WO1993024046A1 - Apparatus for and method of disinfection - Google Patents
Apparatus for and method of disinfection Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1993024046A1 WO1993024046A1 PCT/GB1993/001143 GB9301143W WO9324046A1 WO 1993024046 A1 WO1993024046 A1 WO 1993024046A1 GB 9301143 W GB9301143 W GB 9301143W WO 9324046 A1 WO9324046 A1 WO 9324046A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- disinfectant
- pipework
- chamber
- machine
- valves
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/12—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements
- A61B1/121—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements provided with means for cleaning post-use
- A61B1/123—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements provided with means for cleaning post-use using washing machines
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
- A61L2/18—Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
Definitions
- the present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of disinfecting.
- the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for the disinfection of endoscopes. Disinfection in endoscopy is likely to assume increasing importance in view of the HIV epidemic and the increasing numbers of immune suppressed patients being investigated. Routine sterilization is not possible with endoscopes because of the delicate nature of the instrument, (i.e. lenses, controls etc.) At present endoscopes are sterilized using a combination of mechanical cleaning and soaking in the preferred disinfectant (2% Glutaraldehyde) . Unfortunately this disinfectant is an irritant and is known to cause side effects in many staff. One solution is to use a sealed washing machine with an automatic cycle. A recent evaluation of four commercially available machines, however, has identified serious flaws in the wash cycle.
- the problem of colonisation arises from two problems. The first is that the lid of the enclosure containing the endoscopes is not adequately disinfected resulting in potentially contaminated water dripping onto the sterilised -instrument after its disinfection. Secondly, not all pipework is adequately disinfected leaving potential areas for bacterial colonisation. During rinse cycles these bacteria can infect the disinfected instrument.
- the current invention addresses these problems and also minimises the exposure of staff operating the machine to the disinfectant.
- apparatus for washing and disinfecting comprising a housing defining a chamber for accommodating items to be washed and disinfected characterised by a lid operative to close off the chamber and shaped so that when the chamber is filled with disinfectant the inside surface of the lid is completely covered by disinfectant, pipework operative to connect supplies of disinfectant to the chamber, a bacterial filter disposed in the pipework and valves disposed in the pipework and controlling the flow of disinfectant therethrough.
- Figure 1 diagrammatically shows apparatus for disinfection for use with endoscopes .
- Figure 2A is a plan view of an immersion bath forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1,
- Figure 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the bath of Figure 2A.
- FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows an alternative forn of apparatus to that shown in Figure 1.
- FIG. 1 shows apparatus including schematic pipework with interconnecting valves VI to VI1 to achieve the required operation.
- An immersion bath 1 is schematically illustrated showing a re-entrant lid 2 which enables disinfection of all surfaces of the vicinity of the endoscopes 3 , which are laid into the body 4 of the bath 1 as shown in Figure 2.
- a seal 10 is disposed between the body 1 and the cover 2.
- a plurality of standard 5 litre disinfectant containers A to D respectively are connected through respective valves V8 to VI1 and appropriate pipework and further valves to the system.
- Low and high liquid level sensors (not shown) are provided in respective containers.
- a liquid -irculation pump 11 is provided.
- a high level float switch is also provided in the bath 1.
- An input line 5 from a water mixer unit 6 passes via a filter 7 to remove debris and through an ultraviolet filter 8 which kills any bacteria present in the water.
- the disinfectant is passed via valve, V3, through these filters ensuring their disinfection on every machine operation. In this way all parts of the machine and pipework within a washed "sterile" boundary are disinfected on every sterilisation cycle. This boundary is indicated by reference 9 in Figure 1.
- the endoscope washing machine provides five main operations, these being:
- the apparatus has the ability to disinfect incoming and recirculating water using the ultra violet water purifier 8 .
- Another important advantage offered by the system is the machine disinfect cycle which would take place automatically prior to the start of a shift or work period. Also as a result of the chosen pipe work layout and machine operation, the machine and its flow circuit would effectively be disinfected during every endoscope washing cycle since common pipe work has been used for the supply and return of both water and disinfectant.
