JP3115992B2 - Endoscope cleaning and disinfecting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes have been widely used for examination and treatment of body cavities, in which air supply, water supply,
Various pipes for performing suction and the like are incorporated.
Then, in order to prevent infection and the like, each time the endoscope is used, the outer surface and the inner conduit are washed and disinfected. In such endoscope cleaning and disinfecting, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is generally used. In the washing and disinfecting using the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus, usually, a washing step using washing water and a disinfecting step using a disinfecting solution are sequentially performed, followed by a rinsing step using tap water.

In the rinsing process using tap water,
It is important that the endoscope that has been disinfected in the disinfection process is not re-contaminated by the slight bacteria present in the tap water. For this purpose, for example, after the rinsing step, a rinsing water is blown off with a gas to perform an air supply step for removing the rinsing water, and a dry state in which bacterial growth is extremely reduced in the internal conduit of the endoscope wet with the rinsing water. It is necessary to change to

However, it takes a considerably long time to change the inside of the endoscope to a dry state in which bacterial growth is extremely reduced by such an air supply step. Therefore, recently, in order to remove water and sterilize the internal conduit of the endoscope in a short time, after the rinsing step using the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus, alcohol is contained in the internal conduit of the endoscope. There is also a so-called alcohol flush that flushes away.

[0005]

However, in the alcohol flush, the alcohol is manually pushed into the internal conduit of the endoscope using a syringe prepared separately from the endoscope washer / disinfector. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is very troublesome. Further, thereafter, it was necessary to perform an air supply step to remove the alcohol in the endoscope channel by a separate operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of easily and quickly removing water and bacteria in an internal conduit of the endoscope. A cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is provided.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cleaning and disinfecting apparatus.
A cleaning tank for setting an endoscope, and a setting tank in the cleaning tank.
Volatile endoscope with sterilizing power inside the endoscope
Liquid sending means for sending the liquid and liquid sending into the internal conduit of the endoscope
The liquid having a sterilization ability, from the inside of the internal conduit,
First discharging means for discharging water into the cleaning tank; and water in the cleaning tank.
Cleaning by the first discharging means by supplying
Diluting the liquid with sterilization ability discharged into the washing tank in the washing tank
Diluting means, and the sterilizing ability diluted by the diluting means.
Discharging means for discharging a liquid having a pressure from the washing tank;
It is characterized by having.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment. As shown, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 40 has a cleaning tank 32 forming a cleaning chamber, and a predetermined number (two in the present embodiment) of the cleaning tank 32 is provided inside the cleaning tank 32. The endoscopes 1 and 1 'can be set and cleaned and disinfected. A lid (not shown) forming a ceiling surface of the cleaning chamber is attached to the cleaning tank 32 so as to be openable and closable. The lid is opened and the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ are set in the cleaning tank 32. You can do it.

At the bottom of the washing tank 32, for example, a diaphragm 2 formed in a donut shape (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-729 by the present applicant)
No. 0). The diaphragm 2 has, for example, a Langevin type ultrasonic vibrator attached to the bottom surface thereof, and can oscillate ultrasonic vibrations in the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 32.

At the bottom center of the washing tank 32, a tower 3 is provided for the purpose of reducing the amount of liquid in the washing tank 32. Inside the tower 3, a heater (not shown) for heating and keeping the liquid in the washing tank 32 is provided.

The washing tank 32 is provided with a washing water inlet 5. A water supply line 38 connected to a tap faucet 29 is connected to the washing water inlet 5, and tap water can be supplied into the washing tank 32 through the water supply line 38. A water supply valve 37 is interposed in the water supply line 38. This water supply valve 37 is
Along with the water line 38 and the washing water inlet 5, the washing tank 32
Alcohol supplied to the washing tank 32 by supplying water into the washing tank 32
(Dilutable liquid)
(See below).

