JP2611306B2 - Endoscope liquid ejection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting mechanism for ejecting a liquid such as a cleaning liquid in an endoscope such as a colonoscope.

[Related Art] When observing the inside of a body cavity with a colonoscope or the like, if dirt or the like adheres to the cavity wall or the like, an accurate examination for the presence or absence of a lesion can be performed unless the dirt is washed away. You can't. In addition, even when performing an examination of a part other than the large intestine, if blood or the like has adhered to the affected part, it is necessary to wash the blood or the like. Washing of such dirt and the like is performed by injecting a cleaning liquid. Conventionally, a long tube connected to one end of a cleaning liquid pumping means such as a syringe is used, and this tube is connected to a treatment instrument insertion channel. The cleaning liquid is injected by operating the pressure feeding means.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, if the cleaning liquid injection mechanism is configured as described above, in order to perform the washing operation of the waste, a cumbersome operation of inserting the tube into the treatment tool insertion channel must be performed. Also, after the tube has been inserted, it is necessary to operate the pressure feeding means,
It is difficult to perform these operations while operating the endoscope, and there is a drawback that it takes much time and effort. Also,
Since the pressure-feeding means has a small volume such as a syringe, it has a drawback that the cleaning liquid cannot be sprayed to such an extent that dirt in the large intestine can be sufficiently washed out. .

Here, usually, when the observation window is contaminated with a body fluid or the like, the endoscope is used in order to wash and clean the contaminated material.
An observation window cleaning mechanism is provided. The observation window cleaning mechanism is for supplying a cleaning fluid including a cleaning liquid and pressurized air, and in order to supply the cleaning liquid with a predetermined pressure,
The liquid level in the cleaning liquid tank is pressurized. Therefore, the observation window cleaning mechanism includes an air pump, which serves as a supply source of pressurized air and also functions as a pressure source for pumping the cleaning liquid. The observation window cleaning mechanism has an injection nozzle that opens toward the observation window. However, the supply path of the cleaning liquid that is jetted toward the observation window is branched, and the cleaning liquid is directed toward the cavity wall at the distal end of the insertion portion. Is also known. However, the supply pressure of the cleaning liquid is set to a pressure suitable for cleaning the observation window, and there is a problem that the pressure is insufficient for jetting to the cavity wall.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning liquid that jets a liquid such as a cleaning liquid that is jetted toward a cavity wall or the like toward an observation window with a simple configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting mechanism of an endoscope that can eject a liquid at a higher pressure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides an air pump as an air supply source and a liquid pressurization source, which ejects pressurized air and a cleaning liquid from the distal end of the insertion section, In order to inject a high-pressure liquid having a pressure higher than that of the cleaning liquid, a pressure converter is provided in a supply path of the high-pressure liquid so that a high-pressure liquid having a pressure higher than the injection pressure of the cleaning liquid is injected. There is provided an air pipe so as to guide pressurized air from the air pump to a primary pressure chamber of the pressure transducer,
In addition, a liquid pipe from the high-pressure liquid supply source is connected to the secondary-side pressure chamber of the pressure transducer via a check valve, and a high-pressure liquid supply path is connected to the secondary pressure chamber. Is characterized in that a control valve for controlling the supply of pressurized air to the primary side pressure chamber is provided.

[Operation] The air pump exerts not only a function as a supply source of pressurized air but also a function of pumping liquid. Moreover,
The air pump can generate two-stage pressures, namely, pressurizing the cleaning liquid for cleaning the observation window to a predetermined pressure, and high-pressure liquid ejected toward the cavity wall at a pressure higher than the cleaning liquid.

For this purpose, a pressure transducer is provided in the supply path of the high-pressure liquid. This pressure transducer is for increasing the pressure of the liquid by pressurized air supplied from an air pump and supplying the liquid. On the other hand, the pressure of the cleaning liquid for cleaning the observation window is obtained by pressurizing the cleaning liquid tank with an air pump.

From the above, the pressurized air supplied from the air pump is set so as to have a pressure suitable for cleaning the observation window. Pressure can be increased to the pressure required for injection toward the like. This makes it possible to supply a liquid having a pressure different from that of the pressurized air using a single air pump.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation section of an endoscope;
Denotes an insertion unit, 3 denotes a light source device, 4 denotes a cleaning liquid tank, and 5 denotes a jet liquid supply unit.

