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A system for reprocessing flexible endoscopes having lumen therein. The reprocessing system deploys steam to disinfect and/or sterilize the endoscopes, and designs, components, and methods for reducing or balancing the reprocessing cycle time and the effects of thermal expansion and contraction on t

A system for reprocessing flexible endoscopes having lumen therein. The reprocessing system deploys steam to disinfect and/or sterilize the endoscopes, and designs, components, and methods for reducing or balancing the reprocessing cycle time and the effects of thermal expansion and contraction on the endoscopes.

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1. An apparatus for reprocessing a flexible endoscope, wherein the endoscope has an external surface and a lumen, comprising:an enclosure having a reprocessing bay therein for receiving the endoscope; a steam source providing steam with at least one controlled heat content in fluid communication wit

1. An apparatus for reprocessing a flexible endoscope, wherein the endoscope has an external surface and a lumen, comprising:an enclosure having a reprocessing bay therein for receiving the endoscope; a steam source providing steam with at least one controlled heat content in fluid communication with the reprocessing bay; a fluid sprayer in fluid communication with the steam source for spraying steam onto the external surface of the endoscope with the steam sprayed onto the external surface of the endoscope having heat content insufficient to damage the endoscope; and a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the steam source and configured to allow steam from the steam source to flow through the fluid conduit into the lumen of the endoscope with the steam flowing through the lumen of the endoscope having heat content insufficient to damage the endoscope. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lumen comprises a first lumen, wherein the endoscope comprises at least one additional lumen, and wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communications with the first lumen and additional lumen.3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fluid conduit comprises polymeric tubing.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the endoscope comprises a first endoscope, wherein the apparatus is configured to simultaneously reprocessing the first endoscope and a second endoscope.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reprocessing bay is configured to withstand pressure above and below on atmosphere.6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for changing the pressure within the reprocessing bay.7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the reprocessing bay for changing the pressure within the reprocessing bay.8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure within the reprocessing bay.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reprocessing bay is configured to receive a first endoscope and a second endoscope, and wherein the fluid sprayer comprises a first rotating steam member within the reprocessing bay for spraying steam onto the first endoscope and a second rotating steam member within the reprocessing bay for spraying stream onto the second endoscope.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluid sprayer further comprises third and fourth rotating steam members within the reprocessing bay for spraying steam the first and second endoscopes.11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first, second, third and fourth rotating steam members are configured to spray stem onto the first and second endoscopes in a generally horizontal direction.12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid sprayer comprises a moving sprayer positioned and configured to spray steam onto the endoscope in a generally vertical direction.13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steam source comprises a first steam generator.14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for changing the heat content of the steam sprayed onto or flowed into the endoscope.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the steam soiree comprises a first steam source, wherein the heat content changing means comprises a second steam source in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid sprayer and the fluid conduit.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second steam source is configured to supply steam at a different heat content than the steam supplied by the first steam source.17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor.18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensor positioned to sense steam sprayed onto the endoscope.19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensor positioned to sense steam flowed into the endoscope.20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of a portion of the endoscope.21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reprocessing bay is configured to receive a first endoscope and a second endoscope, wherein the reprocessing bay includes a first guide and a second guide, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first endoscope support frame on which the first endoscope may be hung and a second endoscope support frame on which the second endoscope may be hung, wherein the first support frame and second support frame are configured to be respectively guided into the reprocessing bay on the first guide and the second guide.22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus further comprises first and second endoscope conduit connectors respectively for the first and second endoscopes, wherein the first and second endoscope connectors are connectable to openings of lumen of the first and second endoscopes and attachable respectively to the first and second endoscope support frames such that inserting the first or second endoscope support frame having the first or second endoscope hung thereon into the reprocessing bay causes a connection of the first or second endoscope connector to the fluid conduit.23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liquid source connected to at least one of the fluid sprayer and the fluid conduit to enable the apparatus to apply a liquid to the endoscope in addition to applying steam.24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid source contains at least one of water, detergent, liquid sterilant, liquid disinfectant, liquid decontaminant, alcohol, and bioflim remover.25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chemical source connected to at least one of the fluid sprayer and the fluid conduit to enable the apparatus to apply a chemical gas to the endoscope in addition to applying steam.26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the chemical source contains formaldehyde.27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filtered air source connected to at least one of the fluid sprayer and the fluid conduit to enable the apparatus to apply a filtered air to the endoscope in addition to applying steam.28. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid connector in fluid communication with the steam source and connectable to the endoscope; and means for disconnecting the fluid connector from the endoscope after steam has flow into the endoscope such that the endoscope may be removed from the apparatus.29. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid connector in fluid communication with the steam source and connectable to the endoscope; arid a disconnector mechanism positioned adjacent the fluid connector for disconnecting the fluid connector from the endoscope after steam has flow into the endoscope such that the endoscope may be removed from the apparatus.30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller that controls actions carried out by the apparatus including at least one of timing of fluid flow onto or Into the endoscope, fluid temperature, fluid type, fluid flow rate, fluid pressure, fluid moisture content.31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for affecting the pressure within an electronics enclosure of the endoscope.32. A method for reprocessing a flexible endoscope, comprising: placing the endoscope into a steam reprocessing bay of a reprocessing apparatus, wherein the endoscope has an exterior surface and lumen; applying steam to the exterior surface of the endoscope; flowing steam through the lumen of the endoscope; and controlling a dimensional change to the endoscope during the reprocessing method.33. