JP2009119061A - Endoscope washing/disinfecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope washing/disinfecting apparatus having a simple structure capable of automatically agitating disinfection solution inside a chemical tank heated by a heating member. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope washing/disinfecting apparatus includes a washing/disinfecting tub 4 for storing an endoscope 100; a disinfection solution tank 40 for storing the disinfection solution S for disinfecting the endoscope 100; a heater 41 provided in the disinfection solution tank 40 for heating the disinfection solution S stored in the disinfection solution tank 40; a feeding conduit 42 for feeding the disinfection solution S in the disinfection solution tank 40 to the washing/disinfection tub 4; a feeding pump 43 provided on the way of the feeding conduit 42; a collection conduit 44 for collecting the disinfection solution S from the washing/disinfection tub 4 into the disinfection solution tank 40; and a circulation conduit 45 for circulating the disinfection solution S of the disinfection solution tank 40 in the disinfection solution tank 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus that automatically cleans / disinfects an object to be cleaned.

  In recent years, endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. An endoscope used in the medical field observes an organ in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, or inserts into an insertion channel of a treatment instrument provided in the endoscope as necessary. Various treatments can be performed using the treatment tool.

  Endoscopes in the medical field are used by being inserted into body cavities, particularly for the purpose of examination and treatment. Therefore, after use, cleaning and disinfection are necessary for reuse. As a method for cleaning and disinfecting a used endoscope, for example, a method using an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a cleaning and disinfecting apparatus) is well known.

  If the cleaning / disinfecting device is used, the endoscope is only set in the cleaning / disinfecting tank of the cleaning / disinfecting device, and the endoscope is automatically cleaned, disinfected, rinsed, drained, etc. (hereinafter referred to as cleaning). (Referred to as a disinfection process). At this time, the endoscope cleans and disinfects not only the outer surface of the endoscope but also the endoscope channels such as known air / water supply channels and treatment instrument insertion channels inside the endoscope. Is done. Note that the cleaning and disinfecting apparatus can clean and disinfect not only the endoscope but also a treatment instrument and other medical instruments. Hereinafter, what is cleaned and disinfected using a cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is referred to as a cleaning disinfectant.

  Here, when the disinfectant is supplied to the cleaning disinfection tank and the disinfectant to be cleaned is disinfected, the disinfectant is a chemical, so the medicinal effect changes depending on the temperature. Therefore, it is necessary to heat up to a certain disinfecting temperature (hereinafter referred to as set temperature).

  Therefore, in the conventional cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, a heater, which is a heating member, is provided in the cleaning / disinfecting tank, and the heater can be used to heat the disinfecting liquid to a set temperature. .

  However, if a heater is provided in the cleaning / disinfecting tank, the cleaning / disinfecting tank cannot be formed of a resin or the like, and must be formed of a metal such as stainless steel. There was a problem.

  In view of such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses that a rubber heater is provided on the bottom surface of a disinfecting liquid tank that is a chemical liquid tank, and the disinfecting liquid tank is heated using the rubber heater, thereby disinfecting the disinfecting liquid tank. An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus capable of heating a liquid to a set temperature is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 also discloses an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus that can heat the disinfecting liquid in the disinfecting liquid tank to a set temperature by heating the disinfecting liquid tank with a heater.

Furthermore, the structure provided with the heater which can heat directly the disinfection liquid which contacts in the disinfection liquid tank is also known.
JP-A-7-31588 Japanese Patent No. 3557319

  However, in the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, as described above, the disinfecting liquid tank is heated to the set temperature by heating the disinfecting liquid tank. In the configuration in which the heater is provided in the disinfecting liquid tank, the disinfecting liquid in contact with the disinfecting liquid tank can be directly heated to the set temperature. Since the temperature sensor provided in the disinfecting liquid tank detects the temperature of the locally disinfecting liquid, the temperature of the entire disinfecting liquid May detect different temperatures and supply disinfecting liquid that is less than the operating temperature to the cleaning disinfection tank. In this case, it is necessary to reheat the disinfecting liquid, which is very complicated. was there.

