JP2008061908A - Endoscope and endoscope management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which enables the learning of the history of the frequency of applying autoclave without adopting a device for managing the frequency of applying autoclave and an endoscope managing system which enables the notification of the frequency of applying autoclave in this type of endoscope. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope has a switch (detection means) 40 detecting negative pressure information showing that the endoscope reaches negative pressure inside and a latching relay (holding means) 60 which enables the preservation of the negative pressure information detected with the switch 40. The switch 40 and the latching relay 60 are actuated without being supplied with the source power from outside of the endoscope to make the latching relay 60 preserve the negative pressure information detected with the switch 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope and an endoscope management system.

  Endoscopes can be used to observe organs in body cavities by inserting an elongated insertion part of the endoscope into the body cavity, and to perform various treatments using treatment tools inserted into the insertion channel of the treatment tool as necessary. Widely used in medical fields. The distal end of the insertion portion is provided with a bending portion and a distal end portion, and an operator or the like is bent by a wire connected to the endoscope operation portion, whereby the objective lens of the observation optical system disposed in the distal end portion The observation direction can be changed.

  Endoscopes are cleaned, disinfected or sterilized after use to prevent infection. As a method for sterilization, a high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization (autoclave) method is known. In this case, an endoscope is being sterilized using a dedicated autoclave device. Sterilization and sterilization using an autoclave device has been widely used in many fields because of its low running cost and the absence of harmful substances.

  An endoscope used in an autoclave apparatus is provided with a check valve that allows gas to pass from the inside to the outside and does not allow gas to pass from the outside to the inside. In the autoclave apparatus, the internal air of the endoscope is released to the outside, the internal pressure is lowered, and steam, gas, cleaning water or the like does not enter the interior during sterilization or cleaning. ing.

  By the way, in general, in a medical institution that performs endoscopy, a plurality of endoscopes are used, and one endoscope is used a plurality of times a day. At this time, the endoscope used for the inspection is sterilized by an autoclave device, and then used again for the inspection without washing the endoscope as in the case of sterilization using a disinfection / sterilization solution. It has become so. For this reason, it is calculated | required that it can sterilize in a short time.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an autoclave device that stores a history of the number of times of autoclave execution as history information and selects a recommended process from the history information. The autoclave device described in Patent Document 1 improves the durability of the endoscope by changing variations of the autoclave process based on the history information.

  However, such a conventional endoscope requires a dedicated device for storing a history of the number of times of autoclave execution and changing the autoclave process. Further, it is necessary to always supply power for writing / holding in the storage unit and process change processing.

  In particular, the need for a dedicated autoclave device to store the history of the number of autoclaves is not only expensive, but the history of the number of autoclaves is supported for each individual endoscope. There is a disadvantage that management and handling are complicated. That is, it is very troublesome in handling to store and manage the number of autoclaves and the like of individual endoscopes on a plurality of endoscopes on the autoclave apparatus side.

Japanese Patent No. 3691164

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can know the history of the number of times of autoclaving without introducing a dedicated device for managing the number of times of autoclaving, and can notify the number of times of autoclave that the endoscope has. It is to provide an endoscope management system.

The object is achieved by the present invention described in (1) to (9) below.
(1) It has a communication part that allows the inside and outside of the endoscope to communicate with each other when necessary, and when the autoclave process is performed, the endoscope itself is placed in a negative pressure environment, whereby the communication part is An endoscope in which the inside becomes negative pressure,
Detecting means capable of detecting negative pressure information that the inside has become negative pressure, and holding means capable of holding the negative pressure information detected by the detecting means,
An endoscope characterized in that the detection means and the holding means operate without receiving power from the outside and hold the negative pressure information detected by the detection means by the holding means. .

  Thereby, the history of the number of times of autoclave execution can be known without introducing a dedicated device for managing the number of times of autoclave execution.

(2) having a power storage unit for storing electricity;
The detection means has a movable part drawn into the inside due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside,
As the movable unit moves, the power storage unit and the holding unit are electrically connected, whereby the holding unit is powered by the electricity stored in the power storage unit, and the negative pressure information is stored. The endoscope according to (1), which is held.

  Thus, the negative pressure information indicating that the inside of the endoscope has become negative pressure can be held by the holding means without receiving power supply from the outside of the endoscope.

(3) The detection means includes the movable part, a first terminal installed in the movable part, a second terminal installed in the main body part of the endoscope, and the movable part on the outside side. Biasing means for biasing to
As the movable part moves, the first terminal and the second terminal are brought into contact with each other, and the holding means is powered by the electricity stored in the power storage part (2) The endoscope according to 1.

