JP2016129718A - Endoscope storage and cushioning material for endoscope storage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope storage capable of keeping cleanliness of an endoscope without adversely affecting the endoscope such as deterioration.SOLUTION: In the endoscope storage, an endoscope hanger includes an upper hanger and a lower hanger, a cushioning material is disposed detachably below the lower hanger on the inner wall face side of an endoscope storage unit, and the cushioning material has a two or more layer structure having one side made of a waterproof fabric and the other side made of a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fiber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope storage.

An endoscope is a device that is used repeatedly. Disinfection and storage are important because there is a risk of infection associated with reuse.
Guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes (2nd edition, 2004) are provided by the Japanese Gastroenterological Endoscopy Engineers Safety Management Committee. These guidelines include basic content to prevent medical-related infections through endoscopes, infection control principles, endoscope structure, effective cleaning / disinfection methods and drugs, occupational safety, etc. It is described systematically. As a disinfection method after endoscope cleaning, disinfection of 2% glutaral for 10 minutes, 0.55% phthalal for 5 minutes, 0.3% peracetic acid for 5 minutes, etc. has been introduced. The storage after disinfection is described as follows. If moisture remains in the endoscope channel, bacteria will increase during storage, so it is dried to prevent the bacteria from increasing. Therefore, the endoscope is stored on a hanger without attaching an air / water supply button, a suction button, a forceps plug, or the like.

For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-136613) proposes an endoscope storage bag in which a disinfectant is sealed.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-313113) detects a sterilization lamp that sterilizes an accommodating part in which a cleaned and disinfected endoscope is accommodated, and whether or not the endoscope is accommodated in the accommodating part. An endoscope storage unit including an endoscope detection switch and a CPU that controls the germicidal lamp to be turned on or off based on the detection result of the endoscope detection switch, and is housed in the storage. If the endoscope is exposed to ultraviolet rays or ozone gas for a long time, the endoscope, for example, the outer surface of the insertion section deteriorates due to chemical action. When it is, it is an invention for controlling the germicidal lamp to turn off.
Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-115268) has a mechanism in which an endoscope housing portion is positioned above a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus and supplies a vapor of medicine evaporated from the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus to the endoscope housing section. An endoscope storage has been proposed that has an air cleaning function and can be efficiently arranged in a reprocessing chamber.

Although an endoscope storage is proposed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, it is not widely used in practice. In general, the endoscope storage is not installed in a special environment such as a clean room, but in a storage room that is not different from the normal environment, and bacteria floating in the storage room enter the storage. There is a risk. In addition, when an endoscope immediately after washing and disinfection is stored in a storage room in which bacteria enter, at least in a state where moisture has adhered to the duct, the bacteria may propagate in the moisture. If a germicidal lamp or ozone is used, the flexible resin material part of the endoscope may deteriorate and the endoscope may not be usable.
Regarding the cleaning and disinfection of the endoscope itself, the “Gastrointestinal Endoscope Cleaning and Disinfection Multi-Society Guidelines (2008 1st Edition)” and the like are provided, and the cleaning and disinfection are stipulated in detail. Regarding storage, it is only described as “The endoscope must be stored in the storage room with the air / water supply button, suction button, forceps plug, etc. removed”, and the explanation is “in the endoscope channel. If moisture remains, bacteria will grow during storage, and the endoscope channel should be thoroughly dried.To do this, the endoscope should be equipped with an air / water button, suction button, forceps plug, etc. It must be stored on a hanger without being worn, and the UV germicidal lamp in the storage is inadequate in structure and has the risk of damaging the eyes, and the effect on the endoscope It is unnecessary for such reasons. "
However, the specific mechanism of the storage is not specified at all, and in reality, it is a structure like a storage locker with a hanger for an endoscope, and no mechanism for keeping it dry is provided. . The same applies to the storage of medical instruments such as scalpels, forceps, syringes, suction tubes, and sutures.
The present applicant has previously proposed an endoscope storage that performs clean air ventilation (Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-214886). In addition, we are developing an endoscope storage that maintains cleanliness.

JP 2009-136613 A JP 2007-313113 A JP 2010-115268 A

  An object of the present invention is to develop an endoscope storage that can maintain cleanliness in an enclosed space of an endoscope storage without causing adverse effects such as deterioration on the endoscope.

