JP2005052199A - Sterilizing unit for medical appliance and medical appliance storage provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizing unit for a medical appliance sufficiently sterilizing and drying the inside of a tubular part of the medical appliance by gas containing a sterilizing substance and to provide a medical appliance storage provided therewith. <P>SOLUTION: A storage 10 of an endoscope 1 is disposed with the sterilizing unit 20. This sterilizing unit 20 includes a sterilizing substance generator 21 and a mechanism part 22. The sterilizing substance generator 21 is disposed in a ceiling part of the storage 10 and the mechanism part 22 is placed in the back of a inclined structure 13 provided inside the storage 10 so as to lean the tubular part 3 of the endoscope 1 thereon. The mechanism part 22 includes an air flow forming device 40. When a suction tube 44 connected to the air flow forming device 40 is connected to the tip of the tubular part 3 of the endoscope 1 and the sterilizing unit 20 is driven, air including negative ions generated by the sterilizing substance generator 21 is made to pass through the tubular part 3 to sterilize and dry the inside of the tubular part 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization unit for a medical instrument and a storage for a medical instrument including the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a medical device is used, contaminants (visible dirt) such as blood, mucus, secretions, tissue fragments, digests, and drugs adhere. Pathogenic microorganisms (invisible dirt) such as bacteria and viruses may adhere. Therefore, medical devices after use must be promptly cleaned to remove visible and invisible stains, except for disposable types.
[0003]
Even if the visible dirt is removed, the invisible dirt does not necessarily disappear. If pathogenic microorganisms survive, there is a risk that cross infection (infecting other people with bacteria and viruses attached to the medical device) may occur through the medical device. Therefore, it is necessary to further disinfect the medical device after washing.
[0004]
In the case of a normal medical instrument, if the washed product is placed in a sterilizer and heated, sterilization and drying can be performed simultaneously. However, precision instruments such as endoscopes that use a lot of plastic cannot be heated to a sterilization temperature zone, so they are often sterilized with a chemical solution or sterilization gas and dried by gas blow. An example of such an endoscope sterilization apparatus can be seen in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes an endoscope disinfection storage that performs sterilization using ozone.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-1901 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The endoscope disinfecting storage described in Patent Document 1 emits ozone gas having an effective concentration generated by an ozone generator into the storage through an air diffuser, and uses the convection in the storage to operate the endoscope. It is disinfected. It is only necessary that the gas flow in which ozone gas enters from one end of the capillary tube of the endoscope and escapes from the other end is well formed, but if it was left to natural convection in the storage, It is difficult to expect an outbreak. In other words, even if the inside of the storage is filled with ozone gas, the replacement of the air inside the endoscope's narrow tubes will not proceed, and the outer surface of the endoscope could be sterilized but the sterilization of the inner surface may be insufficient. Absent.
[0007]
Moreover, since the endoscope is not heated, the drying of the endoscope after washing is almost natural drying. Apart from the outer surface of the endoscope, it takes a long time to dry the inside of the tubular portion of the endoscope. If the drying does not proceed, germs may propagate in the residual water in the tubular portion, and the number of germs may reach a dangerous level.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical device capable of sufficiently sterilizing and drying the inside of the tubular portion of the medical device with a gas containing a sterilizing substance. An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization unit for medical use and a storage for a medical instrument provided with the same.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a sterilization unit for a medical instrument is configured as follows.
[0010]
(1) A sterilization unit for a medical instrument forcibly circulates a sterilization substance generation device and a gas containing the sterilization substance generated by the sterilization substance generation device inside the tubular portion of the medical instrument. And an air flow forming device.
[0011]
According to this configuration, the gas containing the sterilizing substance is reliably sent into the tubular portion of the medical instrument, and this portion can be sterilized. In addition, drying of the inside of the tubular portion proceeds promptly by forced gas flow.
[0012]
(2) The sterilization unit for a medical instrument as described above includes a moisture separator that separates moisture from the gas that has passed through the tubular portion of the medical instrument.