An observation window 10 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 2, and an air / water nozzle 11 is provided to clean the observation window 10 when the observation window 10 is soiled. An air supply / water supply pipe 12 is connected to the air supply / water supply nozzle 11. The air supply / water supply pipe 12 branches into a water supply pipe 13 and an air supply pipe 14 at an intermediate position in the insertion section 2, and is operated by an operation unit. 1 and is connected to an air / water supply valve 15 having an operation button 15a that can be operated manually. Further, an air pipe 17 from an air pump 16 built in the light source device 3 and a water supply pipe 18 from the cleaning liquid tank 4 are connected to the air / water supply valve 15. Button 15a has an open air section 19
Is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an air pipe 13
This is a check valve interposed in the middle of.

Therefore, the communication between the water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 18 is always interrupted, the air pipe 17 communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere opening part 19, and the air supply / water supply nozzle 11 performs both air supply and water supply. No air supply / water supply is stopped. Then, when the air opening portion 19 is closed by a finger, the communication of the air pipe 17 with the air is cut off, and the pressurized air from the air pump 15 is supplied to the air supply pipe 13, and the air is supplied through the air supply water pipe 12. An air supply state in which air is supplied from the air supply nozzle 11 toward the observation window 10 is set. Also,
When the air / water supply valve 15 is pushed in, the air pipe 17 is disconnected from both the air opening section 19 and the air supply pipe 14, and the water supply pipe 18 is connected to the water supply pipe 13. A tank pressurizing pipe 22 branched from the air pipe 17 is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 4, and pressurized air from the air pump 16 is guided from the tank pressurizing pipe 22 into the cleaning liquid tank 4. As a result, the liquid level of the cleaning liquid tank 4 is pressurized, and the air supply / water supply nozzle 1 is sequentially supplied from the water supply pipe 18 to the water supply pipe 13 and the air supply / water supply pipe 12.
It is configured to switch to the water supply state where water is supplied to 1. Therefore, when the observation window 10 becomes dirty during the operation of the endoscope and observation becomes difficult, by operating the air / water supply valve 15 with a finger, water is supplied to wash away dirt and the like. Water may be removed from the observation window 10 by sending air.

On the other hand, since an accurate inspection cannot be performed if dirt or the like adheres to the cavity wall in the observation target portion, a liquid ejecting mechanism for washing away the dirt or the like adhering to the observation target portion is provided. I have. This liquid ejecting mechanism has an ejection port 30 formed at the tip of the insertion section 2, and is provided on the operation section 1 in order to control ejection of the cleaning liquid from the ejection port 30 toward a portion covered with dirt. Is provided with an injection valve 31 having an operation button 31a at a position adjacent to the air / water supply valve 15. The injection liquid valve 31 is connected to an injection liquid outflow path 32 leading to the injection port 30 and an injection liquid supply path 33 from the injection liquid tank 4. The communication with the supply path 33 can be made or cut off.

In addition, an air pipe 17 is connected to the injection liquid valve 31, and by the injection liquid valve 31, the air pipe 17 is connected to a pump-side pipe 17a communicating with the air pump 16 and a valve-side pipe 17b communicating with the air / water supply valve 15. Are divided into And
The injection liquid valve 31 always shuts off the communication between the injection liquid outlet path 32 and the injection liquid supply path 33, and the pipes 17a, 17b
It is maintained in the return state where the
When a is pushed in with a finger, the jet liquid outlet path 32 and the jet liquid supply path 3
3 is switched to an operating state in which communication between the pipes 17a and 17b is interrupted. Therefore, the injection liquid valve 31 constitutes a control valve for controlling the supply of the high-pressure liquid.

Here, when the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the injection port 30 toward the portion covered with the dirt, a high pressure higher than the pressure of the observation window cleaning liquid supplied from the air / water supply nozzle 11 toward the observation window 10 is used. The liquid can be ejected. For this purpose, the injection liquid supply unit 5 is configured as follows.

The jet liquid supply unit 5 includes a jet liquid supply tank 40 as a high-pressure liquid tank, and a pressure converter 41 for increasing the pressure of the jet liquid supplied from the jet liquid supply tank 40. As a pressure source for injecting the high-pressure liquid toward the cavity wall, an air pump that provides a predetermined supply pressure to the observation window cleaning liquid
Although 16 is used, by providing the pressure transducer 41, by operating the air / water supply valve 15 described above, water is supplied to the air / water supply nozzle 11 through the water supply pipe 13 and the gas / water supply pipe 12. It is a high-pressure liquid whose pressure is higher than the pressure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure converter 41 for increasing the pressure partitions the inside of the casing 41a into a primary pressure chamber 42 and a secondary pressure chamber 43, and , 43 are each sealed by a flexible partition 44, 45 such as a diaphragm, and pressure receiving members 46, 47 connected to the flexible partition 44, 45, and the pressure receiving members 46, 47 are connected by a connecting rod 48. They can be moved in conjunction with each other. Thus, the pressure receiving member 46 of the primary pressure chamber 42 has a larger pressure receiving area than the pressure receiving member 47 of the secondary pressure chamber 43, and the pressure in the secondary pressure chamber 43 is increased in accordance with the pressure receiving area ratio. It can be configured. Further, the pressure converter 41 is configured such that the secondary pressure chamber 43 into which the jet liquid is introduced is always kept in an expanded state. In order to reliably maintain the secondary pressure chamber 43 in an expanded state, a return spring may be applied to the pressure receiving member.

