JP2007082702A - Washing and disinfection apparatus for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the dispersion of volatilized vapor of disinfectant to the outside in a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: This washing and disinfection apparatus 2 for an endoscope is formed with an approximate U-shaped groove 15 in the circumferential edge part of a washing tub 12. A projection 16 loosely fitted with the groove 15 is formed around the circumferential edge part of a lid 11 facing to the groove 15. Water is supplied to and drained from the groove 15 via a water supply port 17 and a drain outlet 18. The water stored in the groove 15 and the projection 16 cut off the inside space from the outside space of the washing tub 12. The groove 15 is so formed that the height (hb) of the wall face 15b in the outside of an apparatus body 10 is higher than the height (ha) of the wall face 15a in the side of the washing tub 12. When supplying the disinfectant to the washing tub 12 in a disinfection process, water is supplied to the groove 15 and, when the wash water is supplied to the washing tub 12 in a washing process and a rinsing process, water is drained from the groove 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for cleaning / disinfecting an endoscope housed in a cleaning tank.

  Conventionally, medical diagnosis using an endoscope has been actively performed in the medical field. Endoscopes used in medical diagnosis are sterilized and sterilized after preliminary cleaning by a clinician, followed by various treatments such as cleaning, disinfection, rinsing, and drying in the cleaning tank of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting device. The

  Disinfecting liquids used in the disinfection process include glutaral, peracetic acid, acidic water, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide. However, it is known that glutarar volatile vapor and acidic water chlorine gas are harmful to the human body. It has been. In addition, the acetic acid odor of peracetic acid is unpleasant, and some people may feel sick.

  From the above viewpoint, in the conventional endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus, in order to prevent the volatile vapor of the disinfecting liquid from leaking to the outside, the apparatus main body provided with the cleaning tank and the lid that covers the opening of the cleaning tank are used. A packing was attached to keep the cleaning tank airtight. However, if the dirt adheres to the packing when the endoscope is housed in the cleaning tank and the dirt enters the gap of the packing, the packing is made of rubber or resin, so that the dirt can be completely removed by wiping. There was a risk that harmful bacteria would propagate. Moreover, since the inside of the washing tank is always in a humidified state due to washing and rinsing, there is a possibility that mold grows. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the rubber or resin constituting the packing may be deteriorated by a disinfectant or the like.

In order to solve the above problems, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus has been proposed in which an adsorbent that adsorbs volatile vapor of a disinfecting liquid is disposed inside or outside a cleaning tank (see Patent Document 1). In addition, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus has been proposed in which the air in the cleaning tank is sucked or circulated as necessary to prevent the disinfecting liquid from diffusing vapor from spreading outside (see Patent Document 2).
JP-A-1-119227 JP 2002-177219 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, in view of the volume of the cleaning tank, a large amount of adsorbent is required to adsorb the volatile vapor of the disinfectant solution. In addition, the adsorbent must be selected according to the type of the disinfectant, and there is a problem that maintenance such as determining the replacement time is troublesome since the effect of the adsorbent has a lifetime.

  Also, in the method described in Patent Document 2, as in the case of Patent Document 1, when the volume of the cleaning tank is considered, the diffusion of the volatile vapor of the disinfecting liquid cannot be suppressed unless an excessively powerful suction pump is used. The use of such a suction pump has a problem that the apparatus is increased in size and cost. In addition, pressure fluctuations in the cleaning tank occur due to suction or circulation, and it is possible to damage the endoscope parts due to this pressure fluctuation, so there is a mechanism to adjust the pressure applied to the inside and outside of the endoscope. There is a new concern that it will be necessary to increase the size and cost of the apparatus.