  In view of such problems, during the heating of the disinfectant solution, the supply pump is driven from the disinfectant solution tank to supply the disinfectant solution to the cleaning disinfection tank, and then the cleaning is performed to collect the disinfecting solution from the cleaning disinfection tank to the disinfecting solution tank. Although a method of stirring the disinfecting liquid in the disinfecting liquid tank by repeating circulation of the disinfecting liquid to the disinfecting tank may be considered, supplying the disinfecting liquid to the cleaning disinfecting tank other than the disinfecting process is an obstacle to other processes. It is not preferable because it may become.

  In addition, in order to stir the disinfectant solution, a configuration in which a propeller for agitating the disinfectant solution is provided in the disinfectant solution tank is also conceivable. There was a problem that the structure of was complicated.

  The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a configuration capable of automatically stirring the disinfecting solution in the chemical tank heated by the heating member with a simple configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for automatically cleaning / disinfecting an object to be cleaned, and is a cleaning / disinfecting tank in which the object to be cleaned is accommodated. A chemical solution tank storing a disinfectant for disinfecting the disinfectant to be cleaned, a heating member provided in the chemical solution tank for heating the disinfecting solution stored in the chemical solution tank, and the chemical solution tank A supply pipe for supplying the disinfecting liquid to the cleaning / disinfecting tank, a supply pump provided in the middle of the supply pipe, and a recovery pipe for recovering the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting tank to the chemical liquid tank And a circulation pipe for circulating the disinfecting liquid in the chemical liquid tank to the chemical liquid tank.

  An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for automatically cleaning / disinfecting a disinfectant to be cleaned, in which a disinfecting tank for storing the disinfectant to be cleaned and a disinfectant for disinfecting the disinfectant to be cleaned are stored. A chemical solution tank, a heating member provided in the chemical solution tank for heating the disinfecting solution stored in the chemical solution tank, and a supply line for supplying the disinfecting solution in the chemical solution tank to the cleaning / disinfecting tank A supply pump provided in the middle of the supply line, a recovery line for collecting the disinfectant in the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the chemical tank, and a gas supply for supplying gas to the chemical tank And a conduit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus having a configuration capable of automatically stirring the disinfecting liquid in the chemical tank heated by the heating member with a simple structure. it can.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, the disinfectant to be cleaned will be described using an endoscope as an example.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus showing the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus showing a state in which the top cover of FIG. 1 is opened and an endoscope can be stored in a cleaning / disinfecting tank. It is.

  As shown in the figure, the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting a used endoscope 100, and is openable and closable on the apparatus main body 2 and an upper portion thereof via, for example, a hinge (not shown). A main part is constituted by a top cover 3 which is a connected lid.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the top cover 3 is closed to the apparatus main body 2, the apparatus main body 2 and the top cover 3 are disposed at positions where the apparatus main body 2 and the top cover 3 face each other. For example, it is configured to be fixed by a latch 8.

  A detergent / alcohol tray 11 is disposed in front of the apparatus main body 2 so that it can be pulled out to the front of the apparatus main body 2, for example, at the front of the apparatus main body 2 in the drawing (hereinafter referred to as the front surface). ing.

  The detergent / alcohol tray 11 includes a detergent tank 11a in which a cleaning agent, which is a liquid used for cleaning the endoscope 100, and a liquid used for drying the endoscope 100 after cleaning and disinfection. An alcohol tank 11b in which a certain alcohol is stored is housed, and the detergent / alcohol tray 11 can be pulled out, so that the tanks 11a and 11b can be replenished with a predetermined liquid.

  The detergent / alcohol tray 11 is provided with two windows 11m, and the operator can check the remaining amounts of the cleaning agent and alcohol injected into the tanks 11a and 11b through the windows 11m. It is like that. This cleaning agent is a concentrated detergent that is diluted to a predetermined concentration with tap water that has been filtered by a water supply filter (not shown). In the present embodiment, in the following description, a mixed liquid of the cleaning agent and the tap water is referred to as a cleaning liquid.

  In addition, a cassette tray 12 is disposed on the front surface of the apparatus main body 2, for example, at the upper portion of the right half, so that it can be pulled out forward of the apparatus main body 2. The cassette tray 12 stores a chemical solution bottle 12a into which a disinfecting solution S (see FIG. 3) such as peracetic acid, which is used when disinfecting the endoscope 100, is injected. The cassette tray 12 can be pulled out freely. As a result, the chemical bottle 12a can be set in a predetermined manner.

