GB2631394A

GB2631394A - Endoscope port cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2631394A
Application number: GB2309730.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ramsey Peter
Original assignee: Meditech Endoscopy Ltd
Current assignee: Meditech Endoscopy Ltd
Priority date: 2023-06-28
Filing date: 2023-06-28
Publication date: 2025-01-08
Also published as: GB202309730D0

Abstract

Port cleaning apparatus 50 for cleaning the internal surface of an endoscope port (e.g. biopsy aspiration port) comprises a deformable main body 52 repeatedly moveable between extended and compressed states, a brush shaft 88 connected to the main body and having a radially extending brush or wiper 100 arranged to contact an internal surface of the port, and a sealing element 54 connected to the main body to form a water-tight seal with the endoscope port. When the main body is compressed, the brush protrudes further from the main body than when the main body is extended. The main body preferably has a resilient accordion or concertina structure 60 enclosing the port and a gripping handle 62 for squeezing the bellows and reciprocating the brush. The seal may be integral to the deformable bellows and may be stretched over a lip of the port. Cleaning an endoscope port comprises sealing the device to the port and compressing the main body to extend the brush, e.g. repeatedly collapsing and releasing or stretching the bellows, in the manner of a plunger, to reciprocate the brush within the suction port.

Description

Endoscope Port Cleaning Apparatus

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of accessories for use during the cleaning of endoscopes. In particular this invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a port of an endoscope, and more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning a biopsy port of an endoscope. This invention also relates to a method of cleaning a port of an endoscope using such as apparatus.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is important that endoscopes are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after use.

Cleaning refers to the removal of visible debris, which may include both inorganic and organic substances. Cleaning usually involves a mechanical process, together with water and detergent. Following cleaning, sterilisation of the endoscope destroys microorganisms present on or in the endoscope. Sterilisation processes usually involve steam or a chemical sterilant. Following sterilisation, the endoscope undergoes high-level disinfection.

It is important that all of the internal channels of an endoscope are thoroughly cleaned and sterilised. These channels include an air/water channel and a suction/biopsy channel. During use of the endoscope a valve is seated in a port fluidly connected to the air/water channel. The valve is configured to allow a user to selectively send air or water along the air/water channel to the distal tip of the endoscope. A biopsy valve or biopsy cap is seated in an instrument channel port or biopsy port fluidly connected to the suction/biopsy channel. The biopsy valve or biopsy cap covers the opening to the suction/biopsy channel but provides access to the channel for endoscopic devices, such as biopsy forceps.

It is currently recommended that a preliminary cleaning routine is undertaken immediately after use of an endoscope. This pre-clean routine preferably comprises wiping external surfaces of the insertion tube of the endoscope, and flushing water and air through both the air/water channel and the suction/biopsy channel of the endoscope. To facilitate this flushing procedure, the valves or caps are generally removed from each of the air/water port of the air/water channel and the biopsy port of the suction/biopsy channel. These valves/caps are typically replaced by cleaning adaptors. For example, it is known to provide a cleaning adaptor for the air/water channel to permit both water and air to be flushed through this channel, and it is known to provide a cleaning adaptor for the suction/biopsy channel to permit fluids to be flushed through the suction/biopsy channel.

It will be appreciated that the suction/biopsy channel may become heavily contaminated during an endoscopic procedure. Following the pre-clean procedure, it is therefore currently stipulated that this channel should be manually brushed to remove as much debris as possible from this channel. All sections of the suction/biopsy channel should be brushed, including the insertion tube portion extending to the distal tip of the endoscope and the biopsy port.

Following flushing and brushing, the internal channels of an endoscope are then flushed with detergent solution before proceeding to sterilisation.

It will be appreciated that insufficient or incomplete cleaning of the internal channels of the endoscope will lead to failures in the subsequent sterilisation and disinfection stages of the endoscope reprocessing.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus to assist in the cleaning of a port of an endoscope to provide improved or more reliable cleaning of that port. The apparatus of the present invention is most suitable for the cleaning of a biopsy port of an endoscope. -3 -

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a port cleaning apparatus for cleaning an internal surface of a port of an endoscope, the apparatus comprising: a deformable main body repeatedly moveable between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration; a brush component comprising an elongate shaft connected to the main body and a wiping element extending radially from a distal portion of the shaft, the wiping element being arranged, in use, to contact said internal surface of the port; and a sealing element connected to the main body and configured to form a water-tight seal with said pod of the endoscope, wherein, with the main body in the compressed configuration the wiping element protrudes further from the main body than when the main body is in the extended configuration.

