JP2002301029A - Endoscope washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope washing apparatus so formed that its parts of an endoscope for transmitting and receiving signals can be kept in watertight using a very simple structure. SOLUTION: In the endoscope washing apparatus, a connecting terminal 271 for connection to an electric connector 19 provided in the endoscope 10 to be washed is positioned inside a watertight cap 27 which can be removably attached to the electric connector 19, and a lead wire 281 connected to the connecting terminal 271 is passed through a flexible tube 28 connected to the cap 27. An end portion 28a of the flexible tube 28 is axially pressed so that it is widened outwards in the form of an umbrella and fixedly connected to the cap 27 as it is crushed between itself and the wall surface of the cap 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope used for a clinical examination is cleaned by a cleaning device. At this time, it is necessary to properly operate the cleaning device in accordance with the structure of the endoscope. .

Conventionally, therefore, the length of the insertion portion of the endoscope to be cleaned, the number of fluid conduits to be cleaned, the inner diameter, the length, and the like can be input from the operation panel of the cleaning device. .

[0004]

However, since there are various types of endoscopes to be cleaned by one endoscope cleaning device, it is extremely complicated and troublesome to input different data from the operation panel each time. In addition to the burden on the operator, there is a possibility that the endoscope may be damaged due to erroneous input.

Therefore, it is conceivable to automatically control the cleaning device by reading data on the endoscope to be cleaned from the endoscope to be cleaned. Signals are transmitted and received to and from the endoscope stored in the cleaning tank. It is necessary to prevent the cleaning liquid or the like from entering a part to be cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an endoscope cleaning apparatus in which a portion for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an endoscope to be cleaned can be reliably kept watertight by an extremely simple structure. With the goal.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention includes a waterproof cap detachable from an electrical connector provided on an endoscope to be cleaned. Connection terminals connected to the electrical connector are arranged,
In an endoscope cleaning device in which a lead wire connected to the connection terminal is inserted through a flexible tube connected to a waterproof cap, an end of the flexible tube is pressed in an axial direction to form an umbrella. It is spread outward and crushed between the wall surface of the waterproof cap and fixedly connected to the waterproof cap.

[0008] An annular projection that cuts into the peripheral surface of the end of the flexible tube may be provided on the wall surface of the waterproof cap against which the end of the flexible tube is pressed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of an electronic endoscope 10 to be cleaned by the endoscope cleaning device of the present invention, and a treatment disposed near a connecting portion between a flexible tubular insertion portion 11 and an operation portion 12. A forceps plug 13 is detachably attached to the tool insertion port.

[0010] The forceps channel 1 extends from the treatment instrument insertion port to which the forceps stopper 13 is attached to the distal end of the insertion section 11.
4 is inserted through the insertion portion 11, and the suction tube 15 branched from the forceps channel 14 near the treatment instrument insertion port.
Is pointing into the operation unit 12.

A flexible connecting pipe 16 extending from the operating section 12
A light guide entrance end 18 connected to a light source lamp of a light source device (not shown) is connected to a connector 17 provided at an end of the light source device. An electric signal connector 19 for transmitting and receiving an imaging signal and the like is protruded.

FIG. 3 shows an endoscope cleaning device 20. A cleaning tank 21 for storing the electronic endoscope 10 is disposed at an upper end portion thereof. A lid 22 is attached.

Inside the cleaning tank 21, an operation section holding section 23 and a connector holding section 24 for holding the operation section 12 and the connector 17 of the electronic endoscope 10 in an appropriate state are arranged. An operation button 2 is provided on the front panel of the cleaning device 20.
5 and a display 26 for display using, for example, a liquid crystal or the like.
Etc. are arranged.

Both the operation part holding part 23 and the connector holding part 24 have a function of inserting / removing a cleaning brush into / from a fluid conduit provided in the electronic endoscope 10 and injecting a cleaning liquid and drying air. Is incorporated. Such an apparatus is described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-275918.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a waterproof cap which is detachably mounted on the electric signal connector 19 so that washing water does not enter the electric signal connector 19 of the electronic endoscope 10. It is attached to the distal end of a flexible tube 28 that protrudes.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which such a waterproof cap 27 is positioned so as to face the electric signal connector 19, and the electric signal connector 19 has a large number of contact pins 192 protruding into an outer cylinder 191. The structure has been.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the electronic endoscope 10 is housed in the cleaning tank 21 of the endoscope cleaning device 20. The operation unit 12 and the connector 17 of the electronic endoscope 10 are connected to the cleaning tank. 21
The operation cap holding part 23 and the connector holding part 24 are fixed in a predetermined state, and the waterproof cap 27 is attached to the electric signal connector 1.
9 is covered.

