JP2009039207A - Water leakage detecting device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water leakage detecting device for endoscopes for automatically performing quick and accurate detection of water leakage even at a place of the leakage due to a defect such as tiny pinholes. <P>SOLUTION: The problem above is solved by providing a housing container for housing an endoscope equipped with a connector part, an operational part, and a part inserted into a body, liquid supplying means for supplying a prescribed liquid into the housing container, and gas supplying and pressurizing means for supplying a prescribed gas which alters the liquid in a manner to detect the liquid characteristics of the prescribed liquid by reacting with the prescribed liquid inside the endoscope and for pressurizing the inside of the endoscope. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope water leakage detection device, and more specifically, detects water leakage (leakage) from the outer skin of an endoscope including a connector part and an operation part, and from an outer skin of an endoscope provided with an internal insertion part, various channels, and the like. The present invention relates to an endoscope water leakage detection device.

  In general, since an endoscope is a medical device to be reused, cleaning and disinfection are indispensable. During this cleaning and disinfection, wounds and holes that connect the inside and outside of the endoscope to various channels inside and outside the outer skin of the endoscope, such as an air supply channel, a water supply channel, a suction channel, and a forceps channel. If there is a defect such as a loose pinhole or connection, water such as water, cleaning liquid, or disinfectant will enter the endoscope from the defect, leading to failure of electrical systems such as optical fibers and solid-state image sensors. Cause. For this reason, some endoscope cleaning / disinfecting devices add a water leakage detection function and check the above-mentioned defects that cause failure before the endoscope is cleaned and disinfected.

  Conventionally, as a water leakage detection method adopted in an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, the endoscope is put into water with pressurized air being injected into the endoscope from the leakage port of the connector portion of the endoscope. A method of visually confirming bubbles generated by soaking is common. By observing the outside of the endoscope, relatively large defects such as scratches and holes can be found visually, but small defects are difficult to find even by external observation. This is because the internal channels cannot be observed. In particular, it is difficult to find a defect such as a pinhole in each channel inside the endoscope, particularly a forceps channel in which a small defect is likely to occur due to movement of the forceps. In this method, air bubbles are sufficiently generated even at a small leakage portion of the endoscope, so that water leakage can be easily detected.

  However, in the water leak detection method by the visual detection of the bubbles, in the case of a minute defect such as a pinhole, the bubbles are small and the amount of bubbles is small, so that it is not easy to visually detect the bubbles. is there. Moreover, since each channel of an endoscope is narrow, air etc. may adhere to the inner surface. In such a case, it is impossible to determine whether the bubble visually observed in this water leakage detection method is a bubble due to air adhering to the inner surface of each channel or a bubble generated from a leak location such as a small defect. For this reason, endoscope cleaning is provided to supply water into each channel at the initial stage of water leakage (leakage) detection processing, and to remove air adhering to the inner surface of each channel prior to visual water leak (leakage) detection A disinfection device has also been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, as another method for detecting water leakage, pressurize air inside the endoscope from the endoscope's leakage port and close it, and measure the pressure change inside the endoscope due to air leaking from the leak point such as small defects. A method for detecting leakage has also been proposed.
However, this leak detection method by pressure measurement requires a high-precision pressure sensor, and when the air leakage due to a leak point such as a small defect is slight and the pressure change is small, the measurement only takes a long time. Or, normally, the air inside the endoscope naturally leaks even in a normal endoscope that does not have a leak point such as a small defect. There is a problem that it is difficult to judge.

For this reason, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus (for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 2) equipped with means that enables highly accurate leak detection by using a leak detection method based on pressure measurement and a leak detection method based on visual detection of bubbles. 3), and an endoscope leak detection device (see, for example, Patent Document 4) that can measure a pressure change with a differential pressure sensor with high accuracy.
For example, in the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, before the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting operation, the endoscope is left at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time to change the pressure inside the endoscope (depressurization). The pressure reduction state is divided into three pressure ranges and detected, and a cleaning / disinfecting operation control is performed according to the detected pressure reduction state. This cleaning / disinfecting operation control means performs cleaning / disinfecting of the endoscope when it is within a pressure range where natural leakage can be determined, and when the pressure is within the pressure range where leakage due to a leakage point such as a small defect can be determined. If the pressure is in the intermediate pressure range between the two, more detailed leakage detection of the endoscope is performed, such as leakage detection by visual detection of bubbles.

Further, in the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3, the amount of pressure reduction from the set pressure value is measured by the first water leakage detection means that performs the leakage detection method by pressure measurement, and this result is matched with the criterion. Detects water leaks and warns by warning means when water leaks are detected. When this warning determines that the endoscope is abnormal, water is stored in the washing tank and the endoscope is submerged. And a second water leakage detection means.
In the leak tester disclosed in Patent Document 4, the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source is made constant by the pressure adjusting means, and the pressure of the pressurized gas made constant and the endoscope The pressure difference from the gas pressure in the object to be measured is detected by the differential pressure detecting means.

  Furthermore, as another leak detection method that does not depend on the leak detection method based on the pressure measurement described above and the leak detection method based on the visual detection of bubbles, Patent Document 5 discloses a storage container for storing an endoscope, and an interior of the endoscope. A predetermined gas that can be detected separately from the atmosphere, for example, a gas cylinder that supplies a tracer gas such as helium lighter than the atmosphere or carbon dioxide that is heavier than the atmosphere, a gas sensor that detects the predetermined gas in the storage container, etc. An endoscope leak tester including the above-described detection means is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 2638735 Japanese Patent No. 3117268 Japanese Patent No. 3258438 Japanese Patent No. 3820168 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-079772

However, in the water leakage detection method using the above-described visual detection of bubbles, it is easy to detect bubbles of a sufficient size and amount generated from a leak location such as a small defect. In the case of a fine defect, there is a problem that it is not easy to visually detect the bubbles because the bubbles are small and the amount of bubbles is small.
Further, in this water leak detection method by visual detection of air bubbles, even with the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, defects such as pinholes in the endoscope, that is, air bubbles generated from the leaked portion are visually observed. There is also a problem that it is necessary to check and the water leakage detection process cannot be automated.
Furthermore, in the leak detection method based on the pressure measurement inside the endoscope described above, the water leak detection process can be automated, but as described above, the pressure change due to a defect (leakage location) such as a pinhole is minute. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately detect a minute leak location such as a pinhole. If the pressure change due to the leak location is very small, a long time measurement is required to ensure the accuracy of water leak detection, which is not suitable for quick judgment.

