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US-12616205-B2 - Silver-ion-impregnated channel for endoscope, endoscope including silver-ion-impregnated channel, and methods of cleaning and reprocessing such endoscope

US12616205B2US 12616205 B2US12616205 B2US 12616205B2US-12616205-B2

Abstract

A channel for an endoscope comprises a tube made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) having at least one additive. The at least one additive includes a carrier that contains silver ions and is incorporated within a wall of the tube, and a content of silver ions in the tube is at least 0.0005% by weight of the tube.

Inventors

  • Hrishikesh Deo

Assignees

  • HOYA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20220622

Claims (8)

  1. 1 . An endoscope comprising: at least one channel comprising a tube made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) having at least one additive, wherein: the at least one additive includes a carrier that contains silver ions and is incorporated within a wall of the tube; the tube does not comprise a zeolite; a content of silver ions in the tube is at least 0.0005% by weight of the tube; and the at least one channel is a working channel of the endoscope the working channel from repeated usage and cleanings.
  2. 2 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein: a content of the carrier in the tube is at least 0.1% by weight of the tube; and a content of silver ions in the carrier is at least 0.5% by weight of the carrier.
  3. 3 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein a content of the carrier in the tube is not more than 1% by weight of the tube.
  4. 4 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is dispersed throughout a wall thickness of the tube.
  5. 5 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is embedded within the wall of the tube.
  6. 6 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a phosphate glass.
  7. 7 . The endoscope according to claim 6 , wherein a content of silver ions in the carrier is not more than 15% by weight of the carrier.
  8. 8 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein: the tube is made by sintering PTFE, and the carrier is incorporated into the PTFE before the sintering.

Description

BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure generally relates to surgical devices, methods of fabrication of surgical devices, and methods of use of surgical devices. More particularly, and without limitation, the disclosed embodiments relate to endoscope channels (e.g., working channels) impregnated with silver ions, devices and systems having such a channel, and methods for manufacture, assembly, or use of such devices, systems, or channels. Background An endoscope is a surgical instrument that may be used to access (e.g., view or remove) or treat tissue within the body of a patient by inserting one or more medical tools into the body through an incision in the body or an orifice of the body. SUMMARY A channel for an endoscope according to a general configuration comprises a tube made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) having at least one additive. The channel may be at least one among an air channel for an endoscope, a water channel for an endoscope, or a working channel for an endoscope. The at least one additive includes a carrier that contains silver ions and is incorporated within a wall of the tube, and a content of silver ions in the tube is at least 0.0005% by weight of the tube. Endoscopes comprising at least one such channel, and methods of reprocessing (e.g., cleaning and/or disinfecting) such endoscopes, are also disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing parts of an endoscope. FIG. 2 is a diagram that shows an example of interior channels of an endoscope. FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows another example of channels of an endoscope. FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows a further example of channels of an endoscope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The disclosed embodiments include silver-ion-impregnated channels for endoscopes, and endoscopes including silver-ion-impregnated channels. Advantageously, embodiments of the present disclosure allow for a durable antimicrobial effect to inhibit biofilm formation and serve as an adjunct solution to a cleaning and disinfection routine. As described herein, an endoscope typically includes a control portion (e.g., a handle) at a proximal end, a distal (or “sensing”) end, and an insertion tube that extends between the control portion and the distal end. The insertion tube houses a tube called a “working channel” that defines an interior lumen. In some cases, the working channel may define more than one interior lumen (e.g., in parallel). The term “proximal” (e.g., “a proximal end”) refers to a point or a location along the length of the endoscope that is to closer to a physician or other medical practitioner during use of the endoscope, and the term “distal” (e.g., “a distal end”) refers to a point or location along the length of the endoscope that is to be closer to a location of tissue being viewed or treated within the body of a patient during use of the endoscope. Types of endoscope include, for example and without limitation, bronchoscopes, sinuscopes, nasopharyngoscopes, laryngoscopes, laparoscopes, gastroscopes, duodenoscopes, colonoscopes, hysteroscopes, cystoscopes, uroscopes, urethroscopes, cardioscopes, and arthroscopes. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing parts of an endoscope 100. Endoscope 100 includes a control portion 130 that is connected to a distal end 110 by a insertion tube 120. Control portion 130 is also connected to an interface portion 190 via an umbilical cord 180. In this example, the interface portion 190 includes an air/water port 140, a suction nipple 150, electrical contact 160, and/or a light guide 170. FIG. 1 also shows an example of a configuration of interior channels of the endoscope 100. The working channel of an endoscope may also be called an instrument channel, a tool channel, or a biopsy channel. During use of the endoscope, a medical instrument or tool (e.g., a forceps, needle, scissors, grasper, retractor, snare, dilator, or brush) may be introduced into the working channel of the endoscope from the proximal end (e.g., via a working channel inlet) to the distal end of the endoscope until a distal end of the tool approximates or reaches a desired location for accessing or treating tissue of the patient (e.g., to perform a surgical operation inside the body, to retrieve a tissue sample via the working channel, etc.). The diameter of the working channel typically depends on the outer diameter of the endoscope (e.g., the outer diameter of the insertion tube 120). Depending on, for example, the type of endoscope, the working channel may have an inner diameter (e.g. an inner diameter of a tube of the working channel) in the range of from about one mm to about eight mm, in one example from about one mm to about five mm. The inner diameter of the channel may for example be at least three millimeters, in some examples at least four millimeters, in one example at least five millimeters. In other examples, the inner diameter of the channel may be not more than three millimeters, in some examples not more than two millimeters,