  Thereby, the negative pressure information can be held by the holding means without receiving power supply from the outside of the endoscope.

(4) The detection means has a movable part that is drawn into the inside due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside.
The endoscope according to (1), wherein the negative pressure information is held by supplying power to the holding unit by an induced electromotive force generated with the movement of the movable part.

  Thereby, the negative pressure information can be held by the holding means without receiving power supply from the outside of the endoscope.

(5) The detection means includes the movable portion, a magnetic core installed in one of the movable portion or the main body of the endoscope, a coil installed in the other, and the movable portion on the outside side. Biasing means for biasing,
The endoscope according to (4), wherein power is supplied to the holding unit by an induced electromotive force generated between the coil and the magnetic core as the movable part moves.

  Thereby, the negative pressure information can be held by the holding means without receiving power supply from the outside of the endoscope.

  (6) The endoscope according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein the holding unit is a relay that holds that power is supplied to the holding unit.

  Thereby, the negative pressure information can be held in the holding means without receiving power supply from the outside of the endoscope.

(7) having a control means having a memory function;
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the control unit records the negative pressure information held by the holding unit in the memory.
Thereby, the said holding | maintenance frequency can be reliably recorded on memory.

(8) The endoscope according to (7), wherein the control unit resets the holding unit after recording the negative pressure information held by the holding unit in the memory.
Thereby, the holding means can hold the negative pressure information again.

(9) An endoscope management system having the endoscope according to (7) or (8) above and an external device to which the endoscope is connected,
The endoscope management system, wherein the external device includes notification means for notifying the number of times the negative pressure information recorded in the memory is stored.
Thereby, the said holding | maintenance frequency can be notified to the exterior of an endoscope.

  According to the present invention, since the history of the number of executions can be known without introducing a dedicated device for managing the number of times the autoclave processing has been performed, the cost can be reduced, and the power Since it is not supplied, it is possible to save power and to greatly simplify handling and management.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the number of times the autoclave processing has been performed is recorded based on the information that the inside of the endoscope has become negative pressure, the number of times of execution is input manually. As in the case of recording the number of times, it is possible to reliably prevent a miscount from occurring in the number of times of execution.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope and an endoscope management system according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following, the case where the endoscope of the present invention is applied to a medical endoscope, particularly, an electronic endoscope (electronic scope) will be described.

<First Embodiment>
First, a first embodiment of an electronic endoscope will be described.

  1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of an electronic endoscope, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a light source insertion portion provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an autoclave execution recording apparatus installed inside the light source insertion portion shown in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, in FIG. 1, the upper side is described as “base end” and the lower side is described as “tip”.

  An electronic endoscope 10 (hereinafter referred to as “endoscope 10”) illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a long insertion portion flexible tube 11 having flexibility (flexibility), and an insertion portion flexible tube 11. The bending portion 12 provided at the distal end portion, the operation portion 13 provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 11 and operated by the operator to operate the endoscope 10 as a whole, and connected to the operation portion 13 The connecting portion flexible tube 14 and the light source insertion portion 15 provided on the distal end side of the connecting portion flexible tube 14 are provided.

  Each of the insertion portion flexible tube 11 and the connection portion flexible tube 14 is a flexible tube for an endoscope in which the outer periphery of a tubular core material having a hollow portion is covered with an outer skin.

  The insertion portion flexible tube 11 is used by being inserted into a body lumen such as a digestive tract, for example. The operation section 13 is provided with operation knobs 16 and 17 on the side surfaces thereof. When the operation knobs 16 and 17 are operated, a wire (not shown) disposed in the insertion portion flexible tube 11 is pulled, and the bending portion 12 is bent in, for example, four directions, and the direction can be changed. it can. An image sensor (not shown) (a solid-state image sensor such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD) that captures a subject image at the observation site is provided at the distal end of the bending portion 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light source insertion portion 15 is provided with a light source connector 18 and an image signal connector 19 on the distal end side, and a check valve 20 on the proximal end side.

  The check valve 20 allows gas to pass from the inside of the endoscope 10 to the outside, and does not allow gas to pass from the outside to the inside of the endoscope 10. By providing the check valve 20 having such a configuration in the light source insertion portion 15, the air in the endoscope 10 is released to the outside in the vacuum sterilization chamber provided in the autoclave device, and the internal pressure is lowered. However, intrusion of steam into the endoscope 10 is prevented. That is, in the present embodiment, the check valve 20 forms a communication portion that allows the inside and the outside of the endoscope 10 to communicate with each other when necessary, and the negative pressure state inside the endoscope 10 when performing autoclave processing. Can be maintained.