In addition, in the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, since the leak detection method based on visual detection of bubbles and the leak detection method based on pressure measurement are used in combination, the accuracy of leak detection can be increased, and the leak detection can be accelerated. Although some automation is possible, precise water leakage detection is performed by visual detection of bubbles, so it is not easy to visually detect minute amounts of bubbles, and water leakage detection is fully automated. There is a problem that you can't.
Further, the leak tester disclosed in Patent Document 4 detects a pressure difference between the pressure of the gas in the endoscope and the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source and kept constant. Although the accuracy of detection is improved, it is still difficult to detect minute differential pressures, and pressure adjustment means that keeps the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source constant is necessary. In addition, there is a problem that it is not easy to adjust the constant pressure by the pressure adjusting means.

  Furthermore, in the leak tester disclosed in Patent Document 5, a trace amount of tracer gas leaked from a defect such as a pinhole in the endoscope, that is, the atmosphere, can be distinguished from the atmosphere in the storage container in which the endoscope is accommodated. Since the gas diffuses, it is difficult to detect the diffused tracer gas, and a special gas sensor is required, and moisture attached to the endoscope does not enter this gas sensor and it does not affect the gas sensor. There is a problem that a structure is necessary. Further, in this leak tester, it is necessary to seal the inside of the storage container in order to prevent the tracer gas from leaking from the storage container, so that there is a problem that leakage detection can be performed only in a sealed space.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the problems based on the above-mentioned prior art, and to perform quick and accurate water leakage detection even in a leak location due to a defect such as a minute pinhole, and preferably, it is automated. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope leakage detection device that can be performed.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a storage container for storing an endoscope including a connector part, an operation part, and an in-vivo insertion part, a liquid supply means for supplying a predetermined liquid to the storage container, Gas supply and pressurizing means for supplying a predetermined gas that reacts with a predetermined liquid to detectably change a liquid property of the predetermined liquid into the endoscope, and pressurizes the inside of the endoscope; There is provided an endoscope water leakage detecting device characterized by comprising:

Here, it is preferable that the storage container includes a cleaning chamber that stores the connector portion and the operation portion of the endoscope, and a spiral cleaning tube that stores an insertion portion in the endoscope.
Moreover, it is preferable that the said storage container is a washing tank of the said endoscope.

  The predetermined gas reacts with the predetermined liquid and at least changes the color of the predetermined liquid, or changes the pH value of the predetermined liquid or the electric conductivity of the predetermined liquid. It is preferable.

Furthermore, it is preferable to have a detecting means for detecting the liquid property changed by the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.
Furthermore, it is preferable to include a determination unit that determines whether or not the endoscope has leaked from the result detected by the detection unit.

Further, the detection means is an imaging means for capturing the image data obtained by photographing the endoscope and the predetermined liquid stored in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid. Yes, the determination means performs a differential analysis on the captured image data in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid obtained by the imaging means, and whether or not the endoscope has leaked Is preferably determined.
The detecting means is a light amount detecting means for detecting a transmitted light amount of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid, and the determining means is the light amount detecting means. It is also preferable to determine the presence or absence of water leakage of the endoscope based on a change in the amount of transmitted light of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid obtained by the above.
Further, the detection means is a PH detection means for detecting the PH of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid, and the determination means is determined by the PH detection means. It is also preferable to determine the presence or absence of water leakage of the endoscope based on a change in the pH of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.
Further, the detection means is an electrical conductivity detection means for detecting electrical conductivity of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid, and the determination means includes the The presence or absence of leakage of the endoscope is determined based on a change in the electrical conductivity of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid acquired by the electric conductivity detection means. It is also preferable.

  According to the present invention, the predetermined liquid in which the endoscope is immersed and the predetermined gas leaked from a defect such as a pinhole of the endoscope, which is supplied and pressurized inside the endoscope, react with each other. , To detectably change the liquid property, for example, to cause a change in physical properties such as a color change of the liquid, a change in pH, or a change in electrical conductivity, so that the change in the liquid property is easily detected by visual observation. Preferably, since it can be easily and automatically detected by a detection means such as an image sensor, a PH meter, or an electric conductivity meter, water leakage detection can be performed quickly and accurately, for example, by visual observation or by automation. it can.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an endoscope leakage detection apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus using the endoscope leakage detection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of an endoscope in which leakage detection and cleaning / disinfection are performed by the leakage detection apparatus and endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus) 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus having a function of detecting leakage of an endoscope, and includes a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus body 12 and an endoscope according to the present invention. And a mirror water leakage detection device 14.
Here, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 12 includes a cleaning chamber 16, a spiral cleaning pipe 18, a water supply tank 20, a cleaning liquid tank 22, a disinfecting liquid tank 24, a plurality of pipes connecting these, and a plurality of valves. And a piping system 26 including a plurality of pumps and the like, and a control system 28 (see FIG. 3) for controlling the piping system.
On the other hand, the endoscope leakage detection device 14 of the present invention connects the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18 serving as a container for the endoscope 40, the water supply tank 20, and the color liquid tank 30 to each other. A liquid piping system 32 including a plurality of conduits, a plurality of valves, a plurality of pumps, and the like, a gas cylinder 34, each channel of the endoscope 40 accommodated in the gas cylinder 34, the cleaning chamber 16, and the spiral cleaning pipe 18 (see FIG. 2), a gas piping system 36 including a plurality of pipe lines and a plurality of valves, an imaging system 38 including a plurality of cameras disposed adjacent to the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning pipe 18, and a liquid A control system 28 (see FIG. 3) for controlling the piping system 32, the gas piping system 36, and the imaging system 38 is included.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 40 set in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 for water leakage detection, cleaning, and disinfection includes a gas supply source and water washing for supplying air to the endoscope 40 and supplying and sucking water. A connector 42 to which a water supply source or the like is connected, a universal cord 44 that communicates with the connector 42 and the operation unit 46, an operation unit 46 that operates the endoscope 40, and an in-vivo insertion unit 48 that is inserted into the body. The Further, the endoscope 40 includes an air / water supply channel 50 through which air / water is supplied, a forceps channel 52 into which forceps are inserted, and a suction channel 54 through which suction is performed.
Further, the connector 42 of the endoscope 40 is provided with a leakage port 56 that communicates with the inside of the endoscope 40. The leakage port 56 is normally closed, but is opened when water leakage is detected, and is connected to a gas cylinder 34 serving as a pressurized gas supply source for water leakage detection. The pressurized gas for water leakage detection is introduced into the endoscope 40 from the leakage port 56.

First, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 12 will be described.
The cleaning chamber 16 is a transparent casing that sets the connector 42 of the endoscope 40, the universal cord 44, and the operation unit 40 to detect and clean and disinfect the endoscope 40 with water leakage. The cleaning chamber 16 has a cleaning nozzle 58, a gas supply base 60, and a liquid supply base 62. Further, the lower side of the side wall of the cleaning chamber 16 communicates with the spiral cleaning pipe 18.