  Furthermore, if the cleaning tank is hermetically maintained with the packing, it is necessary to replace the packing over a certain period of time due to the growth of bacteria and mold, and the deterioration of the rubber and resin constituting the packing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus capable of preventing diffusion of volatile vapor of disinfecting liquid to the outside with a simple structure. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an apparatus main body provided with a cleaning tank, and a lid that is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed and covers an opening of the cleaning tank. In an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for cleaning / disinfecting an endoscope stored therein, a groove provided in a peripheral portion of the cleaning tank, water supply means for supplying water to the groove, and draining the water in the groove A drainage means, and a protrusion provided at a peripheral edge portion of the lid facing the groove, loosely fitted in the groove, and blocking water inside and outside of the cleaning tank with water stored in the groove. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, it is preferable that the said groove | channel is formed so that the height of the wall surface of the said apparatus main body outer side is larger than the height of the wall surface of the said washing tank side.

  The water supply means is preferably operated when supplying a disinfectant solution to the cleaning tank in a disinfection process.

  The drainage means is preferably operated when supplying cleaning water to the cleaning tank in a cleaning process or a rinsing process.

  It is preferable to use the groove as an overflow of the cleaning tank.

  According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention, the groove provided in the peripheral portion of the cleaning tank, the water supply means for supplying water to the groove, the drainage means for draining the water in the groove, and the groove are opposed to each other. It is provided on the peripheral edge of the lid, and has a projection that fits loosely in the groove and blocks the internal and external space of the washing tank with the water stored in the groove. Can be prevented from spreading.

  In FIG. 1, the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 2 includes a box-shaped apparatus body 10 and a lid 11 attached to the apparatus body 10 by a hinge so as to be opened and closed. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2 accommodates a used endoscope 30 (see FIG. 3) in a cleaning tank 12 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus body 10, and performs various cleaning, disinfection, rinsing, drying, and the like. The endoscope 30 is cleaned and sterilized and sterilized by processing.

  An operation panel 13 and a display panel 14 are disposed in front of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10. The operation panel 13 is composed of a number of buttons for instructing settings regarding the contents of the various processes and starting / stopping cleaning. The display panel 14 displays various setting screens, remaining processing time, a warning message when a trouble occurs, and the like.

  The lid 11 is opened and closed when the used endoscope 30 is accommodated in the cleaning tank 12 or when the endoscope 30 after sterilization is taken out. When sterilization is being performed, the lid 11 covers the opening of the cleaning tank 12 so that cleaning water and disinfecting liquid are not scattered outside. Moreover, the upper surface of the lid 11 is a transparent viewing window, and the state of sterilization can be visually confirmed.

  A substantially U-shaped groove 15 (see also FIGS. 2 to 4) is formed on the peripheral edge of the cleaning tank 12 so as to surround the cleaning tank 12. In addition, a protrusion 16 (see also FIG. 2) that loosely fits in the groove 15 is formed on the peripheral edge of the lid 11 that faces the groove 15. The groove 15 is provided with a water supply port 17 and a drain port 18 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Valves (not shown) for opening and closing them are attached to the water supply port 17 and the water discharge port 18, and the water supply / drainage to the groove 15 through the water supply port 17 and the water discharge port 18 is performed by this valve. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the groove 15 is formed such that the height hb of the wall surface 15 b on the outer side of the apparatus body 10 is larger than the height ha of the wall surface 15 a on the cleaning tank 12 side. The groove 15 and the protrusion 16 are formed so that the tip of the protrusion 16 is submerged in the water filled in the groove 15 in a state where the lid 11 is closed.

  Returning to FIG. 1, in the cleaning tank 12, an injection device 19, a water supply port 20 for supplying cleaning water, a disinfecting liquid supply port 21 for supplying a disinfecting liquid, and a draining port 22 for discharging the cleaning water and the disinfecting liquid. Etc. are provided.

  The spraying device 19 is disposed substantially at the center of the cleaning tank 12, and includes a cylindrical rotating body 23 and a plurality of nozzles 24 provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating body 23. At the time of cleaning the endoscope 30, the rotating body 23 is rotated and cleaning water is ejected from the nozzle 24.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the used endoscope 30 is a state in which the hand operating unit 31 is placed in the vicinity of the coupler 32 provided on the side surface of the cleaning tank 12 and wound around the rotating body 23. In the washing tank 12. The coupler 32 is connected to the suction button mounting port 33, the air / water supply button mounting port 34, and the forceps port 35 of the hand operation unit 31 via a tube 36. Washing water and disinfecting liquid are supplied from the coupler 32 to the air / water feeding tube, suction tube, and forceps insertion tube inside the endoscope 30 through the tube 36, thereby the inner tube of the endoscope 30. Roads are cleaned and disinfected.