Accordingly, when the apparatus is secured to a port of an endoscope the main body of the apparatus maybe moved repeatedly between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration to cause the wiping element to wipe or brush against an internal surface of the port as the wiping element moves with respect to a part of the main body.

The sealing element may be configured to form an air-tight seal with the port of the endoscope.

To facilitate the movement of the main body between the extended and compressed configurations, the main body preferably comprises a concertinaed side wall. The configuration of the side wall and an inherent stiffness of a material from which the side wall is made may result in the main body being biased to return to the extended configuration from the compressed configuration.

In other embodiments the movement between the extended and compressed configurations may be facilitated in other ways, for example by forming a side wall -4 -of the main body from a flexible material. The main body may comprise a spring to bias the main body to return to the extended configuration.

In preferred embodiments the main body includes an internal cavity. The shaft of the brush component preferably extends through the internal cavity. With this arrangement, a side wall of the main body may surround at least a part of the length of the shaft of the brush component. The wiping element may extend through or protrude from an end of the main body.

The wiping element is arranged to contact the internal surface of the port of the endoscope to dislodge debris and remove contamination from the surface. The wiping element preferably comprises bristles, flexible discs and/or a helical plate that extend from the shaft and contact the internal surface in use. The wiping element may comprise a helical arrangement of bristles. The wiping element is preferably arranged to contact and clean a cylindrical internal surface of the port and, therefore, the wiping element preferably extends fully around the shaft of the brush component. It will be understood that the wiping element may comprise multiple elements such as bristles and plates. Accordingly, each individual bristle and plate may only extend through an angle of less than 360° around the shaft.

In preferred embodiments the sealing element comprises an elastomeric material. The sealing element may be deformable to secure the port cleaning apparatus to the port of the endoscope. For example, the sealing element may be stretchable and/or compressible.

The sealing element may be integral with the main body.

The port cleaning apparatus is designed to be single use. Accordingly, the method of manufacture and the materials from which the apparatus is made should be as inexpensive as possible. The main body, the brush component and the sealing element are preferably each made of a polymeric material. The main body, the brush component and the sealing element may each comprise different polymeric -5 -materials.

To make the port cleaning apparatus easier to handle and to use, the main body preferably comprises a sprung section and a grip section. The sprung section is 5 configured to be repeatedly moveable between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration, and the grip section extends from the sprung section to provide a surface for gripping by a user. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the sprung section of the main body preferably comprises a concertinaed side wall that surrounds the shaft of the brush element. In some embodiments the shaft of the 10 brush component may be engaged with the grip section to connect the brush component to the main body.

In some embodiments the wiping element may extend along the shaft over less than half the complete length of the shaft. A length of the distal portion of the shaft along 15 which the wiping element extends may be substantially equal to a depth of a bore of the port to be cleaned.

It will be appreciated that moving the main body between the extended and compressed configurations causes the brush component to move in directions parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. In use, this results in the wiping elements brushing or wiping over the internal surface of the port. In preferred embodiments, a distance over which the wiping element moves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft during movement of the main body between the extended and compressed configurations is less than 50 mm. This minimises the risk of damage to the port of the endoscope.

A second aspect of the invention provides an assembly comprising: a port of an endoscope including an opening and a bore having an internal surface; and a port cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the sealing element being engaged with the port to form a water-tight seal around the opening, and, the wiping element arranged to extend into the bore when the main -6 -body is in the compressed configuration.

Preferably the port cleaning apparatus is sized to clean a biopsy port of an endoscope, and the assembly therefore comprises the port cleaning apparatus engaged with a biopsy port in a control section of the endoscope.

In some embodiments the port includes a lip extending around the opening. The sealing element is preferably engaged with and surrounds the lip to form the watertight seal.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of cleaning an internal surface of a port of an endoscope, the method comprising: securing a sealing element of a port cleaning apparatus to the port to form a water-tight seal; applying a first force to a deformable main body of the port cleaning apparatus to move the main body from an extended configuration to a compressed configuration to cause a brush component of the port cleaning apparatus to protrude further from the main body so that a wiping element of the brush component contacts the internal surface of the port; and applying a second force to the main body or removing the first force from the main body to return the main body to the extended configuration.