  The cleaning nozzle 58 is provided in the upper part of the cleaning chamber 16, and communicates with the pipe 142 to spray the coloring solution and the cleaning liquid supplied from the water supply tank 20 by the circulation pump 65 from the upper part of the cleaning chamber 16. The cleaning nozzle 58 is connected to the pipe 147 and sprays the disinfecting liquid supplied from the disinfecting liquid tank 24 by the disinfecting liquid pump 67 from the upper part of the cleaning chamber 16. Further, the cleaning nozzle 58 passes through a spiral cleaning pipe (hereinafter also referred to as a cylindrical pipe) 18 from the cleaning chamber 16 and sprays the cleaning liquid and the disinfecting liquid circulated by the circulation pump 65 from the upper part of the cleaning chamber 16.

One of the gas supply caps 60 communicates with the gas cylinder 34 via the gas piping system 36, and the other communicates with the leakage port 56 of the endoscope 40 via the air supply tube 66 connected to the gas supply cap 60. is doing. The gas pressurized and supplied from the gas cylinder 34 is supplied into the endoscope 40 through the gas piping system 36 and the gas supply base 60.
The liquid supply base 62 supplies the treatment liquid (washing water, washing liquid, or disinfecting liquid) sent from the water supply tank 20 and the disinfecting liquid tank 24 through the piping system 26 to a plurality of channels of the endoscope 40. It is for sending liquid. The liquid supply base 62 is connected to the piping system 26 and the liquid feeding tube 68, and the treatment liquid fed from the water supply tank 20 and the disinfecting liquid tank 24 by the circulation pump 65 and the disinfecting liquid pump 67 is used in the endoscope 40. To a plurality of channels 50, 52, and 54.

  The spiral cleaning tube 18 is formed by forming a flexible transparent tube into a spiral shape, and is used for setting the body insertion portion 48 of the endoscope 40 and cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope 40. It is. One end of the spiral cleaning tube 18 communicates with the cleaning chamber 16, and the internal insertion portion 48 of the endoscope 40 is inserted from the cleaning chamber 16 into the spiral cleaning tube 18. Moreover, it is preferable that the inner wall on the opposite side of the spiral cleaning tube 18 where a later-described CCD camera 80c is installed is white.

  Here, the cleaning chamber 16 and the cylindrical tube 18 also function as a storage container for accommodating the endoscope of the water leakage detection device 14 of the present invention.

The water supply tank 20 is for storing the washing water, the cleaning liquid, and the coloring liquid sent from the washing water supply means 21, the washing liquid tank 22, and the coloring liquid tank 30, and for feeding them by the circulation pump 65. is there. The water supply tank 20 communicates with the cleaning liquid tank 22, the coloring liquid tank 30, and the rinsing water supply means 21 via the piping system 26 and the liquid piping system 32.
The cleaning liquid tank 22 stores a cleaning liquid for cleaning the endoscope 40. The cleaning liquid tank 22 communicates with the water supply tank 20, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 22 is sent to the water supply tank 22 by the cleaning liquid pump 70.

  The disinfecting liquid tank 24 stores a disinfecting liquid for disinfecting the endoscope 40. The disinfecting liquid tank 24 communicates with the liquid supply base 62 and the cleaning nozzle 58 by the piping system 26, and supplies the disinfecting liquid to the channel of the endoscope 40 and the cleaning chamber 16 by the disinfecting liquid pump 67. The disinfecting liquid tank 24 communicates with one end of the spiral cleaning pipe 18, and the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning pipe 18 is collected in the disinfecting liquid tank 24.

  The control unit 28 controls the operation of the piping system 26 provided in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10. As will be described later, the control unit 28 also controls operations of the liquid piping system 32, the gas piping system 36, and the imaging system 38 of the water leakage detection device 14.

  The piping system 26 controls the flow of the processing liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 12. The pump included in the piping system 26 includes a drainage pump 72 in addition to the circulation pump 65, the disinfecting liquid pump 67, and the cleaning liquid pump 70 described above. The drainage pump 72 drains the processing liquid used in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus body 12. The piping included in the piping system 26 communicates with the cylindrical tube 18 and the liquid supply base 62, and the piping 140 that circulates the processing liquid from the cylindrical tube 18 to the liquid supply base 62, the cleaning nozzle 58, and the circulation pump. 65, a pipe 142 that circulates the processing liquid circulated from the circulation pump 65 to the cleaning nozzle 58, a pipe 144 that drains the processing liquid discharged from the cleaning chamber 16 and the cylindrical pipe 18, and the cylindrical pipe 18. And a pipe 146 that communicates with the liquid supply base 62 and feeds and collects the disinfecting liquid, a pipe 147 that communicates with the disinfecting liquid pump 67 and the cleaning nozzle 58, and feeds the disinfecting liquid to the cleaning chamber 16, and the water supply tank 20. In addition, the cleaning water supply means 21 communicates with the pipe 150 for supplying the cleaning water to the water supply tank 20, the cleaning liquid tank 22 and the water supply tank 20, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning liquid tank 22. There is a pipe 152 for feeding to the water supply tank 20. Further, the valves included in the piping system 26 include an electromagnetic valve 122 provided between the water supply tank 20 and the flush water supply means 21, an electromagnetic valve 124 provided between the water supply tank 20 and the circulation pump 65, and a cylindrical shape. An electromagnetic valve 126 provided between the pipe 18 and the circulation pump 65, an electromagnetic valve 130 provided between the cylindrical pipe 18 and the discharge pump 72, and an electromagnetic valve 132 provided between the water supply tank 20 and the cleaning liquid pump 70 There is a solenoid valve 136 provided between the circulation pump 65 and the washing nozzle 58.

  Next, the water leakage detection device 14 according to the present invention will be described. Here, the cleaning chamber 16, the spiral cleaning pipe 18, and the water supply tank 20 of the water leakage detection device 14 are shared with the cleaning / disinfecting device body 12. Therefore, these descriptions are omitted.

The color solution tank 30 stores a color solution for detecting water leakage. The coloring liquid tank 30 is in communication with the water supply tank 20, and the coloring solution is supplied to the water supply tank 20 by the coloring solution pump 74. In the present embodiment, the coloring solution is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, a PH indicator solution having a color change region near neutrality is used so as not to affect the constituent materials of the endoscope 40. Is preferred.
Here, the PH indicator is not particularly limited, but various known indicators can be used. Specific examples include p-nitrophenol, phenol red, bromothymol blue, bromocresol purple, phenolphthalein, methyl orange, methyl red, and thymol blue. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the PH indicator is mixed with washing water to form a coloring solution. In addition, as the PH indicator, those having a color change region near neutrality are preferable. Examples of the PH indicator having a color change range near neutrality include p-nitrophenol and phenol red.

