Endoscope cleaning system

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of endoscope cleaning systems, comprising: hot air drying unit, the hot air drying unit includes multiple air outlet head and the angle adjusting module for individually adjusting multiple the air outlet head;Thermoplastic packaging unit, the thermoplastic packaging unit covers the endoscope after drying, wherein, thermoplastic packaging unit includes heating packaging component and vacuumizing component.This technical solution increases the application range of high-pressure airflow, can operate high-pressure airflow to small aperture jet, change the direction of endoscope and the position of liquid volume that easily produce jet, reduce the step of sterile cloth manual cleaning endoscope and the position of liquid volume that easily produce, reduce labor cost, improve drying speed and efficiency, at the same time, the dried endoscope after covering can be used as an independent sterile package and issued to clinical use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to an endoscope cleaning system. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopy is a medical imaging technique that is currently widely used, especially due to its ease of implementation, accuracy, and low invasiveness. Therefore, endoscopes are used to determine diagnoses (diagnostic endoscopy) or to treat diseases and injuries (surgical endoscopy). However, its handling and cleaning are quite unique: cleaning and disinfection are essential.

[0003] However, in existing technologies, whether disinfection with water or high-temperature sterilization, different equipment is required, relying primarily on medical personnel to manually handle and change the equipment. The existing disinfection and drying steps involve: immediately after examination, the endoscope is cleaned with a suitable non-abrasive detergent, followed by rinsing; the total time for this cleaning step must be no less than 15 minutes. Next, the endoscope is disinfected: it is immersed in a disinfectant solution and then rinsed again. Finally, it is partially dried using a medical compressed air spray gun. This last step lasts approximately 5 minutes. However, the results are unsatisfactory: the process is lengthy, and ultimately, residual moisture remains on at least a portion of the tubing, which does not guarantee optimal harmlessness.

[0004] Chinese patent CN108543756A discloses an integrated medical device cleaning, disinfection, and drying device, comprising a housing, an immersion disinfection tank at the bottom of the housing containing a medical device container, several ultraviolet lamps and several fans at the top of the housing, a support rod 1 with a pulley 1 mounted on one side of the top of the housing, a support rod 2 with a pulley 2 mounted on the other side of the top of the housing, a motor at the middle of the top of the housing, a gear 1 and a pulley 3 sequentially mounted on the output shaft of the motor, and a support shaft at the top of the housing, located to the side of the motor, through which a support rod 3 passes, with a gear 2 and a pulley 4 sequentially mounted on the support rod 3. This structure is complex and fails to solve the problem of water accumulation on the devices after immersion in the disinfection tank.

[0005] Chinese patent CN111288773B discloses a vacuum drying oven, including a box body, a door, an inner liner inside the box body, a drying rack on the inner liner, a heating pipe on the inner wall of the inner liner, and an exhaust pipe for gas circulation within the box body. This device increases drying efficiency by heating and extracting air.

[0006] The disinfection and sterilization of endoscopes relies heavily on liquid rinsing. However, due to the complex structure of endoscopes, their surfaces have numerous crevices and depressions. Existing drying technologies include heating and airflow circulation. For heating-based drying, maintaining the ambient temperature often requires a sealed environment and a stage where the endoscope is placed for heating. This increases the contact area between the endoscope and the stage (which may come into contact with other endoscopes), significantly increasing the probability of contamination. Furthermore, the endoscope is bent when placed on the stage, preventing liquid from evaporating within the drying time (e.g., 12 minutes in a 60–80°C high-temperature drying cabinet). High-temperature drying also has limitations for flexible endoscopes that are not heat-resistant.

[0007] Airflow-based drying is a more widely used method, and existing technologies utilize various types of airflows for drying, including sterilization airflow, high-temperature airflow, and internal circulation airflow. However, in practical applications, the airflow intensity is affected by the surface morphology of the endoscope, resulting in varying degrees of reduction and thus different drying effects on different endoscope structures. For example, complete drying can be achieved on smooth surfaces, but when deep crevices appear on the endoscope surface, the airflow cannot be effective within the crevices due to the flow rate and direction, causing liquid to accumulate within the crevices.

[0008] If the endoscope is not thoroughly dried, the residual moisture on the endoscope will promote the growth of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, leading to the formation of biofilms and increasing the difficulty of disinfection and sterilization. Therefore, thorough cleaning and drying of the endoscope are key to successful disinfection and sterilization.

[0009] Based on this, the present invention provides an endoscope cleaning system, which is designed with a scanning variable air drying system for the endoscope drying process.

