Instrument treatment station

Abstract

An instrument treatment station includes a station body having a first and second elongate and spaced channel walls. The channel walls define an elongate instrument channel therebetween. The station body defines an elongate drain channel in fluid communication with the instrument channel. The station body further defines a source port in fluid communication with the instrument channel for delivering a fluid flow into the instrument channel for treating an instrument therein. The instrument treatment station may accommodate arrays of aligned instruments.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A method for treating a linear array of instruments comprising the steps of: 
 passing the array of instruments between a first and second elongate wall defining a wash channel therebetween;    directing a wash fluid about at least a portion of each instrument of the array within said wash channel as said array passes through said wash channel;    passing said array of instruments through a rinsing channel defined between a first and second elongate and spaced walls; and    applying a means of rinsing to each instrument of said array within said rinsing channel as said array passes through said drying channel.    
   
   
       16 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said applying step further comprises directing a rinsing fluid about at least a portion of each instrument of the array within said rinsing channel.  
   
   
       17 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said wash station accommodates a single instrument of said array at one time.  
   
   
       18 . The method of claim  14 , further comprising the step of linearly moving said array between said wash station and said drying station  
   
   
       19 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said wash station and said drying station are defined between a single pair of spaced-apart walls.  
   
   
       20 . The method of claim  14 , further comprising the step of draining said wash fluid from said wash station after contacting an instrument of said array.  
   
   
       21 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said removing step further comprises applying a low pressure line in fluid communication with said wash channel.  
   
   
       22 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said applying step further comprises applying a low pressure conduit in fluid communication with said drying channel.  
   
   
       23 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said step of directing a wash fluid further comprises directing said wash fluid from a single wash fluid port in fluid communication with said wash channel.  
   
   
       24 . The method of claim  14 , wherein said step of directing a wash fluid further comprises directing said wash fluid through a wash aperture defined by one of said first and second walls.  
   
   
       25 . A method for treating a linear array of instruments comprising the steps of: 
 directing the array of instruments past a first fluid port defined by one of a first and second elongate wall;    applying a first treatment fluid from said first fluid port about at least a portion of each instrument of the array as said array passes said first fluid port;    directing said array of instruments past a second fluid port defined by one of said first and second walls; and    applying a second treatment fluid from said second fluid port about at least a portion of each instrument of said array as said array passes said second fluid port.