JP2010099181A - Switch for medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch for a medical device, in which a formation member for forming a sealed space is less likely to be deteriorated even after an autoclave process. <P>SOLUTION: In the switch 70, filler 84 is filled in the sealed space M formed of a board 74 and a cover member 76. Compared to the sealed space which is not filled with the filler 84, there is less inner cavity in the sealed space, and air in the sealed space is reduced or eliminated. In the autoclave process, therefore, contraction-expansion in the sealed space M is alleviated even in a case where pressure variation has occurred outside the sealed space M. Since due effects are not given to the board 74 and the cover member 76, the board 74 and the cover member 76 are less likely to deteriorate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical device switch used for a medical endoscope or the like.

  A medical endoscope inserts an insertion portion into a body cavity to observe an organ or the like, or performs various treatments and treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool insertion channel of the endoscope. For this reason, when an endoscope that has been used once is reused for other patients, it is necessary to disinfect and sterilize the endoscope after completion of examination and treatment in order to prevent infection between patients via the endoscope. There is. For disinfection and sterilization, there are methods using an autoclave that is sterilization using disinfectant solution, ethylene oxide gas, formalin gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, ozone, high temperature and high pressure steam.

  An autoclave that sterilizes an endoscope with high-temperature and high-pressure steam is a disinfection and sterilization method that has been widely used worldwide. This method has many merits such as high reliability of sterilization effect, no residual toxicity, low running cost, etc., but it includes a step of drying under reduced pressure before sterilization and a step of applying high pressure during sterilization. Have. Under such an environment, there is a problem that damage to the medical device is very large.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes an endoscope that does not increase the overall configuration of the push button device even when autoclave sterilization is performed, and does not change the operation feeling of the switch.

  The endoscope disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a switch 41 that switches between a contact state and a non-contact state between a fixed contact 49 and a deformed contact 48 that is partially or entirely elastically deformed, and covers the switch 41 in a watertight manner. The push button device 24 includes a pressing member 42 to which an operation of elastically deforming the deforming contact 48 and bringing it into contact with the fixed contact 49 is applied.

In the push button device 24, the movement amount of the deforming contact 48 caused by the total displacement amount according to the deformation of the pressing member 42 due to at least one of the pressure and the thermal load in the process of the high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization treatment is The distance between the reference position in a state where the contact 48 is not elastically deformed and the position in contact with the fixed contact is not more than the distance.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-255107 (FIG. 2)

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the fixed contact 49 and the deformed contact 48 are housed in an airtight space formed by the housing body 45 and the holding lid 46. For this reason, there has been a problem that the air in the airtight space contracts and expands due to reduced pressure drying before sterilization before autoclaving and sterilization and the storage body 45 and the holding lid 46 deteriorate.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a switch for a medical device in which the forming member forming the sealed space is not easily deteriorated even if autoclaving is performed in consideration of the above fact.

  A medical device switch according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a forming member that forms a sealed space, and a signal generator that is housed in the sealed space and generates an on / off electrical signal by an operation from outside the forming member. And a filler filled in the sealed space.

  According to this configuration, the signal generator generates an on / off signal by an operation from the outside of the forming member.

  Here, in the structure of Claim 1 of this invention, the filler is filled in the sealed space formed of the formation member. Thereby, compared with the sealed space not filled with the filler, the cavity in the sealed space is reduced, and the air in the sealed space is reduced or the air is lost.

  For this reason, even if pressure fluctuation occurs outside the sealed space in the autoclave process, the shrinkage / expansion in the sealed space is reduced, and the forming member is not affected by this, so that the forming member is hardly deteriorated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medical device switch according to the first aspect, wherein the filler is an insulating liquid having an insulating property.

  According to this configuration, since the insulating liquid has insulating properties, the filler itself is less likely to contract and expand than air. For this reason, even when pressure fluctuations occur outside the sealed space, shrinkage / expansion within the sealed space is reduced, and the forming member is less likely to deteriorate.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the medical device switch according to the first or second aspect, the signal generator generates an on / off signal by an external pressing operation and is deformed by the pressing operation. And a click feeling imparting member for imparting a click feeling to the operator.