[0010] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0011] With the development and updating of medical diagnostic and treatment technologies, endoscopes are increasingly widely used in clinical practice, playing a positive role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, due to the precise and complex structure and special materials of endoscopes and their accessories, most of them are not resistant to high temperatures and are susceptible to corrosion, posing challenges to the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of endoscopes after use. For example, the problem of drug-resistant bacterial infection caused by flexible endoscopes in retrograde cholangiopancreatography (RTCP) abroad has become one of the top ten medical technology hazards in 2018. In existing technologies, the drying process specified in WS507-2016 "Technical Specification for Cleaning and Disinfection of Flexible Endoscopes" is as follows: a) Place the endoscope, buttons, and valves on a dedicated drying table covered with sterile drapes, which should be changed every 4 hours; b) Irrigate all tubing with 75%–95% ethanol or isopropanol; c) Use a pressure air gun to inflate all tubing with clean compressed air for at least 30 seconds to ensure complete drying; d) Dry the outer surface of the endoscope, buttons, and valves with sterile wiping cloths and a pressure air gun. However, in actual supervision, endoscopic drying wipes also face the following problems: Medical institutions handle a large number of endoscopic procedures daily, resulting in a large number of endoscopes requiring drying. Sterile wipes on the drying table become damp in less than 4 hours, losing their function of drying the outer surface, buttons, and valves of the endoscopes. Furthermore, dampness easily breeds bacteria, affecting the disinfection and sterilization effect of the endoscopes. Some medical institutions' endoscopy room cleaning and disinfection personnel lack sufficient understanding and fail to change the wipes every 4 hours; some even change them only once a day. Damp drying wipes increase the chance of contamination, affecting disinfection effectiveness. Moreover, many modern endoscopy procedures involve not only examinations but also invasive procedures such as biopsies and polyp removal, which come into contact with damaged mucous membranes, posing a risk of infection.

[0012] The main function of sterile drapes is to absorb liquid accumulated in crevices and on raised surfaces (such as buttons). However, in actual operation, handling sterile drapes by hand itself poses a risk of contamination and increases the number of steps in the modification process.

[0013] As an instrument that invasively penetrates the human body cavity, endoscopes are made of special materials and have a delicate structure. Many components are susceptible to high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosion, and can only be sterilized at low temperatures or by soaking in disinfectant. The complex design of endoscopes, containing numerous lumens and sinuses, makes them difficult to clean and sterilize, and biofilms easily form in the endoscopic channels. Biofilm formation is primarily caused by inadequate cleaning and sterilization. Biofilms adhere to moist surfaces, including water pipes, ventilation tubes, and the surfaces and lumens of medical devices (including urinary catheters, artificial heart valves, and pacemakers). Normally growing and multiplying bacteria covered by biofilms can escape high levels of disinfection and sterilization. One study examined 66 endoscopic biopsy channels, finding biofilms in 36 (54.6%). Some channels had three biofilm formations, and some even had large areas of biofilm. Electron microscopy revealed that 10 (76.9%) of the 13 channels examined had biofilm formation. In endoscopic instrument cleaning, improper drying can affect sterilization and disinfection, and also make biofilm formation more likely. Endoscopes covered by biofilm are more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of infection. For medical devices such as endoscopes, proper drying can prevent biofilm formation after thorough disinfection and sterilization; therefore, the drying step is crucial in the endoscope cleaning process. When endoscopes undergo high-level disinfection or liquid chemical sterilization at the endoscope cleaning workstation, incomplete drying after treatment, while eliminating residual microorganisms from use, provides an opportunity for waterborne microorganisms to colonize and form biofilms under the endoscope, causing contamination and posing an infection risk for reuse. Therefore, regardless of whether towel wiping, drying cabinet heating, or compressed air spraying is used, it is essential to ensure that there is no moisture or other environment that could form a biofilm in the endoscope's crevices. Generally, due to the narrow crevices, wiping and the active evaporation of liquid from the crevices based on ambient temperature are more difficult; therefore, the drying requirements for endoscope crevices and endoscope surfaces are completely different. Compared to simply drying the surface of the endoscope, the airflow generator needs to dry the endoscope's slits at a higher wind speed, targeting the angle of the slits.

[0014] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes an endoscope cleaning system, comprising: a hot air drying unit, the hot air drying unit including multiple air outlets and an angle adjustment module for individually adjusting the multiple air outlets; a movable support, which can control the hot air drying unit to move along the extension direction of the endoscope; and an identification unit, which can identify the depth operating area of ​​the endoscope, wherein, when the position of the hot air drying unit controlled by the movable support moves relative to the endoscope it operates on, the angle adjustment module of the hot air drying unit controls the multiple air outlets to tilt based on the depth operating area identified by the identification unit.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0016] (1) This technical solution increases the applicability of high-pressure airflow. It not only enables high-pressure airflow to achieve the drying effect on the smooth surface of endoscope in the traditional sense, but also allows high-pressure airflow to be sprayed in the form of small-diameter jet and change direction to spray the areas of endoscope that are prone to liquid accumulation. This reduces the steps of manually cleaning the areas of endoscope that are prone to liquid accumulation with sterile cloth, reduces labor costs, and improves drying speed and efficiency.

