US 11,779,200 B2
Variable pressure cleaning device and method
Scott Miller, Arlington, VA (US); Frank Carter, Wormleysburg, PA (US); and Carl Gauger, Kansas City, MO (US)
Filed by GI Scientific, LLC, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,764.
Application 17/676,764 is a continuation of application No. 17/509,304, filed on Oct. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,357,394.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/105,072, filed on Oct. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0175235 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 1/12 (2006.01); B08B 9/043 (2006.01); A61B 90/70 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 1/122 (2013.01) [B08B 9/0436 (2013.01); A61B 2090/701 (2016.02); B08B 2209/04 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning device for use with an endoscopic instrument, the device comprising:
an elongate member configured for translation through a lumen within the endoscopic instrument;
at least one cleaning element coupled to a portion of the elongate member, wherein the at least one cleaning element comprises distal and proximal end portions and a central portion between the distal and proximal end portions, the central portion having an outer diameter less than the proximal and distal end portions;
wherein the central portion is shaped to increase a force applied by a fluid within the lumen against an internal wall of the lumen as the cleaning element is advanced through the lumen, and
wherein the force creates a shear stress of at least about 5 Pa in at least one area between the distal and proximal end portions of the cleaning element.