  The light source connector 18 is connected to the light source device, and illumination light emitted from the light source device is inserted into the light source connector 18, the light source insertion portion 15, the connection portion flexible tube 14, the operation portion 13, and the insertion. It passes through a light guide (not shown) by an optical fiber bundle arranged continuously in the flexible tube 11 and the bending portion 12, and irradiates and illuminates the observation site from the tip of the bending portion 12.

  The image signal connector 19 is connected to an external device (light source device) 200, and the light source device is further connected to a monitor device 210 via a cable 220.

  The reflected light (subject image) from the observation site illuminated by the illumination light is imaged by the image sensor. The image sensor outputs an image signal corresponding to the captured subject image.

  This image signal is continuously arranged in the bending portion 12, the insertion portion flexible tube 11, the operation portion 13, and the connection portion flexible tube 14, and connects the image sensor and the image signal connector 19. The light is transmitted to the light source insertion portion 15 via an image signal cable (not shown).

  Then, predetermined processing (for example, signal processing, image processing, etc.) is performed in the light source insertion unit 15 and the light source device, and then input to the monitor device 210. The monitor device 210 displays an endoscope monitor image of a moving image captured by the image sensor.

  When the image signal connector 19 is connected to the light source device, power is supplied to a control microcomputer 80 (described later in FIG. 4) installed in the light source insertion portion 15.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source insertion portion (the main body portion of the endoscope) 15 is configured with an outer wall 21, and the outer wall 21 allows the light source insertion portion 15 to be airtight inside the light source insertion portion 15. Sex is preserved. A switch mounting seat 22 is formed on the outer wall 21 so as to protrude inward in a cylindrical shape.

  A movable portion 24 (displacement member) is slidably installed on a side surface of the mounting seat 22 formed in a cylindrical shape via an O-ring 23 for sealing. The movable portion 24 is light sourced by a compression coil spring 25. It is biased outward (external side) 15 of the insertion portion (the main body portion of the endoscope) 15. That is, in this embodiment, the urging means is constituted by the compression coil spring 25, and the movable portion 24 is urged to the position shown in FIGS. 3 to 2 by this urging means. The urging means is constituted by an elastic member such as a sponge, an air cushion, a rubber material, a leaf spring, etc., in addition to the case where it is constituted by a coil spring as in this embodiment. May be.

  A groove 24 a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the outer end portion of the movable portion 24, and a rib 22 a that protrudes inward is formed on the outer side of the mounting seat 22. Usually, the movable part 24 is urged outward by the compression coil spring 25, and is locked at a position where the groove 24a of the movable part 24 contacts the rib 22a of the mounting seat 22 (see FIG. 2). The movable part 24 shown in FIG. 3 receives the fact that the inside of the light source insertion part 15 (inside the endoscope 10) has a negative pressure, and when the pressure difference occurs between the inside and the outside, The state where it was pulled inward (inside) against the urging force of the compression coil spring 25 is shown. The movable portion 24 moves slidably in the axial direction in the mounting seat 22, but the internal airtightness is maintained by the sealing O-ring 23 mounted in the groove 24 b on the outer peripheral portion of the movable portion 24.

  Further, the shaft center portion 24c of the movable portion 24 protrudes inward, and the base portion 27 of the first contact switch electrode (first terminal) 26 is screwed (installed) to the shaft center portion 24c. The base 29 of the second contact switch electrode 28 is screwed to the base 27 of the first contact switch electrode 26. A member 30 that moves due to a pressure change inside the light source insertion portion 15 (inside the endoscope 10) is attached to the base portion 29 of the second contact switch electrode 28. This member 30 is electrically connected to a latching relay 60 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first contact switch electrode 26 is formed to protrude inward with a certain gap so as to cover the outer periphery of the second contact switch electrode 28, and protrudes inward. Sometimes it is formed in a shape having a bulge that once spreads in the outer peripheral direction and then returns to the original outer peripheral position.

  Further, the entire mounting seat 22 is covered with a lid portion 31, and the lid portion 31 includes a movable portion 24, a base portion 27 of the first contact switch electrode 26 screwed into the movable portion 24, and a second contact switch electrode 28. The base 29 and the compression coil spring 25 are accommodated. The inside of the lid portion 31 serves as a spring receiver at one end of the compression coil spring 25.

