Cabinet for storing surgical instruments and method for operating a cabinet for storing surgical instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a cabinet 1 for storing surgical instruments 20 and a method for operating the cabinet 1. The cabinet 1 comprises a ventilation unit 8 and a housing 2. The housing 2 encloses an interior space 4 with at least one receiving device 7. The receiving device 7 is designed to hold a surgical instrument 20. The ventilation unit 8 is designed to supply drying gas 10 to the interior space 4. The cabinet 1 further comprises a cooling unit 9 connected to the ventilation unit 8 and a separate drying unit 11. The drying unit 11 is designed to reduce the moisture content of the drying gas 10. The cooling unit 9 is designed to cool the drying gas 10 to a temperature below 15°C before it enters the interior space 4 and to cool the drying gas 10 during a storage phase following a drying phase.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cabinet for storing surgical instruments. The invention further relates to a method for operating a cabinet for storing surgical instruments.

[0002] Surgical instruments, such as endoscopes, must be cleaned and disinfected after use. After cleaning, it is necessary to dry the surgical instruments to remove any traces of cleaning fluid before they can be used again. Drying cabinets are often used for this process, in which the surgical instruments are placed after cleaning.

[0003] Sometimes, however, surgical instruments remain in the drying cabinet for several days or weeks before they are needed again. If the surgical instruments remain in the drying cabinet for such a long period, there is a risk of recontamination by germs transmitted through the ambient air or by contact. Such germs, which could come into contact with a surgical endoscope after disinfection, can include, for example, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Candida albicans, or Aspergillus fumigatus. All of these types of germs are potentially harmful during surgery and can contaminate the surgical instruments while they are stored in the drying cabinet.

[0004] EP 1 290 983 B1 shows a cabinet for hyperaseptic storage of endoscopes.

[0005] In WO 2010 / 130 010 A1 a medical container is shown in which endoscopes are stored.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to better protect surgical instruments from recontamination by germs after cleaning and disinfection during the drying or storage phase.

[0007] This problem is solved by a cabinet for storing surgical instruments, in particular endoscopes, wherein the cabinet has a ventilation device and a housing, the housing enclosing an interior with at least one receiving device, the receiving device being designed to hold a surgical instrument, the ventilation device being designed to supply drying gas to the interior, characterized in that the cabinet further has a cooling device and a separate drying device connected to the ventilation device, the drying device being designed to reduce the moisture content of the drying gas, the cooling device being designed to cool the drying gas to a temperature below 15°C before it enters the interior, and the cooling device being designed to cool the drying gas during a storage phase following a drying phase.

[0008] Advantageously, cooling the drying gas before it enters the interior significantly reduces the likelihood of recontamination with microorganisms. This is because the types of microorganisms typically responsible for recontamination all thrive poorly at low temperatures. Therefore, cooling the drying gas significantly impairs the environmental conditions for microbes.

[0009] The drying unit improves water absorption and thus reduces the moisture content of the drying gas, thereby increasing the drying capacity of the cabinet. The drying unit can be passive. For example, it can incorporate a silicate mineral to passively dry the drying gas. Alternatively, it can be active. For example, it can include an air drying system designed to actively dry the drying gas. In particular, the cooling unit and the drying unit can be combined into a single unit. The drying gas can be air, a noble gas, or a mixture of different gases. The cabinet can include a control system to regulate the ventilation, cooling, and drying units.

[0010] Preferably, the cooling device is designed to cool the drying gas to a temperature below 10°C, particularly to a temperature of 6°C to 8°C, before it enters the interior. A temperature of approximately 7°C is especially advantageous, as it significantly inhibits recontamination with germs and provides good storage conditions for the surgical instruments.

[0011] Preferably, the interior is thermally insulated and airtight from the exterior of the cabinet. This thermal insulation and airtight design make the operation of the cooling unit much more efficient, requiring less energy to cool the drying gas and maintain it at low temperatures. Furthermore, the airtight design prevents recontamination of surgical instruments by external germs.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the cabinet comprises at least one door, wherein the door is sealed against the housing by an airtight seal when closed. The airtight seal prevents ambient air from entering the interior through small gaps between the door and the housing. The door may have two leaves.

[0013] Preferably, the cabinet features a closed-loop system for the drying gas, comprising the interior, the ventilation unit, and the cooling unit. In other words, the cabinet provides a closed circuit for the drying gas within the cabinet. Specifically, there is no air inlet for ambient air and no inlet for gas from outside the cabinet. Instead, the drying gas is continuously circulated through the interior, the ventilation unit, and the cooling unit to maintain a cool temperature within the interior. This not only prevents recontamination by external microorganisms but also saves energy during cabinet operation.