A cleaning liquid jet port 4 for jetting high-pressure water to the endoscopes 1 and 1 'is provided on a side wall of the cleaning tank 32, and a first drainage liquid is provided at a bottom of the cleaning tank 32. A mouth 9 is provided. The cleaning liquid jet port 4 is connected to a first liquid feed pipe 8 b connected to the discharge side of the first liquid feed pump 21, and the first drain port 9 is connected to the first liquid feed pump 21. The first suction side pipe 8a connected to the suction side is connected. The liquid sending pipe 8b and the suction side pipe 8a collect the liquid in the cleaning tank 32 and return it to the cleaning tank 32. First circulation path 8 for pressure feeding
Is formed.

The first drain port 9 has a filter body 10.
Is set. As shown in FIG. 3, the filter body 10 includes an external filter 10c and an external filter 10c.
And an internal filter 10b which is removably mounted (or placed) in the interior. The external filter 10c includes:
The first external filter 10c is used together with the first internal filter 10b.
Handle 10a so that it can be easily pulled out from the drain port 9
Are provided detachably. The internal filter 10
b to attach large waste particles to the external filter 1
A nozzle (not shown) that reduces the amount of accumulated particles at 0c and is provided at least at the distal end of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'and communicates with the internal conduits (channels) of the endoscopes 1 and 1'.
Filter 1 to prevent the clogging with dirt particles.
0c and the internal filter 10b have different mesh diameters. That is, the eyes of the internal filter 10b are set coarse and the eyes of the external filter 10c are set fine. Therefore, according to such a filter body 10, since the filter parts 10b and 10c can be easily disassembled, the cleaning operation of the filter body 10 is extremely simplified, and the dirt particles are surely removed from the circulating liquid. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of channel connection ports 13 to which connection tubes 28 are connected are provided on the side wall of the cleaning tank 32. In this case, the connection tube 28
Is provided in the operation unit of the endoscope 1, 1 '.
Is removably connected to a connection port 14 which communicates with the internal conduit of the first embodiment. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ have first connection ports 14 a and 14 a ′ that communicate with an air supply / water supply pipe, which is an internal pipe.
And second connection ports 14b and 14b 'communicating with the forceps elevating pipeline and the sub-water supply pipeline which are the internal pipelines thereof, and the third connection port 14b and 14b' which communicate with the suction pipeline which is the internal pipeline thereof. Connection ports 14c and 14c '. On the other hand, on the side wall of the cleaning tank 32, channel connection ports 13a, 13a 'for air / water supply to which connection tubes 28a, 28a' connected to the first connection ports 14a, 14a 'are attached, and a second port. Connection tube 2 connected to connection ports 14b, 14b '
8b, 28b 'are attached to the channel connection ports 13b, 13b' for raising / sub-water supply, and the connection tubes 28c, 2 connected to the third connection ports 14c, 14c '.
Channel connection port 13 for suction to which 8c 'is attached
c and 13c 'are provided respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first suction side pipeline 8a
A second suction side pipe line 7a branches from the middle of the flow, and this suction side pipe line 7a is connected to the suction side of a second liquid feed pump 12 of a self-priming type. Further, the second liquid sending pump 12 is connected to a second liquid sending pipe 7b. The second liquid supply line 7b is composed of a first branch line 7c and a second branch line 7d.
And the third branch line 7e, the first branch line 7c is connected to the channel connection ports 13a, 13a ', and the second branch line 7d is connected to the channel connection ports 13b, 1b.
3b ', and the third branch line 7e is connected to the channel connection ports 13c, 13c'. The pipes 7a to 7e collect the liquid in the cleaning tank 32 and supply the collected liquid to the internal pipes of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '(the pipes for air / water supply, the pipes for raising the forceps, and the auxiliary pipes). A second circulation path 7 for feeding the water again to the cleaning tank 32 through a water supply pipe and a suction pipe) is formed. Further, the first suction side pipeline 8a and the pipelines 7a to 7e
And the second liquid supply pump 12 is injected into the first liquid discharge port 9.
Washing tank for volatile alcohol (a sterilizing volatile liquid)
32 into the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '
It also functions as a liquid feeding means for liquid
Described).