The port cleaning apparatus is preferably used to clean a cylindrical internal surface of a bore of the port.

To effectively dislodge debris and remove contamination from the internal surface the main body is preferably repeatedly moved between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration.

The port cleaning apparatus may be used whilst also flushing the port with water or a detergent solution.

In embodiments in which the sealing element is elastomeric, the sealing element may be secured to the port by stretching a part of the sealing element over a lip of the port.

In some embodiments the main body of the port cleaning apparatus comprises a sprung section and a grip section. A user preferably grips the grip section to move the sprung section between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration. In other embodiments the main body may not include a grip section and the user may apply a force directly to the sprung section to move it between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration.

Preferred and/or optional features of each aspect and embodiment described above may also be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects and embodiments also.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs are used for like features, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a part of an endoscope showing internal channels of the endoscope; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a port cleaning apparatus for an endoscope according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a plan view from a side of the port cleaning apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the port cleaning apparatus along the line IV-IV of Figure 3. -8 -

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates part of an endoscope 10. An insertion tube 12 of the endoscope 10 extends from a control section 14 of the endoscope 10 to a distal tip 16. Internal 5 channels of the endoscope 10 extend through the control section 14 and along the insertion tube 12.

A first one of the internal channels is an air/water channel 20. The air/water channel is actually formed by two separate small diameter channels 22, 24 that combine into a single channel 20 only proximate the distal tip 16 of the endoscope 10. A distal section 26 of each of the air and water channels 22, 24 extends from the distal tip 16 to an air/water cylinder 28 in the control section 14. A proximal section 30 of the air channel 22 extends from the air/water cylinder 28 and is connected to an air pump (not shown). A proximal section 30 of the water channel 24 extends from the air/water cylinder 28 and is connected to a water bottle (not shown). An air/water valve is seated in the air/water cylinder 28 and is accessible through an air/water port 32 of the control section 14.

During use of the endoscope 10, in order to insufflate an organ to be examined, the air/water valve is gently covered thereby preventing air exiting through the air/water valve and instead diverting air down the proximal section 30 of the air channel 22 and out of the distal tip 16. To flush or clear the view at the distal tip 16 of the endoscope 10 the air/water valve may be depressed so that air from the air pump is diverted into the water bottle causing the bottle to be pressurized. This pressure then forces water from the bottle, through the air/water cylinder 28, and into the proximal section 30 of the water channel 24.

A second one of the internal channels is a suction/biopsy channel 34. The suction/biopsy channel 34 has a larger diameter than either of the air and water channels 22, 24 or the combined air/water channel 20 at the tip 16 of the endoscope 10. A distal section 36 of the suction/biopsy channel 34 extends from the distal tip 16 to a suction cylinder 38 in the control section 14. A proximal section 40 of the -9 -suction/biopsy channel 34 extends from the suction cylinder 38 and is connected to a suction pump (not shown). A suction valve is seated in the suction cylinder 38 and is accessible through a suction port 42 of the control section 14. The suction/biopsy channel 34 also includes a branch section 44 that extends from the distal section 36 of the suction/biopsy channel 34 to a biopsy port 46 in the control section 14.

During use of the endoscope 10, suction may be required at the distal tip 16 of the endoscope 10 to remove fluid and other matter from around the tip 16. To achieve this a user covers or depresses the suction valve to fluidly connect the suction pump to the distal section 36 of the suction/biopsy channel 34. It may also be necessary, during a procedure, to use one or more devices or instruments, for example, to take a biopsy or to take a cell sample. These instruments, such as forceps or brushes, are introduced into the distal section 36 of the suction/biopsy channel 34 through the biopsy port 46 and branch section 44 of the suction/biopsy channel 34. A biopsy valve or biopsy cap preferably covers the biopsy port 46 but provides access to the suction/biopsy channel 34 for such endoscopic devices and instruments.

After an endoscopic procedure, during cleaning of the endoscope 10, the air/water valve and suction valve are removed from the respective ports 32, 42 in the control section 14 and replaced with suitable cleaning adaptors.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of a port cleaning apparatus 50 according to the present invention for use during cleaning of the endoscope 10. The port cleaning apparatus 50 is configured to be engaged with a port of the endoscope 10 to facilitate cleaning of that port and the connected cylinder. It is envisaged that this port cleaning apparatus 50 will be engaged with the biopsy port 46 of the endoscope 10 to clean the biopsy port 46.