[0017] (2) For narrow areas that are inaccessible to the endoscope by hand (e.g., the narrow gap formed between the down knob and the operating handle), this technical solution is based on a pre-stored three-dimensional model of the corresponding model of endoscope with an operable area marked on it. Based on the prediction of the operable area at the corresponding position during subsequent displacement, the air outlet head is adjusted in advance to achieve the purpose of accurately adjusting the orientation of the air outlet head. This results in different tilts of the air outlet head in the operable area, and multiple high-pressure airflows are finally concentrated in the narrow area to generate room temperature / high temperature gas for drying, thus achieving the purpose of drying the narrow gap.

[0018] (3) This technical solution can autonomously identify deep operation areas, that is, special areas on the surface of the endoscope that cannot be dried by conventional high-pressure gas in one go. Since the endoscope has a complex structure and is basically brown, it will cause errors in the naked eye to find the location where liquid may accumulate and miss some areas that need to be dried. This technical solution can perform targeted high-pressure gas spray drying operation on each deep operation area of ​​the endoscope based on the three-dimensional image of the endoscope with pre-marked deep operation areas, avoiding the problems of missed detection and missed spray that may occur when manually operating the air gun.

[0019] In actual operation, drying the endoscope with a handheld air spray gun often relies on the operator's eyesight to find gaps as small as one centimeter or even a few millimeters. Since the surface of the endoscope is completely black, it is difficult to find it with the naked eye or with high-definition electronic equipment. Even with electronic equipment, a large number of high-definition images need to be collected and processed to obtain the search results. This search method slows down the drying process, which can be completed quickly.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the identification unit includes: an image acquisition module for acquiring surface images of the endoscope; a three-dimensional module for generating a three-dimensional image of the endoscope based on the current surface image; a control unit for processing data generated by the image acquisition module and the three-dimensional module; and a signal transmission module for sending instructions generated by the control unit to the angle adjustment module to adjust the tilt of the plurality of air outlets. Based on the image data of the endoscope acquired by the image acquisition module, the control unit can determine the position of the air outlet relative to the endoscope from the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional module and locate the depth operation area of ​​the selected air outlet based on a pre-marked area.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0022] There are numerous types of endoscopes available in the current technology, and their shapes, especially the location and shape of the deep operating area, vary greatly. For example, while endoscopic ultrasound and gastroscopy share the same flexible black plastic tube, optical fiber, and endoscopic camera, their operating parts differ due to different operating methods. Rigid endoscopes are made of metal and glass lenses, while flexible endoscopes are made of high-strength fibers and optical fibers, and feature cross-connections, blind ends, acute angles, and valves.

[0023] This technical solution generates a corresponding depth operating area based on pre-stored endoscope models. This allows the image acquisition module to use the acquired images to determine the relative position between the gas probe and the endoscope, and to locate the pre-calibrated depth operating area, eliminating the need for the control unit to search for areas of accumulated liquid in the acquired images. On one hand, because the surface color of the endoscope is generally uniform and most liquids are transparent, areas of accumulated liquid are difficult to distinguish in the image, and even intelligent image scanning and recognition can easily lead to identification errors. On the other hand, simultaneously uploading data and analyzing the depth operating area during scanning increases the processing time and computational load of the control unit, reduces the speed of command generation, and thus slows down the drying process.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission module can be a module with wireless networking capabilities. The control unit can be a remote server. Based on the signal transmission from the signal transmission module, the control unit can perform information processing at a different location from the hot air drying unit. The control unit includes a database that stores three-dimensional images of different models of endoscopes with pre-calibrated depth operating areas.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the hot air drying unit includes at least a first drying mode for uniform drying of the endoscope surface and a second drying mode for focused drying based on the depth of the operating area, wherein the first and second drying modes are performed at different times in a single operation. Preferably, based on the input endoscope model, the control unit can generate recommended drying steps, and the operator can further modify the recommended drying steps based on actual needs. For example, if the endoscope is accidentally contaminated with sterile water droplets during vacuum storage, the operator can select only the second drying mode. In this application, a single operation refers to the drying process completed once for a corresponding endoscope based on instructions output by an external input module. Multiple operations refer to a process in which multiple identical or different single operations are performed in sequence.

[0026] For example, such as Figure 3As shown, when there are many deep operating areas on the endoscope surface, based on the parallel selection of the first drying mode and the second drying mode set by medical staff, the system can generate a three-dimensional image of the endoscope model based on the three-dimensional module before drying begins. The three-dimensional image includes deep operating areas marked on the endoscope surface that are related to the location information to be dried.