  A part of the liquid piping system 32 is shared with the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 12. Detailed description of what has already been described in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 12 will be omitted. The pumps included in the liquid piping system 32 include a circulation pump 65, a drainage pump 72, and a coloring liquid pump 67. The piping included in the liquid piping system 32 communicates with the piping 140, the piping 142, the piping 144, the water supply tank 20 and the color developing solution tank 30, and the color developing solution from the color developing solution tank 30 to the water supplying tank 20. There is a pipe 148 for feeding liquid. Further, the valves included in the liquid piping system 32 include an electromagnetic valve 120, an electromagnetic valve 122, an electromagnetic valve 124, an electromagnetic valve 126, an electromagnetic valve 130, provided between the water supply tank 20 and the coloring liquid tank 30, There is a solenoid valve 136.

The gas cylinder 34 communicates with the gas supply base 60 via the gas piping system 36 and is used to pressurize and feed a predetermined gas into the endoscope 40. The gas piping system 36 communicating with the gas cylinder is provided with a pressure reducing valve 76 and a pressure sensor 78. The gas supplied from the gas cylinder 34 is kept at a constant pressure using the pressure sensor 78 and the pressure reducing valve 76. In the present embodiment, carbon dioxide is used as the gas supplied from the gas cylinder 34.
Here, carbon dioxide is used as the gas supplied from the gas cylinder 34, but the gas is not limited to this as long as it reacts with the liquid and causes a PH change.

  The gas piping system 36 communicates the pressure reducing valve 76, the pressure sensor 78, the gas cylinder 34, and the gas supply base 60 described above, and supplies a gas for water leakage detection from the gas cylinder 34 to the gas supply base 60. 154.

  The imaging system 38 is opposite to the solid-state imaging device cameras (hereinafter referred to as CCD cameras) 80a and 80b disposed adjacent to the cleaning chamber 16 and the end of the spiral cleaning tube 18 communicating with the cleaning chamber 16. A CCD camera 80c disposed adjacent to the side end. The CCD camera 80 a is for taking an image in the vicinity of the channel opening of the endoscope 40 set in the cleaning chamber 16. The CCD camera 80c is for taking an image of the vicinity of the distal end of the internal insertion portion 48 of the endoscope 40 set in the spiral cleaning tube 18. By forming at least one of the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18, in particular, the ends of the connector 42, the operation unit 44, and the body insertion unit 46 with a transparent member, the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18 can be removed from the outside. However, internal images can be taken by the CCD cameras 80a, 80b and 80c. The CCD cameras 80a, 80b, and 80c are connected to the camera I / F circuit 94 of the control unit 28 (see FIG. 3). As will be described later, in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 of the present invention, water leakage is detected using image data captured by the CCD cameras 80a, 80b, and 80c.

A conceptual diagram of a schematic configuration of the control unit 28 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 28 includes a CPU 82, a RAM 84, a ROM 86, an I / O control circuit 88, a communication I / F circuit 90, a panel I / F circuit 92, a camera I / F circuit 94, a clock 96, and a reset. A circuit 98, a load driving circuit 100, and a sensor I / F circuit 102 are included.

  The CPU 82 is for controlling the operation of each component of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10, the cleaning / disinfecting process in the main body 12 of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, and the operation of the leak detecting process in the leak detecting apparatus 14 of the endoscope of the present invention. .

The ROM 86 stores various application programs including a cleaning / disinfecting processing control program and a water leakage detection processing program.
The RAM 88 also includes data necessary for executing the cleaning / disinfecting process by the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus body 12 of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 and the leakage detection process of the water leakage detecting apparatus 14 of the present invention, for example, control data of each component. , And history data of cleaning / disinfecting the endoscope 40 in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 and history data of water leakage detection are stored.

The load drive circuit 100 collectively shows the pumps and valve drive circuits shown in FIG.
The sensor I / F circuit 102 is an interface for various sensors and switches such as a limit sensor 104 and a float SW 106 that detect the water level of various tanks and the cleaning chamber 16 and other sensors 108 provided in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10.

The communication I / F circuit 82 is a communication interface circuit with the LAN 110, RS232C 112, and printer 114 provided in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10.
The LAN 110 allows the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 to communicate the history data of the cleaning / disinfecting or water leakage detection in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 by connecting the control unit 28 to a network or the like.
Further, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 is connected to other various devices by RS232C112.
The printer 114 can print history management data of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10. The printer 114 may be one installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 or an external printer.
The camera I / F circuit 94 is an interface with the CCD cameras 80a, 80b, and 80c in the imaging system 38. Image data sent from the CCD cameras 80a, 80b, and 80c through the camera I / F circuit 94 is processed by the CPU 82, provided for water leakage detection of the endoscope 40, and the presence or absence of water leakage is determined.

  The panel I / F circuit 92 is an interface with the display / operation panel 116 of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10. The display / operation panel 116 displays information related to the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10, and also functions as a touch panel through which an instruction from the operator can be input.

Hereinafter, leakage detection and cleaning / disinfection performed by the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 will be described in detail.
The cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 performs leakage detection and cleaning / disinfection of the endoscope 40 through three steps of a water leakage detection process, a cleaning process, and a disinfection process. The operation of each step of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4.

First, the water leakage detection process will be described.
A gas cylinder 34 filled with carbon dioxide is installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10. The gas cylinder 34 may be installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10, or a gas cylinder 34 installed outside may be used.

  Next, the endoscope 40 for detecting water leakage is installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 (S100), the leakage port 56 and the gas supply base 60 are connected to the air supply tube 66, and the liquid supply base 62 and the endoscope channel are connected to the water supply tube. 68 to connect to each other. The endoscope connector 42, the universal cord 44, and the operation unit 46 are installed in the cleaning chamber 16, and the internal insertion unit 44 of the endoscope 40 is installed in the spiral cleaning tube 18.

  The electromagnetic valve 120 is opened, the coloring liquid pump 74 is operated, and a PH indicator is injected into the water supply tank 20. Further, the electromagnetic valve 122 is opened, and flush water is injected from the flush water supply means 21 into the water supply tank 20. In the water supply tank 20, the PH indicator and the washing water are mixed to form a color developing solution. With the solenoid valves 124 and 136 opened and the solenoid valves 126, 128 and 130 closed, a coloring solution is supplied into the cleaning nozzle 58 and the channel of the endoscope 40 by the circulation pump 65. As a result, the channel of the endoscope 40 and the outer skin of the endoscope 40 are filled with the coloring solution (S102).