The port cleaning apparatus 50 is configured to allow an outer surface and an inner bore of the biopsy port 46 to be thoroughly cleaned whilst minimizing the potential for liquid droplets or aerosols generated during the cleaning process from coming into contact with a user.

The port cleaning apparatus 50 comprises a main body 52, a sealing element 54 and a brush component 56. The sealing element 54 is attached to an end of the main body 52 and is configured to be attached to a part of the biopsy port 46 of the endoscope 10 to secure the port cleaning apparatus 50 to the endoscope 10. The main body 52 surrounds an internal bore or cavity 58 of the port cleaning apparatus 50. The brush component 56 is elongate and extends through the internal cavity 58 and is connected to the main body 52.

In use, with the port cleaning apparatus 50 secured to a port of the endoscope 10 by the sealing element 54, a pad of the brush component 56 extends into the port. The main body 52 of the port cleaning apparatus 50 is then moved from an extended configuration to a compressed configuration to cause the brush component 56 to protrude further from the internal cavity 58 and further into the port. The dimensions of the brush component 56 are such that the brush component 56 brushes or rubs against side walls of the port to dislodge and remove debris from the inner walls of the port. Preferably the main body 52 is configured such that the main body 52 can be repeatedly moved between the extended and compressed configurations to provide a back-and-forth brushing motion.

In this embodiment the main body 52 comprises a sprung section 60 and a grip section 62. The sprung section 60 is tubular and has a concertinaed side wall 64 that surrounds the internal cavity 58. The sprung section 60 extends longitudinally between a first end 66 and a second end 68. The first end 66 includes an engagement feature 70 for connecting the main body 52 to the sealing element 54. In this example the engagement feature 70 is in the form of a radially inwardly extending flange. The second end 68 of the sprung section 60 is a closed end.

The grip section 62 extends from the second end 68 of the sprung section 60. In this embodiment the grip section 62 is elongate and generally tubular, with a bulbous distal end 72 furthest from the sprung section 60. An outer diameter of the tubular grip section 62 is significantly smaller than an outer diameter of the sprung section 60.

The main body 52 is preferably a unitary, single-piece element. The main body 52 is preferably made of a suitable polymeric material such as polyethylene. The main 5 body 52 may be blow moulded.

The thickness of the concertinaed side wall 64 and the material from which the main body is made is preferably such that the sprung section 60 of the main body 52 is able to move between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration.

Preferably the concertinaed side wall 64 is formed such that it maintains the extended configuration until a compressive force is applied to the sprung section 60. Under a compressive force, the concertinaed side wall 64 is compressed or collapses so that the sprung section 60 moves into the compressed configuration. The stiffness of the side wall 64, and in particular the inherent stiffness of the material from which the main body 52 is made, is preferably such that, when the compressive force is removed, the side wall 64 returns to its original shape and the sprung section 60 returns to the extended configuration.

Referring in particular to Figure 4, the sealing element 54 comprises an annular side wall 74 having an internal surface 76 and an external surface 78. A first end of the side wall 74 includes an engagement feature 80. The engagement feature 80 of the sealing element 54 is complimentary to the engagement feature 70 of the main body 52 and is designed to engage with the engagement feature 70 of the main body 52 to attach the sealing element 54 to the main body 52. In this example, the engagement feature 80 of the sealing element 54 comprises a radially outwardly facing hook portion 82 that defines a circumferential groove 84 in the external surface 78 of the sealing element 54. With the sealing element 54 attached to the main body 52, the radially inwardly extending flange of the main body 52 is seated in the groove 84 of the sealing element 54.

The internal surface 76 of the sealing element 54 preferably has a profile that matches or is suitable for sealing engagement with a part of the port of the endoscope 10. In this example, the internal surface 76 includes a groove 86 arranged to engage with a lip of the port.

The sealing element 54 is preferably made of a suitable elastomeric material.

The brush component 56 comprises an elongate shaft 88 that extends from a first end or tip 90 to a second end 92. The shaft 88 includes a first portion 94 adjacent the first end 90 and a second portion 96 that extends between the first portion 94 and the second end 92. In this example, a length of the first portion 94 is between one third and one half the complete length of the shaft 88 and a length of the second portion 96 is between two thirds and one half the complete length of the shaft 88. The second end 92 of the shaft 88 comprises a bulbous head 98.