[0027] In this application, the calibration location refers to the location of the deep operating area. The initial location refers to the location where the endoscope begins to dry. The previous calibration location refers to the dried deep operating area, and the pre-calibrated location refers to the undried deep operating area closest to the dried deep operating area.

[0028] The hot air drying unit starts implementing the first drying mode from its initial position. At this time, the air outlet of the hot air drying unit can uniformly spray a drying airflow towards the initial position on the endoscope surface, so that the liquid on the circumferential surface at the initial position is carried away by the hot air. Based on the hot air drying unit being in the initial position, the control unit can obtain from the three-dimensional module the location of the first depth operation area closest to the initial position in the three-dimensional image of the endoscope and the distance between the initial position and the endoscope extension direction. Based on the moving speed of the annular housing of the hot air drying unit, the control unit determines the first time value for switching the hot air drying unit, which focuses on drying the first depth operation area, to the second drying mode.

[0029] When the annular housing of the hot air drying unit begins to move, the control unit can confirm the information on the adjustment of the air outlet angle corresponding to the position of the first depth operation area within the time range of the first time value.

[0030] When the movement time of the annular shell of the hot air drying unit is the same as the first time value, the control unit controls the hot air drying unit to stop moving and switch to the second drying mode. In the second drying mode, the hot air drying unit adjusts the air outlet angle and causes the air outlet to spray airflow based on the instructions related to the air outlet angle and airflow velocity transmitted by the control unit.

[0031] Based on the hot air drying unit completing the current instruction, the control unit updates the position information of the first deep operation area to the previous calibration position.

[0032] After completing the current instruction, the hot air drying unit automatically switches from the second drying mode to the first drying mode.

[0033] When the hot air drying unit is in the previous calibration position and is in the first drying mode, the control unit can update the first time value of the hot air drying unit switching from the first drying mode to the second drying mode based on the distance between the pre-calibrated position in the three-dimensional image module and the previous calibration position.

[0034] When the annular housing of the hot air drying unit begins to move, the control unit is able to confirm the information on the adjustment of the air outlet angle corresponding to the position on the hot air drying unit based on the position information of the previous depth operating area within the time range of the updated first time value.

[0035] When the movement time of the annular housing of the hot air drying unit is the same as the updated first time value, the control unit controls the hot air drying unit to stop moving and switch to the second drying mode. In the second drying mode, the hot air drying unit adjusts the outlet head angle and causes the outlet head to spray airflow based on the instructions related to the outlet head angle and airflow velocity transmitted by the control unit.

[0036] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0037] 1. Based on the different types of endoscopes, this technical solution sets up different targeted drying modes. For example, some rigid endoscopes with smooth surfaces only require the first drying mode for uniform drying. By setting different drying modes for different models of endoscopes, the purpose of step-by-step drying, overall drying, and personalized customization for different drying objects is achieved.

[0038] 2. Due to the dark surface of the endoscope and the fact that the deep operating area is mostly a narrow slit, it is difficult to accurately capture images of the deep operating area using existing image feature recognition technologies. This technical solution pre-confirms the deep operating area distributed on the surface of the endoscope based on a 3D image pre-generated by a 3D module, and pre-sets the position of the hot air drying unit in the second drying mode based on the uniformly moving hot air drying unit. Different prediction results can be generated for different models of endoscopes. On the one hand, the position information of the deep operating area pre-generated by the 3D module allows the hot air drying unit to switch directly from the first drying mode to the second drying mode without waiting for image acquisition and judgment when it reaches the corresponding position, increasing work efficiency. On the other hand, since the 3D module stores the 3D image of the corresponding model of endoscope, the control unit can pre-confirm the deep operating area without real-time judgment based on image information. This avoids judgment errors caused by the deep operating area being similar in color or image outline to the surrounding area.

[0039] The movable support moves at a constant speed of 'a', wherein the control unit, based on the relative position of the air outlet and the endoscope confirmed by the image acquisition module and the moving speed, pre-calibrates the relative position of the air outlet and the endoscope for each time period 't'. Preferably, the control unit can pre-calibrate the relative position of the air outlet and the endoscope for time value 't' based on the following formula:

[0040] t = (Ap) / a

[0041] A represents the distance from the initial position to the pre-calibrated position; p represents the distance from the initial position to the previous calibration position; a represents the movement speed; t represents the time required to move from the previous calibration position to the next calibration position.

[0042] When the control unit receives a work completion instruction from the hot air drying unit, the control unit can generate the adjustable time for the air outlet angle and airflow state based on the previous calibration position related to the dried area of ​​the endoscope provided by the image acquisition module and the pre-calibrated position related to the undried operable area of ​​the endoscope provided by the three-dimensional module.