The secondary pressure chamber 43 is connected to a low-pressure pipe 49 from the injection liquid supply tank 40 and to the injection liquid supply path 33. The primary-side pressure chamber 42 is configured to receive air pressure from the air pump 16. For this reason, an air pipe 50 is branched from the tank pressurizing pipe 22, and
Is connected to the direction switching valve 51. The direction switching valve 51 has a state in which the air pipe 50 is connected to a pressure introduction pipe 52 communicating with the primary side pressure chamber 43, and a pressure pipe 53 for pressurizing the air pipe 50 with the jet liquid supply tank 40. In addition to the communication, the pressure introduction pipe 52 can be switched to a state where it is opened to the atmosphere.

Here, when the directional control valve 51 is at the return position where the injection liquid valve 31 is not operated, the air pipe 50 communicates with the pressurizing pipe 53, and the pressure introducing pipe 52 is kept open to the atmosphere. When the injection valve 31 is pushed to the operating position and the pressure in the air pipe 50 becomes high, the air pipe 50
Is connected to a pressure introducing pipe 52, and this pressure can be led to the primary side pressure chamber. In order to switch the direction switching valve 51 according to the pressure in the air pipe 50 in this way, a pressure detector 54 is provided in the middle of the air pipe 50, and the pressure detector 54 When it is detected that the internal pressure has reached a predetermined pressure, the signal is input to the valve control unit 55, and the direction switching valve 51 can be switched based on the signal from the valve control unit 55. ing. Further, a regulator 56 is provided in the middle of the pressure introducing pipe 52, and the regulator 56 controls the air pressure supplied to the primary pressure chamber 42 to be constant. The set pressure of the regulator 56 can be changed and adjusted as appropriate.In the middle of the pipe 49, the injection liquid is supplied only from the injection liquid supply tank 40 side to the pressure detector 54 side. , A check valve 57 is provided.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will now be described.

In order to operate the endoscope to inspect the inside of a patient or perform treatment, the insertion section 2 is inserted along a predetermined insertion path, and the distal end is positioned at the observation target section. By irradiating the inside with the illumination light, the inspection can be performed through the observation window 10. Further, if a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted into the insertion path 2 via the treatment tool insertion channel,
Removal of the affected part and other treatments can be performed. In addition,
At this time, the air pump 16 provided in the light source device 3
Is maintained in the operating state. If the air / water supply valve 15 and the jet valve 31 provided in the operation unit 1 are maintained in the state shown in FIG. 1, the air pump 16 communicates with the atmosphere and It will operate under load.

As described above, the body fluid or the like adheres to the observation window 10 while the examination or treatment is performed in the patient's body. In such a state, an operation is performed to push the air / water supply valve 15.
As a result, the air opening section 19 is closed, and the air pump 16 is closed.
The cleaning liquid tank 4 is pressurized by the
By the operation of 15, the water supply pipe 18 and the water supply pipe 13 are communicated, the water is supplied to the air supply / water supply nozzle 11 via the water supply pipe 13 and the air supply / water supply pipe 12, and observation is performed from the air supply / water supply nozzle 11. Window 10
, An observation window cleaning liquid having a predetermined pressure is sprayed. When the contaminated material is washed away, the air release valve 15 is opened to the atmosphere.
By returning the closed state of 19, the air pipe 17 communicates with the air supply pipe 13, the pressurized air from the air pump 15 is supplied to the air supply pipe 13, and the droplet of the cleaning liquid is supplied from the observation window 10. Removed.

Therefore, in order to examine whether there is a lesion in the cavity wall of a body cavity, it is necessary to directly observe the cavity wall. However, as in the large intestine, etc., dirt or the like is attached to the cavity wall,
In addition, if there is a bleeding part in the cavity wall, it becomes impossible to perform an accurate inspection, so that such dirt and the like must be washed away. Moreover, in order to effectively clean the cavity wall, it is necessary to supply a high-pressure liquid at a considerably high pressure.