  It is confirmed that the cleaning chamber 16 is full (S104). If the cleaning chamber is not full, the coloring solution is continuously injected into the cleaning chamber 16. When the cleaning chamber 16 is full of water, the coloring solution injection is terminated. Next, the CCD camera 80a, 80b captures the cleaning chamber 16, and the CCD camera 80c captures the end of the spiral cleaning tube 18. These image data are stored in the RAM 84 as reference data A (S106).

Carbon dioxide is supplied from the gas cylinder 24 through the leakage port 56 of the endoscope 40 (S108). Here, the carbon dioxide supplied to the endoscope 40 is maintained at a predetermined pressure using the pressure reducing valve 76 and the pressure sensor 78. Here, when there is a water leak point in the endoscope 40, carbon dioxide dissolves from the endoscope 40 through the water leak point into the coloring solution in the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18. The dissolved carbon dioxide and the washing water in the coloring solution cause a reaction as shown in the formula 1, and the coloring solution in the cleaning chamber 16 or the spiral cleaning tube 18 changes from neutral to acidic. Here, since a PH indicator having a color change region near neutrality is used for the color developing solution, the color developing solution in the cleaning chamber 16 or the spiral cleaning tube 18 changes color. Specifically, when p-nitrophenol is used as a PH indicator having a color change range near neutrality, the color changes from colorless to yellow, and when phenol red is used, the color changes from yellow to red.
_{H 2 O + CO 2 = H} 2 CO 3 (1)

  The CCD camera 80a, 80b images the cleaning chamber 16, and the CCD camera 80c images the end of the spiral cleaning tube 18. Image data photographed by the CCD cameras 80a, 80b, and 80c is taken into the CPU 82 via the camera I / F circuit 94. These image data are set as time series data B (S110). At this time, the CPU 82 reads the reference data A from the RAM 84. If there is a water leakage point, the color developing solution in the cleaning chamber 16 or the spiral cleaning tube 18 is discolored by the PH indicator contained in the color developing solution, and either one or at least one reference data A and time series data B A difference occurs in the color density of the coloring solution during the period. Therefore, when the difference analysis between the reference data A and the time series data B is performed by the CPU 82, there is a difference in the value of the obtained calculation result when there is water leakage and when there is no water leakage. In the present embodiment, water leakage detection is performed to determine the presence or absence of water leakage based on whether the value of the calculation result is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value or greater than a predetermined threshold value. As for a method for setting the predetermined threshold, it is conceivable to perform imaging with a CCD camera a plurality of times and use an average value thereof before performing water leakage detection for determining the presence or absence of water leakage.

  If there is a water leak location in the endoscope, if the difference analysis between the reference data A and the time series data B is performed, discoloration occurs in the leak location, and the value of the calculation result increases (S114). If the calculation result by the difference analysis between the reference data A and the time series data B by any one of the CCD cameras is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, an error is output as water leakage is detected (S116). If the calculation result is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, the time series data acquisition by the CCD cameras 80a, 80b and 80c and the difference analysis between the reference images are repeated for a predetermined time (S118). It is assumed that water leakage is not detected if the calculation result does not exceed a predetermined threshold value within a certain time. After water leakage detection by the CCD cameras 80a, 80b and 80c is performed for a certain period of time, the electromagnetic valve 126 is closed, the electromagnetic valve 130 is opened, and the discharge pump 72 is operated, whereby the endoscope channel, the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning are performed. The coloring solution filled in the tube 18 is drained, and the water leakage detection process is completed (S120).

Next, the cleaning process will be described.
The electromagnetic valve 132 is opened and the cleaning liquid pump 74 is operated to inject the cleaning solution into the water supply tank 20. Further, the electromagnetic valve 122 is opened, washing water is supplied from the washing water supply means 21, and the washing solution is diluted to obtain a washing liquid. With the solenoid valves 124 and 136 opened and the solenoid valves 126 and 130 closed, the circulation pump 65 supplies the cleaning liquid into the cleaning nozzle 58 and the endoscope channel. When a certain amount of cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning pipe 18, the electromagnetic valve 124 is closed and the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped. Next, the electromagnetic valve 126 is opened, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning pipe 18 is circulated through the pipes 140 and 142 by the circulation pump 65. In this way, the cleaning liquid is circulated by the circulation pump 65, thereby cleaning the outer surface of the endoscope 40 and the channel. After cleaning for a certain period of time, the electromagnetic valve 126 is closed, the electromagnetic valve 130 is opened, and the cleaning liquid in the endoscope channel, the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18 is drained by the discharge pump 72. When the cleaning liquid is drained, the cleaning process is terminated.

The disinfection process will be described.
With the electromagnetic valves 124 and 136 opened and the electromagnetic valves 126, 128 and 130 closed, the disinfecting liquid is pumped into the channels of the cleaning chamber 16, the spiral cleaning pipe 18 and the endoscope 40 by the disinfecting liquid pump 67. The liquid is sent. Since the electromagnetic valves 126, 128, and 130 are closed, the disinfecting liquid accumulates in the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18, and the endoscope 40 is immersed in the disinfecting liquid. After the liquid feeding is completed, the electromagnetic valves 126 and 136 are opened and the circulation pump 65 is operated, whereby the disinfecting liquid is circulated into the cleaning chamber 16 and the inside of each channel of the endoscope 40 through the pipes 140 and 142. Thereby, the outer surface of the endoscope 40 and the inside of each channel are sterilized. After sterilization for a certain period of time, the electromagnetic valve 128 is opened, and the sterilizing liquid is collected from the endoscope channel, the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18 to the sterilizing liquid tank 24. When the disinfectant is collected, the disinfection process is terminated. The above is the flow of water leakage detection and cleaning / disinfection by the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10.

  According to the present embodiment, since the internal insertion portion 48 of the endoscope 40 is set in the spiral cleaning tube 18, the position of the internal insertion portion 44 of the endoscope 40 is fixed in the spiral cleaning tube 18. The Further, the position of the connector 44 connected to the in-body insertion portion 44 of the endoscope 40 and the operation portion 46 in the cleaning chamber 16 is also fixed. Therefore, the CCD camera can be installed at a position where color development due to leakage of the endoscope 40 is easily detected, and water leakage detection with high accuracy can be performed with a small number of CCD cameras. Specifically, when there is a leaked portion in the endoscope channel, the colored solution near the leaked portion is a plurality of channels of the endoscope 40 (air supply / water supply channel 50, forceps channel 52, suction channel 54). It comes out from the end of the body insertion part 48 provided with the outlet. Therefore, water leakage can be easily detected by installing the CCD camera 80c at the end of the spiral cleaning tube 18, that is, the end opposite to the end communicating with the cleaning chamber 16, as in this embodiment. Is possible. In addition, a leaked portion is likely to occur in the forceps channel 52 through which the forceps are inserted and removed, but the operation portion 46 of the endoscope has an insertion port of the forceps channel 52 and an opening of the air / water supply channel 50 and the suction channel 54. . Therefore, by installing the CCD camera 80b adjacent to the vicinity of the installation position of the operation unit 46 in the cleaning chamber 16, it is possible to easily detect the coloration in the vicinity of the operation unit 46 of the endoscope 40 due to the leaked portion in the channel. it can. Further, since the connector 44 of the endoscope 40 is provided with the air supply port of the air supply / water supply channel 50, the CCD camera 80 a is installed adjacent to the vicinity of the installation position of the connector 44 of the cleaning chamber 16. The color development near the connector 44 of the endoscope 40 can be easily detected.