- the machine uses the hospital's hot water supply, but as there is no guarantee that the hot water temperature will not exceed 50°C a means of limiting the water temperature is required.
- unit 6 which is identical to the type of valve presently used on hospital or hotel shower units. Although this valve can effectively maintain a water supply up to its set maximum temperature with only small variations in temperature, if no hot water is present then the unit continues to "mix" cold water.
- the hot and cold water supplies are referenced H and C respectively and are connected to the apparatus via respective non-return valves V12 and V13.
- a temperature sensor 15 is incorporated into the machine's pipe work. This continuously monitors the temperature of water leaving the unit 6 such that if the water is below a minimum temperature a signal energises diverter valve V6 to direct cold water to drain. This signal could also be used to stop the machine after a preset time and/or alert staff who would either instruct the machine to continue using cold water or enable the operator to investigate why no hot water is available.
- the layout of the pipe work and valves is designed to be self draining, thereby avoiding potential water traps where bacteria could colonise.
- the machine disinfect cycle is described below.
- cover 2 and associated pipe work by circulating disinfectant around the system at the start of a shift, all surfaces must be wetted by disinfectant for a pre-defined length of time.
- valves V6 and V7 set as shown on Figure 1.
- the liquid circulation pump 11 is started and valves V3, V4 and V8 opened to pump liquid into the immersion bath 1.
- valve V8 closes and valve V9 on container B opens to enable the filling of the bath to continue.
- Valve V4 then closes and V5 opens to produce a flow of disinfectant around the circuit. Also a channel cleaning pump 12 starts to circulate disinfectant around the channel cleaning circuit 13 which comprises a filter 14.
- Venting of air from the system during filling and emptying of the immersion bath is catered for using a filter 16 in the bath's cover 2. Similarly venting of the disinfectant containers will again be carried out via small individual filter units.
- a control system is provided to interrogate each container A to D to establish whether the containers are full, by using the high level sensors incorporated into each container.
- valves V4, V8 to VI1 and VI2 are opened to return disinfectant to the storage containers. If any of the containers are full then their respective valves remain closed. Also when the disinfectant level in any container reaches the full level sensor, that containers valve closes to prevent overfilling.
- the arrangement of the pipe work would be such that drainage of the system could be achieved without pools of fluid remaining in the pipe work.
- a float type sensor is included in pipe work slightly upstream of the containers, to warn the operator if all containers have been filled but disinfectant still needs to be drained.
- an empty container is incorporated into the system with suitable pipe work and valves, enabling the operator to operate a key switch or insert a PIN number to dump the excess disinfectant prior to changing the disinfectant containers and starting a further cycle.
- the machine's immersion bath and cover is fully disinfected during the machine disinfect cycle. This is achieved by forming the lid so that it sits inside the bath as shown.
- the lid incorporates the continuous peripheral seal 10 to prevent the escape of disinfectant vapour during operation.
- Venting of the immersion bath enclosure is achieved by the filter unit 16 located in the baths cover. As this vent is situated above the liquid level it should not come into contact with water or disinfectant.
- the size of the immersion bath is important since it determines the plan area of the machine. As the machine is required to be mobile, it must be capable of being wheeled through a standard 2'6" wide doorway. With this in mind the overall width of the machine has been set to 700mm or 2*3".
- valves V6 and V7 set as shown on Figure 1.
- the endoscopes internal channels will already be connected to the channel pump cleaning circuit.
- the channel pump being diaghragm pump can be started to pump air from the immersion bath through the pump, then the endoscope, and back into the immersion bath.
- the machine is designed to use standard containers of disinfectant such that on changing disinfectant there is minimal staff contact with the vapours given off.
- Standard containers supplied direct from the manufacturer ar? simply activated and connected into the system. Containers containing discarded fluid are removed and disposed off. This obviates the requirement to pour disinfectant from one container to another. In all other respects the system is sealed, air movements being through a charcoal or other similar filter, the job of which is to remove disinfectant vapour.
