JP2000093390A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope durable against a main disinfection/ sterilization treatment including that with an autoclave. SOLUTION: A silica coating layer 14 produced by conversion from perhydropolysilazane is provided on the surface of a skin 12 made of a resin of a flexible tube 5, and may be provided on another part or an internal surface of an endoscope 1 likewise. The silica coating layer 14 has excellent resistance to water, gas barrier and resistance to heat and chemicals and can prevent deterioration in the resin or the like of the endoscope 1 as caused by a main disinfection/sterilization treatment including that with an autoclave.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope which is subjected to a disinfection and sterilization treatment after use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an elongated insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity to observe organs in the body cavity, and, when necessary, to perform various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel. Medical endoscopes that can be used are widely used. Also, in the industrial field, industrial endoscopes capable of observing and inspecting internal scratches and corrosion of boilers, turbines, engines, chemical plants, and the like are widely used.

[0003] In particular, a medical endoscope is used to observe various organs or the like by inserting an insertion portion into a body cavity or to perform various treatments or treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope. Take action. Therefore, when an endoscope that has been used is reused for another patient, it is necessary to prevent infection between patients via the endoscope, and thus the endoscope is disinfected and sterilized after the inspection and treatment are completed.

[0004] Disinfection and sterilization methods include an autoclave, which is a sterilization method using a disinfectant solution, ethylene oxide gas, formalin gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, ozone, and high-temperature and high-pressure steam. Ethylene oxide gas has been widely used worldwide for sterilization. However, because ethylene oxide (ethylene oxide) is a toxic substance, regulations in each country are increasing and the number is decreasing. Glutaral preparations are currently the main antiseptic solution, but have problems of irritation, residual toxicity, and difficulty in handling.

Against this background, new agents (peracetic acid agents, hydrogen peroxide agents, etc.) replacing ethylene oxide gas and glutaral preparations and other new disinfection and sterilization methods have recently been developed. became. However, many of them have the problem of causing greater damage to equipment that is further disinfected and sterilized.
Autoclaves that sterilize with high-temperature, high-pressure steam are widely used worldwide, and have many advantages such as high reliability of sterilization effect, no residual toxicity and low running cost. However, there is a problem that the damage to the medical device is extremely large.

The flexible insertion portion of the endoscope and the outer sheath of the universal cord are generally made of a resin such as polyurethane resin or polyester resin, and a chemical-resistant coating layer is provided on the outermost layer. This coating layer is generally formed of a urethane resin.

However, in an endoscope in which the coating layer is formed of a urethane resin, when disinfecting with an agent such as a peracetic acid-based drug or a hydrogen peroxide-based drug, the coating layer and the resin layer thereunder are deteriorated. There was a problem.

[0008] In order to solve this problem,
For example, JP-A-8-238308 proposes a coating layer formed by applying and curing a coating agent containing an aliphatic prepolymer, and JP-A-9-140669 proposes a polyparaxylene resin formed by chemical vapor deposition. Coating layers have been proposed.

[0009]

However, any of the conventional coating layers proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 8-238308 and 9-140669 can withstand major disinfection and sterilization treatments including autoclaves. could not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an endoscope that can withstand major disinfection and sterilization processes such as an autoclave.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems Water resistance, gas barrier properties, heat resistance and chemical resistance are improved by providing at least an outer surface provided with a silica coating layer converted from perhydropolysilazane. It can withstand major disinfection and sterilization treatments such as autoclave.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the entire configuration of an endoscope, and FIG. It is a figure showing the partial section of a curved part.

(Configuration) As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1
It is mainly composed of an operation section main body 2 also serving as a grip section, an insertion section 3 for insertion into an observation target, and a universal cord 4 for connection to an external device.

The insertion section 3 is arranged in order from the operation section main body 2 side.
A flexible tube 5, a bendable portion 6, and a distal end portion 7 located at the distal end of the insertion portion 3 are connected to each other.