A check valve 15a, which is open toward the channel connection port 13, is interposed in the second liquid feed line 7b. The first and third branch pipes 7c and 7e are provided with electromagnetic switching valves 26a and 26b, respectively, and the second branch pipe 7d is not provided with an electromagnetic switching valve.
This is because the forceps erecting pipeline and the sub-water-supplying pipeline of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ have a large pipe resistance and a small flow rate during liquid supply and gas supply, so even if liquid supply and gas supply are constantly performed. Although there is no problem, the flow rate of the other two internal pipes, that is, the air supply / water supply pipe and the suction pipe is insufficient if air supply and liquid supply are performed simultaneously. Therefore, with respect to the air / water supply pipeline and the suction pipeline, the flow of the fluid is temporally switched by the electromagnetic valves 26a and 26b so that insufficient cleaning and disinfection due to insufficient flow rate, defective water removal, and the like do not occur. (Described below).

An air supply line 35 is provided in the middle of the second liquid supply line 7b (downstream of the check valve 15a) via a check valve 15b opened toward the channel connection port 13. It is connected. The compressor 17 is connected to the air supply pipe 35, and a sterilization filter 16 is interposed in the air supply pipe 35. That is, the sterilized compressed air from the compressor 17 can be sent to the second liquid feed pipe 7b via the air supply pipe 35. Also, compressor 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes the alcohol fed into the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '.
Wash (a liquid having a sterilizing ability) from the inside of the internal conduit.
Also functions as a first discharge unit that discharges into the cleaning tank 32.
(Described later).

A disinfectant injection port 33 is provided on the side wall of the cleaning tank 32, and a second drain port 30 is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 32. As shown in FIG.
A filter body 10 'substantially the same as that shown in FIG. However, in this case, in order to prevent erroneous setting such that the filter body 10 to be set in the first drain port 9 is erroneously set in the second drain port 30, the filter body 10 ′ is The shape is different from the filter body 10.

A disinfecting solution feed pipe 27a is connected to the disinfecting solution tank 22 and supplies the disinfecting solution from the disinfecting solution tank 22 into the cleaning tank 32 by the suction action of the pump 23. Is connected. Further, a disinfecting solution return pipe 27b and a drain pipe 25 are connected to a pipe extending from the second drain port 30 through a pipe switching valve 20, respectively. The disinfectant return line 27b is connected to the disinfectant tank 2
The disinfectant in the cleaning tank 32 is collected in the disinfectant tank 22. A drain pump 24 is interposed in the drain pipe 25. The line switching valve 20 and the drainage
The pump 24 and the drain line 25 are diluted by the dilution means.
The washed alcohol (a liquid having a sterilizing ability) is washed in a washing tank 32.
So that it also functions as a second discharging means for discharging from inside
(Described later).

A relief valve 18 is provided in the middle of the second liquid supply line 7b (downstream of the check valve 15a), and
The relief pipe 19 is connected in the middle of the pipe extending from the drain port 30 to the pipe switching valve 20.
When the number of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ set in the cleaning tank 32 is small or when the diameter of the internal conduit of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ is small, the relief conduit 19 is used for cleaning the internal conduit. Since the pressure sometimes rises abnormally at the time, etc., it is provided for the purpose of preventing the pressure resistance of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'from being exceeded by the relief valve 18. If the opening / closing operation of the relief valve 18 is not performed for a long period of time, the sealing material inside the valve and the main body may stick to each other. It is desirable to operate the compressor 17 with the system valves 26a and 26b closed and apply a high pressure to the relief valve 18 to once open the relief valve 18 before performing the later-described ordinary steps.