The present inventor has realized a storage such as an endoscope that can keep a clean state by promoting drying of the endoscope that has been cleaned and disinfected, preventing water vapor from staying in the storage. .
1. An endoscope storage unit equipped with an endoscope storage unit in which an endoscope hanger is installed,
The endoscope hanger has an upper hanger and a lower hanger.
On the inner wall surface side of the endoscope storage unit, a cushioning material is disposed detachably below the lower hanger,
An endoscope storage, wherein the cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which one side is a waterproof fabric and a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is arranged on the other side.
2. An endoscope storage unit equipped with an endoscope storage unit in which an endoscope hanger is installed,
The endoscope hanger has an upper hanger and a lower hanger.
A cushioning material is detachably placed on the bottom of the endoscope storage unit.
The cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which one side is a waterproof fabric, a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is disposed on the surface, and a waterproof fabric is disposed on the back surface. A featured endoscope storage.
3.1. Or 2. It is a buffer material for an endoscope storage as described in
A cushioning material for an endoscope storage, characterized in that one side is a waterproof fabric and the other side is at least a two-layer structure in which a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is arranged.
4). 2. It has antibacterial properties. The buffer material for endoscope storage as described.
5. 2. It has electrical conductivity. Or 4. The buffer material for endoscope storage as described.
6). An endoscope storage unit equipped with a fan unit and an endoscope storage unit,
The fan unit has an opening that allows air to flow in from the fan and endoscope storage unit, and an opening that sends it out.
The endoscope storage unit includes an endoscope hanger, a dehumidifier, and an air duct extending from the endoscope storage unit to the fan unit.
When the opening / closing part of the endoscope storage unit is closed, the endoscope storage is configured to form a space that is blocked from outside air, and air is circulated between the endoscope storage unit and the fan unit. 1. Or 2. The listed endoscope storage.
7). The endoscope hanger is provided with a latching slit and is detachably arranged in two upper and lower stages. The upper hanger that locks the operation part of the endoscope and the lower hanger that locks the connector part of the endoscope 5. It is characterized by the above. The listed endoscope storage.

1. The present invention is an endoscope storage cabinet in which a buffer material in which one surface side is made of a transpiration material and the other surface side is made of a waterproof material is disposed, and a buffer material for the endoscope storage material. In addition to protecting the endoscope from colliding with the inner wall of the storage and preventing it from being broken, a storage such as an endoscope that can keep a clean state by preventing the propagation of various bacteria has been realized. Due to the detachable cushioning material, it is possible to easily prevent the endoscope from being damaged due to storage and keep the inside of the storage cabinet clean. By imparting antibacterial properties, the buffer material can reduce the activity of bacteria, suppress growth, and maintain cleanliness.
2. Endoscope storage cushioning material has a waterproof surface and a waterproof surface with a mesh surface using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers, and a transpiration surface. Thus, the dropped water droplets can be quickly evaporated.
3. By using the cushioning material of the present invention, the inner wall of the storage can be protected from moisture by quickly evaporating without accumulating moisture so that the endoscope storage does not become a place for breeding bacteria. And since a shock absorbing material is latched to the hook etc. which were provided in the inner wall surface, and it can attach or detach, disinfection, washing, and replacement | exchange are possible.
4). When disinfecting / washing, use cushioning materials that are resistant to washing and disinfection.
5. Furthermore, by providing conductivity to the buffer material, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the buffer material due to antistatic.

Furthermore, the following effects can be exhibited by adding the configuration.
6). Since the electrolysis dehumidifier decomposes water molecules, it does not generate drain water, does not require a drainage function, and can prevent the occurrence of contamination due to dehumidification such as the propagation of germs accompanying drainage.
7). An opening is provided in the wall on the back surface of the dehumidifier installation part, and water molecules to be synthesized are released outside the chamber by the electrolytic dehumidifier. This opening is an installation concept in which outside air does not flow into the cabinet, and is tightly sealed and sealed with a dehumidifier through a packing or the like.
8). Since the air duct for air circulation is configured as a hollow column at the corners on both sides of the opening to which the opening and closing door is attached, it can also be used as a column of a storage unit such as an endoscope and does not affect the effective space in the storage.
9. By making parts such as a hanger member and cushioning material in the endoscope storage section detachable, the parts can be easily sterilized, cleaned, replaced, disinfected and cleaned in the cabinet.
10. By constructing a storage such as an endoscope in a fan unit and an endoscope storage unit, both can be manufactured separately and assembled together to be integrated. The handleability of the endoscope storage can be facilitated while sufficiently securing a height space for storing a long endoscope. The fan unit can be provided with a filter to capture dust and bacteria and maintain cleanliness in the endoscope storage unit.
11. Air is supplied from the upper part and sucked from the lower part, so that the air circulates throughout and can keep the drying. The adjuster can be installed in the correct position according to the installation location.
12 By providing an inclination so that the end portion of the guide groove for the sliding door becomes shallow, dust that has fallen into the groove portion can be easily cleaned, and the cleanliness of the storage can be maintained.
13. As with the endoscope storage, the medical device storage can be kept clean by preventing invasion of various bacteria and maintaining a dry environment.

