JP2006116000A - Liquid storage apparatus for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid storage apparatus for an endoscope apparatus which warns when the quantity of stored water becomes smaller than a prescribed quantity by measuring the quantity of the stored water automatically. <P>SOLUTION: When this storage apparatus is connected with a processor 40 and the electronic endoscope apparatus operates, a control circuit 54 of the processor 40 transmits a signal for giving information that the electronic endoscope apparatus operates presently to a connection decision circuit 84. The connection decision circuit 84 sends an instruction signal for making a liquid quantity decision circuit 92 detect the quantity of the stored water in a bottle 74. The liquid quantity decision circuit 92 makes a liquid surface sensor 88 detect the height of the liquid surface of the stored water, calculates a stored quantity on the basis of the height H of the liquid surface, and decides whether the stored quantity exceeds a minimum stored quantity which has to be stored at the minimum. When the liquid quantity decision circuit 92 decides the quantity of the stored water to be not larger than the minimum stored quantity, a warning lamp 94 is lighted and a warning buzzer 96 generates warning sound. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid storage device, and more particularly, to a storage device for water to be sent to a human body as a subject for observation by an endoscope device.

  In endoscopic observation, it is necessary to clean and treat an affected part that is a subject. For this reason, generally, water or air can be discharged from the distal end portion of the videoscope in accordance with the operation of the operator. Usually, water is stored in a tank in the processor, and air is sent into the tank by a pump to increase the internal pressure, so that the water is sent to the distal end portion of the videoscope through a water pipe connected to the tank.

  A predetermined amount or more of water used for endoscopic observation needs to be stored in the tank. However, when the endoscope apparatus is not used so frequently, the operator may not recognize the shortage of water stored in the tank in the processor. As a result, the endoscope apparatus is used while the amount of water is insufficient, and there is a possibility that water cannot be used during observation of the subject.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device for an endoscope apparatus that automatically measures the amount of stored water and issues a warning when the amount is less than a predetermined amount.

  The storage device of the present invention is used in an endoscope apparatus capable of supplying a fluid to be supplied to a subject, and stores a liquid. The storage device includes measuring means for measuring the amount of liquid in the storage device, operating state determining means for determining whether or not the endoscope device is operating, and operating state determining means for operating the endoscope device. A measurement control unit that activates the measurement unit only when it is determined that the liquid is determined, a liquid amount determination unit that determines whether the amount of liquid measured by the measurement unit is equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit, and a liquid And a warning means for indicating that the amount of the liquid is small when the amount determining means determines that the amount of the liquid is less than or equal to the lower limit value.

  The storage device can be connected to a transport pipe for transporting fluid to the distal end portion of the video scope of the endoscope device and an air supply means for sending air to the storage device, and air is supplied by the air supply means. It is preferable to feed the liquid to be stored into the transport pipe by increasing the internal pressure.

  Further, the storage device is detachably attached to the processor of the endoscope apparatus, and the operation state determination means can determine whether the endoscope apparatus is operating by electrical connection with the processor. desirable. In this case, the storage device further includes a connection portion for connecting to an air supply means for sending air to the storage device, and a connection terminal for electrical connection with the processor, and the connection terminal is integrated with the connection portion. It is more desirable to be provided.

  The measuring means is, for example, a liquid level sensor that detects the height of the liquid level in the storage device. The warning means preferably includes at least one of a warning lamp that lights up and a warning buzzer that generates a warning sound according to the amount of liquid in the storage device.

  The storage device preferably further includes setting means for setting whether or not to activate the warning means. The storage device preferably includes a bottle for storing the liquid and a cap that can be attached to and detached from the bottle, and at least one of the measuring means and the warning means is provided on the cap.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an endoscope liquid storage device that measures the amount of liquid to be stored and automatically issues a warning when the amount of storage is small.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an electronic endoscope apparatus including a storage device according to the present embodiment.

  The electronic endoscope apparatus 10 includes a video scope 20 used for imaging in a body cavity of a patient as a subject, and a processor 40 that processes an image signal sent from the video scope 20. The video scope 20 is detachably connected to the processor 40. Further, the processor 40 is detachably attached with a storage device 60 for storing water for cleaning the affected area of the subject. The storage device 60 is connected to the video scope 20 via a transport pipe 62 for carrying water and air discharged to the affected area.

  The videoscope 20 is provided with an air / water supply button 22, and when the operator operates the air / water supply button 22, as described later, water or air moved through the transport pipe 62 is transferred to the videoscope. 20 is discharged from the tip surface 20T. The transport pipe 62 includes a water supply pipe 64 and a first air supply pipe 66, and has a two-layer structure in which the water supply pipe 64 is inserted into the pipe of the first air supply pipe 66 between the storage device 60 and the video scope 20. Have. On the other hand, in the video scope 20, the water supply pipe 64 and the first air supply pipe 66 are independent from each other and are arranged in parallel.