[0013]
According to this configuration, it is possible to separate moisture from the air to be sucked into the airflow forming means such as a vacuum pump and prevent the airflow forming means from failing.
[0014]
(3) The sterilization unit for a medical instrument as described above is provided with a deodorizer that deodorizes the gas that has passed through the tubular portion of the medical instrument.
[0015]
According to this configuration, it is not necessary to diffuse the odor generated inside the tubular portion of the medical device.
[0016]
(4) In the sterilization unit for medical equipment as described above, the sterilization substance generated by the sterilization substance generation apparatus is negative ions.
[0017]
According to this configuration, sterilization can be performed without damaging the medical device.
[0018]
(5) In the sterilization unit for a medical instrument as described above, the air flow forming device performs suction from one end of a tubular portion of the medical instrument to cause forced flow of gas.
[0019]
According to this configuration, unlike sending pressurized gas into the tubular portion, there is no possibility of damaging the tubular portion with internal pressure. When the medical instrument is an endoscope, there are a plurality of capillaries inside, all of which communicate with the capillaries at the distal end of the tubular portion. Therefore, if suction is performed from the distal end of the tubular portion, an air flow can be formed inside all the thin tubes with connection work to one place, and the connection work is easy and the work efficiency is high.
[0020]
(6) In the sterilization unit for a medical instrument as described above, the sterilization substance generation device releases the sterilization substance in the vicinity of the other end of the tubular portion of the medical instrument.
[0021]
According to this configuration, the concentration of the sterilizing substance at the airflow inlet portion of the tubular portion is increased, and a gas having a large sterilizing ability can be introduced into the tubular portion.
[0022]
(7) In the sterilization unit for a medical instrument as described above, the medical instrument is an endoscope.
[0023]
According to this configuration, the endoscope that is a precision instrument and uses a lot of plastic can be sterilized without damaging it.
[0024]
Moreover, in this invention, the storage for medical instruments was comprised as follows.
[0025]
(8) The storage is provided with a sterilization unit for medical equipment as described above.
[0026]
According to this configuration, the medical device can be stored while sterilizing by containing the sterilizing substance in the air in the cabinet. Moreover, it can be set as the storage with a disinfection function by retrofitting a sterilization unit to the existing storage. Even when the storage is produced in a factory, it is only necessary to add a process for assembling the sterilization unit, and a storage with a sterilization function can be produced efficiently.
[0027]
(9) In the store for medical instruments as described above, a deodorizer for air in the store is provided.
[0028]
According to this configuration, the odor disappears from the internal air, and the medical instrument can be taken in and out comfortably.
[0029]
(10) The storage for medical equipment as described above is provided with a ventilation device for the internal air.
[0030]
According to this configuration, the humidity in the storage can be lowered, and the outer surface of the medical instrument can be quickly dried.
[0031]
(11) In the storage for medical instruments as described above, the ventilator includes a sterilizing substance generating apparatus for containing a sterilizing substance in the air introduced into the warehouse.
[0032]
According to this configuration, since the air itself introduced into the warehouse is sterilized, the possibility that pathogenic microorganisms enter the warehouse together with the air outside the warehouse and contaminate the medical device can be reduced.
[0033]
(12) In the storage for medical instruments as described above, an inclined structure for placing the medical instrument is provided inside, and a mechanism part of the sterilization unit for the medical instrument is installed behind the inclined structure.
[0034]
According to this configuration, since the medical instrument is put on the inclined structure, the medical instrument does not hang and does not collide with each other, get damaged, and become difficult to take out. In addition, it is possible to secure the place of the mechanism part of the sterilization unit for the medical instrument behind the inclined structure, and the mechanism part of the sterilization unit is isolated from the medical instrument by the inclined structure and damaged by the medical instrument. Nor is it wetted with water dripping from a medical device.