The figure which shows the front of the endoscope storage The figure which shows the longitudinal section of the endoscope storage Partial overhead view showing the locked state of the endoscope The figure which shows the back of the endoscope storage Top view and cross-sectional view of endoscope storage Fan unit and endoscope storage unit assembly diagram (a) Fan unit perspective view, (b) Fan unit bottom view, (c) Endoscope storage unit upper perspective view Fan unit perspective view Diagram showing installation example of dehumidifier The figure which shows the longitudinal section of the medical equipment storage

The present invention relates to an endoscope storage and a medical instrument storage. The present invention provides a dehumidifier and an air circulation device to promote drying of a endoscope that has been cleaned and disinfected in a closed state that is shut off from outside air, while preventing invasion of germs from the outside, This endoscope storage is capable of preventing the floating bacteria from staying and growing inside and keeping it in a clean state.
In the following description, the endoscope storage will be mainly described. However, since the structure is common to the medical instrument except for the endoscope-specific structure such as an endoscope hanger, duplicate description is omitted. By replacing "endoscope" with "medical instrument", it can be applied to a medical instrument storage.
The endoscope storage of the present invention is provided with a cushioning material that maintains cleanliness.
The cushioning material is detachably installed on the wall surface or bottom surface of the lower hanger of the endoscope storage unit.
This cushioning material protects the parts of the endoscope from hitting the inner wall of the storage and breaking.
This cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which a waterproof fabric is the front and a transpirationable fabric is arranged on the back.
For the transpiration, a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers can be used.
Water droplets may be generated from the endoscope after disinfection / cleaning, and may drop or droop down the inner wall of the storage. Moisture adhering to the back surface of the cushioning material is quickly evaporated from the braid woven from the mesh.
This shock absorbing material can quickly evaporate the dropped water drops by laying on the floor surface with the mesh surface facing up.
Furthermore, the use of conductive yarns prevents static electricity from charging, and dust that has come in when the door is opened or closed does not adhere to the cushioning material, but is discharged from the exhaust section together with air to the outside of the storage. Antibacterial properties can also be imparted by photocatalysts, silver ions, and the like.
By using this cushioning material, it is possible to protect the inner wall of the storage room from moisture by quickly evaporating without accumulating moisture so that the endoscope storage room does not become a place for various bacteria propagation. And since a shock absorbing material is latched to the hook etc. which were provided in the inner wall surface, and it can attach or detach, disinfection, washing, and replacement | exchange are possible. When disinfecting / washing, use cushioning materials that are resistant to washing and disinfection.
With this detachable cushioning material, it is possible to easily prevent the endoscope from being damaged due to storage and keep the inside of the storage cabinet clean.