The brush component 56 further includes a wiping element 100, which in this embodiment comprises a plurality of bristles 102 that extend radially outwardly from the shaft 88. In this embodiment the bristles 102 extend from the first portion 94 of the shaft 88. Furthermore, in this example, the bristles 102 are arranged in a spiral or helical configuration along the length of the first portion 94 of the shaft 88.

A length of at least some of the bristles 102 is such that a distance from a longitudinal centreline of the shaft 88 to tips of the bristles 102 is approximately equal to a radius of an internal bore of the port of the endoscope 10.

As shown in Figure 4, the head 98 at the second end 92 of the shaft 88 is engaged with and held within the bulbous distal end 72 of the grip section 62 of the main body 52. The shaft 88 of the brush component 56 extends through the tubular grip section 62 and through the internal cavity 58 surrounded by the concertinaed side wall 64 of the sprung section 60. The shaft 88 further extends through the annular sealing element 54 engaged with the end of the sprung section 60.

In this embodiment, with the sprung section 60 in the extended configuration, the tip 90 of the brush component 56 protrudes a first distance beyond a second end of the sealing element 54. When the sprung section 60 is moved into the compressed configuration, the brush component 56 protrudes further beyond the second end of the sealing element 54, such that there is a second distance between the tip 90 of the brush component 56 and the second end of the sealing element 54; the second distance being greater than the first distance. A difference between the first and second distances is preferably no more than 50 mm, and is preferably equal to a length of a bore or channel of the port of the endoscope 10. The first distance is preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

In this example, when the sprung section 60 is in the extended configuration, the first portion 94 of the shaft 88 of the brush component 56 extends through the sealing element 54 and into the sprung section 60 of the main body 52. When the sprung section 60 is in the compressed configuration, the first portion 94 of the shaft 88 of the brush component 56 is preferably fully disposed beyond the second end of the sealing element 54.

The use of the port cleaning apparatus 50 to brush a biopsy port of an endoscope will now be described.

In a first step in the method of use, the sealing element 54 is engaged with the biopsy port to form an air-and water-tight seal. In this example, the sealing element 54 is engaged with a lip surrounding the biopsy port of the endoscope 10. The sealing element 54 is preferably sufficiently flexible that the annular side wall 74 can be stretched to fit over and around the lip.

As described above, in the extended configuration at least the tip 90 of the brush component 56 protrudes beyond the second end of the sealing element 54. This aids in locating the port cleaning apparatus 50 correctly in or over the port of the endoscope 10 prior to sealing engagement of the port cleaning apparatus 50 with the port.

In a second step in the method a user then grips the grip section 62 of the main body 52 and applies a compressive force to the sprung section 60 by pressing or pushing the grip section 62 in a direction towards the sealing element 54. This compressive force moves the sprung section 60 into the compressed configuration causing the brush component 56 to extend further into the port and causing the wiping element 100 (bristles 102) to rub or brush against internal surfaces of the port to remove debris and contamination from the internal surfaces.

The sprung section 60 is then returned to the extended configuration either by removing the compressive force and allowing the stiffness and resilience of the concertinaed side wall 64 to return the sprung section 60 to the extended configuration or by pulling the grip section 62 in a direction away from the sealing element 54. This causes the wiping element 100 (bristles 102) to rub or brush against internal surfaces of the port in an opposite direction.

The sprung section 60 is preferably moved between the compressed and extended configurations multiple times to thoroughly brush the internal surfaces of the bore of the port.

The port cleaning apparatus 50 may be used to brush or wipe the internal surfaces of the bore of the port in this way while additionally flushing the bore of the port with water or a detergent solution.

The annular sealing element 54 and main body 52 ensure that no liquid or aerosol contaminants are released into the atmosphere during the cleaning process.

After the cleaning process is complete, the port cleaning apparatus 50 is disengaged or detached from the port and disposed of.

The port cleaning apparatus 50 of the present invention therefore provides a device for assisting in the cleaning of a port of an endoscope (in particular the biopsy port), which is both easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and easy and reliable to use during the cleaning process.

In other embodiments the configuration and arrangement of the main body and brush component may be different to that described above.