  Further, on the front surface of the apparatus main body 2, on the upper part of the cassette tray 12, the display of the cleaning / disinfecting time and the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 (see FIG. 3) to be described later are provided with a heater 41 (FIG. The sub operation panel 13 on which instruction buttons and the like for heating are arranged is provided.

  In addition, a top cover 3 closed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 is opened above the apparatus main body 2 as shown in FIG. Pedal switch 14 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning and disinfection start switch of the apparatus main body 2 and the setting of the cleaning and disinfection mode selection switch and the like are arranged on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2, for example, near both ends on the front side close to the operator. A main operation panel 25 provided with switches is provided.

  Further, a water supply hose connected to a water tap for supplying tap water to the apparatus body 2 on the upper surface of the apparatus body 2 on the back side facing the front surface close to the operator (both not shown) ) Is connected to the water supply hose connection port 31. A mesh filter for filtering tap water may be provided at the water supply hose connection port 31.

  Furthermore, a cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 in which the endoscope storage opening can be stored is provided in the substantially central portion of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 and whose endoscope storage opening is opened and closed by the top cover 3. The cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 includes a tank main body 50 and a terrace portion 51 provided continuously around the outer peripheral edge of the endoscope storage port of the tank main body 50.

  When the endoscope 100 after use is cleaned and sterilized, the tank body 50 can be accommodated, and the tank body 50 is supplied to the tank body 50 on the bottom surface 50t which is the surface inside the tank. In addition to draining the cleaning liquid, water, alcohol, disinfecting liquid, etc., from the tank body 50, a first drain port 55 is provided for supplying the liquid again from the water supply circulation nozzle 24 described later to the tank body 50. .

  Further, a circulation port 56 is provided at an arbitrary position on the circumferential side surface 50 s that is a surface in the tank body 50. The cleaning liquid, water, disinfecting liquid and the like supplied to the tank body 50 discharged from the circulation port 56 are supplied to each pipe line provided in the endoscope 100 via a connection tube 75 (see FIG. 3) described later. Supplied. The circulation port 56 may be provided with a mesh filter for filtering the cleaning liquid or the like.

  The circulation port 56 described above may be provided on the bottom surface 50t of the tank body 50. If the circulation port 56 is provided on the bottom surface 50t of the tank body 50, the supply timing of cleaning liquid, water, disinfecting liquid, etc., to each pipeline of the endoscope 100 can be advanced. Further, when the user replaces the mesh filter or the like provided in the circulation port 56, it is advantageous that the operator can easily approach if it is provided on the bottom surface.

  The tank body 50 of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 is further provided with an ultrasonic transducer and a temperature sensor (not shown), and the cleaning case 6 is provided at a substantially central portion of the bottom surface 50t of the tank body 50. . The ultrasonic vibrator is for ultrasonically cleaning or rinsing the outer surface of the endoscope 100 by applying vibration to the cleaning water or tap water stored in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the disinfecting liquid S supplied to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4.

  The cleaning case 6 accommodates removable parts such as buttons such as each scope switch of the endoscope 100 that are attached to the endoscope 100. As a result, the buttons and the removed parts are cleaned and disinfected together with the endoscope 100.

A water level sensor 32 with a cover for detecting the water level of the cleaning liquid, water, disinfecting liquid, etc. supplied to the tank body 50 is provided at an arbitrary position on the side surface 50s of the tank body 50.
Dilute the tank body 50 from the detergent tank 11a to a surface other than the terrace surface 51t of the terrace 51 by a tap water with a detergent pump (not shown) to a predetermined concentration. The disinfecting liquid for supplying the disinfecting liquid S from the detergent nozzle 22 for supplying the cleaning agent and the disinfecting liquid tank 40 (see FIG. 3) to be described later by the supply pump 43 (see FIG. 3) to be described later. A nozzle 23 is provided.

  Further, cleaning liquid, water, disinfecting liquid, or the like for supplying water to the tank body 50 or discharged from the first drain outlet 55 of the tank body 50 on a surface parallel to the bottom surface 50t of the tank body 50 of the terrace portion 51. Is provided with a water supply circulation nozzle 24 for supplying the water to the tank body 50 again. The detergent nozzle 22, the disinfectant liquid nozzle 23, and the water supply circulation nozzle 24 may be disposed on the terrace surface 51t.