An explanation will be given below by taking as an example an endoscope storage that includes a fan unit and an endoscope storage unit.
The fan unit supplies clean air to the endoscope storage unit via an air cleaner equipped with a filter and a blower. The endoscope storage unit is configured to suspend and store the endoscope, and is equipped with a dehumidifier, which takes in clean air from the upper part and sucks air from the lower part using the air duct to the fan unit. It is a configuration that supplies air. As a general rule, the blower should be operated at all times, and the endoscope storage room always flows clean air and circulates in a state where it is shut off from the outside. Maintained.
Both units can be formed separately and assembled, or can be formed in one housing. Endoscope types, especially digestive endoscopes, must be hung so that long members do not get hooked, and a high suspension length is ensured. Are better. Also, an endoscope storage unit formed according to the type of endoscope to be stored and a separate fan unit can be combined.
In the endoscope storage unit, dehumidified dry air circulates without stagnation, so even if moisture adheres to the endoscope due to disinfection and cleaning after use, the moisture evaporates and the inside of the storage is Dryness is maintained. By maintaining the dry state, even if bacteria are attached to the endoscope, they cannot grow and the amount of bacteria is not so high as to cause infection. Since the operation part of the endoscope has a complicated structure, there is a risk that cleaning and disinfection will not be sufficient and moisture will remain. Since clean air circulates constantly, drying of the endoscope is promoted and maintained, and an increase in fungi is suppressed, so that the endoscope can be stored cleanly. Furthermore, if an air shower that blows air to a complicated shape portion such as an operation portion is provided, the operation portion can be actively dried.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with specific examples.
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 shows the front appearance of the endoscope storage A. FIG. 2 is a side sectional longitudinal sectional view. 3 is an internal overhead view, FIG. 4 is a rear view, and FIG. 5 is a plan view and a cross section.
The endoscope storage A has a configuration in which the fan unit 1 is assembled on the endoscope storage unit 2.
The fan unit 1 has an air cleaner 3 disposed therein, and an air supply portion including an opening 17 is provided on the bottom surface on which the air cleaner 3 is installed. On the outer surface, a display unit 12 provided with an operation switch and an operation status display of an air cleaner or the like is attached.
The endoscope storage unit 2 is formed with an opening / closing part 21, and an upper hanger 61 and a lower hanger 62 for locking the endoscope are provided in two stages, and a clean surface comprising an opening 25 a on the upper surface. An air intake section is provided. The opening 25a and the opening 17 are formed so as to communicate with each other. The air duct 5 is arranged at the corner of the opening / closing part 21. An air intake opening 52 is provided below the air duct 5, and the upper end of the air duct has an opening 53 that communicates with the fan unit.
A dehumidifier 4 is installed on the wall surface of the endoscope storage unit 2. In this example, it is attached to the back plate, but it can also be attached to the side plate. As the dehumidifier, an electrolysis type dehumidifier that does not generate drain water is suitable.
A cushioning material cushioning mat 72 is installed on the floor on the inner wall surface below the lower hanger 62. In FIG. 1, the opening / closing part 21 is provided with a sliding door, but it may be a door. An adjuster 27 is provided on the bottom surface of the endoscope storage unit 2 so as to be installed horizontally. The endoscope storage unit can be provided with an air shower provided with an air supply tube that can extend from the fan unit to the upper hanger or the lower hanger.
The housing of the fan unit and the endoscope storage unit is made of metal, and stainless steel or steel is used. By bending the end of the steel material to form a hollow pipe, the air duct can be configured simultaneously with the processing of the housing.
In the illustrated example, both units are configured separately, but can be configured in a single housing. Specific assembly of the fan unit 1 and the endoscope storage unit 2 will be described later.
The air taken in from the air duct 5 of the endoscope storage unit 2 is collected from floating dust by a fine filter provided in the air cleaner 3, and aseptic clean air is removed from the upper part of the endoscope storage unit 2. Supplied and discharged from the lower exhaust part 26. Inside the endoscope storage unit, clean air constantly flows, and moisture adhering to the cleaned endoscope is removed by the dehumidifier, avoiding humid conditions such as growth of fungi, keeping dry and storing Endoscope can be stored cleanly.

[Fan unit]
An example of the fan unit 1 will be described mainly based on the descriptions in FIGS.
The fan unit 1 has a casing-like appearance, and an air cleaner 3 including an air supply fan 39 and a fine filter 55 is disposed therein. The top plate 15 is installed to be openable and closable so that maintenance such as an air cleaner can be performed. An opening 17 is provided in the bottom plate 16. The opening 17 is open to an air vent provided on the lower surface of the air cleaner 3. A differential pressure sensor 33 that detects a pressure difference between the endoscope storage 2 and the air cleaner 3 can be disposed inside the fan unit. Openings 33a and 33b for attaching a detection tube for the differential pressure sensor 33 from the fan unit 1 into the endoscope storage unit 2 are provided in both units.
The power cord 35 is extended for a power source such as an air cleaner.

In the present invention, since the cleaned endoscope is basically stored in a state where it is cut off from the outside, the cleanliness is maintained. Therefore, the air cleaner is centered on a fan for blowing air. In the present embodiment, an example of the air cleaner 3 in which the cleaner function is enhanced by taking care of unintended generation of bacteria and generation of dust will be described.
The air cleaner 3 has a configuration in which a fine filter 55 is disposed on the opening 17 side and a fan 39 is disposed above the fine filter 55.
The fan case 31 is stacked above the filter case 32 so as to communicate with each other, and is attached so as to be separable. An opening 31 a is provided on the upper surface of the fan case 31, and a cover filter 56 is disposed in the opening. A fan 39 is built in the filter case 32. The lower surface of the filter case 32 is covered with a filter cover provided with a ventilation portion, and is fixed to the bottom plate 16 with screws or the like. The filter case is filled with a fine filter 55. An operation lamp is arranged in the center of the bottom plate 16, and a mechanism for checking the operation state of the fan unit and the open / close half door of the door from the inside of the endoscope storage unit is provided.
By operating the fan 39, the air sucked through the cover filter 56 is guided to the fine filter 55, and floating dust and bacteria are collected by the fine filter, and clean air is supplied from the ventilation portion.
The fine filter 55 can be replaced by removing the fan case 31, and can be replaced periodically or when the filter performance is deteriorated. This maintenance is performed by attaching and detaching the screws 81 that hold the top plate 15.
A plurality of air cleaners 3 can be provided depending on the size of the endoscope storage A and the output of the air cleaner.
In order to balance the air pressure between the fan unit and the endoscope storage unit, a small adjustment opening with a throttle may be provided on the wall surface of the fan unit. When air leaks from the endoscope storage unit or when the positive pressure is maintained, it is necessary to replenish the amount of air supplied from the fan unit. The adjustment opening is provided with an air filter and a slide shutter or the like that can adjust the intake air amount.

