Water reservoir including flexible extension

Abstract

A method and system for supplying gas and water to an endoscopic system includes a container (502) configured to contain a fluid and having a bottom and a top, a lens water supply tube (536) including a first end, a second end, and a first lumen, a gas supply tube (534) including a first end, a second end, and a second lumen, a port (506) disposed adjacent to the top of the container (502), and a flexible tube (516) coupled to the top of the container and including a first end, a second end, and a third lumen. The third lumen of the flexible tube (516) can be configured to selectively fluidly communicate with the interior of the container (502).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to medical fluid containers and methods, and more particularly to containers and tube sets for supplying fluid and / or gas to an endoscope.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, endoscope devices have been widely used for performing diagnostic procedures and / or therapeutic procedures. During an endoscopic procedure, a physician may use a combination of air, irrigation, and lens cleaning fluid as a means of flushing debris, cleaning the optical portion, and ventilating the working lumen. To enable these capabilities, compressed gas from either a processor or an alternative source is used to ventilate the working lumen or increase the pressure within a fluid bottle that cleans the endoscope's lens. Additionally, a peristaltic pump can be used to irrigate debris in the working lumen. One problem faced during an endoscopic procedure is that common water bottles and tube sets used do not hold more than one liter of water and are not designed to be refilled. This may require a nurse / technician to change the water bottle multiple times a day. This can introduce multiple opportunities for contamination to the tube set, either by contacting a non-sterile surface or dropping the tube on the floor. The improvements of the present disclosure may be useful in light of these considerations.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] This summary of the Disclosure is provided for the purpose of aiding understanding, and those skilled in the art will understand that each of the various aspects and features of the Disclosure may be used to their advantage, either separately in some cases or in combination with other aspects and features of the Disclosure in other cases. No limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter is intended by the inclusion or exclusion of elements, components, etc., in this summary. Therefore, while the Disclosure is presented in terms of aspects or embodiments, it should be understood that each individual aspect may be claimed separately or in combination with the aspects and features of that embodiment or any other embodiment.

[0004] In the first example, a container arranged and configured to be coupled to an endoscope for use in endoscopic procedures may comprise: a container configured to contain a fluid, having a bottom and a top; a lens water supply tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a first lumen extending through the lens water supply tube, the first lumen being in fluid communication with the bottom of the container, and the second end of the lens water supply tube located outside the container; a gas supply tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a second lumen extending through the gas supply tube, the second lumen being in operably fluid communication with the interior of the container, and the second end of the gas supply tube located outside the container; a port located adjacent to the top of the container; and a flexible tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a third lumen extending through the flexible tube, the third lumen of the flexible tube being configured to selectively communicate with the interior of the container.

[0005] In an alternative to, or in addition to, the above example, the second end of the flexible tube may be configured to selectively connect to a port. In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the second end of the flexible tube may be configured to screw into the port.

[0006] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the second end of the flexible tube may include a rotatable collar. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the port may include multiple male threads.

[0007] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the first end of the flexible tube may be rotatably attached to the container. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the second end of the flexible tube may be provided with an annular sealing plug that is in fluid communication with the third lumen of the flexible tube.

[0008] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the annular sealing plug may be configured to form a seal with the water bottle in another example. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the annular sealing plug may be configured to be positioned inside the mouth of the water bottle and to form a seal together with the mouth of the water bottle.

[0009] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the outer surface of the annular sealing plug may have a taper. In alternative or additional examples, the taper may be a conical taper.

[0010] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the annular sealing plug may be configured to be positioned to cover the mouth of the water bottle and to form a seal together with the mouth of the water bottle.

[0011] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the inner surface of the annular sealing plug may have a taper. In alternative or additional examples, the taper may be a conical taper.

[0012] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the container may further comprise an operable cap positioned above an annular sealing plug. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the operable cap may be configured to open to transfer water from the water bottle to the container and to close while the container is in use.

[0013] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the flexible tube may form a handle when the second end of the flexible tube is connected to a port.

[0014] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, in another example, when the second end of the flexible tube is free from the port, the second end of the flexible tube may be configured to be connected to a water bottle.

[0015] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the port may be recessed in the top of the container. In another example, a container arranged and configured to be coupled to an endoscope for use in endoscopic procedures may comprise: a container configured to contain a fluid, having a bottom and a top; a lens water supply tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a first lumen extending through the lens water supply tube, the first lumen being in fluid communication with the bottom of the container, and the second end of the lens water supply tube being located outside the container; a gas supply tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a second lumen extending through the gas supply tube, the second lumen being in operably fluid communication with the interior of the container, and the second end of the gas supply tube being located outside the container; a port located adjacent to the top of the container; and a flexible tube, comprising a first end, a second end, and a third lumen extending through the flexible tube, coupled to the top of the container, the third lumen of the flexible tube being configured to selectively communicate with the interior of the container. The second end of the flexible tube may be configured to selectively connect to a port, and when the second end of the flexible tube is connected to a port, the flexible tube may form a handle.

[0016] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the second end of the flexible tube may be configured to screw into the port. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the second end of the flexible tube may include a rotatable collar.

[0017] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the port may include multiple male threads. In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the first end of the flexible tube may be rotatably coupled to the container.

[0018] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, in another example, when the second end of the flexible tube is free from the port, the second end of the flexible tube may be configured to be connected to a water bottle.

[0019] In another example, a container arranged and configured to be coupled to an endoscope for use in endoscopic procedures is a container configured to contain fluid, having a bottom and a top; a lens water supply tube, having a first end, a second end, and a first lumen extending through the lens water supply tube, the first lumen being in fluid communication with the bottom of the container, and the second end of the lens water supply tube being located outside the container; and a gas supply tube, passing through the first end, the second end, and the gas supply tube. The vessel may include a gas supply tube, a port located adjacent to the top of the vessel, and a flexible tube, which includes a first end coupled to the top of the vessel, a second end having an annular sealing plug, and a third lumen extending through the flexible tube, the third lumen of the flexible tube being configured to selectively communicate with the interior of the vessel. The annular sealing plug may include a deformable material.

[0020] In an alternative to or in addition to any of the above examples, the annular sealing plug may be configured to form a seal with the water bottle in another example. In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the container may further comprise an operable cap positioned above an annular sealing plug.

[0021] In an alternative or in addition to any of the above examples, the operable cap may be configured to open to transfer water from the water bottle to the container and to close while the container is in use.

[0022] Instead of, or in addition to, any of the above examples, in another example, the actuatable cap may comprise a hinged cap. Instead of, or in addition to, any of the above examples, in another example, the actuatable cap may include a sliding cap.