  A circular opening 31a through which the first contact switch electrode 26 is inserted is formed in the lid (main body part of the endoscope) 31, and a ring (first electrode) made of a conductive material is formed on the end surface of the opening 31a. 2 terminal) 32 is inserted and fixed (installed). The conductive ring electrode 32 is connected to a cable 34 via a lead wire 33, and the cable 34 is electrically connected to a latching relay 60 described later.

  The inner peripheral surface of the conductive ring electrode 32 is formed to be larger than the outer peripheral portion of the first contact switch electrode 26. When the movable portion 24 is on the inner side due to negative pressure (position shown in FIG. 3), The first contact switch electrode 26 does not come into contact with the conductive ring electrode 32 when the pressure is released and the movable part 24 is outside due to the urging force of the compression coil spring 25 (position shown in FIG. 2).

  Here, as described above, the first contact switch electrode 26 has a shape having a bulging portion 26a extending in the outer peripheral direction. Therefore, in the process in which the bulging portion 26a moves on the inner peripheral surface of the conductive ring electrode 32, that is, in the process in which the movable portion 24 moves from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. The bulging portion 26 a) is in electrical contact with the conductive ring electrode 32. Further, at this time, the bulging portion 26a is pushed in while being in contact with the conductive ring electrode 32, so that the tip of the first contact switch electrode 26 is closed, and the second contact switch electrode 28 is also contacted. . As a result, the member 30 and the cable 34 are electrically connected via the second contact switch electrode 28, the first contact switch electrode 26, and the lead wire 33.

  The movable part 24, the first contact switch electrode (first terminal) 26, the conductive ring electrode (second terminal) 32, and the compression coil spring (biasing means) 25 described above are composed of a light source insertion part as a whole. 15 (inside the endoscope 10) constitutes a switch 40 that functions as a detection means that can detect negative pressure information that the negative pressure has been reached.

  In the present embodiment, the tip of the first contact switch electrode 26 comes into contact with the second contact switch electrode 28, so that the second contact switch electrode 28 and the second contact switch electrode 26 are connected to each other via the tip of the first contact switch electrode 26. The conductive ring electrode 32 is in electrical contact. With such a configuration, the electrical contact between the second contact switch electrode 28 and the conductive ring electrode 32 is made more reliable, but the tip of the first contact switch electrode 26 and the second contact switch electrode 26 are made more reliable. The contact switch electrode 28 may not be in contact with the contact switch electrode 28.

  As shown in FIG. 4, such an endoscope 10 has an autoclave execution recording device 50 including a switch 40 having the above-described configuration, a latching relay 60, and a capacitor 70. The inrush prevention resistor R shown in FIG. 4 is a resistor for reducing the inrush current flowing through the capacitor when the capacitor 70 is charged or discharged.

  The backflow prevention diode D1 is a diode that prevents backflow of power supplied from the endoscope internal power supply 90 even after the endoscope internal power supply 90 is cut off. The back electromotive force protection diode D2 is a switch 40 When is pressed and a current flows through the latching relay, the primary side of the latching relay is a diode for preventing the back electromotive force of the coil from being generated.

  The latching relay (relay) 60 functions as a holding unit that can hold (record) that the inside of the endoscope 10 has become negative pressure when the switch 40 is turned on. That is, the latching relay 60 maintains a resting state (OFF state) when the switch 40 is OFF, but maintains an operating state (ON state) once the switch 40 is ON. The function as a holding means is exhibited.

  The capacitor 70 functions as a battery (power source) that operates the latching relay 60. That is, the capacitor 70 functions as a power storage unit that stores electricity when the switch 40 is OFF, and supplies power to the latching relay 60 when the switch 40 is ON.

  Such a capacitor 70 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an electric field capacitor, a large-capacity ceramic capacitor, and a secondary battery capacitor.

  The endoscope 10 also has a control microcomputer 80 that controls the operation of the endoscope 10, and the autoclave execution recording device 50 is connected to the control microcomputer 80, and together with the control microcomputer 80, the endoscope 10 is hermetically sealed (arranged).

  The control microcomputer 80 is configured by a microprocessor or the like, and is a control means for controlling the entire endoscope 10 including execution of operation calculation processing such as signal input / output, and data used for calculation according to a program on the ROM. Various processes are executed using the memory storing the. A part of the memory is constituted by a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) or a flash memory, and the setting condition is recorded even after the power is turned off.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the control microcomputer 80 determines whether or not the inside of the endoscope 10 has become negative pressure from the latching relay 60 due to the reading operation with respect to the autoclave execution recording device 50 when power is supplied from the external device 200. When there is negative pressure information, the negative pressure information is added once to the memory and recorded as the number of autoclave operations. In other words, the control microcomputer 80 records the negative pressure information held by the latching relay 60 in the memory every time power is supplied.