The bending section 6 can be remotely operated by a bending operation knob 8 provided on the operation section main body 2 so as to bend in a desired direction.

At the end of the universal cord 4, there is provided a connector 9 connected to a light source device (not shown).

The structure of the flexible tube 5 and the bending portion 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

The flexible tube 5 includes a spiral tube 10 formed of stainless steel, a mesh tube 11 formed of stainless steel on the outer periphery of the spiral tube 10, and a flexible tube formed of polyester resin or polyamide resin on the outer periphery of the mesh tube 11. Flexible skin 12, skin 12
A colored index 13 made of a metal such as a fluororesin, a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, or aluminum, a skin 12 and a silica coating layer 14 converted from perhydropolysilazane are sequentially laminated on the outer circumference of the index 13. It is configured.

In this specification, the term "index" refers to, for example, an index written on the insertion section 3 for knowing the insertion depth of the insertion section 3.

The bending section 6 has a plurality of bending pieces 15 connected in a freely bendable manner. The rearmost bending piece 15 is connected to the distal end side of the flexible tube 5 via a connection pipe 16. ing.

A mesh tube 17 made of stainless steel is provided on the outer periphery of the bending piece 15.
A curved rubber 18 made of fluorine rubber, EPDM, or the like is provided.

The outer peripheries of the front and rear ends of the curved rubber 18 are bound by a binding thread 19, and an adhesive 20 is applied and fixed on the binding thread 19.

The silica coating layer 14 is made of an adhesive 20
After drying, the adhesive 20 is provided so as to cover the front end side.

Perhydropolysilazane is an inorganic polymer that is soluble in an organic solvent. When it is fired at a high temperature in an inert atmosphere, it undergoes thermosetting shrinkage accompanying a dehydrogenation reaction, and then is converted into an amorphous silicon nitride ceramic. Is what you do. Then, when this polymer solution in an organic solvent is used as a coating solution and baked in the air, it reacts with moisture and oxygen to obtain a silica (amorphous SiO ₂ ) film. The silica coating layer 14 is formed of this silica film.

The ceramification is performed at 100 ° C. by humidification.
Since the treatment can be performed at room temperature by another method called a gas phase contact method, the treatment can also be performed on a polyester resin or a polyamide resin. That is, the silica coating layer 14 formed of a silica film can be provided on the outer skin 12.

The silica coating layer 14 can be coated by dip coating or spray coating.

The silica film forming the silica coating layer 14 has excellent gas barrier properties, chemical resistance and heat resistance equivalent to that of quartz glass, insulation, scratch resistance, stain resistance, and smoothness.

Although not shown, the exterior of the flexible universal cord 4 has the same structure as the exterior of the flexible tube 5.

(Operation and Effect) The operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described below.

When the endoscope 1 is used for inspection, washed, disinfected or sterilized, when it is immersed in a strongly oxidizing chemical such as a peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide, a flexible tube which is most likely to deteriorate. The outer skin 12 formed of the resin No. 5 is protected by the silica coating layer 14 formed of a silica film, so that the deterioration of the outer skin 12 can be prevented.

Further, when subjected to autoclave, the silica film forming the silica coating layer 14 has excellent gas barrier properties and heat resistance, so that the outer skin 12 can be prevented from being deteriorated by hydrolysis or the like.

That is, the flexible tube 5 can withstand major disinfection and sterilization treatments such as an autoclave.

Since the index 13 has heat resistance and water resistance, it can be prevented from being deteriorated by an autoclave.

The flexible tube 5 has an electrical insulating property, a scratch resistance,
Improves antifouling property and smoothness.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a partial cross section of a flexible tube and a curved portion according to the embodiment.

The construction and operation of the parts not described in the present embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment.

(Construction) As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the silica coating layer 14 converted from perhydropolysilazane is provided not only on the outer surface but also on the inner surface of the flexible tube 5.

(Operation / Effect) In the present embodiment, the same operation / effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the following actions and effects can be obtained.