FIG. 5 shows the fluid conduits (the conduits for air supply, water supply, suction, and the like) in the electronic endoscope 10 by broken lines, and as described above, these fluid conduits. The connection unit 100 for inserting and removing the cleaning brush and injecting the cleaning liquid and the drying air into the operation unit holding unit 23 and the connector holding unit 24 is disposed on each of the operation unit holding unit 23 and the connector holding unit 24.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a waterproof cap 27 is put on the electric signal connector 19, and only the cross section on the waterproof cap 27 side is hatched. Waterproof cap 2
7, a lead wire 28 inserted through the flexible tube 28 is disposed.
A plurality of connection terminals 271 connected to 1 are arranged.

When the waterproof cap 27 is put on the electrical signal connector 19, the connection terminal 27 of the waterproof cap 27 is
1 and a part of the connection pins 192 on the side of the electrical signal connector 19 are connected, and the lead wires 28 in the flexible tube 28 are connected.
Signals are exchanged between the electronic endoscope 10 side and the endoscope cleaning device 20 side via 1.

An O-ring 273 for sealing between the outer cylinder 191 of the electrical signal connector 19 and the outer cylinder 191 is mounted on the inner cylinder of the cover cylinder 272 constituting the outer wall of the waterproof cap 27. Is connected to the flexible tube 28. An O-ring 275 seals a fitting portion between the cover cylinder 272 and the connection cylinder 274.

The flexible tube 28 is formed by a flexible tube such as a polyurethane tube and the like.
The end 28 a is passed through a hole formed in the center of the end surface of the connection tube 274, and is pressed and fixed to the inner end surface wall of the connection tube 274 by a nut 276 screwed into an inner portion of the connection tube 274.

The end portion 28a of the flexible tube 28 is pressed by a nut 276 in the axial direction, so that the end portion 28a is spread outward in an umbrella shape and pushed between the inner end wall of the connection tube 274. Crushing, thereby preventing the ingress of moisture from outside.

An annular projection 277 projecting from the edge of a hole formed at the center of the end surface of the connection tube 274 toward the inside of the connection tube 274 projects into the peripheral surface of the end portion 28a of the flexible tube 28. Even when the flexible tube 28 is pulled, the connection tube 274
It functions as a retainer to prevent the connection state from coming off.

An elastic sealant A is applied to a boundary between the nut 276 and a member adjacent thereto,
Increases the watertight effect. In this case, the sealing agent A may completely cover the nut 276. Nut 27
An epoxy-based adhesive or the like may be applied to the threaded portion between the tube 6 and the connection tube 274 or the gap B on the back side of the nut 276.

FIG. 6 shows the electronic endoscope 10 and the endoscope washer 20 connected by the lead wire 281 in the flexible tube 28.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit on the side, and a memory circuit 9 including, for example, a ROM (read-only memory) is built in a connector 17 on the electronic endoscope 10 side.

The ROM of the memory circuit 9 stores and stores specifications of a portion to be cleaned of the electronic endoscope 10 in the endoscope cleaning device 20, and the contents thereof are, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition, the length of the insertion portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 10, the number of fluid conduits to be cleaned, the inner diameter size and length, the availability of ultrasonic cleaning, the type of usable chemical liquid, and the like, It may include a channel structure, such as how the conduit branches, or some of such content.

The least significant bit of the four bits of the memory for the inner diameter of the fluid line for air supply, water supply, suction, etc. is used to set a flag as to whether the line may be brushed or not. Used.

Returning to FIG. 6, the endoscope washer 20 has C
A system controller 31 including a PU or the like is provided, and data stored in the memory circuit 9
1 and read by the system controller 31. Further, an input signal from the operation button 25 and the like are also input to the system controller 31 and processed.

An output signal from the system controller 31 is sent to a display control unit 32 for controlling a display operation of the display 26 and a control unit 33 for controlling a cleaning operation for the electronic endoscope 10.

