Patent Application
20160331220
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the field of cleaning medical devices and, more particularly, to a cleaning kit for cleaning medical devices used in surgery.
2. Background of Related Art
Laparoscopic devices are common medical tools used in minimally invasive surgery. Among the advantages of employing this type of surgical procedure are that large incisions, patient trauma and long recovery times are minimized. The specialized lens located at the distal end of a laparoscope has revolutionized surgery by providing the medical professional with a clear picture of the internal cavities of their patient without the need for large incisions. The laparoscope comprises a light source used in illuminating the affected area, a lens to transmit the illuminated image and an external monitor to view the transmitted image. The lens is connected to a remote monitor that allows the medical professional to clearly see and record the area being treated. When a laparoscope is inserted into the patient through a trocar/cannula device, the laparoscopic lens comes into contact with bodily fluids and matter. Debris tend to block or distort the view of the lens requiring its removal and cleaning, increasing the time needed to complete the surgical procedure.
Lens fogging is a problem that reduces patient safety, increasing procedure time and cost. It is well understood that any improvements to reduce procedural time is advantageous to the patient. There are various methods used in cleaning laparoscopic lenses, almost all require removal of the scope and cleaning with a warm antifogging fluid. Antifogging fluids are often used with non-abrasive cleaning surfaces. The problem most often encountered when using an antifogging fluid with a non-abrasive cleaning surface is the formation of air bubbles. Air bubbles distort the viewing area. Air bubbles are formed by the rubbing action of a laparoscope as it is brushed along a flat saturated cleaning surface. The air bubbles prevent the even application of the antifogging fluid to the lens necessary to provide a clearly viewable image. This further delays the surgical procedure. Once the lens area is cleaned and an even amount of antifogging fluid is applied, a clear picture of the viewing area is possible and the laparoscope can then be reinserted into the patient.
Thus, there is a need in the field for a device that better cleans medical devices, such as laparoscopic lenses. Various objects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will be set forth in part either explicitly or implicitly in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of one or more teachings of the present disclosure. The objects and advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims that ultimately issue based on this disclosure.
A medical cleaning system used for cleaning at least a portion of a surgical instrument includes a tray adapted to accommodate cleaning fluid into which the portion of the surgical instrument may be disposed and a heating pack disposed in the tray and configured to heat the cleaning fluid.
The medical cleaning system may further include a cleaning pouch enclosing the heating pack. The cleaning pouch may be fabricated from non-abrasive material. Alternatively, the heating pack may include non-abrasive cleaning material.
The tray of the medical cleaning system may include a basin area and a sloped ramp. The sloped ramp allows the cleaning fluid, such as an antifogging fluid, to flow down into the basin area. The tray may also include a medical instrument place holder. The medical instrument place holder may be formed within a periphery edge of the tray.
The heating pack of the medical cleaning system may include a heating pack tab extending from the heating pack. The tray may include a heating pack tab opening. The heating pack tab opening may be formed within a periphery edge of the tray.
The heating pack may also include a heating pack solution therein. The heating pack solution may have nucleating properties. The heating pack may also include a mechanical activator to generate heat.
The heating pack may be secured to the tray by means of a loop and hook mechanism or other types of mechanisms.
The medical cleaning system reduces the formation of air bubbles and provides a generally evenly administered layer of antifogging fluid on the surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is wiped against the cleaning material, thus improving the visual image provided by the lens during a surgical procedure.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the current invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosure, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the embodiments disclosed in the text and figures herein are to be regarded merely as exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
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The sloped plane 105 of the tray 100, also referred to previously as the sloped ramp 105, is used to permit excess fluids to return to the basin area 110. Antifogging fluids (not shown) are contained within the basin area 110. The periphery edge 115 helps to maintain the heating pack 130 and non-abrasive cleaning pouch 160 of
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In another embodiment, the heating pack 130 may incorporate the non-abrasive cleaning material, thereby eliminating the need for a separate cleaning pouch 160.
In another embodiment, not shown, an adhesive material or hook and loop fastener or attachment means may be used to maintain the non-abrasive cleaning pouch 160 in position relative to the sloped ramp 105 of the tray 100.
The present disclosure, according to various embodiments, provides a portable heated antifogging system, used in preventing the formation of air bubbles during cleaning of various medical instruments, including, for example, laparoscopic devices. The cleaning means can include specially designed non-abrasive fabrics, sponges, foams or any other absorbing materials. Such cleaning means may be used to clean, for example, a distal end of a laparoscopic lens or other medical device by applying an even layer of heated antifogging fluid.
The medical device cleaning system 10 of the present disclosure defogs medical lenses and helps to reduce the associated problem of air bubbles forming at the cleaning surface. Although certain embodiments may contain a flat basin, providing a sloped ramp 105 in the tray 100 may prevent the fluid from forming air bubbles when the medical device lens is rubbed repeatedly. By eliminating the formation of air bubbles, the lens surface of the medical device is allowed to acquire a smooth evenly administered layer of antifogging fluid.
It should be noted that the heating pack 130 is not limited to having nucleating properties, but may also employ exothermic, electrical, chemical or other means to provide the necessary heating to the antifogging fluid. In other embodiments, the heated antifogging liquid applicator 10 may incorporate a holding device for laparoscopes that helps position a lens of a laparoscope or medical device in a particular holding position for being heated.
In another embodiment, suction cups, mechanical means or adhesive materials may also be used at the base of the tray 100 to hold it in place when in use.
As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the preceding portion of this specification is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting, sense.
This application is a U.S. National Stage Application filed under 35 U.S.C. §371(a) of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/011156, filed Jan. 13, 2015, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/926,753, filed Jan. 13, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2015/011156 | 1/13/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61926753 | Jan 2014 | US |
