Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning interiors of passageways in endoscopes or other luminal medical devices by flow of liquid and gas therethrough. The liquid flow may include rivulets, droplets or other liquid entities which move on the internal surfaces of the passageways, and may include a three-phase contact interface between liquid and dry solid and gas.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning interiors of passageways in endoscopes or other luminal medical devices by flow of liquid and gas therethrough. The liquid flow may include rivulets, droplets or other liquid entities which move on the internal surfaces of the passageways, and may include a three-phase contact interface between liquid and dry solid and gas.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning interiors of passageways in endoscopes or other luminal medical devices by flow of liquid and gas therethrough. The liquid flow may include rivulets, droplets or other liquid entities which move on the internal surfaces of the passageways, and may include a three-phase contact interface between liquid and dry solid and gas.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning interiors of passageways in endoscopes or other luminal medical devices by flow of liquid and gas therethrough. The liquid flow may include rivulets, droplets or other liquid entities which move on the internal surfaces of the passageways, and may include a three-phase contact interface between liquid and dry solid and gas.
Abstract:
A method, composition and apparatus for cleaning an internal surface of a narrow diameter channel. The method includes: i) flowing a liquid cleaning medium and a gas through the internal channel under one or more flow regimes that creates surface flow entities in contact with and sliding along the surface of the channel, said surface flow entities having three-phase contact lines and associated menisci, said surface flow entities detaching contaminants with which they come in contact from the internal surface of the channel; ii) rinsing the internal surface of the channel to remove residual liquid cleaning medium and detached contaminants from the channel; wherein during step i): the detachment of contaminants from the internal surface of the channel is produced by a sweeping of the internal surface of the internal channel with the three-phase contact lines of the surface flow entities, the cleaning medium is not predispersed in the gas before entering the channel, and less that 10% of the surface of the channel is covered by a contiguous annular film.
Abstract:
A method of cleaning surfaces using a mixed phase cleaning mixture of an aqueous solution and a flow of gas sufficient to produce droplets of the liquid which are entrained by the gas for a time sufficient to clean tubing of various lengths and geometries and porous membranes to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Abstract:
Biofilm and debris can be removed from the interior and exterior surfaces of small bore tubing by passing an aqueous cleaning solution of water, one or more surfactants and preferably a source of hydrogen peroxide, optionally including small inert solid particles, together with a gas under pressure, to create a turbulent flow within the tubing that loosens the biofilm and debris so that they can be flushed from the tubing. When the exterior surfaces of tubing are to be cleaned, the tubing is inserted in a sleeve fitted with an adaptor that provides a pressure-tight seal between the tubing and the sleeve.
Abstract:
A method for cleaning an internal surface of a narrow diameter channel includes steps of: flowing a liquid cleaning medium and a gas through the narrow diameter channel under a flow regime that creates surface flow entities in contact with and sliding along the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel, the surface flow entities having three-phase contact lines and associated menisci, the surface flow entities detaching contaminants with which they come in contact from the internal surface of the narrow diameter internal surface of the narrow diameter channel; and rinsing the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel to remove residual liquid cleaning medium and detached contaminants from the channel.
Abstract:
A method for cleaning an internal surface of a narrow diameter channel includes steps of flowing a liquid cleaning medium and a gas through the narrow diameter channel under a flow regime that creates surface flow entities in contact with and sliding along the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel, said surface flow entities having three-phase contact lines and associated menisci, said surface flow entities detaching contaminants with which they come in contact from the internal surface of the narrow diameter internal surface of the narrow diameter channel; and rinsing the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel to remove residual liquid cleaning medium and detached contaminants from the channel.
Abstract:
The narrow diameter channel has a diameter of about 0.02 centimeter to about 1.6 centimeters and a length of about 0.75 meter to about 5 meters. The internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is hydrophobic, and the surface flow entities exhibit an advancing contact angle of greater than 50 degrees and a receding contact angle of greater than zero degree. The detachment of contaminants from the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is produced by a sweeping of the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel with the three-phase contact lines of the surface flow entities, the cleaning medium is not predispersed in the gas before entering the channel, and less that 10% of the surface of the channel is covered by a contiguous annular film.