[0014] Preferably, the ventilation unit is designed to circulate the drying gas between the interior space and the cooling unit and the drying unit. The ventilation unit may have one or more ventilation devices for circulating the drying gas. The ventilation devices may include at least one fan or blower.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the drying unit and / or the ventilation unit and / or the cooling unit include a filter designed to continuously filter the drying gas. Continuous filtering of the drying gas removes any remaining germs and other contaminants from the drying gas during operation of the cabinet. Thus, the filter prevents recontamination of the surgical instruments. In particular, the filter is a sterile filter. Specifically, the filter is designed to filter the drying gas coming from the interior before the filtered gas is returned to the interior or to the cooling unit.

[0016] Preferably, the ventilation unit is designed to supply the drying gas as a drying gas stream to at least one inner channel of a surgical instrument held in the holding device. By supplying the drying gas stream to the inner channels of the surgical instrument, these inner channels are also supplied with cooled drying gas. In this way, the cabinet prevents recontamination of the outer surface and the inner channels of the surgical instrument.

[0017] The cooling unit is designed to cool the drying gas during a storage phase that follows the drying phase. The drying phase is a stage in the cabinet's operation immediately after the surgical instrument is placed inside. Typically, the surgical instrument is still wet from the cleaning process and must be dried. Therefore, during the drying phase, the drying gas is used to remove any remaining cleaning fluid. During the storage phase, which follows the drying phase, the surgical instrument is already dry and is stored in the cabinet until its next use. Cooling the drying gas during the storage phase is advantageous because recontamination usually occurs during this phase, as the storage phase can last much longer than the drying phase.In particular, the cooling unit and / or the control system are designed to operate such that the temperature of the drying gas is higher during the drying phase than during the storage phase. This is advantageous because a higher temperature during the drying phase accelerates the removal of the remaining cleaning fluid. Specifically, the air pressure of the drying gas is higher during the drying phase than during the storage phase.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the cabinet has several receiving devices. In particular, the ventilation unit is designed to supply each mounting unit separately with the drying gas. The cabinet can include a separate vent or nozzle for each receiving device. The vents or nozzles are located, in particular, near the associated receiving devices. Specifically, the vents or nozzles are designed to generate a separate drying gas stream for each surgical instrument mounted in the receiving devices. In this way, the surgical instruments can be supplied with drying gas streams with different properties. For example, a stronger drying gas stream can be supplied to a surgical instrument that is still wet, while a weaker drying gas stream can be supplied to a surgical instrument in the storage phase.

[0019] The problem is further solved by a method for operating a cabinet for storing surgical instruments, in particular endoscopes, wherein the cabinet has a ventilation device and a housing, wherein the housing encloses an interior space with at least one receiving device, wherein the receiving device holds a surgical instrument, wherein the ventilation device supplies drying gas to the interior space, characterized in that the cabinet further comprises a cooling device connected to the ventilation device and a separate drying device, wherein the cooling device cools the drying gas to a temperature below 15°C before it flows into the interior space, wherein the cooling device cools the drying gas during a storage phase that takes place after a drying phase.

[0020] The process embodies the same advantages and features as the cabinet described above.

[0021] Preferably, the cooling device cools the drying gas to a temperature below 10°C, in particular to a temperature of 6°C to 8°C, before it flows into the interior.

[0022] Preferably, the cabinet circulates the drying gas between the interior and the cooling unit.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the drying unit and / or the ventilation unit and / or the cooling unit has a filter, wherein the filter continuously filters the drying gas.

[0024] Preferably, the ventilation device supplies drying gas as a drying gas stream to at least one inner channel of the surgical instrument held in the receiving device.

[0025] The cooling unit cools the drying gas during a storage phase that takes place after a drying phase.

[0026] Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual characteristics or a combination of several characteristics.

[0027] The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments without limiting the general concept of the invention, with express reference to the drawings for the disclosure of all details not explained in the text. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A schematic, simplified, perspective representation of a cabinet for storing surgical instruments and Fig. 2 A schematic, simplified close-up view of the cabinet and several surgical instruments stored in it.

[0028] In the drawings, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding re-presentation is omitted.

[0029] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic, simplified, perspective view of a cabinet 1 for drying and storing surgical instruments. The cabinet 1 has a housing 2 and a door 3 with hinges. The housing 2 and the door 3 enclose an interior space 4. The interior space 4 is thermally insulated and airtight from the exterior of the cabinet 1. This is achieved in part by an airtight seal 5 between the door 3 and the housing 2.

[0030] Within the interior compartment 4, there are several holding devices 7, each designed to hold a surgical instrument, for example, an endoscope. The cabinet also includes a ventilation unit 8, designed to supply drying gas 10 to the interior compartment 4 and to circulate the drying gas 10 between the interior compartment 4 and a cooling unit 9. The cooling unit 9 is designed to cool the drying gas 10 to a temperature of approximately 7°C. Such a temperature is advantageous because it prevents recontamination of the surgical instrument stored in the interior compartment 4. The drying gas 10 is circulated in a closed loop within the cabinet 1 between the cooling unit 9, the ventilation unit 8, and the interior compartment 4. A control system 6, which may include a screen, operating elements, and a computer or similar device, controls the operation of the cabinet, for example, by controlling the ventilation unit 8 and the cooling unit 9.Cabinet 1 further comprises a drying unit 11. The drying unit 11 can be a separate unit or a single cooling and drying unit together with the cooling unit 9. The drying unit 11 dries the drying gas 10 to improve the drying capacity of cabinet 1. The drying unit 11 and / or the ventilation unit 8 and / or the cooling unit 9 can have one or more filters 13 to filter contaminants from the drying gas 10.

