BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automated reprocessor for microbially deactivating medical instruments, according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reprocessor of FIG. 1, showing a movable drawer in an opened position and an instrument container removed therefrom, and also showing an access panel to a chemistry delivery system in an opened position and a chemistry container remover therefrom;
FIG. 3 is a side, elevational view of the reprocessor of FIG. 1, showing the reprocessor on a counter top relative to a user;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during a reprocessor fill phase;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during a system circulate phase;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during a chemistry generation phase;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during an instrument exposure phase;
FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during a first part of a drain phase;
FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of the reprocessor, illustrating the path of fluids through the reprocessor during a second part of the drain phase;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a filter element from the reprocessor shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a sealed package containing a chemistry-holding device that is used in the reprocessor shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a chemistry-delivery system used in the reprocessor shown in FIG. 1, showing the chemistry-delivery system in an open position;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is a partially sectioned, side-elevational view of the chemistry-delivery system, showing a chemistry-holding device disposed therein;
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the chemistry-delivery system in operation;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a drawer assembly from the apparatus show in FIG. 1;
FIG. 19 is an enlarged view, showing a connector assembly for the drawer assembly show in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along lines 20-20 of FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along lines 22-22 of FIG. 19;
FIG. 23 is a partially sectioned view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 24 is a top plan view of an instrument storage container used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along lines 25-25 of FIG. 24, showing a valve assembly in an opened position;
FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 25, showing the valve assembly in a closed position;
FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along lines 27-27 of FIG. 24, showing a seal arrangement on the instrument storage container;
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a storage cabinet for storing decontaminated instrument containers, illustrating another aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 29A is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a valve assembly, showing the valve assembly in a first position;
FIG. 29B is a partially sectioned view of the valve assembly of FIG. 29A, showing the valve assembly in a second position;
FIG. 29C is partially section view taken along lines 29C-29C of FIG. 29B, showing a filter element; and
FIG. 29D is a perspective view of the filter element.
Patent Application
20070207074