  The light source insertion unit 15 is connected to an external device 200 (for example, a processor including a light source device, an image processing system, and an image filing system) connected to the monitor device 210, and the external device 200 is connected to the control microcomputer 80. When accessing the microcomputer 80, the microcomputer 80 transmits (inputs) the number of times the autoclave of the endoscope 10 has been performed (the number of times negative pressure information is retained) to the external device 200. And the monitor apparatus 210 provided with the monitor screen which displays an endoscope monitor image transmits to the operator etc. by displaying the autoclave implementation frequency transmitted to the external apparatus 200 on a monitor screen, for example. That is, in the present embodiment, the endoscope management system is configured by the endoscope 10, the external device 200, and the monitor device 210, and the monitor screen provided in the monitor device 210 functions as a notification unit that notifies the number of autoclave operations. . By adopting such a configuration for the notification means, it is possible to reliably transmit the number of times of autoclave implementation to an operator or the like.

  In addition, after reading from the latching relay 60, the control microcomputer 80 outputs a reset signal for returning the latching relay 60 to a dormant state. The latching relay 60 is configured to change from an operating state to a resting state upon receiving a reset signal from the control microcomputer 80. Thereby, the latching relay 60 can hold again the negative pressure information indicating that the inside of the endoscope 10 detected by the switch 40 has become negative pressure.

  The above is the operation when the light source insertion unit 15 is connected to the external device 200 such as the light source device and the power is supplied to the control microcomputer 80 via the endoscope internal power supply 90 shown in FIG. Further, the current from the endoscope internal power supply 90 flows to the capacitor 70 via the latching relay 60 and is accumulated in the capacitor 70.

  By the way, the endoscope 10 is exposed to a high-temperature and high-pressure state for a predetermined time (137 ° C., 20 minutes) during the autoclave process. Therefore, the control microcomputer 80 and the autoclave execution recording device 50 are in this high-temperature and high-pressure state. Housed in a sealed container to withstand. When no battery such as a battery is installed in the sealed container, and when the light source connector 18 and the image signal connector 19 of the light source insertion portion 15 are not connected to the light source device, an endoscope is used. There is no power supply from the outside. Therefore, the autoclave execution recording apparatus 50 and the control microcomputer 80 that are hermetically housed in the light source insertion portion 15 cannot receive power supply and cannot operate unless connected to the light source apparatus or the like.

  In the present invention, the endoscope 10 (autoclave execution recording device 50) itself is subjected to the autoclave process even in a situation where the power supply from the outside of the endoscope 10 is not supplied as in the autoclave process. Can be held (recorded).

  Hereinafter, the operation of the autoclave execution recording apparatus 50 in a situation where there is no power supply from the outside of the endoscope 10 will be described.

[1] Removal from External Device First, an operator or the like removes the light source insertion portion 15 from the light source device (external device 200) after completion of the examination. Thereby, the endoscope 10 is detached from the external device 200. In this state, the endoscope 10 is temporarily stored for autoclave processing. At this time, when the light source insertion portion 15 is removed from the light source device, the power supply to the control microcomputer 80 is lost, and the control microcomputer 80 stops its operation.

  In addition, the movable portion 24 of the switch 40 is biased by the compression coil spring 25 and is outward (position shown in FIG. 2) under atmospheric pressure.

[2] Autoclave treatment Next, the endoscope 10 is subjected to autoclave treatment.

  In this autoclave treatment, after the endoscope 10 is housed in a sterilization chamber provided in the autoclave apparatus, a depressurization step for depressurizing the sterilization chamber, and sterilization in which high-pressure and high-temperature steam is sent into the depressurized sterilization chamber for sterilization. Process.

  The depressurization step is a step for distributing high-pressure and high-temperature steam to the details of the endoscope 10 during the subsequent sterilization step. By adopting a configuration in which the sterilization step is performed after the depressurization step, the endoscope 10 sterilization can be performed reliably.

  Here, in the decompression step, the endoscope itself is placed in a negative pressure environment, and the interior of the light source insertion portion 15 is connected via a check valve (communication portion) 20 attached to the light source insertion portion 15. Since the gas inside the endoscope 10 is exhausted to the outside, the pressure inside the light source insertion portion 15 is also reduced as in the sterilization chamber.