Next, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 40 having the above-described configuration is used.
Will be described. First, the used endoscope 1,
1 ′ is set in the washing tank 32, and the connection port 14 of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ and the channel connection port 13 are connected to the connection tube 2.
8 for connection. Thereafter, the start switch 50 on the operation panel shown in FIG.
The steps of washing, disinfection, rinsing, and air supply are automatically performed.

In the washing step, first, the water supply valve 37 is opened,
For example, the washing water from the water supply source 29 such as tap water is supplied to the water supply line 3.
The washing water is supplied from the washing water inlet 5 into the washing tank 32 through the washing tank 8. Prior to this cleaning step, the user injects a predetermined amount of detergent into the cleaning tank 32.

When a certain amount of water is supplied into the washing tank 32, the water supply valve 37 is closed, and the first and second liquid feed pumps 12, 21 are driven. At this time, the pipeline switching valve 20 is closed, and the electromagnetic on-off valves 26a and 26b are opened. As a result, a part of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 32 circulates through the first circulation path 8 and flows from the cleaning liquid jet port 4 to the endoscope 1.
While being sprayed at a high pressure on the outer surface of the endoscope 1 ', it is circulated through the second circulation path 7 and sent to the internal conduit of the endoscope 1, 1'. That is, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 32 is sucked from the first drain port 9 into the first suction side pipe 8a by the suction action of the first liquid feed pump 21, and the first liquid feed pipe 8b
Is ejected from the washing liquid ejection port 4 through the nozzle. In addition, a part of the cleaning liquid sucked into the first suction side pipe 8a is sucked into the second suction side pipe 7a by the suction action of the second liquid feed pump 12, and the second liquid feed pipe Road 7b and branch line 7c
7e through the channel connection port 13 to the endoscope 1,
1 'is sent to the internal pipeline. The cleaning liquid sent to the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'is returned to the cleaning tank 32 through the respective openings of the endoscopes 1 and 1' and again returned to the first circulation path 8 or the second circulation path 8. It will circulate in the circulation path 7. In addition, the dirt particles in the cleaning liquid are removed by the filter body 10, and a clean flow of the cleaning liquid is always ensured.

[0024] By such a flow of the cleaning liquid, large dirt, soft dirt, light dirt and the like adhering to the endoscopes 1 and 1 'are washed away. In particular, such dirt is caused by the impact force of the cleaning liquid spouted from the cleaning liquid spout 4 and the swirl in the cleaning tank 32 formed by the cleaning liquid.
'Is chipped off the outer surface.

In such a washing step, the electromagnetic on-off valves 26a and 26b may be alternately switched at predetermined time intervals. That is, first, only one solenoid valve 26a (26b) is opened and the other solenoid valve 26b
(26a) is closed, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, one of the solenoid valves 26
By closing the solenoid valve 26b (26a) and opening the other solenoid valve 26b (26a), the air / water supply line and the suction line are alternately washed to prevent poor washing due to insufficient flow. Is also good.

After the cleaning of the cleaning liquid by the circulating action is performed for a predetermined time, the diaphragm 2 is subsequently operated to perform ultrasonic cleaning. In this ultrasonic cleaning, the diaphragm 2
Ultrasonic vibrations emitted from the endoscope strongly remove hard dirt adhering to the endoscopes 1 and 1 'and dirt adhering to complicated shapes of the endoscopes 1 and 1'.

When the ultrasonic cleaning is completed, the cleaning by the circulation of the cleaning liquid is performed again. At this stage, the dirt which has been removed from the endoscopes 1 and 1 'by the ultrasonic cleaning is removed.

When the above-described washing step is completed, a rinsing step is subsequently performed. In this rinsing step, first, the driving of the liquid feed pumps 12 and 21 is stopped, and the line switching valve 20 is switched to the drainage line 25 side.
The drain pump 24 is driven. Thereby, the washing tank 3
The washing liquid in 2 is discharged to the outside from the second drain port 30 through the drain pipe 25.

When the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 32 is completely drained, the water supply valve 37 is opened, and new water is supplied to the cleaning tank 3.
2. Then, the first and second liquid feeding pumps 12 and 21 are driven again, and the internal channels and the outer surfaces of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'are rinsed by the above-described circulating action.