- valve circuit is arranged to facilitate a manifold mono-block construction for the majority of the valves in order to minimise the extent of the internal pipework.
- a low level sensor 20 shown in Figure 3 is located in this manifold.
- the circuit shown in figure 3 includes a schematic representation of three quick-release couplings 24, 25 and 26 inserted into the two water supply H and C and the drain circuits D. These couplings are widely available with automatic closure valves which activate on release to provide a seal-on-break feature.
- the object is to isolate the machine from the external water supplies and drain facilities by first disconnecting the flexible external pipes from those facilities and reconnecting them to the corresponding port provided.
- the machine, all its pipework and its associated parts, including its external flexible pipes, comprise a sealed system.
- the disinfectant can then be circulated through every component giving complete disinfection of all internal surfaces. If the machine in this state is filled with, or exposed to disinfectant, by circulating flow for more than 12 hours continuously, the machine can be considered then to be sterile.
- the operative should connect the water inlet pipes and drain hoses to their respective reconnection ports mounted on the external surface of the machine .
- solenoid valves V8 through to V12 energise (open) , flow reducing valve, V7, energises and the main circulation pump 11 starts.
- solenoid valves, VI through to V4, energise, and the channel and auxiliary pumps 12 and 21 start.
- the slow-fill state continues until a bath high-level sensor 22 activates, this de-energises solenoid valves, V8 through to VI2, and energises solenoid valve, V5, to produce a recirculating flow circuit for disinfectant through the bath and associated components.
- solenoid valve, VI3 is energised and valve V4 is de-energised, forcing disinfectant through a vent line 23.
- valve V4 is de-energised, forcing disinfectant through a vent line 23.
- these two solenoid valves are then returned to their original states.
- the vent line and associated valve, V13 has been included to prevent the auxiliary pump from being air-locked, as this pump is attached to the drain port which is the lowest point of the circuit.
- the auxiliary pump is required to return disinfectant to the containers from this lowest point of the circuit.
- valve, VI de-energises for 15 seconds forcing all flow through valve, V2.
- Valve, VI is then re-energised and valve, V2, de-energises for 15 seconds, this time forcing flow through valve VI; valve V2 is then re-energised.
- solenoid valve, V4 When the level of liquid in the manifold has drained sufficiently so that the manifold Low-Level Liquid sensor is indicating that no liquid is present, solenoid valve, V4, is de-energised and valve, VI2 energised.
- the auxiliary pump 21 is started to remove liquid from the drain hose. Similarly, the channel pump is started to clear any remaining liquid from this part of the circuit. Whilst the auxiliary pump 21 is running, valves, VI and V2, should be alternately energised and de-energised to clear any residue liquid from the water inlet pipes.
- the circulation pump 11 and ultra violet steriliser bacterial filter 8 are run backwards briefly for say 15 seconds. After say a further 20 seconds all pumps should be stopped and all valves de-energised.
- the machine now waits for the operator to acknowledge that reconnection of the water supply and drain hoses has been completed before continuing with a water rinse cycle to purge any residual disinfection vapour from the machine's bath and pipework.