  In addition, the inner wall on the opposite side of the spiral cleaning tube 18 of the present invention where the CCD camera is installed is coated in white. By doing so, it is possible to make the coloring solution discolored in the vicinity of the leaked portion stand out. Therefore, accurate water leak detection can be performed more easily.

In this embodiment, the CCD cameras 80a and 80b are disposed adjacent to the cleaning chamber 16, and the CCD camera 80c is connected to the cleaning chamber 16 of the spiral cleaning tube 18 at the end opposite to the end. However, as long as water leakage can be detected, the position where the CCD camera is installed is not limited to this. In particular, a plurality of CCD cameras may be installed in the tubular tube 18 in order to detect color development due to the leakage of the outer skin of the endoscope 40, particularly the outer skin of the internal insertion portion 48.
Further, the number of CCD cameras is not limited to this. For example, three or more CCD cameras may be installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, or only one CCD camera may be installed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a light projecting / receiving sensor is used instead of a CCD camera for water leakage detection. Further, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body is not separated into the cleaning chamber and the spiral cleaning tube, and the endoscope is accommodated only in the cleaning tank. Here, the same members as those in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 10 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of the same members is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 11 of the present invention. The cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 11 of the endoscope 40 shown in FIG. 5 is a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus having an endoscope leakage detection function, and includes a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus body 13 and the endoscope leakage detection apparatus 15 of the present invention. Is provided.

The cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 13 includes a cleaning tank 17, a water supply tank 20, a cleaning liquid tank 22, a disinfecting liquid tank 24, a piping system 27 including a plurality of pipes, a plurality of valves, a plurality of pumps, and the like connecting them. And a control unit 29 for controlling the piping system 27.
Here, since the water supply tank 20, the cleaning liquid tank 22, and the disinfecting liquid tank 24 are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. In addition, the cleaning tank 17 is not separated into the cleaning chamber 16 and the spiral cleaning tube 18, has a size that can accommodate the entire endoscope 40, and is provided with a drain port 79. Since the cleaning chamber 16 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The drainage port 79 is provided on the lower surface of the cleaning tank 17 and drains the processing liquid in the cleaning tank 17. The drain port 79 is provided with an openable / closable valve, thereby controlling the drainage of the processing liquid.

The piping system 27 controls the flow of the processing liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 13. The pumps included in the piping system 27 include the circulation pump 65, the disinfecting liquid pump 67, the cleaning liquid pump 70, and the drainage pump 72 described above. The piping system 27 includes piping 142, piping 150, piping 152, a three-pronged piping 156 communicating with the circulation pump 65, the drainage pump 72 and the drainage port 79, a liquid supply base 62, and the like. There are a pipe 158 communicating with the circulation pump 65, a pipe 160 communicating with the cleaning tank 17 and the disinfecting liquid tank 24, and a pipe 162 communicating with the liquid supply base 62 and the disinfecting liquid pump 67. The valves included in the piping system 27 include electromagnetic valves 122 and 124, an electromagnetic valve 127 provided on the circulation pump 65 side of the three-pronged piping 156, an electromagnetic valve 131 provided on the drainage pump 72 side, and an electromagnetic valve. There are a valve 132, an electromagnetic valve 136, and an electromagnetic valve 138 provided between the cleaning tank 17 and the disinfecting liquid tank 24.
Further, the control unit 29 controls the piping system 27 included in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 13. A detailed description of the control unit 29 will be described later.

On the other hand, the water leakage detection device 15 of the endoscope 40 according to the present embodiment includes a cleaning tank 17 serving as a container for the endoscope 40, a water supply tank 20, a color developing liquid tank 30, and a plurality of pipes that connect them. A plurality of pipes and a plurality of valves for connecting the liquid piping system 33 including a plurality of valves and a plurality of pumps, the gas cylinder 34, the gas cylinder 34 and each channel of the endoscope 40 accommodated in the cleaning chamber 16. A gas piping system 36 including the above, a light projecting / receiving sensor 81 disposed adjacent to the cleaning tank 17, a liquid piping system 33, the gas piping system 36, and a control system 29 for controlling the light projecting / receiving sensor 81.
Here, the water supply tank 20, the color liquid tank 30, the gas cylinder 34, and the gas piping system 36 are the same as the water leakage detection device 14 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, since the cleaning tank 17 is the same as the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 13, detailed description thereof is also omitted.
The light projecting / receiving sensor 81 is disposed adjacent to the cleaning tank 17. The light projecting / receiving sensor 81 irradiates the cleaning tank 17 with light and measures the amount of transmitted light. The light emitting / receiving sensor 81 is connected to the optical sensor I / F circuit 95 of the control system 29 (see FIG. 6). In the water leakage detection device 15 of the present invention, the light leakage detection sensor 81 is used to detect water leakage.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a schematic configuration of the control unit 29 in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 11.
6, the control unit 29 includes a CPU 82, a RAM 84, a ROM 86, an I / O control circuit 88, a communication I / F circuit 90, a panel I / F circuit 92, an optical sensor I / F circuit 95, a clock 96, A reset circuit 98, a load driving circuit 100, and a sensor I / F circuit 102 are included.
Here, the CPU 82, RAM 84, ROM 86, I / O control circuit 88, communication I / F circuit 90, panel I / F circuit 92, clock 96, reset circuit 98, load drive circuit 100, and sensor I / F circuit 102 are described. Since it is the same as that of the control unit 28 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, detailed description thereof is omitted.
The optical sensor I / F circuit 95 is an interface circuit for the light projecting / receiving sensor 81. The transmitted light amount data sent from the light projecting / receiving sensor 81 through the optical sensor I / F circuit 95 is processed by the CPU 82.