When the endoscope 1 is sterilized by an autoclave,
There is a step of applying a negative pressure to the inside of the chamber before steaming. Generally, since the endoscope has a waterproof structure, the internal pressure of the endoscope 1 becomes relatively higher than the external pressure, and the curved rubber 18 may burst. is there. In order to prevent this, there is a case where the inside and outside of the endoscope 1 are communicated with each other by a vent cap (not shown) provided in the endoscope 1 when the endoscope 1 is placed in an autoclave. In this case, water vapor generally enters the endoscope 1 and deteriorates not only the outside but also the inside of the outer cover 12 of the flexible tube 5, but in the present embodiment, a silica coating layer formed of a silica film is used. At 14, the inner surface of the flexible tube 5 is protected, so that the flexible tube 5 can be prevented from being deteriorated.

The silica coating layer 14 may be provided on the inner surface of the flexible tube 5 after assembling the spiral tube 10, the mesh tube 11, and the outer cover 12, or the silica coating layer 14 may be provided on the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer cover 12 in advance. After the provision, the spiral tube 10 and the mesh tube 11 may be assembled. Alternatively, the outer skin 12 and the reticulated tube 1
After assembling 1, a silica coating layer 14 may be provided on its inner and outer surfaces, and then the spiral tube 10 may be assembled. The same effect can be obtained by assembling in any order.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a partial cross section of a flexible tube and a curved portion according to the embodiment.

The structure and operation of the parts not described in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

(Configuration) In this embodiment, not only the flexible tube 5 but also the silica coating layer 1
4 are provided.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the flexible tube 5 and the curved portion 6 of the endoscope 1 having the silica coating layer 14 provided on the surface thereof are extracted. Is provided.

The curved rubber 18 is formed by connecting the curved rubber 18 to the connecting pipe 1.
After adhering to the mesh tube 6 of the flexible tube 6 and the flexible tube 5, it is fastened and fixed with a heat-shrinkable tube 21 made of a fluororesin instead of a binding thread. At this time, the end of the outer skin 12 of the flexible tube 5 is also fastened and fixed by the heat-shrinkable tube 21.

When the autoclave is applied, the resin-made outer cover such as the curved rubber 18 and the outer cover 12 generally tends to start to deteriorate from the outer cover end portion. Since the shrink tube 21 is made of fluororesin, it is difficult for water vapor to pass therethrough.
Combined with the gas barrier effect of No. 4, deterioration of the outer edge can be prevented.

Even if the silica coating layer 14 is provided on the surface of a lens such as an objective lens (not shown), an illumination lens (not shown), and an eyepiece (not shown), the visible light transmittance and the refractive index are equivalent to those of quartz glass. The optical performance is not degraded.

(Operation / Effect) In the present embodiment, the same operation / effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the following actions and effects can be obtained.

Since the silica coating layer 14 is provided on the entire surface of the endoscope 1, not only the insertion section 3 but also the entire endoscope 1, for example, an autoclave made of resin, lens, adhesive, metal, etc. of the operation section main body 2. Resistance, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, antifouling property, etc. can be improved.

When the endoscope 1 in a watertight state is autoclaved, the gas barrier property of the silica coating layer 14 causes the endoscope 1 inside the endoscope 1 to move from the joint such as the joint between the flexible tube 5 and the curved portion 6. Water vapor can be prevented from entering the endoscope 1, and the internal structure of the endoscope 1 can be prevented from deteriorating. When the watertight endoscope 1 is placed in an autoclave, the bending rubber 18 is attached to the bending portion 6 so that the bending rubber 18 does not burst due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the endoscope 1.
This is performed after attaching a cap for preventing rupture or attaching an endoscope 1 internal pressure adjusting valve to the endoscope 1.

When the inside and outside of the endoscope 1 are connected to each other and autoclaved in order to prevent the curved rubber 18 from being ruptured, the silica coating layer 14 may be provided not only on the outer surface but also on the inner surface. Thereby, even if a large amount of water vapor enters the inside of the endoscope 1, deterioration of the components can be prevented.