  According to this configuration, even when pressure fluctuations occur outside the sealed space, the contraction / expansion within the sealed space is reduced, and the influence of the click feeling imparting member is not affected. Become.

  Since this invention was set as the said structure, even if it autoclaves, the formation member which forms sealed space becomes difficult to deteriorate.

Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
First, the overall configuration of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment is provided in an endoscope 10 that is detachably connected to an endoscope 10 that includes an imaging unit (not shown) and an endoscope 10. A light source device 66 for supplying illumination light to the light guide, and connected to the endoscope 10 via a signal cable 68 to control the image pickup means of the endoscope 10 and process signals obtained from the image pickup means. A video processor 67 that outputs a standard video signal and a monitor 69 that receives the video signal from the video processor 67 and displays an endoscopic image are configured. The endoscope 10 is configured to be sterilized by high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization (hereinafter referred to as autoclave sterilization) after washing after being used for observation and treatment.

  The endoscope 10 has a long insertion portion 12 that is flexible and is inserted into a body cavity of a patient, an operation portion 14 provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion 12, and the operation portion 14. A flexible universal cord 16 extending from the side of the connector, a connector 18 that can be detachably connected to the light source device 66 provided at the end of the universal cord 16, and a side of the connector 18 A signal cable 68 that extends to the video processor 67 and can be connected to the video processor 67 is provided with an electrical connector portion 20 that can be detachably connected.

  The connecting portion between the insertion portion 12 and the operation portion 14 is provided with an insertion portion side anti-folding member 13 having an elastic member that prevents sudden bending of the connection portion. Similarly, the operation portion 14 and the universal cord 16 are provided. The connection portion between the universal cord 16 and the connector portion 18 is provided with a connector portion side bending prevention member 24.

  The insertion portion 12 is provided at a distal end with a flexible flexible tube portion 26 having flexibility, a bending portion 28 that can be bent by an operation of the operation portion 14 provided on the distal end side of the flexible tube portion 26, and the distal end. It is comprised from the front-end | tip part 30 by which the observation optical system, illumination optical system, etc. which are not illustrated are arrange | positioned.

  The operation unit 14 includes an air / water supply operation button 32 for operating an air supply operation and a water supply operation, a suction operation button 34 for operating a suction operation, and a bending operation knob 36 for performing a bending operation of the bending unit 28. And a plurality of switches 70 for remotely operating the video processor 67, and a treatment instrument insertion which is an opening communicating with a treatment instrument channel for inserting a treatment instrument disposed in the insertion portion 12 and sucking a liquid in a body cavity. A mouth 38 is provided. The structure of the switch 70 will be described later.

  An air supply / water supply nozzle (not shown) for ejecting cleaning liquid or gas toward the observation window of an observation optical system (not shown) by the air supply operation and the water supply operation, and a treatment disposed in the insertion portion 12 are provided at the distal end portion 30. A suction port (not shown) that is an opening on the distal end side of the instrument channel is provided. In addition, a liquid feed port (not shown) for ejecting the liquid that is opened toward the observation object is provided.

  The connector unit 18 includes a gas supply base 42 that is detachably connected to a gas supply source (not shown) built in the light source device 66, and a water supply tank pressure that is detachably connected to a water supply tank 44 that is a liquid supply source. A base 46 and a liquid supply base 48, a suction base 50 connected to a suction source (not shown) for performing suction from the suction port of the tip end 30, and an illustration for supplying water from the liquid feed port of the tip 30. There is provided an injection cap 52 connected to the water supply means that does not. In addition, the connector 18 is provided with a ground terminal cap 54 for returning the leakage current to the high-frequency treatment device when a high-frequency leakage current is generated in the endoscope when a high-frequency treatment or the like is performed.