  In addition, a cleaning liquid, water, alcohol, a disinfecting liquid, an endoscope pipe line provided in the endoscope 100, on a surface 51f of the terrace surface 51t on the side facing the operator proximity position 4k of the terrace surface 51t, Alternatively, a plurality of air supply / water supply / forceps port 33 for supplying air or the like, a forceps raising port 34, and a water leakage detection port 35 are provided.

  Next, the outline of the internal configuration of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the piping configuration between the disinfectant tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank will be described. In addition, since the internal structure of the other washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus 1 is known, the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a piping configuration between the disinfectant tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the disinfecting liquid S supplied from the chemical liquid bottle 12a is stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 which is a chemical liquid tank, and the stored disinfecting liquid is stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40. A heater 41 which is a heating member for heating S is provided.

  One end of the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is the other end of the supply line 42 connected to the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 provided in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4, the air / water supply / forceps port 33, and the forceps raising port 34. The side is open. The air supply / water supply / forceps opening port 33 and forceps raising port 34 are also connected to other pipes such as a pipe for supplying cleaning liquid, but the description thereof is omitted because it is well known. .

  A supply pump 43 that pumps the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is provided in the middle of the supply line 42. Therefore, when the supply pump 43 is driven, the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is supplied from the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 through the supply pipe line 42 or is supplied with air. It is supplied to various endoscope channels in the endoscope 100 through a connection tube 75 connected to the water supply / forceps port 33 and the forceps raising port 34.

  Further, the disinfecting liquid tank 40 has an opening at the other end of the collection pipe 44 whose one end is connected to the first drain port 55. The collection pipe 44 is a pipe used when collecting the disinfecting liquid S in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 in the disinfecting liquid tank 40. The first drain port 55 is also connected to a conduit for discharging the liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 to the outside of the apparatus main body 2, but since it is well known, its description is omitted.

  The disinfecting liquid tank 40 is provided with a circulation line 45 for circulating the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 to the disinfecting liquid tank 40. Specifically, the suction port 45 s and the discharge port 45 h of the circulation pipe 45 are provided so as to be located in the disinfecting liquid tank 40. Further, a circulation pump 46 for pumping the disinfectant solution is provided in the middle of the circulation line 45.

  Therefore, when the circulation pump 46 is driven, the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 from the suction port 45s is sucked into the circulation pipe 45, and then discharged again from the discharging port 45h to the disinfecting liquid tank 40. The As a result, the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is agitated.

  At this time, the suction port 45 s of the circulation pipe 45 is preferably located lower in the disinfecting liquid tank 40. This is because the lower part of the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 heated by the heater 41 is difficult to be heated.

  Further, in the disinfecting liquid tank 40, although not shown, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the disinfecting liquid S is provided.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, after the endoscope 100 is accommodated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 by the operator, the operator operates the instruction button on the sub operation panel 13 when performing the disinfection process of the endoscope 100. Then, an instruction to heat the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 to the set temperature is input.

  As a result, the heater 41 starts to heat the disinfectant solution S by drive control of a control unit (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2.

  Next, the control unit performs drive control of the circulation pump 46. As a result, the disinfectant S in the disinfectant tank 40 is sucked into the circulation line 45 from the suction port 45s of the circulation line 45, and then discharged again into the disinfectant tank 40 from the discharge port 45h. . As a result, the disinfecting liquid S heated by the heater 41 is stirred, and the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is heated to a uniform temperature without temperature unevenness.

  The stirring of the disinfecting liquid S, that is, the drive control of the circulation pump 46 is performed until a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 detects that the temperature of the disinfecting liquid S has reached the set temperature. .

  When the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is heated to the set temperature, the control unit stops driving the circulation pump 46. Thereafter, when an instruction to start the disinfection process is input from the main operation panel 25, drive control of the supply pump 43 is performed. As a result, the disinfecting liquid S heated to the set temperature in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is supplied from the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 into the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 through the supply line 42, and is also supplied with air / water / forceps. It is supplied from the mouth port 33 and the forceps raising port 34 into various endoscope channels of the endoscope 100. After that, when the disinfecting liquid S is supplied to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 up to the set amount, the control unit stops driving the supply pump 43.

