초록 ▼

A cartridge holder (30) for an automated endoscope reprocessor (10) is mounted on a movable rack (14). As the rack is wheeled into the chamber, a connector (164) on the cartridge holder (164) automatically makes a fluid connection with a connection port (158) within the chamber. The cartridge holder

A cartridge holder (30) for an automated endoscope reprocessor (10) is mounted on a movable rack (14). As the rack is wheeled into the chamber, a connector (164) on the cartridge holder (164) automatically makes a fluid connection with a connection port (158) within the chamber. The cartridge holder includes a base (42) and a lid (44), which is pivotally connected to the base by a hinge (110). A cartridge (40) holding a dose of a disinfectant concentrate or reagents is positioned in a well (50) defined by the base and the lid closed. Water flows through the cartridge holder via a fluid passageway (A) defined in part by the lid and in part by the hinge. The water mixes with the concentrate or reagents and the resulting disinfectant solution passes out of a lower end (205) of the cartridge into the well. The solution flows upwardly, around the cartridge, through an annular space (232) between the cartridge and the well, disinfecting the well in the process. The solution exits the cartridge through a plurality of bores (80) at an upper end of the base.

대표청구항 ▼

Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A decontamination system comprising: a chamber for receiving an item to be decontaminated; a cartridge holder, mounted within the chamber, which receives a single use cartridge containing a concentrated decontami

Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A decontamination system comprising: a chamber for receiving an item to be decontaminated; a cartridge holder, mounted within the chamber, which receives a single use cartridge containing a concentrated decontaminant or reagents which mix with water to form a decontaminant solution, the cartridge holder including: a base which defines a well having an opening through which the cartridge is inserted into the well, a lid which selectively closes the well opening, and a plurality of bores adjacent an upper end of the well which fluidly communicate between the well and the chamber, such that water entering the well is directed first through the cartridge before exiting the well through the bores; and a fluid distribution system, fluidly connected with the cartridge holder for supplying the water to the well. 2. The decontamination system of claim 1, wherein the base and lid define a gap therebetween, radially outward of the opening, the bores fluidly communicating with the gap. 3. The decontamination system of claim 1, wherein the lid includes an annular rim and the base includes an annular rim, the annular rims clamping a flange at an upper end of the cartridge therebetween when the lid is closed. 4. The decontamination system of claim 3, wherein the lid includes an annular skirt, radially outwardly spaced from the annular rim, the annular skirt being spaced from an upper surface of the base to define a gap therebetween when the lid is closed. 5. The decontamination system of claim 1, further including a locking assembly which selectively locks the lid to the base. 6. The decontamination system of claim 1, wherein the lid defines a first fluid passage and an aperture which fluidly connects the fluid passage with the well when the lid is closed. 7. The decontamination system of claim 6, wherein the lid is pivotally connected with the base by a hinge and wherein the hinge defines a second fluid passage therethrough which is fluidly connected with the first fluid passage. 8. The decontamination system of claim 6, further including a fluid connector, mounted to the cartridge holder, the connector being configured for selectively interconnecting the second fluid pathway with a fluid port of the fluid distribution system. 9. The decontamination system of claim 1, further including a rack for supporting the items, the rack being movable between a first position, in which items are loaded onto the rack, and a second position, in which the rack is positioned within the chamber, the cartridge holder being carried by the rack. 10. The decontamination system of claim 9, wherein the cartridge holder includes a connector fluidly connected with the well by a passageway in the cartridge holder, the connector being selectively connectable with a fluid port of the fluid distribution system when the rack is moved to the second position. 11. The decontamination system of claim 10, wherein the cartridge holder includes a second connector for selective interconnection with a second fluid port, the system further including: a container carried by the rack for receiving a portion of the item; a fluid line fluidly connecting the container and the connector for fluidly interconnecting the container with the second port when the rack is moved to the second position. 12. The decontamination system of claim 11, wherein the second fluid port is fluidly connected with a pressure detector for detecting the fluid pressure within the container. 13. The decontamination system of claim 1, further including: a pump fluidly connected with the fluid distribution system, and spray means, mounted within the chamber and fluidly connected with the fluid distribution system, for spraying the decontaminant solution over the item. 14. The decontamination system of claim 1, further including: an aperture at a lower end of the base, through which disinfectant solution drains from the well into the chamber. 15. The decontamination system of claim 1, further including: a window, defined in the base, through which the cartridge is visible when the lid is closed. 16. A cartridge holder for mounting in a chamber of a decontamination system which receives an item to be decontaminated comprising: a base which defines a well for receiving a single use cartridge having a side wall, a water inlet adjacent one end of the side wall, an outlet adjacent another end of the side wall, and a flange extending peripherally from the side wall and containing a concentrated decontaminate or reagents which mix with water to form a decontamination solution, the base having a cartridge receiving opening and a peripheral flange receiving seat for receiving the flange of the cartridge adjacent an upper end thereof, the base including a plurality of bores disposed on a cartridge outlet side of the flange receiving seat which extend from the well to an exterior surface of the base adjacent the opening; a lid which selectively closes the opening, the lid including a flange engaging seat for engaging the flange of the cartridge; a fluid passageway at least partially defined by the lid and partially defined by the base, the fluid passageway having an outlet surrounded by the flange engaging seat; and a connector connected with the fluid passageway for connecting the fluid passageway with a water supply of the decontaminating system to supply water to the well, such that with a cartridge received in the well and the lid closed, water flows through the fluid passage, out the fluid passage, in the cartridge inlet, dissolves the contaminant or reagents, flows out the cartridge outlet, through the well, and out through the bores. 17. A cartridge holder comprising: a base which defines a well for receiving a cartridge having a side wall, the base having an opening adjacent an upper end thereof, the base including a plurality of bores which extend from the well to an exterior surface of the base adjacent the opening; a lid which selectively closes the opening; a hinge which pivotally connects the lid and the base, the hinge including a pivot pin which defines an interior chamber; a fluid passageway defined through an upper wall portion of the base, the interior chamber of the pivot pin and the lid, the fluid passage being fluidly connected with the well; and a connector mounted to the base in fluid communication with the fluid passage such that water received through the connector passes through the fluid passage in the base upper wall portion, the pin interior passage, and the lid into the well. 18. A method of disinfection comprising: placing a cartridge in a well defined by a base through an opening in the well, the cartridge having a side wall and upper and lower ends which selectively hold within the cartridge a disinfectant concentrate or reagents which react in a liquid to form a disinfectant solution: closing the opening in the well with a lid; supplying the liquid to the well such that: the liquid flows into the cartridge through the upper end, the liquid mixes with the concentrate or reagents to form the disinfectant solution, and the disinfectant solution flows out of the cartridge into the well through the lower end of the cartridge; flowing the disinfectant solution through a space defined between the cartridge side wall and the well to disinfect the well; flowing the disinfectant solution out of the well through bores in the base adjacent an upper end of the well. 19. The method of claim 18, further including: flowing the liquid into the well through a passageway at least partially defined through the lid. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lid is pivotally connected to the base by a hinge, and the passageway is at least partially defined in the hinge. 21. The method of claim 18, further including: draining a portion of the disinfectant solution through a hole at a lower end of the well. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the well is fluidly connected with a connector, the connector being carried by a movable rack, the method further including: wheeling the rack into a chamber, the connector automatically connecting with a fluid outlet port within the chamber as the rack is wheeled into the chamber. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of closing the opening includes clamping an annular flange at an upper end of the cartridge between a first surface defined by the base and a second surface defined by the lid, the bores defining openings which are radially outwardly spaced from the first surface, such that substantially all liquid leaving the well passes through the cartridge. 24. The method of claim 18, further including: contacting items to be disinfected with the disinfectant solution. 25. A disinfection apparatus comprising: a cartridge received in a well defined by a base through an opening in the well, the cartridge having a side wall and upper and lower ends which selectively hold within the cartridge a disinfectant concentrate or reagents which react in a liquid to form a disinfectant solution; a lid closing the opening in the well; a means for supplying the liquid to the well such that: the liquid flows into the cartridge through the upper end, the liquid mixes with the concentrate or reagents to form the disinfectant solution, and the disinfectant solution flows out of the cartridge into the well through the lower end of the cartridge; the cartridge side wall and the well defining a space between the cartridge side wall and the well through which the disinfectant solution flows to disinfect the well; bores defined in the base adjacent an upper end of the well through which bores the disinfectant solution flows out of the well. 26. A cartridge holder for mounting in a chamber of a decontamination system which receives an item to be decontaminated comprising: a base which defines a well for receiving a single use cartridge containing a concentrated decontaminate or reagents which mix with water to form a decontamination solution and having a side wall, the base having an opening adjacent an upper end thereof, the base including a plurality of bores which extend from the well to an exterior surface of the base adjacent the opening; a lid which selectively closes the opening; a fluid passageway at least partially defined by the lid and partially defined by the base, the fluid passageway being fluidly connected with the well; a connector connected with the fluid passageway for connecting the fluid passageway with a water supply of the decontaminating system to supply water to the well; wherein the fluid passageway extends from the connector which receives water from the water supply, through the base without entering the well, from the base to the lid without flowing into the well, through the lid, and from the lid through an outlet opening into the well. 27. A cartridge holder for mounting in a chamber of a decontamination system which receives an item to be decontaminated comprising: a base which defines a well for receiving a single use cartridge containing a concentrated decontaminate or reagents which mix with water to form a decontamination solution and having a side wall, the base having an opening adjacent an upper end thereof, the base including a plurality of bores which extend from the well to an exterior surface of the base adjacent the opening; a lid which selectively closes the opening; a fluid passageway at least partially defined by the lid and partially defined by the base, the fluid passageway being fluidly connected with the well; a connector connected with the fluid passageway for connecting the fluid passageway with a water supply of the decontaminating system to supply water to the well; and, bores extending through the base from the well to a groove defined between the base and the lid, the base and the lid defining a gap through which fluid from the groove is discharged, fluid flowing through the bores, groove, and gap being isolated from the fluid passage such that fluid flowing through the fluid passage does not intermix with fluid flowing through the bores, the groove, and the gap.