When the rinsing with the rinsing water is completed, draining is performed with the rinsing water completely drained from the washing tank 32. In this draining, the driving of the liquid feed pumps 12 and 21 is stopped, and the compressor 17 is driven, so that the air from the compressor 31 is sent to the second liquid feed line 7b through the air supply line 35. The air sent to the second liquid sending pipe 7b is sent to the internal pipes of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'via the branch pipes 7c to 7e, and the internal pipes of the endoscopes 1 and 1' are provided. Drain the road. Also in this case, as described above, the opening operation of the solenoid valve 26a and the solenoid valve 2
6b may be alternately performed.

After the above rinsing step is completed, a disinfection step is performed. In this disinfection process,
The line switching valve 20 is closed, and the pump 23 is driven.
As a result, the disinfecting solution in the disinfecting solution tank 22 is supplied from the disinfecting solution inlet 33 to the cleaning tank 32 through the disinfecting solution feed pipe 27a.
Injected into. When a predetermined amount of disinfectant is injected into the cleaning tank 32 and the endoscopes 1, 1 'are completely immersed in the disinfectant,
The driving of the pump 23 is stopped, and then the second liquid feeding pump 12 is driven. Thereby, the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning tank 32 is sent to the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'via the branch conduits 7c to 7e, and disinfects the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1'. Perform

After such disinfection has been performed for a predetermined time,
The line switching valve 20 is switched to the disinfectant return line 27b, and the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 32 is collected in the disinfectant tank 22 through the disinfectant return line 27b. In addition, the disinfectant in the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ is also collected in the disinfectant tank 22 by the compressor 17 and the electromagnetic valves 26 a and 26 b. Note that the waste particles in the disinfecting solution are not
0 'is removed and clean disinfectant is always collected in the disinfectant tank. Thereafter, the disinfectant is rinsed by the above-described rinsing step.

After the disinfectant is completely rinsed by the rinsing step, an air supply (water removal) step is performed. This step is performed in the same procedure as the drainage performed in the latter half of the rinsing step described above.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the compressor 17 is driven to remove water between the suction pipes of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'and the air / water supply pipes by switching the solenoid valves 26a and 26b. Selectively. That is, first, the electromagnetic valve 26b on the suction conduit side is opened, and water is removed from the suction conduit and the forceps raising / sub-water supply conduit for a designated time. Thereafter, the electromagnetic valve 26b of the suction pipe is closed and the solenoid valve 26a of the air / water supply pipe side is opened to perform water removal of the air / water supply pipe and the forceps raising / sub-water supply pipe for a specified time. .

In this case, it is generally more difficult to remove water from the air / water supply pipe than from the suction pipe. Therefore, at least the water removal time of the air / water supply pipe must be increased. , So that water can be removed effectively.

Immediately after the start of air supply (water removal), the device 4
There is residual water in the pipeline of the endoscope 1 and the residual water
It is also sent into the internal pipeline of 1 '. Therefore, in the present embodiment, first, water is removed from the suction pipe, which is relatively easy to remove water, and then the water is removed from the air / water supply pipe. Further, from the viewpoint of increasing the cleaning power, such switching may be performed during the cleaning step.

In FIG. 4, section a indicates the water removal time of the suction pipe and the forceps raising / sub-water supply pipe, and section b indicates the air / water supply pipe and forceps raising / sub-water supply pipe. The water removal time of the road,
Section c indicates the water removal time of only the forceps raising / sub-water supply pipeline. Further, the driving of the compressor 17 or the opening operation of the valves 26a and 26b are indicated by oblique lines.