[0035]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0036]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a storage 10 for a medical device, and shows an internal structure by cutting a main part. The storage 10 is mainly intended to store the endoscope 1 and is configured based on a commercially available cabinet 11 having a width of about 1,800 mm and a height of about 1,800 mm. The sliding door 12 on the front side of the cabinet 11 is a glass door so that the interior can be seen from the outside. The cabinet 11 may be a normal steel cabinet, but may be made of wood or synthetic resin.
[0037]
An inclined structure 13 is provided inside the storage 10. The inclined structure 13 is a sheet metal member having an upper end connected to the upper part of the inner wall on the back side of the storage 10 and a lower end connected to the middle of the inner wall on the bottom side. In order to increase the rigidity, well-known reinforcement measures such as formation of ribs and addition of bars are applied to the inclined structure 13. The inclined structure 13 can also be constituted by a combination of an angle material, a pipe, and a plate material instead of the sheet metal.
[0038]
Holders 14 for holding the main body 2 of the endoscope 1 are attached to the inner wall above the inclined structure 13 in a horizontal row at a predetermined interval. If the main body 2 of the endoscope 1 is pushed into the holder 14 and the tubular portion 3 is hung down, the tubular portion 3 is stabilized so as to lean against the inclined structure 13. Cushions are arranged at important points inside the storage 10 so that the endoscope 1 is not shocked during attachment or removal.
[0039]
The cabinet 11 is combined with a sterilization unit 20 for medical equipment. The sterilization unit 20 includes a sterilization substance generation device 21 and a mechanism unit 22. The sterilizing substance generation device 21 is disposed on the ceiling of the storage 10, and the mechanism 22 is placed behind the inclined structure 13.
[0040]
Based on FIG. 2, the structure of the disinfection substance production | generation apparatus 21 is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the sterilizing substance generating device 21. The sterilizing substance generation device 21 includes a fan part 31 and a sterilizing substance generation part 32 inside a casing 30, and has an air purification filter 33 covering the inlet part of the fan part 31. The sterilizing substance is a negative ion, but other substances may be used. For example, plasma cluster ions in which negative ions and positive ions are mixed, or ozone may be used.
[0041]
When the fan unit 31 is operated, the internal air is sucked into the casing 30 through the air purification filter 33 on the upper surface and discharged from the lower surface of the casing 30. When the sterilization substance generation unit 32 is operated, the sterilization substance generation device 21 discharges air containing negative ions. The air containing negative ions reaches every corner of the storage 10 by the wind pressure generated by the fan unit 31. The air purification filter 33 collects dust from the sucked air and prevents the dust from accumulating in the fan unit 31 to reduce the blowing capacity and to contaminate the casing 30.
[0042]
Although it is desirable to provide one sterilization substance generation device 21 for each holder 14, if the sterilization substance generation capability is sufficiently large, one sterilization substance generation device 21 is arranged for a plurality of holders 14. It does not matter as a configuration.
[0043]
An outside air inlet 15 is provided at one corner of the upper surface of the cabinet 11. The outside air introduction port 15 is covered with a punching board, a wire net, a louver, etc., and one sterilizing substance generation device 21a is disposed below the outside air introduction port 15. When the sterilizing substance generation device 21 a is operated, air is sucked from the outside through the outside air inlet 15. When the air pressure in the cabinet 11 rises due to the suction of air, the air leaks through the gap between the sliding doors 12 instead. That is, the outside air introduction port 15 and the sterilizing substance generation device 21a inside thereof function as a ventilation device.
[0044]
Next, the configuration of the mechanism unit 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration inside the casing of the mechanism unit 22, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a connection means between the mechanism unit 22 and the endoscope 1.
[0045]
The mechanism part 22 arrange | positions the airflow formation apparatus 40 and the deodorizing apparatus 60 of the internal air in the casing. It is the vacuum pump 41 that plays the role of airflow formation in the airflow forming device 40. One end of the suction tube 42 is connected to the suction port of the vacuum pump 41. The other end of the suction tube 42 is connected to a branch header 43 shown in FIG.
