduits for connection to the devices to be cleaned, each conduit including one of said control valve for opening and closing the conduit.

Also in any of the above arrangements a plurality of different fluid supplies may be provided for delivering fluid to the manifold.

In the latter case each fluid distribution system has a valve controlled supply conduit controlling the flow of fluid to the distribution system, the respective supply conduits being connected together upstream of the flow sensor for determining the flow of fluid through the system whichever of the outlet conduits is in use and whichever fluid is being supplied.

A further fluid supply (e. g. for a flow of alcohol through the system) may be connected to the manifold directly by passing the flow sensor.

The following is a specific description of some specific embodiments of the invention, reference being

made to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for supplying cleansing fluids to multiple endoscopes or other medical devices for cleaning and sterilizing the internal surface thereof; and Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement.

The apparatus of Figure 1 comprises a manifold 10 having an inlet conduit 11 connected to a pump 12 for delivering a supply of cleaning fluid from a source (not shown) to the manifold for use in cleaning/sterilizing internal surfaces of hollow medical devices such as endoscopes which require absolute sterilization prior to use. A flow sensor 13 is mounted in the conduit 11 between the pump and the manifold to enable flow of cleaning fluid from the pump to the manifold to be verified during operation of the apparatus.

The manifold has a plurality of outlet conduits 14 each of which has a control valve 15 for opening/closing the respective conduits. A separate mechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling opening and closing of the valve in a required sequence so that only one valve is open at a time for supply of fluid to an endoscope. Thus, the flow of cleansing fluid to the current endoscope to be cleaned can be verified by the flow sensor.

The cycle of the chemical disinfector is built up of a number of sections.

Stage 1 Pre-rinse using water flowing over the scope and through the lumens.

Stage 2 Flow as in Stage 1 but with a chemical disinfectant.

Stage 3 Rinse as in Stage 1 but with water to remove

any chemical disinfectant on the scope.

Stage 4 Pass air through the scope to remove any liquid in the lumens.

Stage 5 (Optional) Pass air with alcohol through the lumens to give added drying.

Thus a single pump is used, and flow is directed to the individual lumens sequentially, using the control valves. The flow to each lumen in turn can be monitored using the flow sensor. When pushing air through the system again, the valves will operate in sequence to ensure that all the lines are cleaned.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the system in which pump 12 has a supply conduit 16 to which two branch conduits 17 and 18 are connected. One branch conduit 17 is connected to a supply of cleansing fluid and has a control valve 19. The other supply conduit 18 is connected to an air supply via an HEPA filter 20 and has a control valve 21. Thus, the pump system 12 can be used to deliver cleansing fluid or air to the manifold and the flow sensor 13 in the conduit 11 will verify airflow or cleansing fluid flow through the currently open outlet conduit from the manifold.

In addition, the manifold 10 has a separate input connection from a supply of alcohol 21 through a pump 22 to the manifold. Alcohol can be supplied to the manifold to remove residual water from the manifold after which airflow is flowed through the system, one endoscope at a time to remove the alcohol.

The air can be added into the manifold as shown in figure 2 or can be pumped via a separate pump into the manifold. As the integrity of the valves on the manifold is critical to an accurate flow sensor indication, the system is also integrated into the sequence to establish this. At the start of the cycle, all the valves are closed and the pump is run.

If flow is detected, then one ore more of the valves is passing and the system would fail and alarm.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fluid distribution system for delivering a fluid in a cleaning process to multiple devices, the distribution system comprising means to supply a fluid for the cleaning process, a manifold having an input connected to the fluid supply and multiple outlets for connection to respective devices to be cleaned, a flow sensor being provided in the connection between the fluid supply and the manifold for determining flow to the manifold, each outlet from the manifold having a control valve for controlling flow from the outlet to the device to be cleaned and means being provided for controlling opening and closure of the valves whereby only one valve is open at a time to enable flow to the device to which the outlet controlled by that valve is connected to be verified by the flow sensor.

2. A fluid distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to supply fluid to the manifold comprises a pump having a conduit connection to the manifold.

3. A fluid distribution system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flow sensor is coupled in the conduit connection between the pump and the manifold.

4. A fluid distribution system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manifold has a plurality of outlet conduits for connection to the devices to be cleaned, each conduit including one of said flow control valve for opening and closing the conduit.

5. A fluid distribution system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of different fluid supplies are provided for delivering fluid to the manifold.

6. A fluid distribution system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each fluid distribution system has a valve controlled supply conduit controlling the flow of fluid to the distribution system, the respective supply conduits being connected together upstream of the flow sensor for determining the flow of fluid through the system whichever of the outlet conduits is in use and whichever fluid is being supplied.

7. A fluid distribution system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein a further fluid is supply is connected to the manifold directly by passing the flow sensor.

8. A fluid distribution system substantially as described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.