  In the sterilization process, when the high-pressure and high-temperature steam is fed into the sterilization chamber, the check valve 20 does not allow the high-pressure and high-temperature steam to enter the light source insertion part 15. The negative pressure state is maintained. As a result, a pressure difference in which the pressure in the sterilization chamber becomes higher than that in the endoscope 10, that is, a pressure difference in which the pressure in the light source insertion portion 15 becomes a negative pressure from the sterilization chamber is generated. As a result, the member 30 moves inward, and the movable portion 24 screwed into the member 30 is also drawn inward against the urging force of the compression coil spring 25.

  As the movable portion 24 is pulled inward (inside the endoscope), the bulging portion 26 a of the first contact switch electrode 26 attached to the movable portion 24 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the conductive ring electrode 32. Electrical contact (see FIG. 3).

[3] After Autoclave Processing Next, the endoscope 10 that has been subjected to autoclave processing is taken out from the sterilization chamber.

  The inside of the light source insertion part 15 (inside the endoscope 10) is maintained in a negative pressure state by the action of the check valve 20 even after being taken out from the sterilization chamber. It is released from the negative pressure state by moving. That is, by this operation, the inside of the endoscope 10 communicates with the outside, and the inside of the endoscope 10 is returned to atmospheric pressure (normal pressure).

The endoscope 10 that has undergone the above-described steps is used for the next endoscopy.
By the way, in the autoclave processing step [2] described above, when the inside of the light source insertion portion 15 is set to a negative pressure, the switch 40 is brought into contact with the first contact switch electrode 26 and the conductive ring electrode 32. ON (conduction).

  Then, as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 4, the capacitor 70 is electrically (charged) in advance by the power supply from the endoscope internal power supply 90 when the light source insertion portion 15 is connected to the light source device or the like. Is stored (accumulated), and when the switch 40 is turned on as described above, the capacitor 70 functions as a battery due to the electricity stored in the capacitor 70 as shown by the arrow b in FIG. Then, power is supplied to the latching relay 60.

  Next, when power is supplied from the latching relay 60 to the operation coil of the latching relay 60, the electromagnet (iron core) inserted through the operation coil included in the latching relay 60 is magnetized, so that it is separated from the iron core. The iron core and the iron piece come into contact with each other when the iron piece that has been drawn is sucked. As a result, the latching relay 60 changes from the return state (OFF state) to the operating state (ON state). This operating state is maintained even when no current flows through the latching relay 60. Thereby, the negative pressure information in which the inside of the light source insertion portion 15 has a negative pressure is recorded in the latching relay 60.

  In addition, in the process [3] after the autoclave process described above, the first contact switch electrode 26 and the conductive ring electrode 32 are used when the check valve 20 is opened and the light source insertion portion 15 is set to atmospheric pressure. Contact again, that is, the switch 40 is turned ON again. However, in this case, since the capacitor 70 has already been discharged, no current flows through the latching relay 60, and the operation state (ON state) of the latching relay 60 described above is maintained as it is.

  As described above, the switch 40 preferably functions as a detecting unit that can detect negative pressure information indicating that the inside of the endoscope 10 has become negative pressure, and the latching relay 60 has the negative pressure. A function as a holding means for holding pressure information is suitably exhibited. As a result, the switch 40 and the latching relay 60 operate without receiving power from the outside of the endoscope 10, and the negative pressure information detected by the switch 40 can be reliably held by the latching relay 60. .

  Here, after the autoclave process, when the light source insertion portion 15 of the endoscope 10 is connected to the light source device (external device 200) or the like, power is supplied to the control microcomputer 80 and the control microcomputer 80 is activated. Then, the control microcomputer 80 executes a recording process of the number of times of autoclave execution recording after a predetermined initialization (initialization). In the recording process of the number of times of autoclaving recording, it is read whether the latching relay 60 is in the return state (OFF state) or in the operating state (ON state). The internal memory (or external memory) counter is incremented by +1. That is, the number of autoclaves performed by the endoscope 10 is added once.

  Further, the control microcomputer 80 outputs a reset signal for resetting the latching relay 60 to the reset terminal of the latching relay 60. As a result, the latching relay 60 again returns to the return state (OFF state). Note that the capacitor 70 is charged again by the power supply from the endoscope internal power supply 90.