[0023] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, and the scope of the claimed invention is set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the components of an endoscope. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the components of an endoscope system with an endoscope, a light source, a light source connector, a water reservoir, and a tube assembly for air and lens cleaning fluid delivery. [Figure 3A] A diagram showing an endoscope system with an endoscope, a light source, a water reservoir, and a tube assembly for hybrid air, lens cleaning fluid, and irrigation fluid delivery, the system being activated to deliver air to the atmosphere. [Figure 3B] A diagram showing the endoscope system of Figure 3A, the system being activated to deliver air to a patient through the patient end of the endoscope. [Figure 3C] A diagram showing the endoscope system of Figure 3A, the system being activated to deliver lens cleaning fluid to a patient through the patient end of the endoscope. [Figure 3D] A diagram showing the endoscope system of Figure 3A, the system being activated to deliver irrigation fluid to a patient through the patient end of the endoscope. [Figure 4]This diagram shows a hybrid endoscope system including an image processing unit, a connector section, a peristaltic irrigation pump, a water reservoir and top section, coaxial gas and lens cleaning fluid supply tubes, upstream and downstream irrigation supply tubes, and an alternative gas supply tube. [Figure 5A] This figure shows a side view of an exemplary refillable fluid reservoir. [Figure 5B] This is a side view of an exemplary reservoir in Figure 5A, which is connected to a water bottle. [Figure 6] Figure 5A is a side view of an exemplary reservoir having an alternative port and a coupling mechanism for connecting the second end of a flexible tube to the port. [Figure 7A] This is a side view of another exemplary refillable fluid reservoir. [Figure 7B] This is a side view of an exemplary reservoir in Figure 7A, which is connected to a water bottle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] This disclosure is open to various modifications and alternative forms, the details of which are shown in the drawings as examples and described in detail. However, it should be understood that the intent is not to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, the intent is to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternative forms that fall within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0026] This disclosure is described herein with reference to exemplary medical systems that may be used in endoscopic medical procedures. However, it should be noted that references to these specific procedures are provided for convenience only and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts underlying the disclosed devices and associated uses may be utilized in any suitable procedure, medical or otherwise. This disclosure can be understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar parts through the drawings.

[0027] The term “distal” refers to the part of the device furthest from the user when it is introduced into a patient. Conversely, the term “proximal” refers to the part of the device closest to the user when it is placed within a patient. Where used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus containing a list of elements does not necessarily contain only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly enumerated or specific to such process, method, article, or apparatus. The term “exemplary” is used in the sense of “example” rather than “ideal.” Furthermore, where used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” indicate a range of values ​​within + / - 10% of the stated or implied value. Additionally, terms describing the geometric shape of a component / surface refer to the exact shape and the approximate shape.

[0028] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with specific reference to bottles (e.g., containers, reservoirs, etc.) and tube assemblies or sets. It should be understood that such embodiments may be used to supply fluids and / or gases to an endoscope for a variety of different purposes, including, for example, facilitating patient ventilation, lens cleaning, and / or assisting in flushing / aspirating debris by irrigating the working channel during endoscopic procedures.

[0029] This disclosure includes a description of containers and tubing sets suitable for use with endoscopic systems for supplying fluids and / or gases to an endoscope, but the devices, systems, and methods herein may be implemented in other medical systems requiring fluid and / or gas delivery and for various other purposes.

[0030] References to “embodiments,” “some embodiments,” and “other embodiments” in this specification should be noted to indicate that while the embodiments described may include certain features, structures, or characteristics, not all embodiments necessarily include those particular features, structures, or characteristics. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Moreover, if certain features, structures, or characteristics are described in relation to a particular embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art that such features, structures, or characteristics may be derived in relation to other embodiments, whether or not they are explicitly described, unless otherwise explicitly stated. In other words, the various individual elements described below, even if not explicitly shown in specific combinations, are considered combinable or configurable with each other to form other additional embodiments or to complement and / or enhance the embodiments described, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0031] As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" refer to multiple subjects unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "or" is used generally to mean "and / or" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] Traditionally, endoscopic devices have been widely used to perform diagnostic and / or therapeutic procedures. During endoscopic procedures, physicians may use a combination of air, irrigation, and lens cleaning solution as means of flushing out debris, cleaning the optics, and ventilating the working lumen. To enable these features, the endoscopic umbilical is connected to a water bottle via a set of tubes. One tube delivers pressurized air from a processor to the water bottle. The other tube is a water tube suspended in the water at the bottom of the bottle. To ensure that the tube remains at the bottom of the water bottle and does not float above the water surface, a weight may be attached to the distal end. In addition, a cap with multiple functions and components is attached to the top of the bottle to ensure that the desired performance is achieved. Disclosed herein are container and tube sets that can reduce the number of components required to achieve the same performance by combining multiple components and functions into a single component.

[0033] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an exemplary endoscope 100 and system 200 may be provided with a long shaft 100a that is inserted into the patient. A light source 205 supplies illumination light to the distal portion 100b of the endoscope 100, which may house an imaging device (e.g., a CCD or CMOS imaging device) (not shown). The light source 205 (e.g., a lamp) is housed in an image processing unit 210 that processes signals input from the imaging device and outputs the processed image signal to an image monitor (not shown) for viewing. The image processing unit 210 also functions as a component of an air supply / water supply circuit by housing a pressurizing pump 215, such as an air supply pump, within the unit.

[0034] The endoscope shaft 100a may include a distal tip 100c provided at the distal portion 100b of the shaft 100a, and a flexible bending portion 105 located proximal to the distal tip 100c. The flexible bending portion 105 may include an articulation joint (not shown) to assist in maneuvering the distal tip 100c. On the end face 100d of the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100, there is a gas / lens cleaning nozzle 220 for supplying gas to ventilate the inside of the patient in the treatment area and for supplying water to clean the lens covering the imaging device. An irrigation opening 225 on the end face 100d supplies irrigation fluid to the treatment area of ​​the patient. An illumination window (not shown) for transmitting illumination light to the treatment area and an opening 230 to a working channel 235 extending along the shaft 100a for passing a tool through the treatment area may also be included on the face 100d of the distal tip 100c. The working channel 235 extends along the shaft 100a to a proximal channel opening 110 located distal to the operating handle 115 of the endoscope 100. A biopsy valve 120 may be used to seal the channel opening 110 to prevent unwanted fluid leakage.

[0035] The operating handle 115 may include knobs 125 for providing remote four-way steering of the distal tip via wires connected to articulated joints in a bendable flexible portion 105 (for example, one knob controls up-down steering, and another controls left-right steering). Multiple video switches 130 for remotely operating the video processing unit 210 may be located on the proximal end of the handle 115. Furthermore, the handle 115 is provided with two valve wells 135. One of the valve wells 135 may receive a gas / water valve 140 for operating the ventilation gas and lens water supply operations. The gas supply line 240a and the lens cleaning fluid supply line 245a extend distally from the gas / water valve 140 along the shaft 100a and converge at the distal tip 100c proximal to the gas / cleaning fluid nozzle 220 (Figure 2). The other valve well 135 receives a suction valve 145 for operating the suction operation. The suction supply line 250a extends distally along the shaft 100a from the suction valve 145 to a junction that fluidly communicates with the working channel 235 of the endoscope 100.

[0036] The operating handle 115 is electrically and fluidly connected to the image processing unit 210 via the flexible umbilical 260 and a connector portion 265 extending between them. The flexible umbilical 260 has a gas (e.g., air or CO2) supply line 240b, a lens cleaning fluid supply line 245b, a suction supply line 250b, an irrigation supply line 255b, an optical guide (not shown), and an electrical signal cable (not shown). When the connector portion 265 is plugged into the image processing unit 210, it connects the light source 205 within the image processing unit to the optical guide. The optical guide extends along the length of the umbilical 260 and the endoscope shaft 100a, transmitting light to the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100. When the connector portion 265 is plugged into the image processing unit 210, it also connects the air pump 215 to the gas supply line 240b within the umbilical 260.