The top plate 15 is fixed to the frame of the unit using a screw 81 or the like so as to be opened and closed. By opening and closing the top plate 15, internal equipment installation and maintenance are performed. In this example, the opening / closing part is a top plate, but it is also possible to design the opening / closing part on the side plate.
The bottom plate 16 is provided with an opening 17. In addition, the bottom plate 16 is provided with female screws 84 at the four corners that serve as screw holes for assembling the endoscope storage unit 2. As described above, the opening 17 is set so as to be covered by the ventilation portion of the filter case of the air cleaner.
A display unit provided with an operating state of the air cleaner 3 and the like, an operation switch, and the like is provided on the front surface of the unit.
It is preferable to set the amount of air supplied from the air cleaner and the opening of the air duct so that the inside of the endoscope storage unit has a positive pressure. A differential pressure sensor 33 that detects that the pressure loss has increased due to clogging of the fine filter or the like can be installed in the fan unit 1. The detection data is displayed on the display unit.
It is desirable that filters, equipment, and equipment are detachably attached. To keep it clean, it can be removed and cleaned or disinfected, or replaced.

As the fine filter 55, a synthetic resin filter having a collecting ability with a diameter of 0.3 μm or less can be used. A HEPA filter (hepa filter, High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) that removes dust and dirt from the air and produces clean air can be used. The HEPA filter is a Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS standard) that has a particle collection rate of 99.97% or more with respect to particles with a particle size of 0.3 μm at the rated flow rate and an initial pressure loss of 245 Pa or less. It is defined as “Air Filter with” (JIS Z8122: Contamination control terminology). Furthermore, a precise ULPA filter (Ulpa filter, Ultra Low Penetration Air Filter) having a particle collection rate of 99.9995% or more with respect to particles having a particle size of 0.15 μm can be used.
By using this fine filter, airborne dust and bacteria can be collected, clean air can be supplied to the storage space of the endoscope, and endoscope contamination caused by outside air can be prevented.

[Endoscope storage unit]
As for the endoscope storage unit 2, examples of main structures are shown in FIGS.
The endoscope storage unit 2 is provided with an upper hanger 61 and a lower hanger 62 for locking the endoscope, and is provided as a protective material on the rear wall surface and the side wall surface below the lower hanger except for the installation location of the dehumidifier. A buffer mat 72 may be disposed on the buffer material and further on the floor surface.
The front side is an opening / closing part 21, and a sliding door and a door are provided. The top plate 25 is formed with an opening 25a corresponding to the opening 17 formed on the fan unit 1 side.
An air shower with an extension pipe can be installed on the ceiling of the unit so that the air hanger can be directly exposed to the upper and lower hangers. Drying can be promoted by applying clean air directly to the operation part and connector part of an endoscope that does not dry well.
When storing a digestive system endoscope, the endoscope storage part has a height of about 190 cm, the upper hanger 61 is arranged at a height of about 160 to 170 cm, and the lower hanger is arranged in the middle part. The In order to suspend the parts of the endoscope in an orderly manner without hitting the inner wall surface, it is important to secure the height of the hanger and install it horizontally. Since many endoscopes are stored, it is important to install them so that they can be stored properly.
Parts arranged in the endoscope storage unit are installed so as to be detachable and replaceable.
With the parts cleaned, disinfected, and parts removed, the storage unit is cleaned and disinfected to maintain cleanliness. A frame for mounting the hanger, a buffering material locking hook, etc. are provided on the inner wall surface of the unit, and the devices installed on these are set to be detachable.