  By configuring the endoscope 10 as described above, the history of the number of autoclaves performed by the endoscope 10 can be stored in the control microcomputer 80, that is, the endoscope 10 itself.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the endoscope has a negative pressure inside the endoscope and a pressure difference with the outside occurs, the endoscope 10 electrically moves the movable portion 24 drawn into the endoscope 10. A switch 40 to be detected at the same time, a latching relay 60 that holds information detected by the switch 40, that is, negative pressure information that the inside of the endoscope has become negative pressure, and a battery that operates the latching relay 60 when the switch 40 is turned on. And a control microcomputer 80 that reads the presence / absence of negative pressure information from the latching relay 60 and stores the number of autoclave operations as history information in a memory. As a result, even in a situation where there is no power supply as in autoclave processing, the number of autoclave operations performed can be recorded on the endoscope 10 itself.

  Therefore, the number of times that the memory stores that the internal pressure of the endoscope 10 has become negative without introducing a dedicated device for managing the number of times of autoclave execution (for example, an autoclave device having a management function), that is, autoclave execution. You can know the history of the number of times. Since it is not possible to purchase a dedicated device, the cost can be reduced, and since the number of autoclaves can be recorded in the endoscope 10 itself, the handling and management can be greatly improved. .

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the latching relay 60 provided in the endoscope 10 itself holds that the autoclave process has been performed, and the control microcomputer 80 provided in the endoscope 10 itself further includes the latching relay 60. By adding the number of times negative pressure information stored in the memory is added, the autoclave processing history is automatically updated without manual input by the operator. can do. Furthermore, it is possible to reliably prevent miscounting due to an input error in the number of executions by an operator or the like.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, no battery is installed in the container (power supply plug-in portion 15) in which the control microcomputer 80 and the autoclave execution recording apparatus 50 are sealed, and the capacitor 70 is turned on when the switch 40 is turned on instead of the battery. The latching relay 60 is operated by using the discharge current. As a result, improvement in reliability can be expected by not using a battery. Depending on the type of insulation and the container design, batteries generally do not function above 85 ° C. Therefore, power supply from the battery is not originally performed for the control microcomputer 80. In this embodiment, since the battery is not used, it can endure if the temperature in the container is 130 ° C. or lower, and whether or not the autoclave is performed can be held in the latching relay 60.

  Further, since the electric charge stored in the capacitor is used, it is possible to hold (record) that autoclave processing has been performed with low power consumption without supplying power.

  Moreover, since the negative pressure state of the autoclave occurs when the temperature before the start of sterilization is low, ion migration, circuit deterioration, and the like can be prevented in advance.

  In addition, the latching relay which comprises an autoclave implementation recording apparatus is not limited to the thing of the form demonstrated by this embodiment. The name of the latching relay is an example, and is called a bistable relay, a keep relay, or the like.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the electronic endoscope will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a light source insertion portion provided in the electronic endoscope of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an autoclave installed inside the light source insertion portion provided in the electronic endoscope of the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the implementation recording apparatus. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG. 3 and FIG.

  Hereinafter, although this 2nd Embodiment is described, it demonstrates centering around difference with the said 1st Embodiment, The description is abbreviate | omitted about the same matter.

  The endoscope 10 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the switch 40 has a different configuration and the arrangement of the capacitor 70 is omitted.

  More specifically, in the first embodiment, the switch 40 is turned on to supply power to the latching relay 60 using the electricity stored in the capacitor 70. However, in the present embodiment, the switch 40 is The latching relay 60 is configured to supply power by an induced electromotive force generated between the coil 120 and the magnetic core 110.

  In the present embodiment, the light source insertion portion 15A of the endoscope 10 has a movable portion 24 as shown in FIG. 5, and when the inside of the endoscope 10 becomes negative pressure in the movable portion 24. An inwardly moving member 100 is screwed together. A magnetic core 110 is embedded in the member 100 along the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, a coil 120 that receives an induced electromotive force due to the movement of the magnetic core 110 while maintaining a predetermined gap is installed on the outer periphery of the member 100. In other words, the magnetic core 110 is installed on the movable part 24, and the coil 120 is installed on the light source insertion part 15A side (main body part of the endoscope).

  One end of the coil 120 is connected to the cable 34 via the lead wire 33, the other end is connected to the member 100, and the cable 34 and the member 100 are each connected to the latching relay 60.

  In the light source insertion portion 15A including the switch 40 having such a configuration, when the inside (inside the endoscope 10) becomes negative pressure, the movable portion 24 is pulled inward against the urging force of the compression coil spring 25, An induced electromotive force is generated when the magnetic core 110 embedded in the member 100 moves in the coil 120.