  In FIG. 4, a water supply path 40 connected to the tap water faucet and a hose and connected to the water supply port 20 is disposed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10. In the middle of the water supply channel 40, a branch water supply channel 41 connected to the water supply port 17 of the groove 15 and a first electromagnetic valve 42 that opens and closes the water supply channel 40 are connected.

  When the first electromagnetic valve 42 is opened, tap water from the faucet flows into the water supply channel 40, and this tap water is supplied from the water supply port 20 to the cleaning tank 12 as cleaning water. When the first electromagnetic valve 42 is closed and the valve of the water supply port 17 is opened, water is supplied from the water supply port 17 to the groove 15 via the water supply channel 40 and the branch water supply channel 41. Although not shown, the nozzle 24 and the coupler 32 are connected to the water supply path 40, and the cleaning water is also supplied to these portions.

  A disinfectant tank 43 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus body 10. The disinfecting liquid tank 43 stores a chemical liquid (for example, glutaral, peracetic acid, acidic water, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) used for disinfecting the endoscope 30 and supplies the disinfecting liquid connected to the disinfecting liquid supply port 21. A path 44 and a disinfectant recovery path 45 connected to the drain port 22 are connected. In the middle of the disinfectant supply path 44, a pump 46 that sucks the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank 43 toward the cleaning tank 12 is disposed.

  When the pump 46 is operated, the disinfecting liquid in the disinfecting liquid tank 43 sucked up by the pump 46 flows into the disinfecting liquid supply path 44, and this disinfecting liquid is supplied to the cleaning tank 12 from the disinfecting liquid supply port 21. Although not shown, the disinfecting liquid supply path 44 is connected to the nozzle 24 and the coupler 32 in the same manner as the water supply path 40, and the disinfecting liquid is supplied to these portions by the pump 46. It has become.

  The disinfectant recovery path 45 is connected to a drainage path 49 that connects the drainage port 22 and the external drainage port 48 via the second electromagnetic valve 47. The disinfectant recovery path 45 and the drain path 49 are opened and closed by the second electromagnetic valve 47.

  When the second solenoid valve 47 is activated and the disinfecting liquid collection path 45 side is opened and the drainage path 49 side is closed, the disinfecting liquid discharged from the drain port 22 is disinfected through the disinfecting liquid collection path 45. It is collected in the liquid tank 43.

  A branch drainage channel 50 connected to the drainage port 18 of the groove 15 is connected to the drainage channel 49 upstream of the second electromagnetic valve 47. A third electromagnetic valve 51 is arranged on the downstream side of the second electromagnetic valve 47 in the drainage passage 49. The drainage path 49 is also opened and closed by the third electromagnetic valve 51, and the flow path is switched between the circulation system (not shown) side and the external drainage port 48 side.

  When the third electromagnetic valve 51 is operated with the disinfectant collection path 45 side of the second solenoid valve 47 closed and the drain path 49 side open, the drain path 49 side is opened, and the circulation system side is closed. The washing water drained from the liquid port 22, the disinfecting liquid whose effectiveness has been deactivated, or the water drained from the drain port 18 is drained to the outside from the external drain port 48.

  An ultrasonic vibrator 52 is fixed to the back surface of the cleaning tank 12. The ultrasonic transducer 52 is operated in a state where the cleaning water is stored in the cleaning tank 12 and the endoscope 30 is completely immersed in the cleaning water, and the ultrasonic waves are emitted to the cleaning water and attached to the endoscope 30. Clean the dirt ultrasonically.

  In FIG. 5, the CPU 60 comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2. The ROM 61 stores programs and data necessary for operating the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2. The CPU 60 reads programs and data from the ROM 61 to the RAM 62 that is a working memory, and executes control according to various processes. Further, the CPU 60 operates each unit in accordance with an operation input from the operation panel 13 and displays a screen on the display panel 14.

