JP2002360515A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which eliminates a possibility of reusing the endoscope in an uncleaned state by enabling a user to recognize, without fault, whether the cleaning with an endoscope cleaning device is done or not. SOLUTION: The endoscope is provided with a signal input terminal 16 which is connected to a signal output terminal of the endoscope cleaning device 30 when the endoscope is cleaned by the endoscope cleaning device 30, cleaning done memory means 18 which stores 'cleaning done' when the signal inputted from the signal input terminal 16 signifies 'cleaning end' and display means 19 which displays the 'cleaning done' in a position visible from outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to prevent patient-to-patient transmission via an endoscope, the endoscope is cleaned by a cleaning device after each use, and the endoscope after cleaning is attached to a hanger until the next use. It is usually hung.

[0003]

However, in such an endoscope hanger, an unwashed endoscope that has been used may be suspended, so that the endoscope that is currently suspended may be suspended. I do not know whether it has been washed or not,
An uncleaned endoscope may be used as it is.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides an endoscope which can determine whether the endoscope has been cleaned by the endoscope cleaning apparatus or has not been cleaned without error, and can be reused without being cleaned. With the goal.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a signal connected to a signal output terminal of an endoscope cleaning device when the endoscope is cleaned by the endoscope cleaning device. An input terminal, a cleaned storage means for storing "cleaned" when a signal input from the signal input terminal means "cleaning completed", and a "cleaned" state. Display means for displaying the image at a position visible from the outside.

A connector is provided which is detachable from the external light source device. When the connector is connected to the external light source device, "cleaned" is displayed from the cleaned storage means and the display means. May be deleted.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an endoscope 10 and a light source device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An operation unit 12 is connected to a proximal end of a flexible tubular insertion unit 11 of the endoscope 10. Then, the connector unit 14 detachably connected to the light source device 20 includes:
It is attached to the distal end of a flexible connecting tube 13 extending from the operation unit 12.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a light guide connector, and reference numeral 16 denotes an electric signal connector.
Is installed so that it can be seen from outside.

The light source device 20 includes a light source lamp 21,
A control unit 22 including an MPU (microprocessor) is built in. When the connector unit 14 is connected to the light source device 20, illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 21 enters the light guide connector 15 and is illustrated. Control unit 22 via an interface or electrical signal connector 16
Is connected to a circuit on the endoscope 10 side.

FIG. 3 shows an endoscope cleaning device 30.
A cleaning unit 31 for storing and cleaning the endoscope 10 is disposed at an upper end portion thereof, and a lid 32 that can be opened and closed is attached to an upper surface opening thereof.

Reference numeral 33 denotes an electric signal connector 1 of the endoscope 10.
6 so that the washing water does not enter the inside.
Is a waterproof cap detachably attached to the endoscope, and a waterproof electric signal cord 3 extending from the endoscope cleaning device 30.
4 is attached to the tip.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which such a waterproof cap 33 is positioned so as to face the electrical signal connector 16.
A large number of connection terminals (signal output terminals and signal input terminals) are arranged.

The endoscope 10 is provided with an endoscope cleaning device 30.
When the waterproof cap 33 is attached to the electric signal connector 16 during the cleaning, the signal output terminal of the waterproof cap 33 and the signal input terminal of the electric signal connector 16 are connected.

FIG. 1 shows an electric signal connector 1 of an endoscope 10.
FIG. 6 is a wiring block diagram showing a state in which a waterproof cap 33 of the endoscope cleaning device 30 is attached to 6, and a microcomputer (microcomputer) 17 including an MPU (microprocessor) and the like is arranged in the connector section 14 of the endoscope 10. The nonvolatile memory 18 and the display 19 are connected to the connector 1
4 is connected to a microcomputer 17. The display 19 displays the contents stored in the memory 18.

Note that a backup power supply (such as a battery) such as a battery can be used so that the microcomputer 17 and the display 19 can be operated even when the endoscope 10 is not connected to the light source device 20 or the endoscope cleaning device 30. (Not shown) is disposed on the connector section 14.

With such a configuration, when the waterproof cap 33 is attached to the electric signal connector 16, the system controller 35 built in the endoscope cleaning device 30.
A signal such as “washing completed” output from the endoscope 10 is read by the microcomputer 17 on the endoscope 10 side.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 which is a flowchart showing the contents of software of the microcomputer 17 of the endoscope 10. S in FIG. 5 indicates a step.

It is detected that cleaning of the endoscope 10 by the endoscope cleaning device 30 has been started (S1), and a signal output from the system controller 35 indicating "end of cleaning" is output from the endoscope 10 side. When detected by the microcomputer 17 (S2), "cleaned" is stored in the memory 18 of the endoscope 10 and at the same time, "cleaned" is displayed on the display 19 by characters or light (for example, a blue light). Is displayed (S3).

Even if the waterproof cap 33 is removed from the electrical signal connector 16 of the connector section 14, the memory 1
8 and the display on the display 19 do not change (S4).
When the connector section 14 is connected to the light source device 20, the microcomputer 17 detects that the circuit on the endoscope 10 side has been connected to the control section 22 via the signal input terminal of the electric signal connector 16 and the memory 18. And the display 19 are both reset to erase "cleaned" (S
5).

[0020]

According to the present invention, when a signal indicating "cleaning completed" is sent from the endoscope cleaning device to the endoscope, "cleaned" is displayed on the display means on the endoscope side. Since the endoscope is displayed, whether the endoscope has been cleaned by the cleaning device or has not been cleaned can always be grasped without error, and the possibility of reusing the endoscope without cleaning can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a wiring block diagram illustrating a state in which an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to an endoscope cleaning device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an endoscope and a light source device according to an 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 signal connector and the waterproof cap according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing software contents of a microcomputer on the endoscope side of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 14 Connector part 16 Electric signal connector (signal input terminal) 17 Microcomputer 18 Memory (washed storage means) 19 Display (display means) 30 Endoscope cleaning device 33 Waterproof cap 34 Waterproof electric signal cord

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A signal input terminal connected to a signal output terminal of the endoscope cleaning device when the endoscope cleaning device performs cleaning, and a signal input from the signal input terminal indicates “cleaning completed”. When it means, it is provided with a washed storage means for storing "washed" and a display means for displaying "washed" at a position visible from the outside. Endoscope. 2. An external light source device is provided with a detachable connector, and the connector is connected to the external light source device. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the fact that “done” is erased.