  The electrical connector portion 20 is provided with a vent hole (not shown) that communicates the inside and the outside of the endoscope 10. In addition, a waterproof cap 56 can be detachably connected to the electrical connector portion 20, and the waterproof cap 56 is provided with a pressure regulating valve (not shown), here a check valve.

  In the autoclave sterilization described above, a sterilization storage case (hereinafter referred to as a storage case) 60 for storing the endoscope 10 is used.

  The storage case 60 includes a tray 62 that stores the endoscope 10 and a lid member 64 of the tray 62. The tray 62 and the lid member 64 are provided with a plurality of vent holes (not shown) so that water vapor can pass through these holes during autoclave sterilization.

  The tray 62 is formed with a restriction portion (not shown) corresponding to the endoscope 10, and each portion of the endoscope 10 is placed in a predetermined position in the restriction portion. The restricting portion is provided with an insertion portion restricting portion (not shown) in which the insertion portion 12 having flexibility is accommodated.

  Typical conditions for autoclave sterilization are American Standards Association approved, American Standard ANSI / AAMIST 37-1992 issued by Medical Device Development Association, prevacuum type sterilization process at 132 ° C for 4 minutes, gravity type sterilization process at 132 ° C for 10 minutes It is said that.

  The temperature conditions during the sterilization process of autoclave sterilization (high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization) vary depending on the type of autoclave sterilization apparatus (high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization apparatus) and the time of the sterilization process, but generally range from 115 ° C to 138 ° C. Set by. Some sterilizers can be set to about 142 ° C. The time condition varies depending on the temperature condition of the sterilization process, but is generally set to about 3 to 60 minutes. Some types of sterilizers can be set to about 100 minutes.

  The pressure in the sterilization chamber in this process is generally set to about +0.2 MPa with respect to atmospheric pressure.

In a general pre-vacuum type high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization process, a pre-vacuum process in which the sterilization chamber containing the equipment to be sterilized is depressurized before the sterilization process, and then high-pressure high-temperature steam is sent into the sterilization chamber for sterilization. The sterilization process to be performed is included. The pre-vacuum process is a process for allowing the steam to penetrate into the details of the sterilization target device during the subsequent sterilization process, and the high pressure and high temperature steam is distributed throughout the sterilization target device by reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber.
The pressure in the sterilization chamber in the pre-vacuum process is generally set to about -0.07 MPa to -0.09 MPa with respect to atmospheric pressure.

  Some of them include a drying step in which the inside of the sterilization chamber is decompressed again after the sterilization step in order to dry the sterilization target device after sterilization. In this process, the inside of the sterilization chamber is decompressed to remove steam from the sterilization chamber, and the drying of the equipment to be sterilized in the sterilization chamber is promoted. In this process, the pressure in the sterilization chamber is generally set to about -0.07 to -0.09 MPa with respect to the atmospheric pressure.

(Configuration of switch 70)
Next, the configuration of the switch 70 will be described. 2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the switch 70. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch 70 includes a substrate 74 on which a first electrode 71 and a second electrode 72 are formed. The substrate 74 is made of a resin substrate or the like and has an insulating property.

  A cover body 76 that covers the surface of the substrate 74 is provided on the surface of the substrate 74 on which the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 are formed. The cover body 76 is formed of a deformable film body. As the cover body 76, for example, fluorine rubber is used, and the thickness thereof is, for example, 0.2 mm.

  The substrate 74 and the cover body 76 function as a forming member that forms a sealed space, and a sealed space M that is blocked from the outside by the substrate 74 and the cover body 76 is formed.

  In the sealed space M, a click dome 78, a first electrode 71, and a second electrode 72 are accommodated as a signal generating unit that generates an on / off electrical signal by an operation from the outside of the cover body 76.

  On the outer surface side of the cover body 76 (on the side opposite to the side where the substrate 74 is present when viewed from the cover body 76), a pressing portion 80 that is pressed and displaced by an operator who presses the switch 70 is provided.