[0037] A water reservoir or container 270 (e.g., a water bottle) is fluidly connected to the endoscope 100 through the connector portion 265 and the umbilical 260. A gas supply tube 240c of a certain length passes from one end, located in the gap 275 between the top 280 of the reservoir 270 (e.g., the bottle cap) and the remaining water 285 in the reservoir, to a removable gas / lens cleaning fluid connector 290 outside the connector portion 265. The removable gas / lens cleaning fluid connector 290 may be detachable from the connector portion 265 and / or the gas supply tube 240c. A gas supply line 240b from the umbilical 260 branches within the connector portion 265 to fluidly communicate with the gas supply tube 240c at the removable gas / lens cleaning fluid connector 290, as well as with the air pump 215. A lens cleaning fluid tube 245c of a certain length penetrates the top 280 of the reservoir 270 to a removable connection 290 identical to that of the gas supply tube 240c of the connector portion 265, with one end positioned at the bottom of the reservoir 270. In other embodiments, the connections may be separate and / or separated from each other. The connector portion 265 also has a removable irrigation connection 293 for an irrigation supply tube (not shown) extending from an irrigation water source (not shown) to an irrigation supply line 255b in the umbilical 260. The removable irrigation connection 293 may be detachable from the connector portion 265 and / or the irrigation supply tube (not shown). In some embodiments, the irrigation water is supplied from a water source (not shown) independent of the water reservoir 270 via a pump (e.g., a peristaltic pump). In other embodiments, the irrigation supply tube and the lens cleaning fluid tube 245c may source water from the same reservoir. The connector portion 265 may also include a removable suction connector 295 for suction supply lines 250b and 250a that fluidly connect a vacuum source (e.g., hospital house suction) (not shown) to the umbilical 260 and endoscope 100. The removable suction connector 295 may be detachable from the connector portion 265 and / or from the suction supply lines 250b and / or from the vacuum source.

[0038] The gas supply line 240b and the lens cleaning fluid supply line 245b are fluidly connected to a valve well 135 for a gas / water valve 140, and the operation of the gas / water valve in the well is configured to control the supply of gas or lens cleaning fluid to the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100. The suction supply line 250b is fluidly connected to a valve well 135 for a suction valve 145, and the operation of the suction valve in the well is configured to control the suction applied to the working channel 235 of the endoscope 100.

[0039] Referring to Figure 2, an exemplary operation of an endoscopic system 200, including an endoscope such as the endoscope 100 described above, is explained. Air from the air pump 215 in the image processing unit 210 flows through the connector section 265 and branches off to the gas / water valve 140 on the operating handle 115 via the gas supply line 240b in the umbilical 260, and also flows to the water reservoir 270 via the gas supply tube 240c through the connection section 290 on the connector section 265. When the gas / water valve 140 is in the neutral position, if the user's fingers are not on the valve, air is allowed to flow out of the valve to the atmosphere. In the first position, the user's fingers are used to block the airflow to the atmosphere. Gas is allowed to flow from the valve 140 down the gas supply line 240a and out of the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100 to deliver air to, for example, the treatment site of the patient. When the gas / water valve 140 is pushed down to the second position, gas is prevented from escaping the valve, allowing the pressure of the air passing from the air pump 215 to rise in the water reservoir 270. By pressurizing the water source, water is pushed out from the lens cleaning fluid tube 245c, through the connector portion 265, the umbilical 260, through the gas / water valve 140, down the lens cleaning fluid supply line 245a, and converges with the gas supply line 240a before exiting the distal tip 100c of the endoscope 100 via the gas / lens cleaning fluid nozzle 220. The air pump pressure may be calibrated to provide lens cleaning fluid at a relatively low flow rate compared to the supply of irrigation water.

[0040] The flow rate of the lens cleaning solution is governed by the gas pressure in the water reservoir 270. As water is pushed out of the reservoir 270 through the lens cleaning solution tube 245c, the gas pressure in the water reservoir 270 begins to drop, and the air pump 215 maintains a substantially constant pressure by replenishing the lost air supply in the reservoir 270, which then provides a substantially constant flow rate of the lens cleaning solution. In some embodiments, a filter (not shown) may be placed in the path of the gas supply tube 240c to filter out unwanted contaminants or particulate matter from passing into the water reservoir 270. In some embodiments, an outflow check valve or other one-way valve configuration (not shown) may be placed in the path of the lens cleaning solution supply tube to help prevent backflow into the reservoir 270 after the water has passed through the valve.

[0041] Since the primary use is to remove debris obstructing the user's field of view from the patient's treatment site, a relatively high flow rate of irrigation water is typically required compared to lens cleaning solution. Irrigation is typically achieved by the use of a pump (e.g., a peristaltic pump), as described. In embodiments with a separate water source for irrigation, a tube located at the bottom of the water source passes over the top of the water source and is routed to the upstream head of the pump. The tube downstream of the pump is connected via an irrigation connection 293 on a connector portion 265 to the irrigation supply line 255b in the umbilical 260 and the irrigation supply line 255a of the endoscope 100. When irrigation water is needed, the fluid is drawn from the water source by operating the irrigation pump, such as by pressing a foot switch (not shown), and flows through the irrigation connection 293, through the irrigation supply line 255b in the umbilical, down the irrigation supply line in the shaft 100a of the endoscope to the distal tip 100c. A vent (not shown) may be included in the top 280 of the water reservoir 270 to equalize the pressure in the water source as water is drawn out from the irrigation supply tube. The vent prevents negative pressure buildup in the water source by allowing air to enter, but this negative pressure buildup can create a vacuum that draws unwanted substances from the patient through the endoscope towards the water source. In some embodiments, an outflow check valve or other one-way valve configuration (not shown) similar to that of the lens cleaning fluid tube 245c may be placed in the path of the irrigation supply tube to help prevent backflow into the reservoir after water has passed through the valve.

[0042] Figures 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of one embodiment of a hybrid system 300 in which supply tubes for irrigation and lens cleaning solution are connected to and drawn from a single water reservoir. It is intended that fluids other than water (e.g., saline solution, but not limited to this) may be used. The hybrid system 300 includes a single water reservoir 305, a cap 310 for the reservoir, a gas supply tube 240c, a lens cleaning solution supply tube 245c, an irrigation pump 315 with a foot switch 318, an upstream supply tube 320 for irrigation, and a downstream irrigation supply tube 255c. The cap 310 may be configured to be securely sealed and attached to the water reservoir 305, typically by a threaded arrangement. The cap 310 may include a gasket for sealing the cap 310 to the reservoir 305. The gasket may be an O-ring, flange, collar, and / or equivalent, and may be formed from any suitable material. Several through-openings (325a, 325b, 325c) are provided within the cap 310 to receive the gas supply tube 240c, the lens cleaning solution supply tube 245c, and the upstream irrigation supply tube 320, respectively. In Figures 3A-3D, the illustrated system includes separate tubes for gas supply, lens cleaning, and irrigation.

