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DE-102025105291-B3 - Adapter device and method for connecting two surgical instruments with a leak detection device and reprocessing device

DE102025105291B3DE 102025105291 B3DE102025105291 B3DE 102025105291B3DE-102025105291-B3

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter device 20 and a method for connecting two surgical instruments 11, 12 to a leak detection device 7. The invention further relates to the reprocessing device 1 comprising the leak detection device 7 and the adapter device 20. The adapter device 20 has a Y-shaped section 20a with three legs 21, 22, 23. The three legs 21, 22, 23 comprise a first leg 21, which is designed to be connected to the leak detection device 7, a second leg 22, which is designed to be connected to a first surgical instrument 11, and a third leg 23, which is designed to be connected to a second surgical instrument 12. The adapter device 20 is designed to create an airtight connection between the leak detection device 7 and the surgical instruments 11, 12, enabling the leak detection device 7 to simultaneously pressurize the first surgical instrument 11 and the second surgical instrument 12 with pressurized gas. The third leg 23 has a flow control element 24 designed to change the flow resistance of the third leg 23 depending on the flow direction.

Inventors

  • Henning THATE

Assignees

  • OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250213

Claims (15)

  1. Adapter device (20) for connecting two surgical instruments (11, 12) to a leak detection device (7) of a reprocessing device (1), wherein the adapter device (20) has a Y-shaped section (20a) with three legs (21, 22, 23), wherein the three legs (21, 22, 23) include a first leg (21) which is designed is to be connected to the leak detection device (7), has a second leg (22) designed to be connected to a first surgical instrument (11), and a third leg (23) designed to be connected to a second surgical instrument (12), wherein the adapter device (20) is designed to create an airtight connection between the leak detection device (7) and the surgical instruments (11, 12) to enable the leak detection device (7) to simultaneously pressurize the first surgical instrument (11) and the second surgical instrument (12), wherein the third leg (23) has a flow control element (24), wherein the flow control element (24) is designed to change a flow resistance of the third leg (23) depending on the flow direction.
  2. Adapter device (20) according to Claim 1 , wherein the flow control element (24) is designed to increase the flow resistance in a first direction (31), wherein the flow control element (24) is designed not to change or decrease the flow resistance in a second direction (32) opposite to the first direction.
  3. Adapter device (20) according to Claim 2 , wherein the first direction (31) is a direction towards the leak detection device (7), wherein the second direction (32) is a direction away from the leak detection device (7).
  4. Adapter device (20) according to Claims 2 or 3 , wherein the flow control element (24) has a diaphragm, the diaphragm being designed to increase the flow resistance in the first direction (31) and not to change or decrease the flow resistance in the second direction (32).
  5. Adapter device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the third leg (23) has two parallel channels (23a, 23b), wherein the flow control element (24) has a one-way valve, the one-way valve being arranged in one of the two channels.
  6. Adapter device (20) according to Claim 5 , wherein the combined flow resistance of the two channels (23a, 23b) of the third leg (23) is equal to the flow resistance of the second leg (22) when the one-way valve is open, wherein the combined flow resistance of the two channels (23a, 23b) of the third leg (23) is greater than the flow resistance of the second leg (22) when the one-way valve is closed.
  7. Reprocessing device (1) comprising a leak detection device (7) and an adapter device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the leak detection device (7) has a connecting part (21a) designed to be connected to the first leg (21) of the adapter device.
  8. Reprocessing device (1) according to Claim 7 , comprising a control device (6), wherein the control device (6) is designed to measure a pressurization time and a pressure release time, wherein the pressurization time is the time required to pressurize all surgical instruments (11, 12) connected to the leak detection device (7), wherein the pressure release time is the time required to release the pressure from all surgical instruments (11, 12) connected to the leak detection device (7), wherein the control device (6) is further designed to detect, by comparing the pressurization time and the pressure release time, whether one or two surgical instruments (11, 12) are connected to the leak detection device (7).
  9. Method for connecting two surgical instruments (11, 12) to a leak detection device (7) of a reprocessing device (1), wherein an adapter device (20) is connected to the leak detection device (7), a first surgical instrument (11) and a second surgical instrument (12), wherein the adapter device (20) has a Y-shaped section (20a) with three legs (21, 22, 23), the three legs (21, 22, 23) comprising a first leg (21) connected to the leak detection device (7), a second leg (22) connected to the first surgical instrument (11) and a third leg (23) connected to the second surgical instrument (12), wherein the adapter device (20) establishes an airtight connection between the leak detection device (7) and the surgical instruments (11, 12), wherein the leak detection device (7) simultaneously connects the first surgical instrument (11) and the second surgical instrument (12). The instrument (12) is pressurized with gas, wherein the third leg (23) has a flow control element (24), wherein the flow control element (24) changes the flow resistance of the third leg (23) depending on the flow direction.
  10. Procedure according to Claim 9 , wherein the flow control element (24) increases the flow resistance in a first direction (31), wherein the flow control element (24) does not change or decrease the flow resistance in a second direction (32) opposite to the first direction.
  11. Procedure according to Claim 10 , wherein the first direction (31) is a direction towards the leak detection device (7), wherein the second direction (32) is a direction away from the leak detection device (7).
  12. Procedure according to Claims 10 or 11 , wherein the flow control element (24) has a diaphragm, the diaphragm increasing the flow resistance in the first direction (31) and not changing or decreasing the flow resistance in the second direction (32).
  13. Procedure according to one of the Claims 9 until 12 , wherein the third leg (23) has two parallel channels (23a, 23b), wherein the flow control element (24) has a one-way valve, the one-way valve being arranged in one of the two channels (23a, 23b).
  14. Procedure according to Claim 13 , wherein the combined flow resistance of the two channels (23a, 23b) of the third leg (23) is equal to the flow resistance of the second leg (22) when the one-way valve is open, wherein the combined flow resistance of the two channels (23a, 23b) of the third leg (23) is greater than the flow resistance of the second leg (22) when the one-way valve is closed.
  15. Procedure according to one of the Claims 9 until 14 , wherein the reprocessing device (1) has a control device (6), wherein the control device (6) measures a pressurization time and a pressure release time, wherein the pressurization time is the time required to pressurize all surgical instruments (11, 12) connected to the leak detection device (7), wherein the pressure release time is the time required to release the pressure from all surgical instruments (11, 12) connected to the leak detection device (7), wherein the control device (7) further determines, by comparing the pressurization time and the pressure release time, whether one or two surgical instruments (11, 12) are connected to the leak detection device (7).

Description

The invention relates to an adapter device for connecting two surgical instruments to a leak detection device of a reprocessing unit. The invention further relates to a reprocessing unit and a method for connecting two surgical instruments to a leak detection device. Surgical instruments, such as endoscopes, require reprocessing after each use to prevent contamination of other patients. Reprocessing involves cleaning and disinfecting the surgical instruments and is often performed by automated reprocessing units. These units typically have one or more baskets in which the surgical instruments are placed. To clean not only the exterior but also the internal channels of the surgical instruments, the internal channels are usually connected to tubes that apply a cleaning solution and compressed air to clean, disinfect, and dry the channels. This requires that certain critical parts of the endoscope, such as the camera or fibers, be detached from the channels and outer casing to protect them from water. This detached section of the endoscope is connected to a leak detector to ensure it remains sealed and pressurized during reprocessing. A preliminary leak test must always be performed before cleaning begins. During this process, the leak detector first identifies the presence of a connected endoscope by accessing the connected volume, which then needs to be filled. The leak detector then pressurizes the protected portion of the endoscope to the required test pressure and assesses whether the pressure is maintained over time. When reprocessing small surgical instruments, such as bronchoscopes, it is possible to arrange two such instruments in a single basket to speed up the reprocessing of multiple instruments. These small surgical instruments are then connected to the leak detection device via a Y-shaped adapter to pressurize both instruments simultaneously. However, when using such an adapter, the reprocessing device cannot detect whether one or two endoscopes are connected to the leak detection device. Furthermore, the detection of a leak in one of the surgical instruments is reduced because the pressure loss due to the leak is halved by splitting the compressed air flow into two streams. This means that the pressure drop from one endoscope is partially absorbed by the second connected endoscope. JP H08- 243 080 A The figure shows a device for cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes. An air supply hose is connected to the device via a connector. The air supply hose splits into two hoses to supply air to different inlets of the endoscope. EP 3 449 804 A1 This document shows a method and a device for simultaneously testing adapter connections and checking the patency of endoscope channels. The device is connected via an adapter to two inlets of the endoscope channels simultaneously, using two hoses. The object of the present invention is to improve the detection and testing of a leak between two surgical instruments connected by a single leak detection device. This problem is solved by an adapter device for connecting two surgical instruments to a leak detection device of a reprocessing device, wherein the adapter device has a Y-shaped section with three legs, the three legs comprising a first leg designed to be connected to the leak detection device, a second leg designed to be connected to a first surgical instrument, and a third leg designed to be connected to a second surgical instrument, wherein the adapter device is designed to create an airtight connection between the leak detection device and the surgical instruments in order to enable the leak detection device to simultaneously pressurize the first surgical instrument and the second surgical instrument, wherein the third leg has a flow control element, the flow control element being designed to change a flow resistance of the third leg depending on the flow direction. By using a Y-shaped adapter device, which is equipped with a flow control element in one of its arms, the flow resistance of the pressurized gas changes depending on the flow direction. This is in contrast to connecting only a single surgical instrument to the leak detection device. The time required to pressurize and the time required to release the pressure are different. Flow resistance is the resistance of the pressurized gas, e.g., air, as it flows through the third limb. Increasing the flow resistance in the third limb makes it take longer to pressurize or release the pressure in the second surgical instrument. The flow control element is located in the third leg. The second leg, in particular, does not have a flow control element. This makes it possible to distinguish whether only one surgical instrument, two surgical instruments, or no surgical instrument at all is connected to the leak detection device. The adapter device may have additional parts besides the Y-shaped section. For example, the adapter device may have tubular extensions of the first leg, the second leg, and/or the thi