  A part of the liquid piping system 33 is shared with the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body 13. A detailed description of those already described in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main bodies 12 and 13 is omitted. Pumps included in the liquid piping system 33 include a circulation pump 65, a drainage pump 72, and a coloring liquid pump 74. The pipes included in the liquid piping system 33 include a pipe 142, a pipe 148, a pipe 150, a pipe 156, and a pipe 158. Further, the valves included in the liquid piping system 33 include an electromagnetic valve 120, an electromagnetic valve 122, an electromagnetic valve 124, an electromagnetic valve 127, an electromagnetic valve 131, and an electromagnetic valve 136.

  The operation of each process in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 11 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the water leakage detection process will be described.
A gas cylinder 34 filled with carbon dioxide is installed in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 11. The gas cylinder 34 may be installed in a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, or a gas cylinder 34 installed outside may be used.

  Next, the endoscope 40 for detecting water leakage is installed in the cleaning tank 17 (S200), the leakage port 56 and the gas supply base 60 are connected to the air supply tube 66, and the liquid supply base 62 and the endoscope channel are connected to the water supply tube 68. Connect with each.

  The electromagnetic valve 120 is opened, the coloring liquid pump 74 is operated, and a PH indicator is injected into the water supply tank 20. Further, the electromagnetic valve 122 is opened, and flush water is injected from the flush water supply means 21 into the water supply tank 20. In the water supply tank 20, the PH indicator and the washing water are mixed to form a color developing solution. With the solenoid valves 124 and 136 opened and the solenoid valve 127, the solenoid valve 131, and the drainage port 79 closed, the coloring solution is supplied into the cleaning nozzle 58 and the channel of the endoscope 40 by the circulation pump 65. . As a result, the channel of the endoscope 40 and the outer skin of the endoscope 40 are filled with the coloring solution (S202).

  When it is confirmed that the cleaning tank 17 is full (S204), carbon dioxide is supplied from the gas cylinder 34 into the endoscope through the leakage port 56 of the endoscope (S206). When there is a leaking portion inside the endoscope 40, the carbon dioxide and the washing water react with each other in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the coloring solution becomes acidic, and the PH indicator causes discoloration.

Data on the amount of light transmitted through the cleaning tank 17 is acquired by the light emitting / receiving sensor 81 provided adjacent to the cleaning tank 17 (S208). When the endoscope 40 has a leaked portion and the carbon dioxide injected into the endoscope 40 and the coloring solution in the cleaning tank 17 undergo a reaction similar to that in the first embodiment and change color, the amount of transmitted light changes. Arise. In the second embodiment, water leakage is detected by detecting the change in the amount of transmitted light.
If the amount of transmitted light is not within a certain range where it is determined that there is no water leakage, an error is output (S210, S212). On the other hand, if the transmitted light amount data is continuously acquired for a certain time (S214) and the transmitted light amount falls within a certain range where it is determined that there is no water leakage, it is assumed that no water leakage is detected. When the transmitted light amount data is acquired for a certain time, the solenoid valve 131 and the drainage port 79 are opened, and the coloring solution is drained by the drainage pump 72 via the pipe 156. When the drainage is finished, the water leakage detection process is finished (S216).
Here, a certain range in which it is determined that there is no water leakage is a transmitted light amount acquired by the light projecting / receiving sensor 81 when there is no water leakage. For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, before introducing carbon dioxide into the endoscope 40, the transmitted light amount is acquired by the light projecting / receiving sensor 81, and this is used as a reference for transmitted light amount data that is determined to have no water leakage. A certain range can be determined. In addition, before the leakage detection, the light transmission / reception sensor 81 measures the transmitted light quantity a plurality of times, and a certain range can be determined based on the average value. Also in the present embodiment, water leakage detection may be performed by imaging with a CCD camera or the like.

  Next, the cleaning process will be described. As in the case of the first embodiment, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the water supply tank 20 to the channels of the endoscope 40 and the cleaning tank 17 by the circulation pump 65. The cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 17 is circulated by the circulation pump 65 to the inside of each channel of the endoscope 40 via the pipes 156 and 158 and to the cleaning tank 17 via the pipes 156 and 142. Wash. After cleaning, the cleaning liquid is drained by the drain pump 72 via the pipe 156. In the cleaning process of the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid is different from the first embodiment in that the cleaning liquid is circulated from the cleaning tank 17 to the cleaning tank 17 again via the piping system 27.

Next, the disinfection process will be described. As in the first embodiment, the disinfecting liquid is supplied from the disinfecting liquid tank 24 to each channel of the endoscope 40 and the cleaning tank 17 by the disinfecting liquid pump 67. The disinfectant stored in the cleaning tank 17 is circulated into each channel of the endoscope 40 via the pipes 160 and 162 and to the cleaning tank 17 via the pipes 160 and 147 to disinfect the endoscope 40. Do. After the sterilization, the sterilizing liquid is collected into the sterilizing liquid tank 24 through the pipe 160. The disinfection step of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the disinfectant is circulated from the cleaning tank 17 to the cleaning tank 17 again via the piping system 27 by the disinfecting liquid pump 67.
In the cleaning and disinfecting process, the opening and closing of the various solenoid valves are performed in the same manner as in the cleaning and disinfection of the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment, since the trouble of setting the endoscope 40 to the spiral cleaning tube 18 is eliminated, the endoscope 40 can be installed in the cleaning tank 17 more easily.

According to the water leakage detection devices 14 and 15 of the present invention, the water leakage detection is captured as a change in pH by the reaction between the carbon dioxide pressurized and fed into the endoscope 40 and the coloring solution in which the endoscope 40 is immersed. The water leakage is detected by replacing it with visible information using a PH indicator. By doing so, it is possible to automate the detection of water leakage. Further, even from a small defect, carbon dioxide sufficiently dissolves in the coloring solution and develops color, so that quick and accurate water leakage detection can be performed.
Here, in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatuses 10 and 11, in the water leakage detection process of the water leakage detecting apparatuses 14 and 15, water flows into the cleaning chamber 16, the cylindrical tube 18, and the cleaning tank 17 of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main bodies 12 and 13. It is preferable that no occurs. By doing in this way, it can prevent that the coloring solution discolored in the leak location diffuses and is diluted with a water flow.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, each processing liquid is introduced from the cleaning nozzle 58 into the cleaning chamber 16 and the cleaning tank 17, but in addition to the cleaning nozzle 58 or instead of the cleaning nozzle 58, Processing liquid inlets may be provided in the cleaning chamber 16 and the cleaning tank 17, and each processing liquid may be introduced into the cleaning chamber 16 and the cleaning tank 17 from the respective processing liquid tanks via the processing liquid inlet.

  As described above, the endoscope water leakage detection device according to the present invention has been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Changes may be made.