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling at least one of expansion or contraction of a material of which the endoscope is made, wherein such material is at least one of a thermoplastic, thermoset, metal glass, and ceramic material.34. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of providing a flexible cridoscope comprises providing an endoscope comprising a polymeric flexible material, wherein the lumen includes a plurality of lumens.35. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps uses steam having a temperature of between about 121 and about 140 degrees Celsius.36. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the applying stream and flowing steam steps uses steam having a temperature of about 132 degrees Celsius.37. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps uses steam having a temperature of between about 115 and about 126 degrees Celsius.38. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps uses steam having a temperature of about 121 degrees Celsius.39. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps begins using steam having a temperature below 121 degrees Celsius and later continues using a higher temperature steam.40. The method of claim 32, wherein the steam applied to the exterior and flowed into the lumen is saturated steam.41. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises providing steam for applying steam and flowing steam, wherein the steam providing step comprises changing the temperature of the steam during at least one of the steam applying and steam flowing steps.42. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the temperature of the steam used in at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps.43. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the temperature of the endoscope In conjunction with at least one of the steam applying and steam flowing steps.44. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling steam pressure in conjunction with at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps.45. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling flow rate of the steam in conjunction with at least one of the applying steam and flowing steam steps.46. The method of claim 32, further comprising: placing the endoscope onto a support frame; attaching an endoscope connector to lumen openings of the endoscope; providing a steam source to supply the steam for the applying steam and flowing steam steps; providing a steam source connector in fluid communication with the steam source and located within the reprocessing bay; and inserting the endoscope such that the endoscope connector connects to the steam source connector.47. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing at least one guide within the reprocessing chamber that guides the support frame into the reprocessing chamber during the inserting step.48. The method of claim 32, further comprising applying to the exterior of the endoscope prior to the steam applying step.49. The method of claim 32, wherein the lumen comprises a plurality of lumens, further comprising flowing a liquid through the lumens of the endoscope prior to the steam flowing step.50. The method of claim 32, wherein the steps of applying steam and flowing steam and sterilize exterior and interior surfaces of the endoscope.51. The method of claim 32, further comprising flowing air through at least one lumen of the endoscope following the steam flowing step.52. The method of claim 32, wherein the steam flowing step comprises a first steam step wherein the steam has a first moisture content into the lumen of the endoscope, wherein the method further comprises a second steam flowing step following the steam flowing step, wherein the steam has a second moisture content into the lumen of the endoscope following the first steam flowing step, wherein the first moisture content is greater than the second moisture content.53. The method of claim 52, wherein the steam having the second moisture content comprises substantially dry steam to remove condensation from the lumen of the endoscope.54. The method of claim 32, further comprising at least one of wiping, rinsing, or washing the endoscope before putting the endoscope into the reprocessing bay.55. The method of claim 32, wherein no wiping, rinsing, or washing of the endoscope occurs before at least one of the steam flowing and steam applying steps.56. The method of claim 32, further comprising removing the endoscope from the reprocessing bay by a user by reaching into the reprocessing bay through a sterile bag such that the endoscope does not contact a non-sterile bag during the removing step.57. The method of claim 56, further comprising attaching the sterile bag to the reprocessing apparatus prior to reaching into the reprocessing bay.58. The method of claim 32, wherein placing the endoscope into the steam reprocessing bay causes a first connector in fluid communication with a lumen of the endoscope to connect to a second connector in communication with the reprocessing apparatus such that steam from the reprocessing apparatus may flow into the lumen.59. The method of claim 32, further comprising controlling the rate at which the endoscope contracts when cooled to reduce damage to a material of which the endoscope is made.60. The method of claim 59, wherein the controlling of the cooling rate comprises at least one of controlling the temperature, moisture content, and flow rate of at least one of water, alcohol, other liquid, steam, air, and other gas flowed into or onto the endoscope.61. The method of claim 32, further comprising flowing gas between an endoscope enclosure that encloses electronics of the endoscope and a gas source of the reprocessing apparatus to change pressure within the electronics enclosure.62. An endoscope assembly for use with a endoscope reprocessing apparatus, comprising:an endoscope having lumen therein; a frame on which the endoscope may be positioned during reprocessing within a reprocessing apparatus, wherein the flame includes an assembly connector connectable to the lumen such that reprocessing fluid from the reprocessing can flow into the lumen, wherein a reprocessor connector is positioned and configured to connect to a reprocessing connector of the reprocessing apparatus due to insertion of the frame into the reprocessing apparatus. 63. The endoscope assembly of claim 62, wherein the frame comprises means for holding the endoscope that is integral with the assembly connector.64. The endoscope assembly of claim 62, further comprising a fluid set connectable to and between the endoscope and the assembly connector such that reprocessing fluid from the reprocessing apparatus can flow through the assembly connector and the fluid set and into the lumen.65. The endoscope assembly of claim 62, wherein the endoscope includes a lumen entrance port in which reprocessing fluid can enter the lumen and a lumen exit port through which reprocessing fluid can exit the lumen.66. The endoscope assembly of claim 62, wherein the endoscope has electronics within an electronic enclosure, and wherein the endoscope enclosure has a gas port for receiving a gas from a gas source to affect the pressure within the electronics enclosure.67. A method for reprocessing the endoscope following an endoscopic procedure, comprising placing the endoscope into a steam reprocessing bay of a reprocessing apparatus, wherein the endoscope has an exterior surface and lumen; applying steam to the exterior surface of the endoscope; flowing flow of steam through the lumen of the endoscope; and controlling the temperature the endoscope during the reprocessing method.68. The method of claim 67, wherein the endoscope was used in an endoscopic procedure prior to the placing step.