  An air pump 42 is provided in the processor 40, and air discharged from the air pump 42 is sent to the storage device 60 via the second air supply pipe 86, and when the internal pressure of the storage device 60 increases, The water is transferred to the video scope 20 through the water supply pipe 64 and the air through the first air supply pipe 66. That is, when an air supply hole (not shown) provided on the upper surface 22U of the air supply / water supply button 22 is closed by an operator's finger, air is not discharged from the air supply hole, and the internal pressure of the storage device 60 increases. Since air can pass through an air supply path (not shown) in the air / water supply button 22, air that has passed through the first air supply pipe 66 is discharged from the distal end surface 20T of the videoscope. When the air / water supply button 22 is pressed, the air supply path in the air / water supply button 22 is blocked, the internal pressure of the storage device 60 increases, and the water supply pipe 64 and the air / water supply button 22 Since the water passage (not shown) communicates, water is discharged from the videoscope distal end surface 20T.

  On the other hand, when the air supply hole is not pressed by the operator, the air supplied from the air pump 42 is discharged from the air supply hole, so that the internal pressure of the storage device 60 does not increase, and both water and air are the videoscope distal end surface 20T. Not sent to. The water discharged toward the subject from the videoscope front end surface 20T is sucked through the suction tube 68 and discharged from the suction tube end 68E when the suction button 24 provided on the videoscope 20 is pressed. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus 10.

  The processor 40 is provided with a light source 44, and the light source 44 emits illumination light for subject observation. The light intensity of the illumination light is adjusted by the light amount diaphragm 46, further converged by the condenser lens 48, and enters the incident end 26 </ b> A of the light guide 26. Then, the illumination light is irradiated from the distal end surface 20T of the video scope through the light guide 26 toward an observation site that is a subject through a light distribution lens (not shown).

  Reflected light from the subject passes through an objective lens (not shown) provided at the tip of the video scope 20 and is received by a CCD (not shown) comprising a large number of pixels. In the CCD, a video signal corresponding to the subject image is generated. The generated video signal is transmitted to a video signal processing circuit 52 provided in the processor 40. The video signal is subjected to predetermined processing in the video signal processing circuit 52, and a subject image is displayed on the monitor 90 based on the processed video signal.

  A control circuit 54 in the processor 40 controls the air pump 42, the light source 44, the light amount diaphragm 46, the video signal processing circuit 52, and the like. Further, when the storage device 60 is connected to the processor 40, the control circuit 54 sends a predetermined signal to the storage device control circuit 70 in the storage device 60.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the inside of the storage device 60. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the storage device 60.

  The storage device 60 includes a cap 72 and a bottle 74, and the cap 72 is detachably attached to the bottle 74. When the transport pipe 62 is connected to the storage device 60, the water supply pipe 64 is connected to the in-apparatus water supply pipe 65 in the bottle 74, and the first air supply pipe 66 is connected to the space in the bottle 74. For this reason, when air is sent into the storage device 60 from the second air supply pipe 86 and the internal pressure of the bottle 74 increases, the stored water 76 stored in the bottle 74 is changed according to the operation of the air / water supply button 22. The air in the bottle 74 or the air in the bottle 74 is sent out to the first air supply pipe 66 through the in-apparatus water supply pipe 65. Since the cap 72 is detachable from the bottle 74, the replenishment work of the stored water 76 is easy.

  The minimum stored amount of the stored water 76, that is, at least how much stored water 76 should be stored in the bottle 74 is determined in advance, and the amount of stored water 76 stored is calculated. Further, the liquid level height H is detected by the liquid level sensor 88. The liquid level sensor 88 is composed of a capacitance type sensor, and a detection signal corresponding to the liquid level is output.

  The storage device 60 can be electrically connected to the processor 40 via a connection terminal 100 provided at the tip of the second air supply tube 86. On the circuit board 80 of the cap 72, a storage device control circuit 70 that is supplied with power from the battery 78 is provided, and the storage device control circuit 70 includes whether or not the electronic endoscope device 10 is in operation. A connection judgment circuit 84 for judging the above, a liquid quantity judgment circuit 92 for judging whether or not the stored water 76 is stored more than the minimum storage amount, etc. are provided (see FIG. 4). When the storage device 60 and the processor 40 are connected and the electronic endoscope device 10 is operating, a signal indicating that the electronic endoscope device 10 is operating is a control circuit on the processor 40 side. 54 to the connection determination circuit 84 via the connection terminal 100.

  When the connection determination circuit 84 receives the signal from the control circuit 54 and determines that the electronic endoscope apparatus 10 is in operation, the connection determination circuit 84 detects the amount of the stored water 76 in the bottle 74 in the liquid amount determination circuit 92. Send an instruction signal to The liquid amount determination circuit 92 is connected to the liquid level sensor 88 and, upon receiving an instruction signal, sends a signal to the liquid level sensor 88 to instruct to detect the liquid level height H of the stored water 76. The liquid level sensor 88 detects the liquid level height H of the stored water 76 and transmits a signal indicating the detected liquid level height H to the liquid level determination circuit 92. The liquid amount determination circuit 92 calculates a storage amount based on the liquid level height H of the stored water 76 and determines whether or not the storage amount exceeds the minimum storage amount.