  For example, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the change in PH is detected by the discoloration of the PH indicator, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as the change in PH can be detected. For example, a change in PH may be directly detected by a PH meter without using a PH indicator. Even by measurement with a PH meter, quick and accurate water leak detection can be automated. As the PH meter, it is preferable to use one that uses a glass electrode method. The glass electrode method has a fast potential equilibration time and good reproducibility. Moreover, it is hardly influenced by an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent, and PH can be measured for various solutions.

  Moreover, in addition to water leak detection by a CCD camera or a light projecting / receiving sensor, water leak detection by a PH meter may be performed. By doing so, it is possible to more accurately detect the leakage of the endoscope.

  Further, the color change of the color developing solution due to the change in PH may be performed by visual observation instead of being automated by a CCD camera or a light projecting / receiving sensor. By doing in this way, since it is not necessary to install a CCD camera or a light projecting / receiving sensor, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus can be made simpler. In addition, since the color developing solution due to the change in PH is discolored even from a small defect, accurate water leakage detection can be performed.

  Furthermore, both the first embodiment and the second embodiment use the change in pH in the solution in the leak detection, but the change is limited to this as long as the change in the solution characteristics can be detected. is not. For example, electrical conductivity may be used as a change in the properties of the solution. As water contains more electrolyte, it becomes easier to conduct electricity. Therefore, if the gas pressurized and supplied from the gas cylinder 34 dissolves into the solution in the cleaning chamber 16, the cylindrical tube 18, and the cleaning tank 17, the electric conductivity of the solution. Changes. By detecting this, water leakage of the endoscope 40 can be detected. By doing in this way, since it becomes unnecessary to provide a coloring liquid tank in a washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus, a washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus can be made a simpler structure.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the water leakage detection process and the cleaning process are performed separately, but this may be performed simultaneously. Specifically, without providing a separate water leakage detection step, carbon dioxide is pressurized and fed into the endoscope in the cleaning step, and a PH indicator is placed in the cleaning liquid. When there is a leaked portion, it is possible to detect water leakage from the discoloration of the cleaning liquid or the change in PH value using a CCD camera, a PH meter, and a light projecting / receiving sensor. By doing so, it is possible to shorten the time required for cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope.

  Further, according to the water leakage detection devices 14 and 15 of the present invention, the water leakage detection is performed using the cleaning chamber 16 and the cleaning tank 17 shared with the cleaning / disinfecting device main bodies 12 and 13, but when the frequency of water leakage detection is high, If the endoscope 40 is frequently cleaned and disinfected, a dedicated tank for detecting water leakage may be installed to detect water leakage. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a case where the frequency of water leakage detection and the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of the endoscope 40 are high, and the configurations of the water leakage detection device and the cleaning / disinfecting device main body can be simplified. it can.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of the endoscope in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an example of an endoscope. 1 is an electric block diagram of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart of the water leak detection process of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of the endoscope in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of the endoscope in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an electrical block diagram of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of the endoscope in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the water leak detection process of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of the endoscope in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 11 Cleaning disinfection device 12, 13 Cleaning disinfection device main body 14, 15 Water leakage detection device 16 Cleaning chamber 17 Cleaning tank 18 Spiral cleaning tube (tubular tube)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Water supply tank 21 Flushing water supply means 22 Cleaning liquid tank 24 Disinfection liquid tank 26, 27 Piping system 28, 29 Control part 30 Coloring liquid tank 32, 33 Liquid piping system 34 Gas cylinder 36 Gas piping system 38 Imaging system 40 Endoscope 42 Connector 44 Universal Code 46 Operation Unit 48 Internal Insertion Unit 50 Air Supply / Water Supply Channel 52 Forceps Channel 54 Suction Channel 56 Leakage Port 58 Cleaning Nozzle 60 Gas Supply Base 62 Liquid Supply Base 64 Disinfectant Recovery Base 65 Circulation Pump 66 Air Supply Tube 67 Disinfectant Pump 68 Liquid feeding tube 70 Cleaning liquid pump 72 Drainage pump 74 Coloring liquid pump 76 Pressure reducing valve 78 Pressure sensor 79 Drain port 80a, 80b, 80c CCD camera 81 Light emitting / receiving sensor 82 CPU
84 RAM
86 ROM
88 I / O control circuit 90 Communication I / F circuit 92 Panel I / F circuit 94 Camera I / F circuit 95 Optical sensor I / F circuit 96 Clock 98 Reset circuit 100 Load drive circuit 102 Sensor I / F circuit 104 Limit sensor 106 Float SW
108 Other sensors 110 LAN
112 RS232C
114 Printer 116 Display / Operation Panel

Claims (10)

A storage container for storing an endoscope including a connector portion, an operation portion, and an in-body insertion portion;
Liquid supply means for supplying a predetermined liquid to the storage container;
Gas supply pressurizing means for supplying a predetermined gas that reacts with the predetermined liquid to detectably change a liquid characteristic of the predetermined liquid into the endoscope and pressurizes the inside of the endoscope An endoscope leakage detection device characterized by comprising: The storage container is
A cleaning chamber for storing the connector portion and the operation portion of the endoscope;
The endoscope water leakage detection device according to claim 1, further comprising: a spiral cleaning tube that houses the endoscope internal insertion portion.   The endoscope leakage detection device according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is a cleaning tank for the endoscope.   The predetermined gas reacts with the predetermined liquid to discolor at least the predetermined liquid, or changes the pH value of the predetermined liquid or the electric conductivity of the predetermined liquid. The endoscope leak detection apparatus in any one of 1-3.   The endoscope leak detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising detection means for detecting the liquid characteristic changed by a reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.   The endoscope leakage detection device according to claim 5, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the endoscope has leaked from a result detected by the detection unit. The detection means is an imaging means for capturing the image data obtained by photographing the endoscope and the predetermined liquid stored in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid,
The determination unit performs differential analysis on the captured image data in the storage container obtained before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid obtained by the imaging unit to determine whether or not the endoscope has leaked water. The endoscope leakage detection device according to claim 6. The detection means is a light amount detection means for detecting a transmitted light amount of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.
The determination means determines whether or not the endoscope has leaked due to a change in the amount of transmitted light of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid acquired by the light amount detection means. The endoscope leak detection device according to claim 6 which judges. The detection means is a PH detection means for detecting the pH of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.
The determination means determines whether or not the endoscope has leaked according to a change in PH of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid obtained by the PH detection means. The endoscope water leakage detection device according to claim 6 which judges. The detection means is an electrical conductivity detection means for detecting electrical conductivity of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid.
The determination unit is configured to change the electric conductivity of the endoscope according to a change in the electric conductivity of the predetermined liquid in the storage container before and after the reaction between the predetermined gas and the predetermined liquid acquired by the electric conductivity detection unit. The endoscope water leakage detection device according to claim 6, wherein the presence or absence of water leakage is determined.

Images