The control unit 33 includes an MPU or the like, and a cleaning brush driving motor 34 in the endoscope cleaning device 20 so that a cleaning operation conforming to the conditions read from the memory circuit 9 is performed. , A cleaning solution delivery pump 35,
The operation of the cleaning means such as the air supply pump for sending out the drying air and the vibrator for ultrasonic cleaning 37 is automatically controlled.

Accordingly, the cleaning liquid suitable for the electronic endoscope 10 to be cleaned is used to clean the electronic endoscope 10.
Of the electronic endoscope 10 requiring cleaning at the same time as the outer surface of the electronic endoscope 10 needs to be cleaned, and after appropriate brushing of an appropriate range with a cleaning brush of an appropriate size, Injection of an appropriate amount of an appropriate cleaning liquid and injection of drying air are performed.

The display 26 controlled by the display control unit 32 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the contents read from the memory circuit 9 and the endoscope cleaning performed by automatic control corresponding thereto. The steps are displayed side by side.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of software for performing a control operation in the endoscope washer 20 of the above embodiment. S indicates a step. Here, when the operation switch of the endoscope washer 20 is turned on, first, it is determined whether or not the waterproof cap 27 is covered on the electric signal connector 19 (S1).

A contact or the like for making the determination may be provided on the waterproof cap 27, but the determination can be made easily depending on whether data is read from the memory circuit 9 or the like. If it is determined that the cap 27 is not covered, an error is displayed on the display 26 and the cleaning operation is not performed at all (S
2).

The waterproof cap 27 is attached to the electric signal connector 19.
If the data is covered, the data is read from the memory circuit 9 (S3), the operation for the corresponding predetermined cleaning operation is started (S4), and when the operation is completed, the fact that the cleaning is completed is displayed. 26 and the process is terminated (S5).

[0037]

According to the present invention, a connection terminal connected to an electric connector is arranged in a waterproof cap detachable from an electric connector provided on an endoscope to be cleaned, and connected to the connection terminal. The inserted lead wire is inserted through the flexible tube connected to the waterproof cap, so that signals can be transmitted and received between the endoscope and the end of the flexible tube in the axial direction. By pressing it, it spreads out like an umbrella and is crushed between the waterproof cap and the wall,
By being fixedly connected to the waterproof cap, watertightness can be reliably maintained with an extremely simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a waterproof cap is put on an electric connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an example of an electronic endoscope to be cleaned by the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a connection portion between the electric connector and the waterproof cap according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where the electronic endoscope is housed in the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating the contents of data stored and stored in a memory circuit of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a display example on a display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of software for performing a control operation in the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 19 Electric connector 20 Endoscope washer 21 Cleaning tank 27 Waterproof cap 28 Flexible tube 28a End 192 Connection pin 271 Connection terminal 276 Nut 277 Annular protrusion 281 Lead wire

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 23, 2001 (2001.4.2
3)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a waterproof cap is put on an electric connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an example of an electronic endoscope to be cleaned by the endoscope cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the endoscope cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a connection portion between the electric connector and the waterproof cap according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the electronic endoscope is housed in the endoscope cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating the contents of data stored and stored in a memory circuit of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a display example on a display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of software for performing a control operation in the endoscope cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 10 Electronic endoscope 19 Electric connector 20 Endoscope washer 21 Cleaning tank 27 Waterproof cap 28 Flexible tube 28a End 192 Connection pin 271 Connection terminal 276 Nut 277 Annular protrusion 281 Lead wire

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B116 AA12 AB01 BA02 BA25 BB02 CC03 4C061 GG14 JJ14 5E087 EE11 FF06 LL12 LL17 QQ06 RR12

Claims (2)

[Claims] A connection terminal connected to the electric connector is disposed in a waterproof cap detachable from an electric connector provided on an endoscope to be cleaned, and a lead wire connected to the connection terminal. However, in the endoscope cleaning device inserted and disposed in the flexible tube connected to the waterproof cap, the end of the flexible tube is spread in an umbrella shape by pressing the end portion of the flexible tube in the axial direction, and the waterproofing is performed. An endoscope cleaning device characterized in that the endoscope cleaning device is squashed between the cap and a wall surface and is connected and fixed to the waterproof cap. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an annular projection that bites into the peripheral surface of the end of the flexible tube is provided on the wall surface of the waterproof cap against which the end of the flexible tube is pressed. Mirror cleaning device.