[0043] In other embodiments, the gas supply tube 240c and the lens cleaning fluid tube 245c may be combined in a coaxial arrangement. Several exemplary coaxial arrangements are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 558,239, “INTEGRATED CONTAINER AND TUBE SET FOR FLUID DELIVERY WITH AN ENDOSCOPE” and U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 558,256, “TUBING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR FLUID DELIVERY” by the same applicant, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, the gas supply tube may define a lumen of a diameter large enough to surround a smaller diameter lens cleaning fluid tube coaxially received within the gas supply tube, and pressurize the water reservoir by supplying air to a water source in an annular space surrounding the lens cleaning fluid tube (see, for example, gas and lens cleaning fluid supply tubes 240c, 245c). The lens cleaning fluid supply tube may be configured to exit from the lumen defined by the coaxial gas supply tube by any suitable sealed method, such as an opening, fitting, or collar, in order to transition from coaxial to parallel configuration at a removable gas / lens cleaning fluid connection to the endoscope connector portion (e.g., connector portion 265 in Figure 2).

[0044] In various embodiments, different configurations of valves (not shown) may be incorporated into the various embodiments disclosed herein, including the tubing of systems 200, 300. For example, placing an inlet check valve in the path of the gas supply tube 240c may help prevent backflow to the air pump 215. Thus, the pressure rise in the water reservoir 305 helps maintain positive pressure in the water source, even when large amounts of water may be removed from the water source during the irrigation function, by creating a pressure difference between the water source and the gas supply tube 240c. This arrangement cancels out any time differences in the air delivered from the air pump 215 to the water reservoir 305, otherwise a negative pressure vacuum could be created in the water reservoir. Similarly, incorporating an outflow check valve, such as a one-way valve with an inlet / outlet and valve insert, into the lens cleaning fluid supply tube 245c, the upstream irrigation supply tube 320, and / or the downstream irrigation supply tube 255c may help prevent backflow of water from either or both of the lens cleaning fluid tube and the irrigation supply tube in the event of negative pressure conditions, as described above.

[0045] More generally, in many embodiments, a check valve can refer to any type of configuration for which a fluid flows passively in only one direction. For example, a check valve may include, or refer to, one or more of the following: ball check valves, diaphragm check valves, swing check valves, inclined disc check valves, flapper valves, stop check valves, lift check valves, inline check valves, duckbill valves, pneumatic backflow prevention valves, reed valves, and flow checks. Thus, as used herein, a check valve is distinct from and different from an active valve (e.g., a stopcock valve, solenoid valve, or peristaltic pump) that operates in a binary manner as an on / off valve or switch that allows a flow to be turned on or off.

[0046] During the operation of the system shown in Figures 3A to 3D, the water flow for irrigation can be achieved by operating the irrigation pump 315. The water flow for lens cleaning can be achieved by pressing down the gas / water valve 140 on the operating handle 115 of the endoscope 100. These functions may be performed independently of each other or simultaneously. When lens cleaning and irrigation are performed simultaneously, as the fluid is removed from the water reservoir 305, the pressure in the system can be controlled to compensate for the pressure reduction in the water reservoir 305 by supplying high-flow irrigation, while maintaining the lens cleaning fluid supply tube 245c at the pressure necessary to achieve substantially low-flow lens cleaning. If the pressure in the water reservoir drops due to the use of the lens cleaning function, the irrigation function, or both functions simultaneously, the reduced pressure may be compensated by the air pump 215 via the gas supply tube 240c.

[0047] The schematic configurations in Figures 3A to 3D are highlighted to illustrate the different flow paths possible by the hybrid system 300, which has a supply tube 320 for irrigation and a lens cleaning fluid supply tube 245c connected to and drawn from a single water reservoir 305. As shown in Figure 3A, the endoscope 100 is in a neutral state with the gas / water valve 140 in the open position. In the neutral state, neither gas nor lens cleaning fluid is delivered to the distal tip of the endoscope. Rather, gas (pressure) is delivered from the pressurized air pump 215 along path A, through the gas supply line 240b in the umbilical 260 via connector section 265, and vented to the atmosphere through the gas / water valve. Since the system is open at the vent of the gas / water valve 140, there is no accumulation pressurizing the water reservoir 305, and therefore no water is pushed out through the lens cleaning fluid supply tube 245c.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3B, the endoscope 100 is in a gas delivery state with the gas / water valve 140 in the first position. When gas is required at the distal tip 100c, for example, to clean the end face 100d of the distal tip or to deliver air to the patient's body within the treatment area, the user closes the vent in the gas / water valve 140 with their thumb, finger, etc. (first position). In this state, gas (pressure) is delivered from the air pump 215 along path B and flows through the connector portion 265 into the gas supply line 240b in the umbilical 260. The gas passes through the gas / water valve 140, continues into the gas supply line 240a in the endoscope shaft 100a, and exits from the gas / lens cleaning solution nozzle 220 at the distal tip 100c. Since the system is open at the gas / lens water nozzle 220, there is no accumulation pressurizing the water reservoir, and therefore no water is forced out through the lens cleaning solution supply tube 245c.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3C, the endoscope 100 is in a lens cleaning fluid delivery state with the gas / water valve 140 in a second position. When lens cleaning fluid is required at the distal tip 100c, for example, to clean the end face 100d of the distal tip 100c, the user pushes the valve 140 down to the furthest point in the valve well 135 while keeping the vent hole in the gas / water valve closed. The second position opens the gas / water valve 140 so as to shut off the gas supply to both the atmosphere and the gas supply line 240a inside the endoscope, and to allow lens cleaning water to pass through the lens cleaning fluid supply line 245a inside the endoscope shaft 100a and exit from the gas / lens cleaning fluid nozzle 220 at the distal tip 100c. In this state, gas (pressure) is delivered from the air pump 215 along path C, through the branch line in the connector section 265, out of the gas supply tube 240c, and to the water reservoir 305. The gas (pressure) pressurizes the surface of the remaining water 285 in reservoir 305, pushing the water up from the lens cleaning fluid supply tube 245c to the connector section 265. The pressurized lens cleaning water is then pushed through the lens cleaning fluid delivery line 245b in the umbilical 260 and further through the gas / water valve 140. Because system 300 is closed, the gas pressure is able to build and maintain a calibrated pressure level in the water reservoir 305 rather than being released into the atmosphere or delivered to the patient. This pressure, along with the endoscope's delivery and supply lines and external tubing, is converted into a specific range of flow velocities for the lens cleaning fluid.