[About hangers]
The upper hanger 61 and the lower hanger 62 are plate-like bodies in which latching slits 63 and 64 are formed. The hanger has a plate-like body that is detachably attached to a gantry 65, 66 made of an L-shaped support member fixed to the inner wall surface by screwing or the like. An example of a hanger is shown in FIG.
A plurality of latching slits 63 and 64 are provided, and the endoscope is locked and stored in each slit. The endoscope 100 to be stored includes a flexible insertion tube 103 to be inserted into the body and a connector 102 connected to the image processing apparatus. The operation unit 101 of the endoscope 100 is inserted into the latching slit 63 of the upper hanger 61 and the connector 102 is inserted into the latching slit 64 of the lower hanger 62 and stored. The slit provided in the lower hanger 62 is formed in a shape that allows the insertion tube 103 and the connector cord 104 to be inserted.
By supporting the connector with the lower hanger, it is possible to prevent the cause of the failure that occurs when the weight of the connector portion becomes a load at the base of the cord. The insertion tube is flexible covered with a soft resin. Keep the insertion tube hanging so that it will not bend, and pass it through the slit on the lower hanger so that it does not cross with other endoscope tubes or cords.
Since these endoscopes may have different shapes depending on the part to be used or the model, a latch slit is prepared according to the model to be used. Alternatively, a hanger provided with a dedicated slit for each model is prepared and replaced to apply to different endoscopes.
The operation unit 101 of the endoscope 100 is inserted and hooked on a latching slit 63 provided on the upper hanger 61, and the connector 102 of the endoscope 100 is hooked on the latching slit 64 provided on the lower hanger 62, Furthermore, by inserting the insertion tube 103 and the connector cord 104, a large number of endoscopes can be stored in an orderly and safe manner.
Since both hangers are detachable, they can be removed for disinfection, cleaning, and replacement, providing versatility.
In the medical instrument storage, a shelf board is provided instead of the hanger. The shelves may be shelved so that instruments with different heights can be stored. The number of shelves and the interval can be arbitrarily set or variably designed. Some may be in the form of storage boxes or drawers.

[About dehumidifier]
As the dehumidifier, a type of dehumidifier that does not require drainage is suitable. If drain water is generated, water may become a source of contamination, drainage facilities are required, installation location is restricted, and drainage removal maintenance is also inadequate.
Electrolytic dehumidifiers are suitable because they do not generate drain water. Utilizing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the moisture in the cabinet is electrolyzed and removed. When a DC voltage is applied to both ends of a slow current element that has a special solid membrane polymer electrolyte membrane with a porous electronic structure, the moisture on the anode side (dehumidification side) is dissociated into hydrogen ions and oxygen on the surface of the dehumidification element. The hydrogen ions move through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and reach the cathode side (moisture release side). On the cathode side, hydrogen ions react with oxygen in the air and are released as water molecules (gas). Reference can be made to JP-A-2005-66518, JP-A-2004-33884, Losar (registered trademark) provided by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and the like.
In ordinary lockers and cupboards, a single dehumidifier can adequately handle, but the volume can increase the number of dehumidifiers installed according to the moisture load.

As an electrolysis type dehumidifier, a small device of about A5 size can be used. Less than half of this area is sufficient for the moisture release part. Since it is an electrolysis type, a power supply wiring is provided. A commercial power source can be used as the power source.
An installation example is shown in FIG.
An opening 23a is formed in a range of several centimeters in the back plate 23 to which the dehumidifier 4 is attached, and the dehumidifier 4 is securely attached via the packing 42 so that no gap is formed with the back plate 23. It faces the dehumidifying element 41, and the moisture release surface faces the opening 23a. The opening 23a can be covered with an insect repellent cover 43 made of punching metal or the like for protection. The opening may be provided with a plurality of small holes. The insect cover 43 can be omitted.

  The air duct 5 is a hollow tube that communicates with the endoscope storage unit 2 and the fan unit 1. The air inside the endoscope storage unit 2 is returned to the fan unit 1. The air duct 5 includes a hollow tubular body 51, a lower opening 52, and an upper opening 53. In the illustrated example, a hollow tube 51 is provided so as to penetrate upward from the lower end of the endoscope storage unit 2. In the example shown in the figure, the hollow tube 51 is formed into a square pipe by bending the end of the side plate forming the housing of the storage unit, and also serves as the frame of the opening. The lower opening 52 may be provided in a notch or a number of slits. Further, an air flow may be designed by adding an opening to the intermediate portion. The air duct performs a function of sucking air from the lower part of the endoscope storage unit and returning the air sent from the fan unit 1 to the fan unit. By setting the flow rate of the air duct to be smaller than the fan's blowing power, the air pressure inside the endoscope storage unit is set higher than the outside of the cabinet, and the air is prevented from flowing in from the outside. However, it improves the pollution prevention performance. Bacteria can be prevented from being brought in along with the outside air.