[0043] Preferably, the operation of updating the pre-calibrated position to the previous calibration position is as follows:

[0044] The instruction completed based on the work instruction sent by the hot air drying unit confirms the pre-calibrated position of the current operation;

[0045] Match the pre-calibrated position in the 3D module with the image of the pre-calibrated position acquired by the image acquisition module;

[0046] If the image matches, the pre-calibrated position is updated to the previous calibration position, and the 3D module updates the pre-calibrated position to meet the requirements and sends it to the control unit.

[0047] By matching the images from the image acquisition module and the 3D module, the accuracy of pre-calibrated position updates is increased, preventing labeling errors.

[0048] During a single operation, the previous calibration position, the pre-calibration position, and the initial position can be unique. When the air outlet blows air onto the operable area corresponding to the pre-calibration position, the current pre-calibration position is updated to the previous calibration position, and the nearest undried operable area to the updated previous calibration position is set as the pre-calibration position. For example, the initial position of the endoscope is at the end of the operating end of the endoscope. When the annular housing moves longitudinally and the first operable area Z is dried, Z is updated to the previous calibration position, and the nearest undried operable area V longitudinally to Z is updated to the pre-calibration position. The system can obtain the initial position, the distance between Z and V based on the generated 3D model of the endoscope, and the time to reach V based on the currently set moving speed of the hot air drying unit. During this time period, the angle of the air outlet is adjusted, and after this time period, the air outlet is controlled to blow out the corresponding set airflow.

[0049] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are:

[0050] Because of the inherent lag in signal transmission, the control unit can pre-determine the time it takes for the air outlet to reach each depth operating area based on the air outlet's moving speed, and generate an instruction to adjust the angle adjustment module within a time interval t. This advance response time of the angle adjustment module allows it to react instantly upon reaching the preset position, accurately locating the corresponding depth operating area. Preferably, the pre-set moving speed 'a' is the same for different endoscope models, but the blowing time varies. For example, for a 2675mm endoscope, 'a' is 4.458mm / s, and the drying process requires 10 minutes. For example, for a 4000mm endoscope, 'a' is 4.458mm / s, and the drying process requires 15 minutes.

[0051] According to a preferred embodiment, the deep operating region refers to a recess on the endoscope surface that has the capacity to store liquid.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, the three-dimensional module includes a storage component that stores three-dimensional images of various types of endoscopes pre-marked with depth operating regions, and classifies the independent regions into at least three levels that withstand different airflow rates based on the depth of each independent region of its depth operating region.

[0053] According to a preferred embodiment, the three airflow levels subjected to different flow rates and temperatures are designated as a first airflow level, a second airflow level, and a third airflow level.

[0054] When there is no deep operating area, the airflow at the outlet is at the first airflow level, and the outlet does not tilt. The first airflow level is suitable for areas with smooth surfaces. The gas velocity at the first airflow level is less than α.

[0055] When the depth of the deep operating region is no greater than θ, the airflow from the outlet head is at the second airflow level. At this time, the outlet head tilts based on the command of the control unit, so that the airflow can be concentrated in the deep operating region. The gas velocity of the second airflow level is greater than α and less than β.

[0056] When the depth of the deep operating region is greater than θ, the airflow from the outlet head is at the third airflow level. At this point, the outlet head tilts based on commands from the control unit, allowing the airflow to concentrate within the deep operating region. The gas velocity at the third airflow level is greater than β.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the hot air drying unit further includes: an array member configured to be connected to an air outlet and form a gas passage with the air outlet; an array support configured to be disposed adjacent to the array member to provide support for the array member; and an annular housing, wherein the array support and the array member are respectively connected to the annular housing, thereby fixing the relative positions of the plurality of air outlets.

[0058] According to a preferred embodiment, the annular housing surrounds the endoscope so that the air outlets are evenly distributed around the endoscope.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment, the system further includes a robotic arm capable of grasping an endoscope, the robotic arm being able to adjust its distance from the ground based on a pre-set endoscope model, and grasping the operating part of the endoscope so that the endoscope extends longitudinally by 500 degrees.

[0060] This invention proposes an endoscope cleaning method, comprising:

[0061] Confirm the endoscope model based on the input information;

[0062] Generate 3D images of the endoscope;

[0063] Hold the endoscope so that it extends longitudinally by 50°;

[0064] Adjust the hot air drying unit around the endoscope so that its initial position is close to the robotic arm's operating end;

[0065] Acquire images of the endoscope surface and confirm the depth of the operating area on the endoscope surface;

[0066] Based on the confirmed depth of operation, the hot air drying unit adjusts the direction, speed, and temperature of its output airflow.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal direction proposed in this invention refers to the direction away from the ground, with the ground as the initial position, as referenced to the ground. Figure 2 The arrow direction is shown. Attached Figure Description

[0068] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0069] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the time value determination method provided by the present invention;

[0071] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the medical blister pack provided by the present invention.