  When the CPU 60 supplies the disinfecting liquid to the cleaning tank and performs the sterilization process, the CPU 60 opens the valve of the water supply port 17 of the groove 15 and passes through the water supply channel 40 and the branch water supply channel 41 from the water supply port 17. Water is supplied to the groove 15. On the other hand, when performing the cleaning process or the rinsing process for supplying the cleaning water to the cleaning tank, the valve of the drain port 18 of the groove 15 is opened, and the external drainage via the branch drainage channel 50 and the drainage channel 49. The water of the groove 15 is drained to the liquid port 48.

  Next, a processing procedure for cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope 30 by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. After the diagnosis by the endoscope 30 is completed, the operator first turns on the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2 and lightly washes the used endoscope 30 with a sink or the like (preliminary washing). Wash away dirt and the like adhering to the endoscope 30.

  After the preliminary cleaning, the operator winds the endoscope 30 around the rotating body 23 so that the hand operating unit 31 is positioned in the vicinity of the coupler 32, and stores the endoscope 30 in the cleaning tank 12, and the suction button mounting opening. 33, after connecting the tube 36 to the air supply / water supply button mounting port 34 and the forceps port 35, the lid 11 is closed and the operation panel 13 is operated to start the cleaning / disinfection process.

  When the start of the cleaning / disinfecting process is instructed, in the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 2, the injection device 19 and the first electromagnetic valve 42 are operated under the control of the CPU 60, and the nozzles while rotating the rotating body 23. Water is sprayed from 24 to perform pre-cleaning for cleaning the outer surface of the endoscope 30. Further, water is introduced into the internal conduit of the endoscope 30 through the coupler 32 and the tube 36, and the internal conduit is washed. The water used in this pre-cleaning is drained to the external drainage port 48 through the drainage port 22.

  After the pre-cleaning, the first electromagnetic valve 42 is operated by the CPU 60 and the tap water from the faucet is supplied from the water supply port 20 to the cleaning tank 12. Then, after the endoscope 30 is completely immersed in the cleaning water, the ultrasonic vibrator 52 is operated under the control of the CPU 60 to emit ultrasonic waves to the cleaning water and thereby the endoscope 30. Ultrasonic cleaning is performed to remove dirt adhering to the surface. The water used in the ultrasonic cleaning is drained to the external drainage port 48 through the drainage port 22.

  After the ultrasonic cleaning, the internal conduit is cleaned in the same manner as in the pre-cleaning. Then, as before the ultrasonic cleaning, the cleaning water is supplied from the water supply port 20 to the cleaning tank 12, and the outer surface of the endoscope 30 and the cleaning tank 12 are rinsed away. The water used for rinsing is drained to the external drainage port 48 via the drainage port 22.

  After rinsing, the first electromagnetic valve 42 is closed by the CPU 60, the valve of the water supply port 17 of the groove 15 is opened, and water is supplied from the water supply port 17 to the groove 15 via the water supply channel 40 and the branch water supply channel 41. Is done. As a result, the water stored in the groove 15 and the protrusion 16 block the inner and outer space of the cleaning tank 12.

  After supplying water to the groove 15, the pump 46 is operated by the CPU 60, the disinfecting liquid is supplied from the disinfecting liquid supply port 21 to the cleaning tank 12, and the endoscope 30 is completely immersed in the disinfecting liquid. Further, the disinfectant is introduced into the internal conduit of the endoscope 30 through the coupler 32 and the tube 36, and the internal conduit is disinfected.

  After the endoscope 30 is immersed in the disinfecting liquid for a predetermined time, the second electromagnetic valve 47 is operated by the CPU 60, the drainage path 49 side is closed, the disinfecting liquid collection path 45 side is opened, and the sanitizing liquid is discharged from the drainage port 22. And is collected in the disinfectant tank 43 through the disinfectant collection path 45.

  After sterilization, the same rinsing as the rinsing after ultrasonic cleaning is performed twice. At the time of the first rinsing, the CPU 60 opens the valve of the drain 18 of the groove 15, and the water of the groove 15 is drained to the external drain 48 through the branch drain 50 and the drain 49. The

  After rinsing twice, the endoscope 30 is cleaned and disinfected by a drying process in which air or alcohol is supplied from the nozzle 24 or the coupler 32 by a mechanism (not shown).