  In the present embodiment, the movable part 24, the magnetic core 110, the coil 120, and the compression coil spring 25 constitute a switch 40 that functions as a detection unit that can detect negative pressure information indicating that a negative pressure has been reached. . Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the autoclave execution recording apparatus 150 includes the switch 40 as described above and the latching relay 60 having the same configuration as that described in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, in the autoclave processing step [2], a current flows through the latching relay 60 due to the induced electromotive force caused by the magnetic core 110 embedded in the member 100 moving in the coil 120, and the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the latching relay 60 can be put into an operating state.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the latching relay 60 can be brought into an operating state, and thus the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, an induced electromotive force is generated to change the operating state of the latching relay 60. Therefore, the capacitor is not deteriorated due to aging, and further improvement in reliability can be expected.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the magnetic core 110 is installed on the movable portion 24 and the coil 120 is installed on the light source insertion portion 15A side has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the magnetic core 110 is used as the light source. The coil 120 may be installed in the movable part 24 on the insertion part 15A side.

  The endoscope and the endoscope management system of the present invention have been described above with respect to the illustrated embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the configuration of each member (each unit) has the same function. It can be replaced with an arbitrary one or an arbitrary configuration can be added.

  Further, the endoscope of the present invention is not limited to the application of an electronic endoscope (electronic scope), and can also be applied to an optical endoscope (fiberscope type endoscope).

1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of an electronic endoscope. It is an enlarged view which shows the light source insertion part with which the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a partial longitudinal cross-section of the light source insertion part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the autoclave implementation recording apparatus installed in the inside of the light source insertion part shown in FIG. It is a partial longitudinal cross-section of the light source insertion part with which the electronic endoscope of 2nd Embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows the autoclave implementation recording apparatus installed in the inside of the light source insertion part with which the electronic endoscope of 2nd Embodiment is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 11 Insertion part flexible tube 12 Bending part 13 Operation part 14 Connection part Flexible tube 15, 15A Light source insertion part 16, 17 Operation knob 18 Light source connector 19 Image signal connector 20 Check valve 21 Outer wall Reference Signs List 22 Mounting Seat 23 O-ring 24 Movable Part 25 Compression Coil Spring 26 First Contact Switch Electrode 27, 29 Base 28 Second Contact Switch Electrode 30, 100 Member 31 Lid 32 Conducting Ring Electrode 33 Lead Wire 34 Cable 40 Switch 50 150 Autoclave execution recording device 60 Latching relay 70 Capacitor 80 Control microcomputer 90 Endoscope internal power supply 110 Magnetic core 120 Coil 200 External device 210 Monitor device 220 Cable D1 Backflow prevention diode D2 Back electromotive force protection diode

Claims (9)

The endoscope has a communicating portion that communicates with the outside when necessary, and when the autoclave process is performed, the endoscope itself is placed in a negative pressure environment, whereby the endoscope passes through the communicating portion. An endoscope with negative pressure inside,
Detecting means capable of detecting negative pressure information that the inside has become negative pressure, and holding means capable of holding the negative pressure information detected by the detecting means,
An endoscope characterized in that the detection means and the holding means operate without receiving power from the outside and hold the negative pressure information detected by the detection means by the holding means. . A power storage unit for storing electricity;
The detection means has a movable part drawn into the inside due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside,
As the movable unit moves, the power storage unit and the holding unit are electrically connected, whereby the holding unit is powered by the electricity stored in the power storage unit, and the negative pressure information is stored. The endoscope according to claim 1, which is held. The detection means includes the movable part, a first terminal installed in the movable part, a second terminal installed in the main body part of the endoscope, and urges the movable part toward the outside. Biasing means to
3. The holding unit is powered by electricity stored in the power storage unit when the movable unit is moved, and the first terminal and the second terminal are brought into contact with each other to conduct. The endoscope described. The detection means has a movable part drawn into the inside due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside,
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied to the holding unit and the negative pressure information is held by an induced electromotive force generated with the movement of the movable part. The detecting means urges the movable part, a magnetic core installed in one of the movable part or the main body of the endoscope, a coil installed in the other, and the movable part to the outside side. Biasing means,
The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein power is supplied to the holding unit by an induced electromotive force generated between the coil and the magnetic core as the movable part moves.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the holding unit is a relay that holds that power is supplied to the holding unit. Having a control means having a memory function;
The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means records the negative pressure information held by the holding means in the memory.   The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the control unit resets the holding unit after recording the negative pressure information held by the holding unit in the memory. An endoscope management system comprising the endoscope according to claim 7 or 8 and an external device to which the endoscope is connected,
The endoscope management system, wherein the external device includes notification means for notifying the number of times the negative pressure information recorded in the memory is stored.

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