[0072] List of reference numerals

[0073] 100: Air outlet; 200: Endoscope; 300: Annular housing; 400: Robotic arm; 500: Longitudinal; 600: Cover; 700: Base box; 800: Heat-sealed edge. Detailed Implementation

[0074] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0075] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "held to," "fixed to," or "set on" another element, it can be directly or indirectly on that other element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly or indirectly connected to that other element. The terms "length," "width," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the invention, "several" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0076] Example 1

[0077] This invention proposes an endoscope 200 cleaning system, comprising: a hot air drying unit, the hot air drying unit including a plurality of air outlets 100 and an angle adjustment module for individually adjusting the plurality of air outlets 100; a movable support, which can control the hot air drying unit to move along the extension direction of the endoscope 200; and an identification unit, which can identify the depth operating area of ​​the endoscope 200, wherein, when the position of the hot air drying unit controlled by the movable support relative to the endoscope 200 it operates on moves, the angle adjustment module of the hot air drying unit controls the tilting of the plurality of air outlets 100 based on the depth operating area identified by the identification unit.

[0078] According to a preferred embodiment, the identification unit includes: an image acquisition module for acquiring surface images of the endoscope 200; a three-dimensional module for generating a three-dimensional image of the endoscope 200; a control unit for processing data generated by the image acquisition module and the three-dimensional module; and a signal transmission module for sending instructions generated by the control unit to the angle adjustment module to adjust the tilt of the plurality of air outlets 100. Based on the image data of the endoscope 200 acquired by the image acquisition module, the control unit can confirm the position of the air outlet 100 relative to the endoscope 200 from the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional module and locate the currently operable depth operating area of ​​the air outlet 100 based on a pre-marked depth operating area in the three-dimensional image.

[0079] According to a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission module can be a module with wireless networking capabilities. The control unit can be a remote server. Based on the signal transmission of the signal transmission module, the control unit can perform information processing at a different location from the hot air drying unit. The control unit includes a database that stores three-dimensional images of different models of endoscopes 200 with pre-calibrated depth operating areas. Preferably, the information transmission module wirelessly transmits the image data acquired by the image acquisition module to the remote server. The remote server can obtain the three-dimensional image of the endoscope 200 confirmed by the input module from the database, and match the obtained image data acquired by the image acquisition module with the three-dimensional image to generate marking information of the depth operating area at that location. The hot air drying unit is provided with a data control module, which generates the airflow level of the exhaust head 100 based on the depth data in the received marking information. In this embodiment, the system distributes the airflow level classification function of the exhaust head 100 to the data control module of the hot air drying unit for processing, thus distributing the calculation of the airflow level classification function within the hot air drying unit to accommodate environments with low network transmission speeds. Meanwhile, since the calculations for the airflow level classification function are all concentrated in the hot air drying unit, and the remote server is used for image storage and image matching, the system operation time and data transmission time are saved, thereby improving the response speed of the hot air drying unit.

[0080] According to a preferred embodiment, the database includes a first database storing historical operational data and three-dimensional image data of different types of endoscopes 200. The database also includes a second database, which is a temporary memory storage unit. The second database stores various types of data transmitted by the information transmission module. The data recording speed of the temporary memory storage unit can reduce recording time and system operation time. Through long-term data storage, when unexpected events occur (such as the discovery of contamination in unused endoscopes 200 stored for a long time during inspections or the discovery of contaminated patients with used endoscopes 200) requiring tracing the sterile pack's flow path, the first database can clearly provide its drying path.

[0081] According to a preferred embodiment, the hot air drying unit and the control unit can be located in different positions in the system. In particular, the control unit can be located in a relatively remote place (such as a machine room), reducing the space required for various equipment in the area where medical staff can operate, or increasing the operating space of the hot air drying unit.

[0082] According to a preferred embodiment, the hot air drying unit includes at least a first drying mode for uniform drying of the endoscope 200 surface and a second drying mode for focused drying based on the depth of the operating area. The first and second drying modes are performed at different times during a single operation. For example, after the endoscope is sterilized with liquid, the control unit can generate a recommended sterilization procedure based on its model, recommending the first drying mode followed by the second drying mode. At this point, medical personnel can delete the first drying mode and retain only the second drying mode according to their needs (e.g., assuming the smooth surface of the endoscope has been wiped with a dry sterile towel).