Then, when the operation button 31a of the injection liquid valve 31 provided in the operation unit 1 is pushed in to the operating position, the connection between the injection liquid outflow path 32 and the injection liquid inflow path 33 connected to the injection liquid valve 31 is established. Also, pump side piping in the air piping 17
This switches to a state in which communication between 17a and the valve-side pipe 17b is interrupted. As a result, since the air pump 16 is cut off from the atmosphere, the pressure in the pump side pipe 17a increases, and the pressure in the air pipe 50 communicating with the pump side pipe 17a also increases. Since the pressure detector 54 is provided in the air pipe 50, when the inside of the air pipe 50 reaches a predetermined pressure, the pressure is detected by the pressure detector 54,
This detection signal is input to the valve control unit 55.

As a result, based on a signal from the valve control unit 55, the direction switching valve 51 switches from a state in which the air pipe 50 communicates with the pressurizing pipe 53 to a state in which it communicates with the pressure introduction pipe 52,
The pressure from the air pump 16 is changed to the pump side piping 17a and the air piping 5
0, after being adjusted to a constant pressure by the regulator 56 from the direction switching valve 51, the pressure is introduced into the primary pressure chamber 42 of the pressure converter 41 via the pressure introducing pipe 52. This pressure acts on the pressure receiving member 46 to press the pressure receiving member 46 in the direction in which the primary pressure chamber 42 expands, and the secondary pressure chamber 43 connected to the pressure receiving member 46 via the connecting rod 48. Pressure receiving member
47 is displaced in the direction in which the secondary pressure chamber 43 contracts. As a result, the pressure in the secondary pressure chamber 43 is increased in accordance with the pressure receiving area ratio between the pressure receiving member 46 and the pressure receiving member 47, and the high pressure liquid is supplied from the high pressure liquid in the secondary pressure chamber 43 to the liquid supply. Road 33
After that, the liquid is pressure-fed to the injection port 30 via the injection liquid valve 31 and the injection liquid supply path 33 sequentially, and is ejected from the injection port 30. At this time, the pressure from the air pump 16 is also guided to the cleaning liquid tank 4 through the tank pressurizing pipe 22, but is not sent to the air / water nozzle 11 by the operation of the air / water valve 15. Needless to say.

The timing of the operation described above is as shown in FIG.

When the high-pressure liquid is discharged from the secondary-side pressure chamber 43, the injection of the cavity wall cleaning liquid composed of the high-pressure liquid is stopped. The switching valve 51 connects the air pipe 50 to the pressurizing pipe 53 and switches the pressure introducing pipe 52 to a state communicating with the atmosphere, so that the injection liquid supply tank 40 is pressurized and the low pressure pipe 49 The injection liquid is quickly replenished into the secondary pressure chamber 43 in 41. Accordingly, when the injection liquid valve 31 is pushed in, the high-pressure liquid is supplied, and when it is returned to the original position, the high-pressure fluid is supplied to the pressure transducer 41. If this operation is repeatedly performed, the cleaning is performed each time. The high-pressure liquid can be intermittently jetted toward the intended place, and the high-pressure liquid can be jetted intermittently until the dirt or the like is completely washed away.

In order to clean the observation window 10, an air / water supply valve 15 is provided.
To operate the pump, connect the injection valve 31 to the pump side piping.
17a communicates with the valve side pipe 17b,
The air / water supply valve 15 may be operated while maintaining the return state in which communication between the injection liquid supply path 33 and the injection liquid supply path 33 is interrupted. When the air supply / water supply valve 15 is operated, the pressure in the air pipe 50 increases. However, even if the direction switching valve 51 is switched due to the increase in the pressure, the communication between the injection liquid supply path 33 and the injection liquid outflow path 32 occurs. Since the space is shut off, the high-pressure liquid does not flow out of the injection port 30. Further, if the direction switching valve 51 is set to be switched when the pressure becomes higher than the pressure of the air pipe 50 at the time of air / water supply, the direction switching valve 51 is switched at will during air / water supply. Can be prevented.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same or equivalent components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

However, in the present embodiment, the air pipe 52 is directly connected to the regulator 56, and the pressure introducing pipe 52 'from the regulator 56 is connected to the pressure converter 60. The pressure transducer 60 has a pressure receiving section 63a, a pressure receiving area 63a having a different pressure receiving area in a primary pressure chamber 61 and a secondary pressure chamber 62, respectively.
A stepped piston 63 having 63b is mounted, and a return spring 64 acts on the stepped piston 63. And
The primary pressure chamber 61 is connected to a pressure introducing pipe 52 ′, and the secondary pressure chamber 62 is connected to a low-pressure pipe 49 and a jet liquid supply path 33. Are provided with check valves 67 and 68, respectively.

