JP2002177219A - Endoscope washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an absorbing and disposing of chlorine gas generated in an endoscope washing device. SOLUTION: In the endoscope washing device capable of sterilizing an endoscope by supplying sterilizing water containing chlorine to a washing tank for storing the endoscope, an exhaust pipe 11 extending from the washing tank 3 to the outside and a vacuum suction means 14 connected to the exhaust pipe 11 are provided, and a chlorine gas absorbing means 13 is interposed between the washing tank 3 and the vacuum suction means 14 in the exhaust pipe 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a used endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art JP-A-10-118003, JP-A-10-118103
No. 19025, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-70069 and the like, it is possible to spray an acidic water obtained by electrolysis of a saline solution onto an endoscope or to immerse the endoscope in an acidic water to use the endoscope. An endoscope cleaning apparatus for disinfecting an endoscope is disclosed.

[0003]

The acidic water used in the known device contains chlorine, which is used while the acidic water is being used for endoscope disinfection in the cleaning tank of the device. Produces chlorine gas. This chlorine gas not only causes corrosion of metal parts in the endoscope cleaning apparatus, but also has a bad influence on the human body when the concentration is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning apparatus which can solve such a problem caused by chlorine gas generated from water for disinfection.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to disinfect the endoscope by supplying water for disinfection containing chlorine to a cleaning tank containing the endoscope and bringing the endoscope into contact with the water. An endoscope cleaning device that can be used.

In the endoscope cleaning apparatus, the present invention is characterized in that the cleaning tank is provided with an exhaust pipe extending to the outside thereof and vacuum suction means connected to the exhaust pipe. Chlorine gas absorbing means is interposed between the cleaning tank and the vacuum suction means.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a trap capable of capturing moisture flowing from the cleaning tank is interposed between the cleaning tank and the chlorine gas absorbing means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An endoscope cleaning apparatus 1 whose outer shape is shown in the perspective view of FIG.
The washing tank 3 has an endoscope 2 after use to be washed.
Is stored. The cleaning tank 3 includes first to fourth nozzles 41 to 41.
44, and from these first to fourth nozzles 41 to 44,
Alkaline water or acidic water is injected toward the endoscope 2 or alkaline water or acidic water is injected into the cleaning tank 3. The alkaline water or the acidic water may be supplied from any route. For example, the alkaline water or the acidic water is supplied by electrolyzing the saline from a saline electrolyzer separate from the endoscope cleaning device 1. In the apparatus 1, the preferable pH of the alkaline water is 11.0 or more, and the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) is -80.
It is 0 mV or more, the preferable pH of the acidic water is 2.7 or less, and the oxidation-reduction potential is +1100 mV or more. Such alkaline water can dissolve blood and other protein stains attached to the endoscope 2 after use.
Further, the acidic water can kill bacteria and the like adhering to the endoscope 2 and disinfect the endoscope 2. The endoscope cleaning device 1 in the case of the illustrated example has a panel 50 on the top surface portion, and sets a disinfection time by operating the panel 50, and confirms an operation status of the endoscope cleaning device 1. can do. However, in FIG. 1, the detailed illustration of such a panel 50 is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exhaust system in the endoscope cleaning device 1. From the cleaning tank 3 of the apparatus 1, the first
The exhaust pipe 11 and the drain pipe 20 extend outward,
The first exhaust pipe 11 has a trap 12 and a chlorine gas absorber 1
3, vacuum pump 14 and three-way valve 16 are installed in the order shown. From the three-way valve 16, a second exhaust pipe 18 whose tip is open to the atmosphere and an air supply pipe 17 whose tip is connected to the cleaning tank 3 extend. The vacuum pump 14 can be started and stopped at any time by manual operation. Alternatively, the lid 4 of the cleaning tank 3 is closed or the lid 4 is closed.
To start automatically when the alkaline water is supplied to the cleaning tank 3 or the acidic water is supplied to the cleaning tank 3,
Conditions can be set to automatically stop after the required time has elapsed after the supply of the acidic water has been completed. By the operation of the vacuum pump 14, air and water vapor in the cleaning tank 3 are discharged to the atmosphere via the first exhaust pipe 11 and the second exhaust pipe 18. The drain pipe 20 is provided with an automatic opening / closing valve (not shown), and is opened and closed appropriately according to the operating conditions of the cleaning device 1. The drain pipe 20 may be provided with a manually operated valve 25.

