Abstract: A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another involves mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument during an automated decontamination cycle of the decontaminating apparatus. The instrument may be a surgical instrument having an operating portion arranged to remotely control operation of a working portion in use. The method may involve engaging a part or parts of the operating portion to transmit motion thereto for creating the relative movement. An instrument carrier insertable in a decontaminating apparatus in use may be modified to incorporate an instrument manipulator.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating a contaminated medical instrument that is to undergo decontamination involves inserting a distal tip of the instrument into a distal tip protector. The distal tip of the instrument is inserted through a rupturable resilient seal into an internal cavity of the protector that contains a fluid. The distal tip protector thereby maintains a fluid around the distal tip of the instrument until the distal tip protector is removed to allow reprocessing of the instrument to take place, facilitating decontamination of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating a medical instrument having parts that are movable relative to one another involves mounting the instrument in a decontaminating apparatus, and automatically manipulating the instrument to provide relative movement between two or more relatively movable parts of the instrument during an automated decontamination cycle of the decontaminating apparatus. The instrument may be a surgical instrument having an operating portion arranged to remotely control operation of a working portion in use. The method may involve engaging a part or parts of the operating portion to transmit motion thereto for creating the relative movement. An instrument carrier insertable in a decontaminating apparatus in use may be modified to incorporate an instrument manipulator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning hollow elements (6), such as medical instruments having cannulae, is disclosed in which a pulsed flow of cleaning fluid is passed through the element while ultrasonic waves are simultaneously applied to the fluid. The ultrasonic waves loosen any debris during the time when the fluid is substantially at rest, and the pulses of fluid then remove the debris. The apparatus can include a tank (2) containing cleaning fluid (3) into which the element is placed, the cleaning fluid being pumped from the tank into the hollow element. The frequency of the fluid pulses is preferably between zero and 300 Hz, and that of the ultrasonic waves is preferably greater than 15 kHz.