Unlike the first embodiment, the air pipe 50 is not provided with a pressure detector, and the jet tank 40 is not connected to a pressurized pipe. Further, an auxiliary water supply pipe 70 is connected to the water supply pipe 13 via a check valve 71, and a liquid having a higher pressure than the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 4 is directed to the observation window 10 via the auxiliary water supply pipe 70. Can be supplied.

With the configuration described above, when the injection liquid valve 31 is displaced to the operating position, the pressure of the air pump 16 is reduced by the regulator 56.
When the pressure rises to the set pressure of
Is introduced into the primary pressure chamber 61 of the pressure converter 60 via the pressure transducer 60 to increase the pressure of the jet liquid in the secondary pressure chamber 62 to form a high-pressure liquid. It can be pumped.

On the other hand, when the injection liquid valve 31 is returned to the return position, the primary pressure chamber 61 in the pressure transducer 60 is in a state of communicating with the atmosphere, so that the stepped piston 63 is displaced by the action of the return spring 64, and the secondary side The pressure chamber 62 becomes negative pressure, and the ejection liquid tank 40
, The ejected liquid is supplied to the secondary side pressure chamber 62.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a mechanism for injecting the cleaning liquid has been described. However, for example, if a dye spray tank is connected to the spray liquid supply path 33, it is also used as another liquid spray mechanism such as a dye spray mechanism. You can also.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, pressurized air from an air pump can be directly supplied to an observation window, and an observation window cleaning liquid for cleaning the observation window is pumped. Pressure, and further pressurize so as to eject high-pressure liquid toward the cavity wall and the like. Further, a pressure transducer is provided in the supply path of the high-pressure liquid, and pressurized air from the air pump is supplied to the pressure transducer. The high pressure liquid can be supplied to the observation window cleaning liquid so that the pressure can be increased to a higher pressure than the observation window cleaning liquid. Therefore, the pressurized air and the liquid can be supplied with a simple configuration, and the air pump is added. Since the liquid can be supplied at different pressures as a pressure source, when cleaning the observation window, it is possible to supply the cleaning liquid at the pressure necessary for it, and at the high pressure necessary to clean the cavity walls, etc. High flow rate The high pressure liquid can be easily supplied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a fluid supply system of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a configuration of a pressure transducer, FIG. 3 is an operation timing chart of a cleaning liquid ejection mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the fluid supply system of the endoscope which shows an example. 1: operation part, 2: insertion part, 4: cleaning liquid tank, 5: jet liquid supply part, 10: observation window, 11: air / water nozzle, 12: air / water pipe, 1
3: Water supply pipe, 14: Air supply pipe, 15: Air supply / water supply valve, 16: Air pump, 17: Air pipe, 17a: Pump side pipe, 17b: Valve side pipe, 30: Injection port, 31: Injection liquid valve, 32 : Injection liquid outflow path, 33: injection liquid supply path, 40: injection liquid supply tank, 41, 60: pressure transducer, 41, 61: primary pressure chamber, 42, 62: secondary pressure chamber,
44, 45: Flexible partition, 46, 47: Pressure receiving member, 49: Low pressure piping, 50: Air piping, 51: Direction switching valve, 52, 52 ': Pressure introducing pipe, 53: Pressurizing pipe, 54: Pressure detection Container, 55: valve control unit, 56: regulator, 63: stepped piston, 64: return spring.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An air pump is used as an air supply source and a liquid pressurizing source to eject pressurized air and a cleaning liquid from the tip of an insertion portion, and to inject a high-pressure liquid having a higher pressure than the cleaning liquid. A pressure transducer is provided in the supply path of the cleaning liquid to eject high-pressure liquid having a pressure higher than the ejection pressure of the cleaning liquid, and pressurized air from the air pump is supplied to the primary pressure of the pressure transducer. An air pipe is provided to lead to the chamber, and a liquid pipe from the high pressure liquid supply source is connected to a secondary pressure chamber of the pressure transducer via a check valve, and a supply path of the high pressure liquid is provided. And connect
And a control valve for controlling the supply of pressurized air to the primary pressure chamber is provided in the middle of the air pipe. 2. A cleaning liquid ejecting mechanism for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning liquid tank is provided as a supply source of said cleaning liquid, and a high-pressure liquid tank is provided as a supply source of said high-pressure liquid. .