In the washing tank 3, when acidic water obtained by electrolyzing a saline solution is supplied, chlorine gas is liable to be generated from the acidic water containing chlorine. When it is jetted, a large amount of chlorine gas is easily generated. Such chlorine gas is sucked by the vacuum pump 14 together with air and water vapor and flows from the cleaning tank 3 to the first exhaust pipe 11, and the trap 12 captures the water sucked together with chlorine gas and air, and At 13, chlorine gas is captured. The air from which the chlorine gas has been removed is discharged from the second exhaust pipe 18 to the atmosphere via the three-way valve 16. If necessary, this air can be returned to the washing tank 3 by switching the three-way valve 16. By the recirculated air, the steam and the like staying inside the used washing tank 3 are discharged, and the inside of the washing tank 3 can be ventilated. Further, by connecting the tip of the air supply pipe 17 to a suction port, an air supply / water supply port, a needle insertion port, or the like of the endoscope 2, the endoscope 2 is drained, that is, the endoscope after cleaning. The water staying in the pipe 2 can be discharged out of the pipe by the air. The air supply pipe 17 is provided with a second three-way valve (not shown) so that air from the air supply pipe 17 can be used for ventilation of the cleaning tank 3 and drainage of the endoscope 2 properly. Alternatively, it may be possible to use only one of the cleaning tank 3 and the endoscope 2 without providing such a three-way valve.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of FIG. 2 and shows one of the examples in which the trap 12 and the absorption can 13 are arranged in the first exhaust pipe 11. The trap 12 and the absorption can 13 are formed as an integrated unit 21, and the trap 12 is located above the unit 21, and the absorption can 13 is located at an intermediate portion. In the trap 12, the first exhaust pipe 11 extending in the vertical direction in the figure is divided into an upper part 22 and a lower part 23, and air and chlorine gas from the cleaning tank 3 flow from the upper part 22 to the lower part 23. When flowing, the water flowing together with the air and chlorine gas is captured by the trap 12. In the trap 12, accumulated water can be removed by removing the rubber stopper 24 at the bottom.

The absorption can 13 is a known or well-known one.
The top and bottom surfaces have a large number of ventilation holes 26 and 27, and the inside is filled with a dechlorinating agent 28. Such an absorption can 13
Is in close contact with the inner surface of the unit 21 via the packing member 29, and the chlorine gas flowing through the first exhaust pipe 11 flows in the direction of the arrow 65 and all enters the absorption can 13, where it is captured. The air and water vapor from which the chlorine gas has been removed in this way are supplied to the unit 2 as indicated by the arrow 30.
The first exhaust pipe 11 passes through the lower portion of the hollow 1 and goes to the vacuum pump 14 again. The unit 21 can be divided into upper and lower parts by loosening a screw part 31 formed in an intermediate part thereof. When the unit 21 is divided into two parts, the absorbent can 13 can be replaced. Since the absorption can 13 is particularly easy to absorb chlorine gas containing water, the chlorine gas is sucked together with water vapor from the cleaning tank 3 in this apparatus 1 to absorb the chlorine gas.
Is very preferable for the purpose of capturing chlorine gas. However, since the absorption capacity of the absorber 13 decreases with the elapse of use time, when the chlorine gas concentration of the air passing through the absorber 13 exceeds 1 ppm, the breakthrough time of the absorber 13 is determined, and the breakthrough time is reached. When this is done, it is preferable to replace the absorbent can 13 promptly. In the cleaning device 1, portions that may come into contact with chlorine gas, for example, the inner surfaces of the cleaning tank 3 and the lid 4, the first and second exhaust pipes 11 and 1.
It is preferable to use a corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel or vinyl chloride resin, for the three-way valve 16, the unit 21, and the like. In the piping system of FIG. 2, piping located behind the chlorine gas absorption can 13, for example, a vacuum pump 1
The detection paper may be set in the pipe on the outlet side of No. 4 so that it can be easily determined whether or not the absorption can 13 has reached the breakthrough time.

