US 11,937,778 B2
Apparatuses and methods for determining if an endoscope is contaminated
Alexander Q. Tilson, Burlingame, CA (US); Thomas Hsiu, Palo Alto, CA (US); Niklas J. Helmick, San Jose, CA (US); Stephan T. Hoffmann, Danville, CA (US); Eugene Duval, Menlo Park, CA (US); Christopher J. Hasser, Lotus, CA (US); James M. Hayes, La Honda, CA (US); Elias Eleftheriades, Redwood City, CA (US); and Kai Pohlhammer, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to Neptune Medical Inc., Burlingame, CA (US)
Filed by NEPTUNE MEDICAL INC., Burlingame, CA (US)
Filed on May 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/325,979.
Application 18/325,979 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2023/066293, filed on Apr. 27, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/335,720, filed on Apr. 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0346200 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/012 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 1/00142 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00055 (2013.01); A61B 1/00057 (2013.01); A61B 1/00128 (2013.01); A61B 1/00137 (2013.01); A61B 1/012 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2090/081 (2016.02)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for an endoscope configured to indicate contamination, the system comprising:
a flexible tubular external sheath configured to extend over an endoscope;
a cap configured to couple to a distal end of the endoscope, wherein a distal end region of the flexible tubular external sheath is sealed to the cap;
a proximal sealing collar, wherein a proximal end region of the flexible tubular external sheath is sealed to the proximal sealing collar, further wherein the proximal sealing collar is configured to form an airtight seal so that the flexible tubular external sheath may be inflated or deflated by the application of pressure between the flexible tubular external sheath and an outer surface of the endoscope;
a tubular internal sheath configured to extend within a lumen of the endoscope, the tubular internal sheath having one or more lumens, wherein a distal end region of the tubular internal sheath is sealed to the cap so that the one or more lumens of the tubular internal sheath is open through the cap; and
an indicator configured to indicate, based on a change of pressure from between the external sheath and the endoscope, if the flexible external sheath has a leak indicating potential contamination pathway.