[0050] As shown in Figure 3D, the endoscope 100 is in an irrigation delivery state. This may occur simultaneously with or at a different time from the delivery of gas and / or lens cleaning solution. When irrigation is required at the distal tip 100c, for example, when visibility in the treatment area is poor or obstructed by debris, the user activates the irrigation pump 315 (for example, by pressing the foot switch 318) to deliver water along the pathway D. Once the pump 315 is activated, water is drawn from the water reservoir 305 through the upstream irrigation supply tube 320 and delivered along the downstream irrigation supply tube 255c to the connector section 265. The irrigation pump head pressure further pushes the irrigation water through the irrigation supply line 255b in the umbilical 260 and through the irrigation supply line 255a in the endoscope shaft 100a, out of the irrigation opening 225 at the distal tip 100c. The irrigation pump pressure may be calibrated along with the endoscopic irrigation and supply lines and external tubing to deliver irrigation fluid at a specific range of flow rates.

[0051] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a further embodiment of the hybrid system 400, which includes an image processing unit 210, a connector section 265, a peristaltic irrigation pump 315, a water reservoir 405 and a top section 407, a coaxial gas and lens cleaning fluid supply tube 410, upstream and downstream irrigation supply tubes 320, 255c, and an alternative gas (e.g., CO2) supply tube 415. An alternative gas supply tube 415 of a certain length is positioned in the gas gap 275 (see Figure 2) between the top section 407 of the water reservoir 405 and the remaining water 285 in the reservoir, passes through an additional opening 420 in the top section of the reservoir to a removable connector 425 for an alternative gas source (e.g., a CO2 hospital gas source). When an alternative gas supply, such as CO2 gas, is desired, the air pump 215 on the image processing unit 210 may be turned off, thereby allowing CO2 gas, instead of air, to flow into the water reservoir 405 and pressurize the water surface. Generally, the flow of CO2 through the endoscope 100 is similar to the flow of air. In the neutral position, the CO2 gas flows backward upward through the gas supply tube 240c to the connector section 265, flows upward through the gas supply line 240b, and is vented to the atmosphere through the gas / water valve 140. In the first position, the user closes the vent in the gas / water valve 140, and the CO2 gas flows through the gas / water valve into the gas supply line 240a in the endoscope shaft 100a and flows out from the gas / lens cleaning nozzle 220 at the distal tip 100c. In the second position, the user pushes valve 140 down to the bottom of valve well 135, keeping the vent in the gas / water valve closed. The second position opens gas / water valve 140 to shut off the supply of CO2 gas to both the atmosphere and the gas supply line 240a in the endoscope 100, while allowing lens cleaning water to pass through the lens cleaning fluid supply line 245a in the endoscope shaft 100a and exit from the gas / lens cleaning fluid nozzle 220 at the distal tip 100c. The gas (pressure) in reservoir 405 is maintained by the delivery gas through the alternative gas (e.g., CO2) supply tube 415. The irrigation function can be achieved in a manner similar to the operation described above with respect to Figure 3D.

[0052] As described above, it may be desirable to reduce the opportunity for the tube sets 240c, 245c, 320, 410, 415 to be contaminated during water reservoir replacement by providing refillable and / or high-capacity water reservoirs 270, 305, 405. Figure 5A shows a side view of an exemplary refillable fluid reservoir 500. Figure 5B shows a side view of an exemplary reservoir 500 coupled with a water bottle 528. The reservoir 500 may be configured for use within an endoscope system and includes components similar to those of the endoscope and endoscope system described with respect to Figures 1 to 4, although not all features can be described or illustrated herein if they are not related to the fluid circuit of the system. The reservoir 500 includes a container 502 configured to hold a fluid 504. The container 502 may be formed from a lightweight flexible material such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silicone, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum, nylon, polyethylene (PE), or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the reservoir 500 may be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material. In some embodiments, the container 502 may be entirely translucent, entirely opaque, or a combination of both.

[0053] The reservoir 500 may further include a port 506. In some embodiments, the port 506 may be in fluid communication with the interior 508 of the container 502. However, this is not required. In some embodiments, the port 506 may not provide access to the interior 508 of the container. The port 506 may extend away from the top 510 of the container 502 in the opposite direction to the bottom 512 of the container 502. The port 506 may include, but is not limited to, a coupling mechanism 514 such as a plurality of male screws. Other coupling mechanisms may be used as needed, but is not limited to, one or more grooves configured to receive one or more raised projections, one or more raised projections configured to receive one or more mating grooves, a friction fit, etc.

[0054] The reservoir 500 may further include a flexible tube 516. The flexible tube 516 may extend from a first end 518 adjacent to the opening 542 of the container 502 and coupled to the top 510 of the container 502 to a second end 520, and a lumen 522 (Figure 5A) passing through the flexible tube 516 is defined. In some cases, the flexible tube 516 may be formed as a monolithic structure integral with the container 502. In other embodiments, the first end 518 of the flexible tube 516 may be coupled to the container 502. For example, the first end 518 of the flexible tube 516 may be rotatably coupled to the container 502. The lumen 522 may be configured to selectively fluidize the interior 508 of the container 502. The second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may include, but not limited to, a coupling mechanism 524 such as a plurality of female threads. Other coupling mechanisms may be used as needed, but are not limited to, one or more grooves configured to receive one or more raised projections, one or more raised projections configured to be received in one or more fitting grooves, or friction fittings. The second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may be configured to selectively connect to a port 506 or a water bottle 528 (Figure 5B). For example, when the reservoir 500 is in use, the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may be connected to the port 506. This seals the container 502 so that the interior 508 is pressurized to supply lens cleaning fluid and maintain the sterility of the lumen 522 of the flexible tube. When the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 is connected to the port 506, it is further intended that the flexible tube 516 may function as a handle. The flexible tube 516 can then receive a hand or hook through an opening 526 defined by the space between the flexible tube 516 and the top 510 of the container 502. In some embodiments, when coupled to the port 506, the flexible tube 516 may be configured to connect to a hook or other mechanism on the endoscope tower. This can be ergonomically improved as it raises the reservoir to a higher position, reduces the footprint on the floor of the treatment room, and eliminates the need for the user to bend down to the floor to interface with the reservoir.

[0055] If it is desired to fill or refill the reservoir 500, the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may be disengaged from the port 506, freeing the flexible tube 516 from the port 506 and connecting it to the water bottle 528. The flexible tube 516 may be bent, rotated, or otherwise manipulated to bring the second end 520 closer to the mouth 532 of the water bottle 528. Alternatively, or additionally, the mouth of the water bottle 528 may be brought closer to the second end of the flexible tube 516, as is sometimes the case. The second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 is intended to be able to connect to the water bottle 528 when the water bottle 528 is in an upright position. This can limit any spillage that may occur if the water bottle 528 is tilted for filling and / or connecting. When the second end of the flexible tube 516 is connected to the water bottle 528, the water bottle 528 can be inverted to allow water to flow from inside the water bottle 528 through the lumen 522 of the flexible tube 516 into the interior 508 of the container 502, as shown in the flow path 530. In other examples, the water bottle 528 may be compressed or compressed to move water from inside the water bottle 528 through the lumen 522 of the flexible tube 516 into the interior 508 of the container 502, as shown in the flow path 530. If the port 506 includes a through-hole to provide fluid communication with the interior 508 of the container 502, the port 506 may function as a vent or pressure relief as water flows into the container 502. In other embodiments, the port 506 acts to secure the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516, thereby protecting the second end 520 from contaminants that may be exposed to the room during treatment, and allowing pressurization of the container 502 without providing fluid communication with the interior 508 of the container 502.