FIG. 4 is a piping diagram of an endoscope cleaning apparatus 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope cleaning apparatus 1 includes a cleaning tank 3, a first exhaust pipe 11 and a drain pipe 20 extending from the cleaning tank 3 to the outside, a first water storage tank 46 for acidic water, and a second water tank 46 for alkaline water. It has a second water tank 47 and a third water tank 48 for tap water. The first water storage tank 46 and the second water storage tank 47 have, for example, a salt water electrolyzer (not shown).
Are supplied from the water supply pipes 51 and 52, and tap water is supplied to the third water storage tank 48 from the water supply pipe 53. These acidic water, alkaline water, and tap water are incorporated into water supply pipes 41, 42, 43 extending from the respective water storage tanks 46 to 48 based on the cleaning cycle of the cleaning device 1 set on the panel 50 in FIG. Water is supplied to the cleaning tank 3 by operating water supply means such as a magnet pump (not shown). First to third water storage tanks 46
Third to fifth exhaust pipes 36 to 38 extend from the top of
These become one sixth exhaust pipe 39 on the way and extend to the trap 12. A valve 34 is attached to the trap 12. In the cleaning device 1, when tap water is directly supplied to the cleaning tank 3, the third water storage tank 4
8 can be omitted. Further, the fourth exhaust pipe 37 extending from the second storage tank 47 for alkaline water can be opened to the atmosphere because no chlorine gas is emitted therefrom. However, in the case of the piping system of the illustrated example, how to use the first and second water storage tanks 46 and 47 as necessary so that alkaline water is supplied to the first water storage tank 46 and acidic water is supplied to the second water storage tank 47. Can be switched. According to the present invention, instead of the third to fifth exhaust pipes 36 to 38, an exhaust pipe connecting the first to third water storage tanks 46 to 48 in series is provided, and one end of this exhaust pipe is connected to the trap 12
It can also be carried out in a mode of connecting to. In any of the embodiments, it is preferable to provide a means for preventing the chlorine gas from flowing into the alkaline water storage tank or the tap water storage tank in order to prevent the chlorine gas from flowing into the storage tank.

In the cleaning apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4, the water flowing from the first to third water storage tanks 46 to 48 can be captured by the trap 12 in addition to the water flowing from the cleaning tank 3. If there is a possibility that acidic water or alkaline water overflows from the cleaning tank 3 or the first to third water storage tanks 46 to 48 due to the structure of the cleaning device 1, the water is discharged to the first exhaust pipe 11 or the third to fifth exhaust pipes. Tube 3
If it is made to flow into 6 to 38, it can be captured by the trap 12. The trap 12 for such a case is preferably large.
A liquid level gauge 61 is attached to the trap 12, and when the water level of the trap 12 rises abnormally, the operation of the cleaning device 1 can be automatically stopped or the abnormal state can be displayed on the panel 50. it can.

[0016]

Since the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has means for absorbing chlorine gas, it can be obtained by electrolyzing water containing chlorine, for example, saline, for disinfecting the endoscope. Even if the acidic water is used, the chlorine gas generated from the acidic water can be captured and the harmful effects of the chlorine gas can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope cleaning device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a dechlorination gas step in the endoscope cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a dechlorination gas step showing an example of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope cleaning apparatus 2 Endoscope 3 Cleaning tank 11 Exhaust pipe 12 Trap 13 Absorption means (absorption can) 14 Vacuum suction means (pump) 36 Exhaust pipe 37 Exhaust pipe 38 Exhaust pipe 46 Water tank 47 Water tank

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Taketo Suzuki 7th, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Koken Stock Company In-house F-term (reference) 4C058 AA12 AA14 BB07 CC02 CC06 JJ06 JJ16 JJ29 4C061 DD03 GG07 GG09

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope capable of disinfecting the endoscope by supplying chlorine-containing water for disinfection to a cleaning tank containing the endoscope and bringing the endoscope into contact with the water. In the cleaning apparatus, the cleaning tank is provided with an exhaust pipe extending to the outside thereof and vacuum suction means connected to the exhaust pipe, and a chlorine gas absorbing means is provided between the cleaning tank and the vacuum suction means in the exhaust pipe. The endoscope cleaning device, wherein the endoscope cleaning device is interposed. 2. The endoscope cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a trap capable of capturing moisture flowing from the cleaning tank is interposed between the cleaning tank and the chlorine gas absorbing means in the exhaust pipe. apparatus. 3. The endoscope cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the endoscope cleaning device has a water storage tank for storing the water for disinfection, and an exhaust pipe extending from the water storage tank is connected to the trap. Endoscope cleaning device. 4. The exhaust pipe is branched behind the chlorine gas absorbing means, and one of the branched exhaust pipes returns to the cleaning tank to ventilate the cleaning tank and drain an endoscope in the cleaning tank. The endoscope cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is in a state usable for at least one of: 5. The endoscope cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chlorine gas absorbing means is a chlorine gas absorbing can that is detachable from the exhaust pipe.