[0083] Preferably, based on the input endoscope 200 model, the control unit can generate a recommended drying procedure, and the operator can further modify the recommended drying procedure based on actual needs. For example, if the endoscope 200 is accidentally contaminated with sterile water droplets during vacuum storage, the operator can select only the second drying mode. The movable support forms a uniform motion at speed a, wherein the control unit, in conjunction with the image acquired by the image acquisition module, confirms the current relative position of the vent 100 and the endoscope 200 and the moving speed, pre-calibrates the relative position of the vent 100 and the endoscope 200 for each time period t. Preferably, the control unit can pre-calibrate the relative position of the vent 100 and the endoscope 200 for each time period t based on the following formula:

[0084] t = (Ap) / a

[0085] A represents the distance from the initial position to the pre-calibrated position; p represents the distance from the initial position to the previous calibration position; a represents the moving speed; t represents the time required to move from the previous calibration position to the next calibration position. Preferably,

[0086] According to a preferred embodiment, the three airflow levels subjected to different flow rates and temperatures are designated as a first airflow level, a second airflow level, and a third airflow level.

[0087] When there is no deep operating area, the airflow from outlet 100 is at the first airflow level, and outlet 100 does not tilt. The first airflow level is suitable for areas with smooth surfaces. The gas velocity in the first airflow level is less than α.

[0088] When the depth of the deep operating region is no greater than θ, the airflow from the outlet head 100 is at the second airflow level. At this time, the outlet head 100 tilts based on the command of the control unit, so that the airflow can be concentrated in the deep operating region. The gas velocity of the second airflow level is greater than α and less than β.

[0089] When the depth of the deep operating region is greater than θ, the airflow from the outlet head 100 is at the third airflow level. At this time, the outlet head 100 tilts based on the command of the control unit, so that the airflow can be concentrated in the deep operating region. The gas velocity at the third airflow level is greater than β.

[0090] According to a preferred embodiment, the endoscope 200 cleaning system further includes an imaging module electrically connected to the control unit, wherein the imaging module can provide medical personnel with endoscope 200 disinfection information. Preferably, the imaging module and the input module are integrated, that is, the imaging module can include touch screen input functionality.

[0091] For example, when medical staff input that the endoscope to be processed is an electronic colonoscope of model CF-HQ290I, the robotic arm grasps the distal end of the endoscope, causing it to extend longitudinally to form a straight line. This model has a length of 2000mm, and the hot air drying unit moves at a speed of 0.2m / min.

[0092] The annular housing of the hot air drying unit drives the air outlet of the hot air drying unit to be sleeved from the proximal end of the endoscope, and gradually moves upward along the extension direction of the endoscope in a sleeved manner. During this process, the air outlet will adjust the angle and gas flow rate based on the operable area of ​​the endoscope to dry different operable areas.

[0093] Specifically, when medical staff select the standard mode based on the fact that the endoscope has not been dried, the system's 3D module can prioritize generating a 3D image of the corresponding model of endoscope, showing the operable area.

[0094] The control unit marks the position held by the robotic arm as the initial position and marks the first operable area marked in the 3D image as the pre-calibrated position.

[0095] Example 2

[0096] Medical staff disinfect the VIS-2300 flexible endoscope.

[0097] Based on hospital regulations and disinfection protocols, the endoscope was disinfected using o-phthalaldehyde immersion.

[0098] Medical staff operate the robotic arm 400 to grasp the operating end of the endoscope.

[0099] Medical staff input the endoscope model through the input module.

[0100] The control unit retrieves the three-dimensional image of the endoscope from the first database based on the input endoscope model and turns on the hot air drying unit.

[0101] Medical staff alternate between the first and second drying modes based on their needs.

[0102] Before reaching the first depth operating region, the air outlet 100 dries the endoscope at a first airflow level. The control unit matches the image acquired by the image acquisition module with the 3D image and generates the time t for reaching the first depth operating region.

[0103] The signal transmission module transmits the information data of the first depth operating area and the time t to the hot air drying unit. After time t, the hot air drying unit adjusts the airflow of the outlet head 100 to enter the second airflow level based on the depth information of the first depth operating area, and tilts the outlet head 100 within the range of the first depth operating area to concentrate the airflow direction to the first depth operating area.

[0104] The operating mode between the first and second deep operating areas is as follows: the first drying mode is implemented first, and when the second deep operating area is reached, the mode is switched to the second drying mode.

[0105] Example 3

[0106] This system also includes a thermoplastic packaging unit capable of wrapping the dried endoscope. The thermoplastic packaging unit includes a heating packaging assembly and a vacuum assembly. The thermoplastic packaging unit can be a thermoplastic packaging machine.

[0107] Medical blister packs are used to cover dried endoscopes. A medical blister pack consists of a base 700 and a cap 600, such as... Figure 4 As shown. The base box 700 is made of high-temperature, high-pressure, and corrosion-resistant polyethylene terephthalate-1,4-cyclohexanediethanol ester (PETG). The cover 600 can be a biaxially oriented polyolefin shrink film (POF).