In some embodiments, the brush component may include a wiping element comprising flexible discs or plates that extend radially outwardly from the shaft. The flexible discs or plates may be in place of or in addition to bristles. A radial dimension of the flexible discs or plates is preferably equal to a radius of an internal bore of the port of the endoscope 10 such that the discs or plates are able to brush or rub contaminants from the internal surfaces of the bore of the port. A plane of each of the discs or plates may be disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the brush component, or a plane of one or more of the discs or plates may be at an angle of between 0° and 90° to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments the wiping element may comprise a helical plate that extends along the length of the shaft.

In the above embodiment the movement of the sprung section between the extended and compressed configurations is facilitated by the concertinaed side wall. In other embodiments the sprung section may be made from or comprise a flexible and/or resilient material. The flexible and/or resilient material may permit deformation of the sprung section to move between the extended and compressed configurations. The sprung section of the main body may comprise an elastomeric material.

In some embodiments the sealing element may be integral with the main body.

In some embodiments the sprung section may comprise a coiled spring element. The coiled spring element may be in the form of a compression spring. The coiled spring element may be arranged to urge or bias the sprung section into the extended 30 configuration.

In some embodiments the main body may not include a grip section as described above. In some embodiments the main body may be arranged such that a user applies a force directly to the second end of the sprung section to move the sprung section from the extended to the compressed configuration.

Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A port cleaning apparatus for cleaning an internal surface of a port of an endoscope, the apparatus comprising: a deformable main body repeatedly moveable between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration; a brush component comprising an elongate shaft connected to the main body and a wiping element extending radially from a distal portion of the shaft, the wiping element being arranged, in use, to contact said internal surface of the port; and a sealing element connected to the main body and configured to form a water-tight seal with said port of the endoscope, wherein, with the main body in the compressed configuration the wiping element protrudes further from the main body than when the main body is in the extended configuration.
2. The port cleaning apparatus of Claim 1, in which the main body comprises a concertinaed side wall.
3. The port cleaning apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the main body is biased to return to the extended configuration from the compressed configuration.
4. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the main body includes an internal cavity and the shaft of the brush component extends through the internal cavity.
5. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the wiping element comprises bristles, flexible discs and/or a helical plate.
6. The port cleaning apparatus of Claim 5, in which the wiping element comprises a helical arrangement of bristles.
The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the sealing -18 -element comprises an elastomeric material.
8. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the sealing element is integral with the main body.
9. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the main body, the brush component and the sealing element are each made of a polymeric material.
10. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the main body comprises a sprung section and a grip section, the sprung section being repeatedly moveable between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration, and the grip section extending from the sprung section to provide a surface for gripping by a user.
11. The port cleaning apparatus of Claim 10, in which the shaft of the brush component is engaged with the grip section to connect the brush component to the main body.
12. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the wiping element extending along the shaft over less than half the complete length of the shaft.
13. The port cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim, in which a distance over which the distal portion of the shaft moves during movement of the main body between the extended and compressed configurations is less than 50 mm.
14. An assembly comprising: a port of an endoscope including an opening and a bore having an internal 30 surface; and a port cleaning apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, the sealing element engaged with the port to form a water-tight seal around the opening, and, the wiping element arranged to extend into the bore when the main body is in the compressed configuration.
15. The assembly of Claim 14, in which the port is a biopsy port in a control section of the endoscope.
16. The assembly of Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the pod includes a lip extending around the opening, and the sealing element is engaged with and surrounds the lip to form the water-tight seal.
17. A method of cleaning an internal surface of a port of an endoscope, the method comprising: securing a sealing element of a port cleaning apparatus to the port to form a water-tight seal; applying a first force to a deformable main body of the port cleaning apparatus to move the main body from an extended configuration to a compressed configuration to cause a brush component of the port cleaning apparatus to protrude further from the main body so that a wiping element of the brush component contacts the internal surface of the port; and applying a second force to the main body or removing the first force from the main body to return the main body to the extended configuration.
18. The method of Claim 17, in which the main body is repeatedly moved between the extended configuration and the compressed configuration.
19. The method of Claim 17 or Claim 18, in which the sealing element is elastomeric, and the step of securing the sealing element to the port comprises stretching a part of the sealing element over a lip of the port.
20. The method of any one of Claims 17 to 19, comprising gripping a grip section of the main body to move a sprung section of the main body between the extended configuration and compressed configuration.