  The pressing portion 80 includes a cylindrical portion 80C having one end opened and the other end closed, and a flange portion 80D projecting outward from the open end portion 80A of the cylindrical portion 80C. The cylinder portion 80C has an open end portion 80A that is open on one end side, and a closed end portion 80B that is closed on the other end side. The surface of the closed end 80B is a pressing surface 80E that is pressed by the operator.

  Further, between the closed end 80B of the pressing portion 80 and the cover body 76, a contact portion 82 for transmitting the pressing force pressed by the pressing surface 80E to the click dome 78 serving as a signal generating portion is disposed. .

  The contact portion 82 is formed in a T shape in a side view. A portion that forms a T-shaped horizontal line is formed on the plate, and forms a contact portion 82A that contacts the opposite surface 80F of the closed end 80B opposite to the pressing surface 80E.

  A portion that forms a T-shaped vertical line is formed in a bar shape, and transmits a pressing force to the click dome 78 to function as a transmitting portion 82B that deforms the click dome 78.

  The contact portion 82 moves toward the cover body 76 and the click dome 78 when the pressing surface 80 </ b> E of the pressing portion 80 is pressed, and the transmission portion 82 </ b> B moves the central portion (part) of the cover body 76 and the click dome 78. It comes to press.

  On the other hand, the first electrode 71 is formed in an annular shape in plan view, and the second electrode 72 is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the first electrode 71. When the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 are energized, the switch 70 is turned on, and when the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 are de-energized, the switch 70 is turned off.

  The click dome 78 is formed of a conductive member, and the outer peripheral portion (end portion) is electrically connected to the first electrode 71.

  Further, the click dome 78 is formed in a dome shape whose central portion is convex toward the pressing portion 80 side, and is configured by an elastic member that is elastically deformed by an external force.

  The click dome 78 has a deformed state (the state shown in FIG. 3) that is deformed when the convex center portion is pressed by the contact portion 82 toward the substrate 74 side, and the pressing force is removed to the original state. The state changes to a return state (state shown in FIG. 2) to return. In the deformed state, the click dome 78 is in contact with the second electrode 72 and energized between the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72, and in the restored state, the click dome 78 is not in contact with the second electrode 72. The first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 are configured not to be energized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the click dome 78 is constituted by a circular plate body in which a porous 78A is formed. The porous 78A is for releasing the filler 84 between the click dome 78 and the substrate 74 when the click dome 78 is in a deformed state.

  As the click dome 78, for example, stainless steel is used. The thickness of the click dome 78 is, for example, 0.2 mm, and the diameter of the porous hole formed in the click dome 78 is, for example, 2 mm.

  Further, the click dome 78 functions as a click feeling imparting member that imparts a click feeling to the operator. Specifically, the pressing sensation until the click dome 78 comes into contact with the second electrode 72 having a concave shape recessed toward the substrate 74 side, and the sensation of pushing back by the recoil returning from the concave shape to the original convex shape, A so-called click feeling is given to the operator, and the click feeling is a skin sensation that recognizes whether the switch 70 is turned on or off via the pressing unit 80.

  Here, in this embodiment, the sealed space M is filled with the filler 84.

  The filler 84 needs to have a property that hardly causes expansion and contraction even when the pressure outside the sealed space M fluctuates, and at least a material that has a property that hardly causes expansion and contraction than air. Selected. In this respect, the filler 84 is preferably not a gas.

  Moreover, since the filler 84 needs to move when the click dome 78 deform | transforms, it needs to have fluidity | liquidity. Examples of the fluid having fluidity include gas, liquid, jelly-like material, and powder.

  In addition, the filler 84 needs to insulate between the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 except when the first electrode 71 and the second electrode 72 are energized by the click dome 78. It must have insulating properties.

  From the above, as the filler 84, for example, an insulating liquid having insulating properties is preferably used. As the insulating liquid, for example, fluorine oil is used.