  Finally, when the disinfection process of the endoscope 100 is completed, the disinfecting liquid S in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 is opened via the recovery conduit 44 by opening a valve (not shown) provided in the first drain port 55. And collected in the disinfectant tank 40.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the disinfecting liquid tank 40 includes the circulation line 45 for circulating the disinfecting liquid in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 with respect to the disinfecting liquid tank 40, and the suction port 45 s and the discharge port. 45h is provided so as to be located in the disinfectant tank 40, and a circulation pump 46 for pumping the disinfectant is provided in the middle of the circulation line 45.

  According to this, while the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is being heated by the heater 41, it is only necessary to drive the circulation pump 46 via the circulation line 45 to the disinfecting liquid tank 40. Since the disinfecting liquid S is agitated by the circulation of the disinfecting liquid S, the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 can be uniformly heated to a set temperature without unevenness, and the temperature sensor in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 can be used. Accurate temperature measurement can be performed.

  From the above, the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 heated by the heater 41 is automatically agitated with a simple structure that only changes the pipe line structure without improving the disinfecting liquid tank 40. A cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 having a configuration that can be provided can be provided.

  Hereinafter, modifications will be described. In the present embodiment, the circulation line 45 and the circulation pump 46 are used to stir the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 while being heated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the supply pump 43 is not limited to this. If a pump capable of bidirectional supply is used, the disinfecting liquid S is sucked into the supply line 42 from the disinfecting liquid tank 40, and then the disinfecting liquid S is discharged to the disinfecting liquid tank 40 through the supply line 42. The disinfecting liquid S can be stirred only by reversing the supply pump 43 in a short cycle. Therefore, since the circulation line 45 and the circulation pump 46 are not required for stirring the disinfecting solution S, it is possible to provide a configuration for stirring the disinfecting solution S at a low cost.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a diagram partially showing an outline of a piping configuration between the disinfecting liquid tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the present embodiment.

  The configuration of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the second embodiment is such that the suction port of the circulation line is connected to the supply line as compared with the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The only difference is. Therefore, only this difference will be described, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the suction port 45 s of the circulation line 45 is connected to the outflow side of the supply pump 43 in the supply line 42, and the supply line 42 and the circulation pipe on the outflow side of the supply pump 43. The disinfecting liquid S pumped up from the disinfecting liquid tank 40 by driving the supply pump 43 is supplied to the portion of the path 45 to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 side through the supply line 42 or is disinfected through the circulation line 45. Valves 61 and 62 for switching whether to return to the liquid tank 40 are provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, after the endoscope 100 is accommodated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 by the operator, the operator operates the instruction button on the sub operation panel 13 when performing the disinfection process of the endoscope 100. Then, an instruction to heat the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 to the set temperature is input.

  As a result, the heater 41 starts to heat the disinfectant solution S by the drive control of the control unit provided in the apparatus main body 2.

  Next, the control unit performs control to close the valve 61 and open the valve 62, and performs drive control of the supply pump 43. As a result, the disinfecting solution S in the disinfecting solution tank 40 is sucked into the supply conduit 42, then introduced into the circulation conduit 45, and discharged again into the disinfecting solution tank 40 from the discharge port 45h. As a result, the disinfecting liquid S heated by the heater 41 is stirred, and the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is heated to a uniform temperature without temperature unevenness.

  The stirring of the disinfecting liquid S, that is, the closing control of the valve 61 and the opening control of the valve 62 are performed by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 so that the temperature of the disinfecting liquid S reaches the set temperature. Until it is detected.

  After the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 has been heated to the set temperature, when an instruction to start the disinfecting process is input from the main operation panel 25, the control unit closes the valve 62 and opens the valve 61. Control. As a result, the disinfecting liquid S heated to the set temperature in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is supplied from the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 into the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 through the supply line 42, and is also supplied with air / water / forceps. It is supplied from the mouth port 33 and the forceps raising port 34 into various endoscope channels of the endoscope 100. After that, when the disinfecting liquid S is supplied up to the set amount, the control unit stops driving the supply pump 43.

  Finally, when the disinfection process of the endoscope 100 is completed, the disinfecting liquid S in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 is opened via the recovery conduit 44 by opening a valve (not shown) provided in the first drain port 55. And collected in the disinfectant tank 40.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the suction port 45 s of the circulation line 45 is connected to the outflow side of the supply pump 43 in the supply line 42, and the supply line on the outflow side of the supply pump 43. Valves 61 and 62 are provided at portions of 42 and the circulation line 45.