[About buffer material]
The cushioning material is a cloth-like mat that is detachably installed on the wall surface below the lower hanger of the endoscope storage unit. This cushioning material protects the parts of the endoscope from hitting the inner wall of the storage and breaking. This cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which a waterproof fabric is the front and a transpirationable fabric is arranged on the back. For the transpiration, a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers can be used. Water droplets may be generated from the endoscope after disinfection / cleaning, and may drop or droop down the inner wall of the storage. Moisture adhering to the back surface of the cushioning material is quickly evaporated from the braid woven from the mesh. This shock absorbing material can quickly evaporate the dropped water drops by laying on the floor surface with the mesh surface facing up.
Furthermore, the use of conductive yarns prevents static electricity from charging, and dust that has come in when the door is opened or closed does not adhere to the cushioning material, but is discharged from the exhaust section together with air to the outside of the storage. Antibacterial properties can also be imparted by photocatalysts, silver ions, and the like.
By using this cushioning material, it is possible to protect the inner wall of the storage room from moisture by quickly evaporating without accumulating moisture so that the endoscope storage room does not become a place for various bacteria propagation. And since a shock absorbing material is latched to the hook etc. which were provided in the inner wall surface, and it can attach or detach, disinfection, washing, and replacement | exchange are possible. When disinfecting / washing, use cushioning materials that are resistant to washing and disinfection.
With this detachable cushioning material, it is possible to easily prevent the endoscope from being damaged due to storage and keep the inside of the storage cabinet clean.

[Opening and closing structure]
A sliding door or door is attached to the opening / closing part of the endoscope storage unit.
It is preferable that the sliding door and the door adopt a highly airtight structure. For example, there are means such as attaching rubber packing to the opening frame and the mating surfaces of the left and right sliding doors, and rubbing rubber plates up and down. In addition, an inclined leaf spring is disposed at the end of the upper guide groove to provide a function of pressing the door with the leaf spring at the closed position to maintain the closure. However, it is difficult to completely seal, and there is a risk that various germs and the like may enter with the inflow of air. In order to prevent this inflow of air, the air pressure inside the endoscope storage unit is set to be kept high. The setting of the air pressure can be determined by the relationship between the air flow rate of the fan and the flow rate of the air duct. Keeping the air pressure inside the storage unit higher than the outside prevents the outside air from flowing from the outside to the inside.
In addition, when a sliding door is employed as the open / close door, it is preferable that the lower guide groove formed by bending a metal plate to form a groove is a tapered groove surface in a direction that becomes shallower toward the left and right ends of the groove. A groove or a convex rail is generally used as a lower guide for the sliding door, but it is difficult to remove dust adhering to the groove and the rail portion, and it is not suitable for hygiene as an endoscope storage.
For this reason, bending a single metal plate to form a guide groove and further forming a tapered groove so that the end side becomes shallower makes it easy to sweep out dust and maintain cleanliness. Adopt a structure that can. Further, since the single plate is bent continuously, there is no gap where dirt enters.

[About air shower]
An air shower connected to an extension hose can be installed in the endoscope storage unit. The air shower is provided so as to extend to the upper and lower hangers, and the operation part and connector part of the endoscope having a complicated shape and structure are actively dried. A nozzle with a valve for taking in clean air generated from the fan unit is provided, and the extension hose is detachably attached.

[Assembly of fan unit and endoscope storage unit]
FIG. 6 illustrates a combination of the fan unit 1 and the endoscope storage unit 2. In FIG. 6, an endoscope storage unit provided with a single door is illustrated, and in FIG. 1, an example of a left and right sliding door is illustrated, but there are a plurality of sizes of the endoscope storage, The open / close door also indicates various things depending on the type of storage, and is not an essential difference.
The fan unit 1 shown in FIG. 6A is connected to the upper part of the endoscope storage unit 2 shown in FIG. At the time of connection, the female screw 84 provided on the bottom plate 16 of the fan unit 1 and the screw hole 82 provided on the top plate 25 of the endoscope storage unit are aligned and connected using a knurled screw. With this connection, the opening 17 provided in the bottom plate 16 and the opening 25a provided in the top plate 25 communicate with each other so that clean air generated from the air cleaner 3 of the fan unit 1 is above the endoscope storage unit 2. It is supplied, flows downward while dehumidifying the inside of the storage unit, and is sucked from the opening 52 below the air duct 5. By installing a differential pressure sensor that detects the difference between the air pressure inside the air cleaner and the air pressure inside the endoscope storage unit, it is possible to detect a reduction in the capacity of the air cleaner, and a maintenance signal for a fine filter or the like. Sensor holes 33a and 33b are provided above and below for passage of the differential pressure sensor through the detection tube.

