Proper Attachment of Olympus Bronchoscope Single-Use Suction Valves (MAJ-209)

Introduction

This letter provides additional details on the proper attachment of an Olympus Single-use Suction Valve (MAJ-209) to an Olympus bronchoscope. Failure to properly attach the suction valve may result in detachment of the valve during a patient exam and the exposure of medical personnel to patient fluids.

Attachment Procedure

To properly attach the suction valve, place the valve in the suction cylinder with the valve arm aligned with the white mark (indicated by an arrow in Figure 1A) located in the 2 o'clock position on the suction cylinder (arrow in Figure 1A). The valve arm must be properly aligned when attaching the valve to the bronchoscope (Figure 1B). Misalignment of the arm (Figures 1C & 2D) will prevent the valve from fully seating in the valve housing, enabling the valve to detach during use.

Figure 1: Proper alignment of the suction valve.

Panel A shows the white mark (arrow) for alignment of the suction valve arm. Proper alignment is exhibited in Panel B. Panels C & D show misalignment of the suction valve arm with the white mark on the control body. A red-dashed line indicates the proper alignment for the valve arm.

After proper alignment, press firmly on the suction valve's top surface (white button) until the base of the suction valve snaps into place AND becomes flush with the top of the suction cylinder (Figure 2A). Even though the suction valve may seem to click into place, it may not be fully seated in the suction cylinder (Figure 2B). Therefore, after attaching the valve to the suction cylinder, always visually inspect the attachment to verify that the base of the valve is in contact with the suction cylinder. If the valve has not mated with the suction cylinder surface, the valve is not properly attached and may easily become loose, and detach from the bronchoscope during use.

Figure 2: Proper attachment of the suction valve to the bronchoscope.

Panel A shows the base of the suction valve contacting the top of the suction cylinder. Improper alignment is exhibited in Panel B, where a gap still exists between the base of the suction valve and the top of the suction cylinder.

Product Usage and Safety

The MAJ-209 suction valve is a single-use product. This valve should never be reprocessed and/or reused. In addition, should the MAJ-209 become detached from the suction cylinder, the valve should be disposed of and replaced with a new valve. Reattachment of a used suction valve, rather than replacing it with a new, sterile valve, may pose an infection risk or increase the potential for valve detachment.

Contact Information

If you have any additional questions, please contact your local Olympus sales representative or the Olympus Technical Assistance Center:

• United States: 1-800-848-9024
• Canada: 1-800-387-0437 ext 703211

Company Information