[0046]
The same number of flexible suction tubes 44 as the holders 14 extend from the branch header 43. A closing valve 45 and a filter 46 are inserted in the middle of each suction tube 44. A socket 47 that receives the tip of the tubular portion 3 of the endoscope 1 is provided at the tip of the suction tube 44.
[0047]
5 to 7 show the peripheral structure of the socket 47. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the socket 47 and the distal end of the tubular portion 3 of the endoscope 1, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tip of the suction tube 44 provided with the socket 47 is held by the holder 48, and FIG. 4 is a front view of a holder 48. FIG.
[0048]
The socket 47 is formed with a flange 47a. The flange 47a is provided to prevent the tip of the tubular portion 3 from inadvertently hitting the periphery.
[0049]
Since the suction tube 44 is long, care must be taken in handling so that moisture or the like spills out from the inside and adheres to the surroundings, causing no fouling. Therefore, the tip of the suction tube 44 is held by the holder 48. As shown in FIG. 7, the holder 48 has a U-shaped cross section with an open top, and sandwiches and holds the suction tube 44. The holder 48 is supported by the tip of a spring 49 whose root is fixed to the inner surface of the cabinet 11, and is normally in a neutral position with the suction tube 44 sandwiched as seen in FIG. When a force is applied to the holder 48 or the suction tube 44, the spring 49 bends like an imaginary line.
[0050]
In the middle of the suction tube 42, a moisture separator 50 is inserted that separates moisture from the air that has passed through the tubular portion 3 of the endoscope 1. A drain tube 51 having a closing valve 52 extends from the bottom of the water separator 50. The drainage tube 51 is connected to a drainage tank (not shown) provided in the storage 10 or a drainage channel outside the warehouse.
[0051]
One end of a discharge tube 53 is connected to the discharge port of the vacuum pump 41. A deodorizer 54 that deodorizes the air that has passed through the tubular portion 3 of the endoscope 1 is inserted in the middle of the discharge tube 53. The deodorizer 54 is a casing in which an odor adsorbing material such as activated carbon is packed. A flow sensor 55 is connected downstream of the deodorizer 54. The end of the discharge tube 53 communicates with the outside.
[0052]
The deodorizing device 60 performs deodorization by sucking the air in the cabinet, and includes the following elements in the casing 61. That is, the air purification filter 62, the odor adsorbing material 63, the motor 64, and the fan 65 are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the air flow.
[0053]
The storage 10 is used as follows.
[0054]
The used endoscope 1 is cleaned on both the outer and inner surfaces. The sliding door 12 is opened, and the main body 2 of the endoscope 1 that has been cleaned is fitted into the vacant holder 14. The tubular portion 3 rests on the inclined structure 13. The empty suction tube 44 is removed from the holder 48, and the tip of the tubular portion 3 is inserted into the socket 47 at the tip. When the closing valve 45 at the base of the suction tube 44 is opened and the sterilization unit 20 is operated, an end is started at the inlet 4 of the tubular portion 3 (see FIG. 8), and the tubular portion 3 → the suction tube 44 → the branch header 43 → suction. An airflow that continues from the tube 42 to the vacuum pump 41 is forcibly formed.
[0055]
Since the suction tube 44 is connected to the tip of the hanging tubular portion 3 and sucked, the water adhering to the inner surface of the tubular portion 3 falls in a form in which gravity is added to the wind pressure. For this reason, there is no concern that the tubular portion 3 can be quickly removed and can flow backward toward the inlet 4.
[0056]
The endoscope 1 includes a plurality of thin tubes connected to an operation unit, an eyepiece unit, a connector unit, and the like, all of which communicate with a thin tube at the distal end of the tubular portion 3. Therefore, if suction is performed from the tip of the tubular portion 3, an air flow can be formed inside all the thin tubes. On the contrary, if air is to be blown from the inlet side of the narrow tube to form an air flow, an air supply tube must be connected to the inlet port of each thin tube. Since the connection work takes time and the air is sent under pressure, the endoscope 1 may be damaged by the internal pressure. If suction is performed from the tip of the tubular portion 3, air current can be formed in a plurality of thin tubes at once by connecting work to one place, and the thin tubes are not ruptured by internal pressure. Thus, the advantage of the configuration of this embodiment is great.
