Welch Allyn Fl-100 Intubating Fiberscope - User Manual - Manual (Page 27)

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SERVICING
Before returning any instrument for repair to Welch Allyn, the instrument should first undergo appropriate repro-
cessing/decontamination procedures for the purpose of infection control.
1. All instruments requiring repair should be shipped in the original carrying case with appropriate packing, along
with comments describing the instrument damage and complaint.
2. A repair purchase order number, contact name and phone number of the individual responsible for authoriz-
ing repairs, as well as shipping address should be included.
3. The “Red” ETO Gas Sterilization Venting Cap needs to be attached to the instrument, when shipped by
air freight.
4. Any accessories potentially related to the scope damage or complaint should also be returned with the
endoscope.
5. Soaking caps (if applicable) should also be returned with the scope to check/confirm the integrity of their
watertight seal.
NOTE: Instrument repairs should only be performed by an authorized Welch Allyn service facility. Welch Allyn
assumes no liability for any patient/user injury, instrument damage or malfunction, or reprocessing failure due to
repairs made by unauthorized personnel.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE TIPS
Flexible endoscopes have been used to successfully diagnose and treat a wide variety of illnesses for several
decades. Progressive design improvements have made current generation flexible endoscopes, such as the
Welch Allyn FL-100 Intubating Fiberscope, easier to use, although they are more technologically sophisticated
than ever.
To ensure that the instruments are patient-ready and patient-safe, special reprocessing instructions must be fol-
lowed. To prolong the reliability of the endoscope and prevent instrument malfunction, special care and handling
must be exercised. The health-care professionals who actually care for and reprocess flexible endoscopes are
ultimately responsible for ensuring safe and reliably functioning instruments.
Tremendous efforts have been made in designing instruments that can be reprocessed and maintained as easily
as possible. However, due to the nature of their use and application, flexible endoscopes must be subjected to
special cleaning procedures, followed by a disinfection or sterilization process after every patient use.
Welch Allyn strongly recommends that users review the following suggestions and advice on the care and main-
tenance of your Welch Allyn endoscopes. However, these tips, particularly those involving scope reprocessing,
should not be interpreted as “shortcuts” and are not intended to substitute directions for the complete instruc-
tions found elsewhere in the owner’s manual.
• Avoid soaking the endoscope with accessories (forceps, injection or aspiration needles, etc.) or any sharp-
edged object which could inadvertently scratch or cut the distal bending section sheath. (Subsequent flexing
back and forth of the rubber sheath could eventually stretch the scratched rubber until a pinhole and leak
develops.)
• Exposure to a compatible enzymatic detergent is essential for thorough cleaning of all surfaces of the endo-
scope. Rinsing and drying after cleaning is imperative to prevent dilution of the disinfectant/sterilant.
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