Further, the resistance of the endoscope 1 to major disinfection and sterilization treatments such as autoclave is improved.

In addition, the electrical insulation, scratch resistance, stain resistance, and smoothness of the entire endoscope 1 are improved.

Further, since the silica coating layer 14 itself has gas barrier properties, electrical insulation properties, scratch resistance, antifouling properties, and smoothness, the range of choice of the base material to be coated is widened.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, the endoscope 1 is not limited to a fiberscope, but may be a flexible videoscope or a rigid scope.

[Supplementary Note] (Supplementary Note 1) A silica coating layer converted from at least a perhydropolysilazane provided on the outer surface,
An endoscope comprising:

(Additional Item 2) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1, wherein the endoscope has a flexible tube, and the silica coating layer is provided on at least an outer surface of the flexible tube.

(Additional Item 3) The endoscope according to Additional Item 2, wherein the silica coating layer is provided on an inner surface of the flexible tube.

(Additional Item 4) In the endoscope according to the additional item 2 or the additional item 3, the flexible tube includes an insertion portion for insertion into an observation target.

(Additional Item 5) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 2 or Additional Item 3, the flexible tube includes a universal cord for connecting to an external device.

(Additional Item 6) An endoscope having a flexible insertion portion, wherein an outer skin of the insertion portion formed of a resin and a heat-resistant and moisture-proof provided on the outer skin of the insertion portion are provided. Indicators and
An endoscope comprising: a silica coating layer formed by converting perhydropolysilazane provided on the indicator.

(Additional Item 7) The endoscope according to Additional Item 6, wherein the index is formed of a fluororesin.

(Additional Item 8) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 6, the index is formed of a polyester resin.

(Additional Item 9) The endoscope according to Additional Item 6, wherein the index is formed of a polyamide resin.

(Additional Item 10) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 6, the index is formed of a metal.

(Prior Art and Problems According to Additional Item 6) An index for knowing the insertion depth is provided in the flexible insertion portion of the flexible endoscope. The conventional insertion part is, for example,
As shown in JP-B-36164, it is common to provide an indicator of a urethane resin on the outer cover of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, or the like, and coat it with a urethane resin.

However, when autoclave sterilization is performed, the urethane resin has no water resistance and heat resistance, so that there is a problem that the flexible tube is significantly deteriorated, and the index is also deteriorated and cannot be identified.

Additional Item 6 has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope having an index of an insertion portion capable of withstanding high temperature and high humidity when performing autoclave.

(Supplement to Action of Supplementary Item 6) In the supplementary item 6, the index provided on the flexible insertion portion is provided with heat resistance and water resistance so that the index does not deteriorate even if the autoclave is applied. did.

[0072]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION Water resistance, gas barrier properties, and the like are provided by providing a silica coating layer formed by converting at least an outer surface of perhydropolysilazane.
Heat resistance and chemical resistance are improved, and it can withstand major disinfection and sterilization treatments such as autoclave.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a partial cross section of a flexible tube and a bending portion.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a partial cross section of a flexible tube and a curved portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a partial cross section of a flexible tube and a curved portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Operation part main body 3 ... Insertion part 4 ... Universal cord 5 ... Flexible tube 6 ... Bending part 7 ... Tip construction part 8 ... Bending operation knob 9 ... Connector 10 ... Helical tube 11 ... Reticulated tube 12 ... Outer skin 13 ... Indicator 14 ... Silica coating layer 15 ... Bending piece 16 ... Connection pipe 17 ... Reticulated pipe 18 ... Bending rubber 19 ... Binding thread 20 ... Adhesive 21 ... Heat shrink tube

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiichi Hikuma 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo F-term in Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H040 BA00 BA24 DA03 DA14 DA15 DA16 4C061 AA00 BB01 CC06 DD03 FF26 GG09 JJ03 JJ11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A silica coating layer converted from perhydropolysilazane provided on at least an outer surface,
An endoscope comprising: