Jeffrey William Ledel - Shakopee MN, US Daniel L. Cummings - Wayzata MN, US Geoffrey D. Tuttle - Minnetonka MN, US
International Classification:
A61B 1/12
US Classification:
134 221, 134166 R
Abstract:
Cleaning systems and methods include use of a container or holding apparatus to receive one or more components used in a medical procedure (e.g., a walled container or a non-walled container including a plurality of holding structures) and a manifold apparatus. For example, the manifold apparatus may include an inlet connection connectable to a reprocessor fitting of a reprocessing apparatus to receive a fluid therefrom (e.g., a cleaning solution, a disinfecting solution, and a rinsing solution) and one or more outlets configured to provide the at least one fluid into or through one or more components received by the container. For example, the one or more outlets may include an outlet connection connectable to a component fitting of at least one of the components.
An aqueous parts washing machine includes a main tank and a submersion tank disposed within the main tank. The submersion tank is supported in spaced relation from the walls and floor of the main tank. An aqueous cleaning solution fills the submersion tank and partially fills the main tank. A pumping system circulates the cleaning solution within the submersion and main tank. The pumping system includes a pump for drawing solution from the main tank and a solution agitation member for receiving solution from the pump and injecting the solution into the submersion tank to agitate solution within the submersion tank. The pumping system further includes a sparging mechanism for projecting solution from the pump across an upper surface of solution within the submersion tank to skim an oil deposit on the upper surface over an edge of the submersion tank.