  According to this, after the supply pump 43 is driven, the valve 61 is closed and the valve 62 is opened, and the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is stirred through the circulation line 45. It can be carried out. That is, since the circulation pump 46 is not required, the disinfecting liquid S can be automatically stirred with a simpler pipe structure than the first embodiment, and the number of expensive pumps used can be reduced. Therefore, the disinfectant S can be stirred at a low cost. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

  Hereinafter, a modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a view partially showing a schematic modification of the piping configuration between the disinfecting liquid tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge port 45 h of the circulation line 45 may be connected to the recovery line 44. According to this, the pipe line configuration can be simplified more than in the present embodiment.

  Further, when the liquid passes from the inflow side to the part located in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 of the recovery pipe 44, the liquid around the nozzle is sucked, and the flow rate larger than the flow rate from the inflow side is discharged to the outflow side. If, for example, a nozzle 65 such as a known spray nozzle is provided, the agitation can be performed more effectively when the antiseptic solution S is agitated via the circulation line 45. Needless to say, the nozzle 65 may be provided at the outlet 45h of the circulation line 45 shown in FIG.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a diagram partially showing an outline of the piping configuration between the disinfecting liquid tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the present embodiment.

  The configuration of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from that of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The only difference is that the disinfecting solution is stirred without circulating the disinfecting solution. Therefore, only this difference will be described, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a gas supply pipe 70 for supplying gas into the disinfectant tank 40 is provided in the disinfectant tank 40 so that the outlet 70 h is located in the disinfectant tank 40.

  In addition, a gas supply member 71 configured by an air pump, a compressor, or the like that supplies gas into the disinfectant tank 40 via the gas supply line 70 is provided in the middle position of the gas supply line 70.

  The gas supply member 71 is a compressor provided in the apparatus main body 2 for supplying gas into the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 and the endoscope channel in the endoscope 100 accommodated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4. It is also preferable to serve as both. According to this, the gas supply line 70 can be provided only by extending one line from the compressor in the apparatus main body 2 to the disinfectant tank 40. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, after the endoscope 100 is accommodated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 by the operator, the operator operates the instruction button on the sub operation panel 13 when performing the disinfection process of the endoscope 100. Then, an instruction to heat the disinfecting liquid S stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 to the set temperature is input.

  As a result, the heater 41 starts to heat the disinfectant solution S by the drive control of the control unit provided in the apparatus main body 2.

  Next, the control unit performs control for driving the gas supply member 71. Thereafter, gas is supplied into the disinfectant tank 40 from the outlet 70 h via the gas supply line 70. As a result, the disinfecting liquid S heated by the heater 41 is stirred by the supplied gas, and the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is heated to a uniform temperature without temperature unevenness.

  When the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is heated to the set temperature, the control unit stops the gas supply member 71. Thereafter, when an instruction to start the disinfection process is input from the main operation panel 25, control for driving the supply pump 43 is performed. As a result, the disinfecting liquid S in the disinfecting liquid tank 40 is supplied from the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 into the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 through the supply line 42, and the air / water supply / forceps port 33, forceps start The gas is supplied from the upper port 34 into various endoscope channels of the endoscope 100. After that, when the disinfecting liquid S is supplied up to the set amount, the control unit stops driving the supply pump 43.

  Finally, when the disinfection process of the endoscope 100 is completed, the disinfecting liquid S in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 4 is opened via the recovery conduit 44 by opening a valve (not shown) provided in the first drain port 55. And collected in the disinfectant tank 40.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the gas supply pipe 70 for supplying gas into the disinfectant tank 40 and the outlet 70 h are located in the disinfectant tank 40 in the disinfectant tank 40. A gas supply member 71 composed of an air pump, a compressor, or the like is provided in the middle of the gas supply line 70 and supplies gas into the disinfectant tank 40 via the gas supply line 70. I showed that. In addition, the gas supply member 71 is shown to also serve as a compressor provided in the apparatus main body 2.