  As described in detail above, the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 2 is provided with the groove 15 in the peripheral portion of the cleaning tank 12, storing water in the groove 15, and the protrusion of the lid 11 loosely fitting with the groove 15. Since the inner and outer spaces of the cleaning tank 12 are blocked by submerging the tip of 16, even if the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning tank 12 is volatilized, the volatile vapor is generated inside the cleaning tank 12 by the water in the groove 15. There is no diffusion from space to outside space. In addition, there is no concern about the propagation of various bacteria when using packing or selection according to the type of disinfectant when using an adsorbent as in the past, and it is necessary to provide a large-scale mechanism such as a suction pump. Absent.

  In addition, since the height hb of the wall surface 15b outside the apparatus main body 10 is formed larger than the height ha of the wall surface 15a on the cleaning tank 12 side of the groove 15, even when vibration is applied to the apparatus main body 10, the groove 15 Water flows to the washing tank 12 side and does not flow outside the apparatus main body 10.

  Further, the groove 15 can be used as an overflow of the cleaning tank 12 during the disinfection process, the cleaning process, and the rinsing process. In the cleaning process and the rinsing process, the water in the groove 15 is drained, so that the groove 15 effectively functions as an overflow with respect to the water supplied from the faucet, and cleaning water having a particularly high contamination level is washed. It is possible to drain the water without leaking outside the tank 12. Thereby, it is not necessary to newly provide an overflow in the cleaning tank 12, and the number of manufacturing steps and cost can be reduced.

  In order to facilitate the cleaning of the groove 15, it is preferable that the width of the groove 15 be formed so as to be easily accessible. Further, for the purpose of sterilizing the groove 15, a disinfectant may be supplied to the groove 15.

  Further, in order to facilitate drainage from the groove 15, the drain port 18 may be provided at a plurality of locations, the groove 15 is formed in a substantially V shape, and the drain port 18 is provided lower than other portions. Also good. Further, a pump may be connected to the branch water supply channel 41 or the branch drainage channel 50 to facilitate water supply / drainage.

  In the above-described embodiment, the spray device 19 is provided as a pre-cleaning device. However, instead of or in addition to this, a spray nozzle may be provided around the cleaning tank 12. Further, a mechanism for supplying an enzyme detergent to the cleaning tank 12 or a mechanism for generating a microvalve may be provided, and can be appropriately added and changed according to the specifications of the apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiment, tap water is directly introduced from the faucet, but a filter for removing tap water bacteria may be provided in the water supply channel 40.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus for endoscopes. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the peripheral part of a groove | channel. It is a top view which shows a mode that the endoscope was accommodated in the washing tank. It is a top view which shows the structure inside an apparatus main body. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus for endoscopes. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a washing | cleaning and disinfection process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Endoscope washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus 10 apparatus main body 11 lid | cover 12 washing tank 15 groove | channel 15a, 15b wall surface 16 protrusion 17 water supply port 18 drainage port 30 endoscope 41 branch water supply channel 50 branch drainage channel 60 CPU

Claims (5)

An apparatus main body provided with a cleaning tank, and a lid that is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed and covers an opening of the cleaning tank, and is used for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope housed in the cleaning tank. In the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device,
A groove provided in a peripheral portion of the cleaning tank;
Water supply means for supplying water to the groove;
Drainage means for draining the water in the groove;
A protrusion provided on a peripheral edge of the lid facing the groove, loosely fitted in the groove, and blocking water inside and outside the cleaning tank with water stored in the groove; Endoscope cleaning and disinfection device.   2. The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed such that the height of the wall surface outside the apparatus main body is larger than the height of the wall surface on the cleaning tank side. .   The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water supply means is operated when supplying a disinfecting liquid to the cleaning tank in a disinfecting step.   The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drainage means is operated when supplying cleaning water to the cleaning tank in a cleaning process or a rinsing process. The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the groove is used as an overflow of the cleaning tank.

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