[0057]
The sterilizing substance generating device 21 releases negative ions in the vicinity of the inlet 4 of the tubular portion 3, and air having a high concentration of negative ions and a large sterilizing ability is sucked into the tubular portion 3. As a result, the inner surface of the tubular portion 3 is sterilized and the inner surface is further dried.
[0058]
The sterilizing substance generation device 21 may be fixed to the cabinet 11 with a screw, but in this way, the position of the negative ion emission part is also fixed. However, there are various types of endoscopes 1 such as those for digestive system and bronchi, and the position of the inlet 4 of the tubular portion 3 is not uniform. Therefore, it is preferable to hold the sterilizing substance generation device 21 using a movable mounting stand or a magnet fixture so that the negative ion release part can be directed to the inlet 4 of the tubular portion 3.
[0059]
Foreign matter and moisture sucked into the suction tube 44 together with air are filtered by the filter 46. The filter 46 that has absorbed moisture dries while continuing to suck air for a long time.
[0060]
The air that has entered the suction tube 42 from the branch header 43 is separated into moisture by the moisture separator 50 before being sucked into the vacuum pump 41. For this reason, water does not enter the vacuum pump 41. The water accumulated in the water separator 50 can be drained through the drain tube 51 by opening the closing valve 52.
[0061]
The air discharged from the vacuum pump 41 enters the deodorizer 54 through the discharge tube 53. Here, the deodorized air is discharged outside the warehouse.
[0062]
A flow rate sensor 55 disposed downstream of the deodorizer 54 monitors the flow rate of air passing through the discharge tube 53. If some part of the tube system is clogged and the flow rate becomes too low, the sterilization and drying inside the tubular portion 3 will be insufficient. In such a case, the fact is displayed on an operation panel (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the storage 10 or an alarm sound is generated to alert the user.
[0063]
Odor may be generated due to a substance adhering to the outer surface of the endoscope 1. The deodorizing device 60 deodorizes such bad odors. The deodorizing device 60 continuously sucks and discharges the air in the storage during the operation of the sterilization unit 20, forms a circulating air flow in the storage, and adsorbs odorous components in the passing air with the odor adsorbing material 63.
[0064]
The sterilizing substance generation device 21a inside the outside air introduction port 15 sucks air from outside the outside through the outside air introduction port 15, adds negative ions, and releases it into the chamber. If the sliding door 12 is closed, the inside of the storage 10 is kept at a slight positive pressure. Because of this positive pressure, air gradually flows out from the gap between the cabinet 11 and the sliding door 12 and prevents outside air from entering. Therefore, there is little possibility that pathogenic microorganisms enter the cabinet together with the air outside the cabinet and contaminate the endoscope 1.
[0065]
If the outer surface of the endoscope 1 is wet when it is put in the storage 10, the humidity inside the storage 10 increases. If the sterilization substance forming device 21a inside the outside air introduction port 15 is operated and the ventilation function is operated, moisture is discharged together with the air leaking out of the warehouse, and the humidity level inside the storage 10 can be kept low. it can.
[0066]
The sterilization unit 20 is always operated. As a result, the interior of the storage 10 is always filled with negative ions, and when a new endoscope 1 is stored, sterilization starts immediately. Moreover, since the deodorizing device 60 keeps the air in the cabinet free of odor, there is no bad smell and unpleasant feeling when the sliding door 12 is opened.