- the machine is now in a disinfected state waiting for normal operation to commence. This comprises the normal wash; disinfect, rinse and channel drying sequences of medical instruments as described in the first embodiment.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP93913250A EP0642320A1 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1993-05-28 | Apparatus for and method of disinfection |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9211499.0 | 1992-05-30 | ||
GB929211499A GB9211499D0 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1992-05-30 | Endoscope washing and disinfection |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1993024046A1 true WO1993024046A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
Family
ID=10716286
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1993/001143 WO1993024046A1 (en) | 1992-05-30 | 1993-05-28 | Apparatus for and method of disinfection |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0642320A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9211499D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993024046A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2713112A1 (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1995-06-09 | Lancer | Appts for cleaning medical/surgical instruments |
DE29518880U1 (en) * | 1994-11-15 | 1996-02-01 | Gorbahn, Fritz, Dr.med., 58452 Witten | Sterilization system for sterilizing medical devices |
EP0945140A3 (en) * | 1998-03-26 | 1999-12-15 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for washing and disinfecting/sterilizing an endoscope |
WO2003077960A1 (en) * | 2002-03-20 | 2003-09-25 | Bernard Mariotti | Method and device for measuring and controlling the circulation of fluids in endoscope channels |
FR2839889A1 (en) * | 2002-05-22 | 2003-11-28 | Jacques Balanca | Method for pre-disinfection of medical instrumentation, comprises automatic stages for immersion in disinfectant/detergent, use of ultrasonic energy, rinsing and recording on labels |
EP1935364A1 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2008-06-25 | Ethicon, Inc. | Instrument soaking container and method |
CN113456869A (en) * | 2021-07-07 | 2021-10-01 | 广西速扑环境科技有限公司 | Smoke disinfection and insect killing method and device |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4862872A (en) * | 1987-04-17 | 1989-09-05 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Endoscope and endoscope washing apparatus |
EP0395296A2 (en) * | 1989-04-24 | 1990-10-31 | Steris Corporation | Microbial decontamination |
EP0397352A2 (en) * | 1989-05-09 | 1990-11-14 | Steris Corporation | Microbial decontamination |
-
1992
- 1992-05-30 GB GB929211499A patent/GB9211499D0/en active Pending
-
1993
- 1993-05-28 WO PCT/GB1993/001143 patent/WO1993024046A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-05-28 EP EP93913250A patent/EP0642320A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4862872A (en) * | 1987-04-17 | 1989-09-05 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Endoscope and endoscope washing apparatus |
EP0395296A2 (en) * | 1989-04-24 | 1990-10-31 | Steris Corporation | Microbial decontamination |
EP0397352A2 (en) * | 1989-05-09 | 1990-11-14 | Steris Corporation | Microbial decontamination |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 016, no. 310 (C-0960)30 July 1990 & JP,A,04 089 045 (AGENGY OF IND SCIENCE & TECHNOL) 23 March 1992 * |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2713112A1 (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1995-06-09 | Lancer | Appts for cleaning medical/surgical instruments |
DE29518880U1 (en) * | 1994-11-15 | 1996-02-01 | Gorbahn, Fritz, Dr.med., 58452 Witten | Sterilization system for sterilizing medical devices |
EP0945140A3 (en) * | 1998-03-26 | 1999-12-15 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for washing and disinfecting/sterilizing an endoscope |
EP1386620A1 (en) * | 1998-03-26 | 2004-02-04 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for washing and disinfecting-sterilizing endoscope |
US6797245B2 (en) | 1998-03-26 | 2004-09-28 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for washing and disinfecting-sterilizing endoscope |
WO2003077960A1 (en) * | 2002-03-20 | 2003-09-25 | Bernard Mariotti | Method and device for measuring and controlling the circulation of fluids in endoscope channels |
FR2837392A1 (en) * | 2002-03-20 | 2003-09-26 | Bernard Mariotti | System for measuring and controlling the circulation of fluids in endoscope channels, especially cleaning, disinfecting, rinsing solutions, to prevent contamination |
US7708938B2 (en) | 2002-03-20 | 2010-05-04 | Bernard Mariotti | Method and device for measuring and controlling the circulation of fluids in endoscope channels |
FR2839889A1 (en) * | 2002-05-22 | 2003-11-28 | Jacques Balanca | Method for pre-disinfection of medical instrumentation, comprises automatic stages for immersion in disinfectant/detergent, use of ultrasonic energy, rinsing and recording on labels |
EP1935364A1 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2008-06-25 | Ethicon, Inc. | Instrument soaking container and method |
CN113456869A (en) * | 2021-07-07 | 2021-10-01 | 广西速扑环境科技有限公司 | Smoke disinfection and insect killing method and device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0642320A1 (en) | 1995-03-15 |
GB9211499D0 (en) | 1992-07-15 |
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