[0108] The base box 700 is placed in the endoscope-accommodating tray of the sterilization equipment. After the endoscope has completed the sterilization and drying steps, it is placed inside the base box 700. When the vacuum assembly performs a vacuum operation on the base box 700, the heating packaging assembly of the thermoplastic packaging unit can place the cap on the base box 700 and heat the outer upper edge of the base box 700 to form a heat-sealed edge 800 between the cap 600 and the base box 700, thus sealing the vacuum space formed between the cap 600 and the base box 700. The wrapped and dried endoscope can be distributed as an independent sterile package for clinical use.

[0109] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; terms such as "preferredly," "according to a preferred embodiment," or "optionally" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferredly" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. An endoscope cleaning system, characterized in that, Including: A hot air drying unit, the hot air drying unit comprising a plurality of air outlets (100) and an angle adjustment module for individually adjusting the plurality of air outlets (100); A movable support is provided, which allows the hot air drying unit to be moved along the extension direction of the endoscope (200); The recognition unit is capable of recognizing the depth operating area of ​​the endoscope (200), wherein, When the position of the hot air drying unit controlled by the movable support moves relative to the endoscope (200) it operates on, the angle adjustment module of the hot air drying unit controls the tilting of multiple air outlets (100) based on the depth operating area identified by the recognition unit. The identification unit includes: The image acquisition module acquires surface images of the endoscope (200) to determine the relative position between the air head (100) and the endoscope (200) and to locate the pre-calibrated depth operation area; The three-dimensional module generates a three-dimensional image of the endoscope (200) based on the current surface image of the endoscope. The control unit is capable of processing data generated by the image acquisition module and the 3D module to pre-determine the depth operation area; The deep operating area refers to the recessed area on the surface of the endoscope (200) that has the ability to store liquid; The control unit retrieves the three-dimensional image of the endoscope from the first database based on the input endoscope model and turns on the hot air drying unit. Before reaching the first depth operating area, the air outlet (100) dries the endoscope in the state of the first airflow level. The control unit matches the image acquired by the image acquisition module with the three-dimensional image and generates the time t for reaching the first depth operating area. The signal transmission module transmits the information data of the first depth operating area and the time t to the hot air drying unit. After time t, the hot air drying unit adjusts the airflow of the air outlet (100) to the second airflow level based on the depth information of the first depth operating area and tilts the air outlet (100) within the range of the first depth operating area so that the airflow direction is concentrated in the first depth operating area.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The identification unit includes: The signal transmission module is capable of sending the commands generated by the control unit to the angle adjustment module to adjust the tilt of the plurality of air outlets (100), wherein, Based on the image data of the endoscope (200) acquired by the image acquisition module, the control unit can confirm the position of the air outlet (100) relative to the endoscope (200) from the three-dimensional image generated by the three-dimensional module and locate the depth operation area of ​​the selected air outlet (100) based on the pre-marked area.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hot air drying unit includes at least a first drying mode for uniform drying of the endoscope (200) surface and a second drying mode for focused drying based on the depth of the operating area, wherein the first drying mode and the second drying mode are carried out at different times in a single operation.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable support forms a uniform motion at a speed of a. The control unit, in conjunction with the image acquired by the image acquisition module, confirms the relative position of the current air outlet (100) and endoscope (200) and the moving speed, and pre-calibrates the relative position of the air outlet (100) and endoscope (200) for each time period t.

5. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The three-dimensional module includes a storage component that stores three-dimensional images of various types of endoscopes (200) with pre-marked depth operating regions, and divides the independent regions into at least three levels that withstand airflow at different velocities and temperatures based on the depth of each independent region of its depth operating region.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hot air drying unit further includes: An array component is configured to connect to an outlet (100) and form a gas passage with the outlet (100); An array support is configured to be disposed adjacent to the array member to provide support for the array member; The annular housing (300) is connected to the array support and the array components respectively, so that the relative positions of the plurality of air outlets (100) are fixed.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The annular housing (300) surrounds the endoscope (200) so that the air outlets (100) are evenly distributed around the endoscope (200).

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes a robotic arm (400) capable of grasping an endoscope (200), the robotic arm (400) being able to adjust its distance from the ground based on a pre-set endoscope (200) model, and grasping the operating part of the endoscope (200) so that the endoscope (200) extends longitudinally (500).

9. A method for cleaning an endoscope (200), characterized in that, The method is implemented based on the system described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and includes: Confirm the model of the endoscope (200) based on the input information; Generate a 3D image of the endoscope (200); Hold the endoscope (200) so that the endoscope (200) extends longitudinally (500); Adjust the hot air drying unit around the endoscope (200) so that the initial position of the hot air drying unit is close to the operating end of the robotic arm (400); Acquire images of the endoscope (200) surface and confirm the depth operating area of ​​the endoscope (200) surface; Based on the confirmed depth of operation, the hot air drying unit adjusts the direction, speed, and temperature of its output airflow.

Images