[0067]
The mechanism 22 is disposed behind the inclined structure 13 as described above. For this reason, it is easy to arrange the branch header 43, the suction tube 44, the closing valve 45, the filter 46 and the like so as not to be congested. The position of the mechanism part 22 should be low. If the position of the mechanism unit 22 is low and the position of the endoscope 1 is high, moisture can be sucked without repelling gravity. Further, since the tip of the tubular portion 3 and the mechanism portion 22 are close to each other, the suction tube 44 can be shortened.
[0068]
The endoscope 1 that has been sterilized and dried may be stored in the storage 10 as it is and taken out during use.
[0069]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
Since the sterilization unit for a medical device according to the present invention forcibly distributes the gas containing the sterilization material generated by the sterilization material generation device to the inside of the tubular portion of the medical device by the airflow forming device, The gas containing the substance is reliably sent into the tubular part of the medical device, and this part can be sterilized. In addition, drying of the inside of the tubular portion proceeds promptly by forced gas flow. Since the airflow forming device sucks from one end of the tubular part of the medical device to generate forced gas flow, there is no possibility of damaging the tubular part with internal pressure unlike when the pressurized gas is fed into the tubular part. . When the medical instrument is an endoscope, there are a plurality of capillaries inside, all of which communicate with the capillaries at the tip of the tubular portion. Therefore, if suction is performed from the distal end of the tubular portion, an air flow can be formed inside all the thin tubes with connection work to one place, and the connection work is easy and the work efficiency is high.
[0071]
And in this invention, since it installed in the storage for the above sterilization units medical instruments, it is possible to store the medical instruments while sterilizing them by containing the sterilizing substance in the air in the warehouse. Moreover, it can be set as the storage with a disinfection function by retrofitting a sterilization unit to the existing storage. Even when the storage is produced in a factory, it is only necessary to add a process for assembling the sterilization unit, and a storage with a sterilization function can be produced efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage for medical equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sterilizing substance generating device of a sterilizing unit. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the part. Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the connection means between the mechanism part of the sterilization unit and the endoscope. Fig. 5 shows the socket of the suction tube and the distal end of the tubular part of the endoscope. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tip of the suction tube is held by the holder. FIG. 7 is a front view of the holder. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an endoscope main body.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Main-body part 3 Tubular part 10 Storage 11 Cabinet 12 Sliding door 13 Inclined structure 15 Outside air introduction port 20 Sterilization unit 21, 21a Sterilization substance production | generation apparatus 22 Mechanism part 40 Airflow formation apparatus 50 Water | moisture content separator 54 Deodorizer 60 Deodorizer

Claims (12)

Disinfection for medical instruments comprising a disinfecting substance generating device and an airflow forming device for forcibly circulating a gas containing the disinfecting substance generated by the disinfecting substance generating device inside the tubular portion of the medical instrument. Fungus unit. The sterilization unit for a medical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a moisture separator that separates moisture from a gas that has passed through the tubular portion of the medical instrument. The sterilization unit for a medical instrument according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a deodorizer that deodorizes the gas that has passed through the tubular portion of the medical instrument. The sterilization unit for a medical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sterilization substance generated by the sterilization substance generation device is a negative ion. The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air flow forming device is configured to generate a forced flow of gas by performing suction from one end of a tubular portion of the medical instrument. Device sterilization unit. 6. The sterilizing unit for a medical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the sterilizing substance generating device releases a sterilizing substance in the vicinity of the other end of the tubular portion of the medical instrument. The sterilization unit for a medical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the medical instrument is an endoscope. The storage for medical instruments provided with the sterilization unit for medical instruments of any one of Claims 1-7. The storage device for medical equipment according to claim 8, further comprising a deodorizing device for air in the storage. The storage for medical instruments according to claim 8, further comprising a ventilation device for air in the storage. The said ventilation apparatus contains the sterilization substance production | generation apparatus which makes the air introduce | transduced in the warehouse contain a sterilization substance, The storage for medical instruments of Claim 10 characterized by the above-mentioned. An inclined structure for placing a medical instrument is provided inside, and a mechanism part of the medical instrument sterilization unit is installed behind the inclined structure. Storage for the listed medical devices.

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