[0056] The reservoir 500 may be connected to a gas supply tube / alternative gas supply tube (or gas supply tube) 534 and a lens cleaning fluid supply tube / irrigation supply tube (or water supply tube) 536 to be in fluid communication. The gas supply tube 534 extends from a second end outside the reservoir 500 through the reservoir opening 538a of the container 502. The gas supply tube 534 may extend into the residual fluid in the container 502. For example, the opening 538a is at the bottom or side of the container 502, and the gas supply tube 534 terminates in the fluid so that gas bubbles through the fluid to pressurize the container. However, in some cases, the gas supply tube 534 may be located adjacent to the top 510 of the container 502 and may terminate in the gap of the reservoir, either at or below the opening from which the gas supply tube 534 extends, but not into the residual fluid in the container 502. A lumen extends through the gas supply tube 534 to receive a flow of air and / or gas. The lumen of the gas supply tube 534 is operably fluidly in communication with the interior 508 of the reservoir 500. The water supply tube 536 extends from a second end outside the reservoir 500 through the reservoir opening 538b, with its first end terminating at the bottom 512 of the container 502 or substantially within the residual fluid at the bottom 512. In some embodiments, the water supply tube 536 may terminate at the opening 538b. For example, if the opening 538b is at or adjacent to the bottom 512 of the container 502, an immersion tube is not required. However, if the opening 538b is adjacent to the top 510 of the container 502, an immersion tube is required. A lumen extends through the water supply tube 536 to receive a flow of fluid. The lumen of the water supply tube 536 is selectively operable fluid communication with the bottom 512 of the container 502. In the illustrated embodiment, the gas supply tube 534 and the water supply tube 536 extend in a parallel arrangement and can enter the container 502 through separate openings 538a, 538b. However, this is not essential.In some cases, the gas supply tube 534 and the water supply tube 536 may enter the container through a single opening or a common opening. For example, the gas supply tube 534 and the water supply tube 536 may be arranged coaxially. The openings 538a, 538b may include grommets or heat seals 540 configured to seal the container 502 fluidly and pressure-sealed around the tubes 534, 536.

[0057] A portion of the gas supply tube 534 and a portion of the water supply tube 536 may extend from the reservoir 500 and be connected to the endoscope via fluid communication at the gas connection / lens cleaning connection on the connector portion 265 of the umbilical. The gas supply tube 534 is connected via fluid communication to a gas pump (not explicitly shown) and a gas supply line (not explicitly shown) within the connector portion 265, and the water supply tube 536 is connected via fluid communication to a lens cleaning fluid supply line (not explicitly shown). Although not explicitly shown, an irrigation supply tube can be coupled to the water supply tube 536 via a manifold to supply irrigation fluid from the reservoir 500, or a separate irrigation supply tube can be provided that terminates in a container 502 and is in fluid communication with the interior 508 of the container 502.

[0058] The water bottle 528 and the flexible tube 516 may be held in place (if lifted) until all the water has been transferred from the water bottle 528 through the flexible tube 516 to the container 502. Once complete, the water bottle 528 can be discarded, and the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 can be connected to the port 506 to protect the second end 520 from any contaminants that may be exposed to the room during the procedure and to allow pressurization of the container 502. The second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may remain connected to the port 506 until additional water needs to be transferred to the reservoir 500.

[0059] Refilling of the reservoir 500 may be done during or between procedures, as needed. The water may be sterile or non-sterile, as needed. For example, sterile water may be used for therapeutic procedures, while non-sterile water may be used for diagnostic procedures. Refilling the reservoir 500 with sterile or non-sterile water is intended to provide greater flexibility and reduce the need to have a large amount of sterile water on hand during storage. Furthermore, refilling the reservoir 500 via the flexible tube 516 also eliminates the need to remove the reservoir 500 from tubes 534, 536 throughout the day and eliminates the need to change the water container, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing the possibility of cross-contamination.

[0060] Figure 6 is a side view of an exemplary reservoir 500 of Figure 5A, having an alternative port 550 and a coupling mechanism 560 for coupling the second end 520 of a flexible tube 516 to the port 550. The port 550 may be located in a recess 558 formed in the top 510 of the container 502. The recess 558 may extend from an open first end 564 at the top 562 of the container 502 to a second end 566 offset from the top 562 of the container 502. The second end 566 of the recess 558 may be located between the top 562 and the bottom 568 of the container 502. The port 550 may further include a plurality of male threads 552.

[0061] The second end 520 of the flexible tube 516 may include a rotatable collar 554. The rotatable collar 554 may be configured to spin or rotate independently of the body of the flexible tube 516. For example, the rotatable collar 554 may be an annular collar at least partially positioned around the outer surface of the flexible tube 516. The rotatable collar 554 may extend distally beyond the second end 520 of the flexible tube 516. The rotatable collar 554 may further include a plurality of female threads 556. The plurality of female threads 556 may be configured to screw into a plurality of male threads 552 on the port 550. The rotatable collar 554 is also intended to be used with the port 506 in Figure 5A.

[0062] Figure 7A shows a side view of another exemplary refillable fluid reservoir 600. Figure 7B shows a side view of an exemplary reservoir 600 coupled with a water bottle 654. The reservoir 600 may be configured for use in an endoscope system and may include components similar to those of the endoscope and endoscope system described with respect to Figures 1 to 4, although not all features can be described or illustrated herein if they are not related to the fluid circuit of the system. The reservoir 600 includes a container 602 configured to hold a fluid 604. The container 602 may be formed from a lightweight flexible material such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silicone, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum, nylon, polyethylene (PE), or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the reservoir 600 may be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material. In some embodiments, the container 602 may be entirely translucent, entirely opaque, or a combination thereof.

[0063] The reservoir 600 may further include a port 606 having a removable cap 608. The cap 608 may be formed from a rigid material and configured to form a fluid-sealing seal with the port 606. The cap 608 may be configured to engage with the port 606 screwably, to form a friction fit with the port 606, to form a snap fit with the port 606, or otherwise to engage with the port 606 retractably. In some embodiments, the cap 608 may be a self-sealing one-way valve. In other embodiments, the cap 608 may be formed from a self-healing material. For example, a needle may be used to puncture the self-healing material and provide access to the interior 610 of the container 602, and once the needle is removed, the hole formed by the needle will seal without user intervention. In some examples, the port 606 and / or the cap 608 may be formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and the like. Part of the port 606 may extend into the container 602. A removable cap 608 can be removed to selectively establish fluid communication between the fluid source and the container 602, allowing the fluid to be injected into the container 602 through the lumen of port 606. If the cap 608 is formed from a self-healing material, the cap 608 can be punctured using a needle to selectively establish fluid communication between the fluid source and the container 602, thereby injecting the fluid into the container 602.

[0064] The reservoir 600 may further include a flexible tube 616. The flexible tube 616 may extend from a first end 618 adjacent to the opening 624 of the container 602 and coupled to the top 612 of the container 602 to a second end 620, and a lumen 622 passing through the flexible tube 616 is defined. In some cases, the flexible tube 616 may be formed as a monolithic structure integral with the container 602. In other embodiments, the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616 may be coupled to the container 602. For example, the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616 may be rotatably coupled to the container 602. The lumen 622 may be configured to selectively fluidize the interior 610 of the container 602.