  Further, it is desirable that the sealed space M is filled with the filler 84 without any gap so that no air exists in the sealed space M. Note that air may exist in the sealed space M.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when the click dome 78 is made into a deformation | transformation state, it is good also as a structure which escapes the filler 84 between the click dome 78 and the board | substrate 74 to a horizontal direction.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the cover body 76 is configured to be capable of projecting and deforming by projecting toward the outer peripheral side of the click dome 78, and the filler 84 between the click dome 78 and the substrate 74 is formed by the click dome. It escapes to the outer peripheral side of 78.

(Operational effect of the switch 70 according to the present embodiment)
In the switch 70 according to this embodiment, the filler 84 is filled in the sealed space M formed by the substrate 74 and the cover body 76. Thereby, compared with the sealed space not filled with the filler 84, the cavity in the sealed space is reduced, and the air in the sealed space is reduced or the air is lost.

  For this reason, even when pressure fluctuations occur outside the sealed space M in the autoclave process, the shrinkage / expansion in the sealed space M is reduced, and the substrate 74 and the cover body 76 are not affected by this. The cover body 76 is unlikely to deteriorate.

  If the filler 84 is an insulating liquid, the filler 84 itself is less likely to contract and expand than air. For this reason, even when pressure fluctuations occur outside the sealed space M, contraction / expansion in the sealed space M is reduced, and the substrate 74 and the cover body 76 are not easily deteriorated.

  Furthermore, since the click dome 78 is not affected by the contraction / expansion in the sealed space M similarly to the substrate 74 and the cover body 76, the click dome 78 is hardly deteriorated.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation, change, and improvement are possible. In the present embodiment, the switch 70 used in the endoscope 10 has been described. However, the configuration of the present embodiment can be widely applied to switches for other medical devices, and in particular, a sterilization process with a pressure change is performed. It can use suitably for the switch for medical devices to perform.

  Further, the switch is not limited to a switch operated, and may be any configuration in which the operator applies an external force to deform the click dome 78 by lever operation or the like.

(Reference example)
As a configuration in which air is not confined in the sealed space, the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be used. 6 and 7, the same parts as those in the above configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an elastic body 90 such as rubber is disposed between the substrate 74 and the pressing portion 80. The elastic body 90 has a dome shape in which the central portion is convex toward the pressing portion 80 side. The central portion is deformed by being depressed by being pressed by the contact portion 82. A click dome 78 is enclosed inside the elastic body 90. The click dome 78 is not formed with a porous 78A.

  In addition, a signal generator 92 that generates an on / off electrical signal by detecting deformation of the click dome 78 is enclosed in the elastic body 90 adjacent to the click dome 78. As the signal generation unit 92, a strain gauge or a piezo film that is deformed by the deformation of the click dome 78 is used.

  The strain gauge is a mechanical sensor for measuring strain, and the strain is detected by measuring a change in electric resistance due to the deformation with a bridge circuit or the like.

  A piezo film generates a voltage (electric power) due to its deformation. Therefore, the deformation of the piezo film is detected by detecting a change in the voltage.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the endoscope apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the switch which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which pressed the press part in the switch which concerns on this embodiment. In the switch concerning this embodiment, it is an outline sectional view showing the composition which makes a filler escape in the transverse direction. It is a schematic plan view which shows the structure of the click dome which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the member which shows the structure of the switch concerning a reference example. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which pressed the press part in the switch which concerns on a reference example.

Explanation of symbols

70 switch (medical device switch)
71 1st electrode (signal generation part)
72 Second electrode (signal generator)
74 Substrate (Forming member)
76 Cover body (forming member)
78 Click Dome (Signal generator, click feeling imparting member)
84 Filler M Sealed space

Claims (3)

A forming member that forms a sealed space;
A signal generator that is housed in the sealed space and generates an on / off electrical signal by an operation from the outside of the forming member;
A filler filled in the sealed space;
A switch for medical equipment.   The medical device switch according to claim 1, wherein the filler is an insulating liquid having an insulating property.   3. The signal generation unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a click feeling imparting member that generates an on / off signal by a pressing operation from the outside and that deforms by the pressing operation to impart a click feeling to the operator. The medical device switch described.

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