[0031] Fig. Figure 2 shows a close-up perspective view of cabinet 1. Fig. 2. Several of the receiving devices 7 each hold a surgical instrument 20, in this case an endoscope. For simplicity, only one of the surgical instruments 20 and two of the receiving devices 7 are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Provided with reference marks. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the cabinet 1 can have several ventilation openings 12 or nozzles. The ventilation openings 12 direct the drying gas 10 into the interior 4 and can also direct the drying gas 10 back to the ventilation unit 8.

[0032] To protect the internal channels of the surgical instruments 20 from recontamination, the drying gas 10 can also be passed through the internal channels of the surgical instruments 20 as a drying gas stream. To direct the drying gas stream, the cabinet 1 can have a connecting device, for example a connecting hose, which is located in Fig. 2 is not shown.

[0033] All mentioned embodiments, including those discernible from the drawings alone, as well as individual embodiments disclosed in combination with other embodiments, are considered essential to the invention, both individually and in combination. Embodiments of the invention can be fulfilled by individual embodiments or by a combination of several embodiments. Features combined with the words "in particular" or "especially" are to be treated as preferred embodiments. Reference symbol list 1 cabinet 2 cases 3 Door 4 Interior 5 Seal 6. Tax system 7 Recording device 8 ventilation unit 9 Cooling unit 10 Drying gas 11 Dryer 12 ventilation openings 13 filters 20 surgical instruments

Claims

[1] Cabinet (1) for storing surgical instruments (20), in particular endoscopes, wherein the cabinet (1) comprises a ventilation device (8) and a housing (2), wherein the housing (2) encloses an interior space (4) with at least one receiving device (7), wherein the receiving device (7) is designed to hold a surgical instrument (20), wherein the ventilation device (8) is designed to supply drying gas (10) to the interior space (4), characterized by, that the cabinet (1) further comprises a cooling unit (9) and a separate drying unit (11) connected to the ventilation unit (8), wherein the drying unit (11) is designed to reduce the moisture content of the drying gas (10), wherein the cooling unit (9) is designed to cool the drying gas (10) to a temperature below 15°C before it enters the interior (4), and wherein the cooling unit (9) is designed to cool the drying gas (10) during a storage period following a drying period. [2] Cabinet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device (9) cools the drying gas to a temperature below 10°C, in particular to a temperature of 6°C to 8°C, before it flows into the interior. [3] Cabinet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interior (4) is thermally insulated and airtight against an exterior of the cabinet (1). [4] Cabinet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one door (3), wherein the door (3) is sealed in a closed state with an airtight seal (5) against the housing (2). [5] Cabinet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a closed circuit system for the drying gas (10), wherein the closed circuit system comprises the interior (4), the ventilation unit (8) and the cooling unit (9). [6] Cabinet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ventilation device (8) is designed to circulate the drying gas (10) between the interior (4) and the cooling device (9) and the drying device (11). [7] Cabinet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drying unit (11) and / or the ventilation unit (8) and / or the cooling unit (9) have a filter (13) wherein the filter (13) is designed to continuously filter the drying gas (10). [8] Cabinet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ventilation device (8) is designed to supply the drying gas (10) as a drying gas stream to at least one inner channel of a surgical instrument (20) held in the receiving device (7). [9] Method for operating a cabinet (1) for storing surgical instruments (20), in particular endoscopes, wherein the cabinet (1) has a ventilation device (8) and a housing (2), wherein the housing (2) encloses an interior space (4) with at least one receiving device (7), wherein the receiving device (7) holds a surgical instrument (20), wherein the ventilation device (8) supplies drying gas (10) to the interior space (4), characterized by, that the cabinet (1) further comprises a cooling unit (9) connected to the ventilation unit (8) and a separate drying unit (11), wherein the cooling unit (9) cools the drying gas (10) to a temperature below 15°C before it enters the interior (4), wherein the cooling unit (9) cools the drying gas (10) during a storage phase which takes place after a drying phase. [10] Method according to claim 9, wherein the cooling device (9) cools the drying gas (10) to a temperature below 10°C, in particular to a temperature of 6°C to 8°C, before it flows into the interior (4). [11] Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the cabinet (1) circulates the drying gas (10) between the interior (4) and the cooling unit (9). [12] Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the drying device (11) and / or the ventilation device (8) and / or the cooling device (9) have a filter (13) wherein the filter (13) continuously filters the drying gas (10). [13] Method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the ventilation device (8) supplies the drying gas (10) as a drying gas stream to at least one inner channel of a surgical instrument (20) held in the receiving device (7).

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