  When the liquid amount determination circuit 92 determines that the amount of the stored water 76 exceeds the minimum storage amount, a signal indicating this is transmitted to the control circuit 54 in the processor 40 via the connection determination circuit 84. As a result, the control circuit 54 continues predetermined control for endoscopic observation. On the other hand, when the liquid amount determination circuit 92 determines that the amount of the stored water 76 is equal to or less than the minimum stored amount, a warning lamp 94 provided on the surface of the cap 72 is lit to warn the operator. Further, the cap 72 is provided with a warning buzzer 96 and a warning buzzer setting switch 98 for operating the warning buzzer 96. When the operator has turned on the warning buzzer setting switch 98 in advance and it is determined that the amount of the stored water 76 is less than the minimum stored amount, the warning buzzer 96 emits a warning sound as the warning lamp 94 is turned on. appear. As described above, the warning lamp 94 and the warning buzzer 96 serving as warning means allow the operator to detect that the amount of the stored water 76 in the storage device 60 is insufficient prior to subject observation.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a warning routine by the warning means of the storage device 60.

  In step S101, it is determined whether or not the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are connected. As a result, if it is determined that the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are connected, the process proceeds to step S102. If it is determined that the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are not connected, step S101 is repeated. In step S102, the amount of stored water 76 in the bottle 74 is detected, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, it is determined whether or not the amount of stored water 76 is equal to or less than the minimum stored amount. If the stored amount is equal to or less than the minimum stored amount, the process proceeds to step S104. If the stored amount exceeds the minimum stored amount, the process returns to step S102.

  In step S104, the warning lamp 94 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the operator determines whether or not the warning buzzer setting switch 98 is set to an on state. If the warning buzzer setting switch 98 is on, the process proceeds to step S106. If the warning buzzer setting switch 98 is not set to the on state, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S106, the warning buzzer 96 generates a warning sound, and the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, it is determined again whether the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are connected. If the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are connected, the process returns to step S102, and if the processor 40 and the storage device 60 are not connected, that is, if the storage device 60 has been removed from the processor 40, a warning routine is executed. Ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the storage device 60 for an endoscope apparatus that automatically measures the amount of water to be stored and issues a warning when the amount is less than a predetermined amount can be realized. .

  The warning sound generated by the warning buzzer 96 may not be simultaneously with the lighting of the warning lamp 94. That is, apart from the minimum storage amount of the stored water 76 that is a reference for lighting the warning lamp 94, a lower limit storage amount that is smaller than the minimum storage amount is provided as a reference, and the amount of the stored water 76 is the lower limit storage amount. The warning buzzer 96 may be activated when the value falls below. By setting in this way, a two-stage warning means corresponding to the amount of the stored water 76 is provided.

It is a figure which shows the electronic endoscope apparatus containing the storage apparatus in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a figure which shows a storage apparatus schematically. It is a block diagram of a storage device. It is a flowchart which shows the warning routine by the warning means of a storage apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10 Electronic Endoscope Device (Endoscope Device)
20 Videoscope 40 Processor 42 Air pump (air supply means)
60 storage device 62 transport pipe 64 water pipe (transport pipe)
65 In-device water supply pipe 66 First air supply pipe (transport pipe)
70 Reservoir control circuit (operating state judging means / measurement controlling means / liquid amount judging means)
72 Cap 74 Bottle 76 Reservoir (Liquid)
84 Connection judgment circuit (operation state judgment means / measurement control means)
86 Second air pipe (connection part)
88 Liquid level sensor (measuring means)
92 Liquid amount judgment circuit (Liquid amount judgment means)
94 Warning lamp (Warning means)
96 Warning buzzer (Warning means)
98 Warning buzzer setting switch (setting means)
100 connection terminals

Claims (8)

A storage device for storing liquid to be supplied to a subject used in an endoscope device,
Measuring means for measuring the amount of liquid in the storage device;
Operating state determining means for determining whether or not the endoscope apparatus is operating;
Measurement control means for operating the measurement means only when the operation state determination means determines that the endoscope apparatus is operating; and
A liquid amount determining means for determining whether or not the amount of the liquid measured by the measuring means is equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit;
And a warning means for indicating that the amount of the liquid is small when the liquid amount determining means determines that the amount of the liquid is less than or equal to the lower limit value.   The storage device is connectable to a transport pipe for transporting a fluid to a distal end portion of a video scope of the endoscope device, and an air supply means for sending air to the storage device. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid to be stored is fed into the transport pipe when the internal pressure is increased by supplying the liquid.   The storage device is detachably attached to the processor of the endoscopic device, and the operating state determining means determines whether the endoscopic device is operating by electrical connection with the processor. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein:   The storage device further includes a connection portion for connecting to an air supply means for sending air to the storage device, and a connection terminal for electrical connection with the processor, and the connection terminal is the connection portion. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein the storage device is provided integrally with the storage device.   The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit is a liquid level sensor that detects a height of a liquid level in the storage device.   The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the warning means includes at least one of a warning lamp that is turned on and a warning buzzer that generates a warning sound according to the amount of liquid in the storage device.   The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting whether or not to activate the warning means. 2. The storage device includes a bottle that stores the liquid and a cap that can be attached to and detached from the bottle, and at least one of the measurement unit and the warning unit is provided in the cap. The storage device described in 1.

Images