[0065] The second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 may include an actuated cap 626. The cap 626 may be positioned to cover the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 and may be actuated to selectively expose the second end of the flexible tube 616. For example, the cap 626 may include a cover 628 pivotally coupled to the body 630 of the cap 626. The cover 628 can pivot around a hinge 632 between a closed configuration (shown by a dashed line in Figure 7A) and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the cover 628 can form a fluid-sealed seal with the body 630 so that the interior 610 can be pressurized to supply lens cleaning fluid. The cover 628 may include a latch 634 for maintaining the cover 628 in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, the cover 628 may further include a sealing member positioned on the inner surface of the cover 628. Although the cap 626 has been described as including a pivotable cover 628, it is intended that other operating mechanisms may be used to move the cap 626 between a closed and an open position. For example, in some embodiments, the cap 626 may be screwably engaged with the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616. In other embodiments, the cap 626 may be slid along the flexible tube 616 to expose its second end 620.

[0066] The second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 may further include an annular sealing plug 636. The annular sealing plug 636 may be formed from a flexible durometer material that can be deformed around the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654 (Figure 7B) or that can form a fluid-sealing seal with the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654. The annular sealing plug 636 may define an opening 638 that extends across the thickness of the annular sealing plug 636. The opening 638 is in fluid communication with the lumen 622 of the flexible tube. In some cases, the annular sealing plug 636 may include a tapered distal end region 640. For example, the outer surface of the distal end region 640 may have a decreasing cross-sectional dimension distally (for example, in the direction opposite to the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616). In some embodiments, the distal end region 640 may be a conical taper or generally similar to a frustocone. A reverse configuration is also envisioned in which the cross-sectional dimensions of the outer surface of the distal end region 640 increase distally. In yet another example, the distal end region 640 may have a convex or concave shape. Alternatively or additionally, the inner surface of the distal end region 640 may decrease or increase distally in cross-sectional dimensions. For example, the inner surface 642 of the annular sealing plug 636 may be tapered. For example, the inner surface 642 may be tapered such that the cross-sectional dimensions of the opening 638 decrease distally (for example, in the opposite direction to the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616). A reverse configuration is also envisioned in which the cross-sectional dimensions of the opening 638 of the annular sealing plug 636 increase distally.

[0067] If it is desired to fill or replenish the reservoir 600, the operable cap 626 may be moved to an open position by operating the cap 626 (e.g., releasing a latch, sliding it, loosening a screw). When the cap 626 is opened, the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 is exposed. The annular sealing plug 636 may be inserted to cover the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654, for example, if the cross-sectional dimensions of the opening 638 of the annular sealing plug 636 increase distally (e.g., in the direction opposite to the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616). Alternatively, the annular sealing plug 636 may be inserted into the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654, for example, as shown in Figure 7B, and the outer surface of the distal end region 640 has a cross-sectional dimension that decreases distally (e.g., in the direction opposite to the first end 618 of the flexible tube 616). The shape of the distal end region 640 and / or the shape of the mouth 656 are intended to determine whether the annular sealing plug 636 is positioned to cover the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654 or to be positioned within the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654. The connection of the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 to the water bottle 654 may be performed with the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 oriented at a downward angle, as shown in Figure 7A. The flexible tube 616 may be bent, rotated, or otherwise manipulated to bring the second end 620 closer to the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654. Alternatively, or additionally, the mouth of the water bottle may be brought closer to the second end of the flexible tube 616, as is sometimes the case. The second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 is intended to be connected to the water bottle 654 when the water bottle 654 is in an upright position. This can limit any spillage that may occur if the water bottle is tilted for filling and / or connection. When the second end of the flexible tube 616 is connected to the water bottle 654, the water bottle 654 and the second end 620 of the flexible tube 616 are reversed or rotated together, as indicated by arrow 644, to maintain the seal between the annular sealing plug 636 and the mouth 656 of the water bottle 654, and the flexible tube 616 is oriented upward as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7B.This may allow water to flow from inside the water bottle 654 through the lumen 622 of the flexible tube 616 into the interior 610 of the container 602, as shown in the channel 646. This may allow the water movement to be initiated by gravity. The diameter of the flexible tube 616 is intended to be large enough to allow a large flow rate with nothing but gravity assisting the transfer. However, this is not required. In other examples, the water bottle 654 may be compressed or compressed to move water from inside the water bottle 654 through the lumen 622 of the flexible tube 616 into the interior 610 of the container 602, as shown in the channel 646. During filling or refilling of the reservoir 600, the cap 608 is intended to be removed from the port 606 to provide a vent.

[0068] The water bottle 654 and the flexible tube 616 may be held in place until all the water has been transferred from the water bottle 654 through the flexible tube 616 to the container. Once complete, the water bottle 654 can be discarded, and the operable cap 626 may be moved to a closed position to protect the annular sealing plug 636 from contaminants that may be exposed indoors during the procedure and to allow pressurization of the container 602. The operable cap 626 may not be opened again until additional water transfer to the reservoir 600 is required.

[0069] The reservoir 600 may be connected to the gas supply tube / alternative gas supply tube (or gas supply tube) 648 and the lens cleaning fluid supply tube / irrigation supply tube (or water supply tube) 650 to be in fluid communication. The gas supply tube 648 extends from a second end outside the reservoir 600 through the reservoir opening 652 of the container 602. The shared gas supply tube 648 may be located adjacent to the top 612 of the container 602 and may terminate in the gap of the reservoir at or below the opening 652, but does not extend into the residual fluid in the container 602. However, in some cases, the shared gas supply tube 648 may extend into the residual fluid in the container 602. For example, the opening 652 is at the bottom 614 or side of the container 602, and the shared gas supply tube 648 terminates in the fluid so that gas bubbles through the fluid to pressurize the container. The lumen extends through the gas supply tube 648 to receive the flow of air and / or gas. The lumen of the gas supply tube 648 is operably fluid-communicated with the interior 610 of the reservoir 600. The water supply tube 650 extends from a second end outside the reservoir 600 through the reservoir opening 652, with its first end terminating at the bottom 614 of the container 602, or substantially within the residual fluid at the bottom 614. In some embodiments, the water supply tube 650 may terminate at the opening 652. For example, if the opening 652 is at or adjacent to the bottom 614 of the container 602, an immersion tube is not required. The lumen extends through the water supply tube 650 to receive the fluid flow. The lumen of the water supply tube 650 is selectively operably fluid-communicated with the bottom 614 of the container 602. In the illustrated embodiments, the gas supply tube 648 and the water supply tube 650 may enter the container through a single opening 652 or a common opening 652. However, this is not mandatory. For example, the gas supply tube 648 and the water supply tube 650 may be arranged coaxially. In some cases, the gas supply tube 648 and the water supply tube 650 may extend in parallel and enter the container 602 through separate openings.The opening 652 may include a grommet or heat seal (not explicitly shown) configured to seal the container 602 around the tubes 648, 650 in a liquid-seal and pressure-seal manner.