[Storage conditions]
FIG. 3 schematically shows the storage state of the endoscope 100. The operation portion 101 of the endoscope is inserted into a latch slit 63 formed in the upper hanger 61, and the insertion tube 103 extending from the operation portion is suspended to pass through the latch slit 64 formed in the lower hanger 62. . Further, the connector 102 connected to the connector cord 104 extending from the operation unit 101 is inverted and inserted into the latch slit 64. Since the operation part, which is a heavy part, and the connector part are locked, the cords are stored without applying an excessive load. Since the insertion tube 103 is freely suspended by its own weight, the insertion tube 103 is not bent such as bent due to storage. In addition, since the connector cord is also locked so that no load is applied to the connector cord, it is possible to prevent the connector cord from being overloaded and broken.
Since clean air always flows from the upper side to the lower side and is dehumidified, the inside of the storage is always kept dry, moisture is prevented from accumulating in the storage and the propagation of germs is suppressed. The mirror storage is kept clean. The members in the storage are detachable and set so that they can be easily cleaned and disinfected. Since outside air does not flow in, pests and bacteria do not enter, and it is controlled so as to maintain a sanitary environment in the warehouse.

[Example of medical equipment storage]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the medical instrument storage B.
The basic configuration is common to the endoscope storage already described. This medical instrument storage B is an example in which a plurality of shelf boards 67 are installed. The number of steps of the shelf board 67 and the interval are arbitrary. The other configuration is the same as that of the endoscope storage A, and is omitted.
Medical instruments such as scalpels and forceps can be stored in this storage to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of nosocomial infections.

A Endoscope storage B Medical instrument storage 1 Fan unit 12 Display unit 15 Top plate 16 Bottom plate 17 Opening

2 Endoscope storage unit 21 Opening and closing part (door, sliding door)
22 Side plate 23 Back plate 23a Opening 24 Bottom plate 25 Top plate 25a Opening 27 Adjuster

3 Air cleaner 31 Fan case 31a Opening 32 Filter case 33 Differential pressure sensor 33a, 33b Sensor hole 34 Filter cover 35 Power cord 36 Ventilation part 37 Operation lamp 39 Fan

4 Dehumidifier 41 Dehumidifying Element 42 Packing 43 Insect-proof Cover

5 Air duct 51 Tube 52 Opening 53 Opening 54 Hollow part 55 Fine filter 56 Cover filter

61 Upper hanger 62 Lower hanger 63, 64 Hanging slit 65, 66 Base 67 Shelf

72 cushion mat

81 Screw 82 Screw hole 83 Knurled screw 84 Female thread

100 Endoscope 101 Operation unit 102 Connector unit 103 Insertion tube 104 Connector cord

Claims (7)

An endoscope storage unit equipped with an endoscope storage unit in which an endoscope hanger is installed,
The endoscope hanger has an upper hanger and a lower hanger.
On the inner wall surface side of the endoscope storage unit, a cushioning material is disposed detachably below the lower hanger,
An endoscope storage, wherein the cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which one side is a waterproof fabric and a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is arranged on the other side. An endoscope storage unit equipped with an endoscope storage unit in which an endoscope hanger is installed,
The endoscope hanger has an upper hanger and a lower hanger.
A cushioning material is detachably placed on the bottom of the endoscope storage unit.
The cushioning material has at least a two-layer structure in which one side is a waterproof fabric, a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is disposed on the surface, and a waterproof fabric is disposed on the back surface. A featured endoscope storage. It is a buffer material for endoscope storage according to claim 1 or 2,
A cushioning material for an endoscope storage, characterized in that one side is a waterproof fabric and the other side is at least a two-layer structure in which a mesh fabric using non-hydrophilic synthetic resin fibers is arranged.   The buffer material for endoscope storage according to claim 3, wherein the cushioning material has antibacterial properties.   The cushioning material for an endoscope storage according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cushioning material has conductivity. An endoscope storage unit equipped with a fan unit and an endoscope storage unit,
The fan unit has an opening that allows air to flow in from the fan and endoscope storage unit, and an opening that sends it out.
The endoscope storage unit includes an endoscope hanger, a dehumidifier, and an air duct extending from the endoscope storage unit to the fan unit.
When the opening / closing part of the endoscope storage unit is closed, the endoscope storage is configured to form a space that is blocked from outside air, and air is circulated between the endoscope storage unit and the fan unit. The endoscope storage according to claim 1 or 2.   The endoscope hanger is provided with a latching slit and is detachably arranged in two upper and lower stages. The upper hanger that locks the operation part of the endoscope and the lower hanger that locks the connector part of the endoscope The endoscope storage room according to claim 6, wherein

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