  According to this, the disinfecting liquid S can be automatically stirred only by supplying the gas into the disinfecting liquid tank 40 via the gas supplying line 70, and the gas supplying line 70 is connected to the main body of the apparatus. 2 can be configured by providing only one compressor from the compressor provided in 2 to the disinfecting liquid tank 40. Therefore, the circulation line 45 is used for the disinfecting liquid tank 40 described in the first embodiment. The pipeline structure can be simplified as compared with the structure in which the disinfectant S is circulated. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

  Hereinafter, a modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram partially showing a schematic modification of the piping configuration between the disinfecting liquid tank and the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a balloon 72, which is an expansion / contraction member that expands and contracts with the supply of gas, may be provided at the outlet 70 h of the gas supply line 70. According to this, since the present embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is configured to supply gas to the disinfecting solution S, the disinfecting solution S may foam after the gas is supplied, but it is shown in FIG. Thus, according to the configuration in which the balloon 72 is expanded and contracted in the disinfecting solution S, the disinfecting solution S can be gently stirred without foaming the disinfecting solution S.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the disinfected object to be cleaned is shown by taking an endoscope as an example, but it goes without saying that it may be other than the endoscope. is there.

The perspective view of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus which shows 1st Embodiment. The perspective view of the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus which shows the state which the top cover of FIG. 1 was open | released and an endoscope can be accommodated in a washing | cleaning disinfection tank. The figure which shows the outline of the piping structure between the disinfection liquid tank and the washing | cleaning disinfection tank in the washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows partially the outline of the piping structure between the disinfection liquid tank and washing | cleaning disinfection tank in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows partially the modification of the outline of the piping structure between the disinfection liquid tank and washing | cleaning disinfection tank in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows partially the outline of the piping structure between the disinfection liquid tank and washing | cleaning disinfection tank in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows partially the modification of the outline of the piping structure between the disinfection liquid tank and washing | cleaning disinfection tank in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Cleaning and disinfection device (Endoscope cleaning and disinfection device)
4 ... Cleaning disinfection tank 40 ... Disinfection liquid tank (chemical solution tank)
41 ... Heater (heating member)
42 ... Supply line 43 ... Supply pump 44 ... Recovery line 45 ... Circulation line 45h ... Discharge port 45s ... Suction port 46 ... Circulation pump 61 ... Valve 62 ... Valve 70 ... Gas supply line 70h ... Outlet port 71 ... Gas supply member 72 ... Expansion / contraction member 100 ... Endoscope (disinfected article to be cleaned)
S ... Disinfectant

Claims (8)

An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device that automatically cleans and disinfects objects to be cleaned.
A cleaning / disinfecting tank in which the object to be cleaned is stored;
A chemical tank in which a disinfectant for disinfecting the object to be cleaned is stored;
A heating member provided in the chemical solution tank for heating the disinfectant solution stored in the chemical solution tank;
A supply line for supplying the disinfectant in the chemical tank to the cleaning / disinfecting tank;
A supply pump provided in the middle of the supply line;
A collection line for collecting the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the chemical liquid tank;
A circulation line for circulating the disinfecting liquid in the chemical tank with respect to the chemical tank;
An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus comprising:   The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a circulation pump is provided in a middle position of the circulation pipe.   The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction port and the discharge port of the circulation pipe are located in the chemical liquid tank. The suction port of the circulation line is connected to the outflow side of the supply pump of the supply line, and the discharge port of the circulation line is located in the chemical tank,
Whether the disinfecting liquid is supplied to the cleaning / disinfecting tank via the supply line or returned to the chemical tank via the circulation line, on the outflow side of the supply pump of the supply line. The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching valve.   The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the discharge port of the circulation pipe is connected to the recovery pipe. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device that automatically cleans and disinfects objects to be cleaned.
A cleaning / disinfecting tank in which the object to be cleaned is stored;
A chemical tank in which a disinfectant for disinfecting the object to be cleaned is stored;
A heating member provided in the chemical solution tank for heating the disinfectant solution stored in the chemical solution tank;
A supply line for supplying the disinfectant in the chemical tank to the cleaning / disinfecting tank;
A supply pump provided in the middle of the supply line;
A collection line for collecting the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning / disinfecting tank in the chemical liquid tank;
A gas supply line for supplying gas to the chemical tank;
An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus comprising:   The gas supply pipe line is extended from a gas supply member that supplies the gas to at least one of the cleaning / disinfecting tank and the object to be cleaned accommodated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to Item 6. At the end of the gas supply line, a blowout opening that opens into the chemical solution tank is provided,
The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein an expansion / contraction member that expands and contracts with supply of the gas is provided at the outlet.

Images