[0070] A portion of the gas supply tube 648 and a portion of the water supply tube 650 may extend from the reservoir 600 and be connected to the endoscope via fluid communication at the gas connection / lens cleaning connection on the connector portion 265 of the umbilical. The gas supply tube 648 is connected via fluid communication to a gas pump (not explicitly shown) and a gas supply line (not explicitly shown) within the connector portion 265, and the water supply tube 650 is connected via fluid communication to a lens cleaning fluid supply line (not explicitly shown). Although not explicitly shown, an irrigation supply tube can be coupled to the water supply tube 650 via a manifold to supply irrigation fluid from the reservoir 600, or a separate irrigation supply tube can be provided that terminates at a container 602 and is in fluid communication with the interior 610 of the container 602.

[0071] Refilling of reservoir 600 may be done during or between procedures, as needed. The water may be sterile or non-sterile, as needed. For example, sterile water may be used for therapeutic procedures, while non-sterile water may be used for diagnostic procedures. Refilling reservoir 600 with sterile or non-sterile water is intended to provide greater flexibility and reduce the need to have a large amount of sterile water on hand during storage. Furthermore, refilling reservoir 600 via flexible tube 616 can also eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of cross-contamination by eliminating the need to remove reservoir 600 from tubes 648, 650 throughout the day and eliminating the need to change water containers.

[0072] As can be understood, the lengths of the irrigation, lens cleaning solution, gas supply, and alternative gas supply tubes may have any preferred size (e.g., diameter). In addition, the size (e.g., diameter) of the tubes may vary depending on the application. In one non-limiting embodiment, the irrigation supply tube may have an inner diameter of about 6.5 mm and an outer diameter of 9.7 mm. The lens cleaning solution supply tube may have an inner diameter of about 5 mm and an outer diameter of 8 mm. The gas supply tube may have an inner diameter of about 2 mm and an outer diameter of 3.5 mm. The alternative gas supply tube may have an inner diameter of about 5 mm and an outer diameter of 8 mm.

[0073] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed devices without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Other embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the consideration herein and the practice of the invention disclosed herein. This specification and examples are for illustrative purposes only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are intended to be shown by the following claims.

[0074] All apparatus and methods described herein are examples of apparatus and / or methods implemented in accordance with one or more principles of this disclosure. These examples are merely illustrative and not the only ways of implementing these principles. Accordingly, references to elements, structures, or features in the drawings should be understood as references to examples of embodiments of this disclosure and should not be understood as limiting this disclosure to specific elements, structures, or features illustrated. Other examples of ways of implementing the disclosed principles will be conceivable to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

[0075] In the foregoing description and the following claims, it will be understood that: The terms “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and / or” as used herein are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in function. The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of those entities. Thus, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, top, bottom, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, rear, top, bottom, up, down, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, counterclockwise, etc.) are used solely for identification purposes to aid the reader’s understanding of this disclosure and / or to distinguish areas of related elements from one another, and do not limit the elements relevant in particular with respect to the location, orientation, or use of this disclosure. References to connections (e.g., attached, joined, connected, and joined) should be interpreted broadly and, unless otherwise indicated, may include intermediate members between sets of elements and relative movement between elements. Therefore, references to connections do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected and have a fixed relationship with one another. References to identifications (e.g., primary, secondary, first, second, third, fourth, etc.) are not intended to imply importance or priority, but are used to distinguish one feature from another.

[0076] The foregoing description is provided for illustrative and explanatory purposes and is not intended to limit the disclosure to one or more forms disclosed herein. It will be understood that various additions, modifications, and substitutions can be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the concepts, spirit, and scope of the disclosure. In particular, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of the disclosure can be embodied in other forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components without departing from the concepts, spirit, scope, or characteristics thereof. For example, various features of the disclosure can be grouped together in one or more aspects, embodiments, or configurations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. However, it should be understood that various features of a particular aspect, embodiment, or configuration of the disclosure can be combined in alternative aspects, embodiments, or configurations. It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the disclosure can be used with many modifications, such as structures, arrangements, proportions, materials, and components used in the implementation of the disclosure, that are particularly suited to specific environmental and operating requirements without departing from the principles of the disclosure. For example, an element shown as being formed as a whole may consist of multiple parts, or an element shown as multiple parts may be formed as a whole; the operation of an element may be reversed or otherwise modified; the size or dimensions of an element may be modified; and the features and components of various embodiments may be selectively combined. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the claimed invention is indicated by the appended claims and is not limited to the foregoing description.

[0077] The following claims are incorporated by reference in this detailed description, and each claim stands independently as a distinct embodiment of the present disclosure. In the claims, the term “equipped with / equipped with” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, even if listed individually, multiple means, elements or method steps may be implemented, for example, by a single unit or processor. In addition, individual features may be included in different claims, but they may be advantageously combined in some cases, and their inclusion in different claims does not imply that the combination of features is unfeasible and / or unfavorable. Furthermore, singular references do not exclude plurals. Terms such as “a,” “an,” “first,” and “second” do not exclude plurals. Reference numerals in the claims are provided merely as clear examples and should not be construed as limiting the claims.

Claims

1. A container arranged and configured to be attached to an endoscope for use in endoscopic procedures, A container configured to contain a fluid, the container having a bottom and a top, A lens water supply tube comprising a first end, a second end, and a first lumen extending through the lens water supply tube, wherein the first lumen is in fluid communication with the bottom of the container, and the second end of the lens water supply tube is located outside the container, A gas supply tube comprising a first end, a second end, and a second lumen extending through the gas supply tube, wherein the second lumen is operably fluidly in communication with the interior of the container, and the second end of the gas supply tube is located outside the container, A port located adjacent to the top of the container, A flexible tube comprising a first end, a second end, and a third lumen extending through the flexible tube, wherein the third lumen of the flexible tube is configured to selectively communicate with the interior of the container, A container in which the second end of the flexible tube is configured to be selectively coupled to the port.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the flexible tube is configured to be screwed into the port.

3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second end of the flexible tube includes a rotatable collar.

4. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first end of the flexible tube is rotatably coupled to the container.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the flexible tube is provided with an annular sealing plug that is in fluid communication with the third lumen of the flexible tube.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the annular sealing plug is configured to form a seal with the water bottle.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the annular sealing plug is configured to be positioned inside the mouth of the water bottle and together with the mouth of the water bottle to form a seal.

8. The container according to claim 5, wherein the outer surface of the annular sealing plug has a taper.

9. The container according to claim 6, wherein the annular sealing plug is configured to cover the mouth of the water bottle and together with the mouth of the water bottle to form the seal.

10. The container according to claim 5, wherein the inner surface of the annular sealing plug has a taper.

11. The container according to claim 5, further comprising an operable cap positioned on the annular sealing plug.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the operable cap is configured to be opened to transfer water from a water bottle to the container and to be closed while the container is in use.

13. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the second end of the flexible tube is connected to the port, the flexible tube forms a handle, and when the second end of the flexible tube is free from the port, the second end of the flexible tube is configured to be connected to a water bottle.

14. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the port is recessed in the top of the container.

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