After the above steps are completed, once
Open the lid (washing cover) that forms the ceiling of the washing room,
A certain amount of disinfecting alcohol is injected into the first drain port 9 in the cleaning tank 32. Then, the cleaning cover is closed, and FIG.
Press the alcohol flush button 51 on the operation panel shown in FIG. As a result, the second liquid supply pump 12 operates, and the alcohol injected into the first drain port 9 is supplied into the internal channels of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '. In this case, the second
Is of a self-priming type, the first drain port 9
Even if a small amount of alcohol is injected into the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ through the circulation path 7, the alcohol is positively sucked by the second liquid supply pump 12 and actively discharged. Surely sent to.

If the pump 12 is not a self-priming pump, a large amount of alcohol is required to prevent entrainment of air in the pump. It may be left. Therefore, automation of alcohol flush cannot be achieved in a desirable manner. However, such a problem does not occur according to the self-priming pump 12 that positively sucks alcohol and positively discharges alcohol as in the present embodiment.

After a lapse of a predetermined time from this operation, the compressor 17 is operated to discharge the alcohol accumulated in the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '. Dry the inside of the pipeline.

A short time after such alcohol supply, the water supply valve 37 was opened to inject a certain amount of washing water into the washing tank 32, and the washing water was discharged from the internal channels of the endoscopes 1 and 1 '. After mixing with the alcohol, it is discharged from the washing tank 32. This is because there is a problem in terms of safety in flowing alcohol as it is to the drainage line 25 and the drainage line in the hospital via the drainage line 25. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the alcohol is mixed with the washing water and diluted and discharged in a safe state.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the operating state of the driving element during such a series of alcohol flushes. In this case, the compressor 17 and the pump 1
The driving of the valves 2 and 24 or the opening operations of the valves 37, 26a and 26b are indicated by oblique lines. When the alcohol is mixed with the washing water for dilution, as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
It is also possible to store a predetermined amount of cleaning water in the cleaning tank 32 in advance. Since alcohol has higher volatility than water, it has been confirmed by the applicant's experiments that drying in the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'can be performed in a short time.

In this embodiment, alcohol is used to dry the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'in a short time. However, various bacteria mixed in the rinse water are sterilized. Various substances such as other volatile liquids can be used as long as they have the ability and remain on the surfaces of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'without any problem. Furthermore, even if the purpose is only to promote drying, as long as it remains on the surfaces of the endoscopes 1 and 1 'and has no problem, it can of course be used.

In this embodiment, the alcohol is injected into the first drain port 9 in advance, and the alcohol is supplied to the endoscope 1 by the action of the self-priming pump 12 using the second circulation path 7. Although it is made to feed into the internal pipeline of 1 ',
As shown in FIG. 6, a bottle 28 containing alcohol
The endoscopes 1, 1 ′ may be fed into the internal conduits via the like. That is, the compressed air from the compressor 17 is sent into the bottle 28 via the pipe 43, and thereby the alcohol in the bottle 28 is transferred to the pipe 44 (the check valve 15).
c), 35, and 7b, and may be sent into the internal conduit of the endoscope 1, 1 '. In this case, the air supply through the pipe 43 by the compressor 17 is continuously performed until the alcohol in the bottle 28 runs out and the inside pipes of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ are dewatered and further dried. .
According to this configuration and operation, it is not necessary to flow alcohol into the pump, so that safety measures can be easily taken and alcohol flush can be smoothly performed regardless of the amount of alcohol injected into the bottle 28. Becomes possible.

The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 4 of the present embodiment.
To briefly explain an example of the operation unit 0, the operation unit has an operation panel shown in FIG. 7A and a process setting panel shown in FIG. 7B that is separate from the operation panel. doing.

The operation panel shown in FIG. 7A has three automatic cleaning / disinfection process program selection switches 52, 53, 54 including a preset cleaning / disinfection process.
In the program 1 selected by the selection switch 52, for example, a program recommended by a manufacturer is input in advance. The program 2 and the program 3 respectively selected by the selection switches 53 and 54 are those in which the user of the device 40 creates and inputs a unique program using the switches of the process setting panel shown in FIG. 7B. It is. In this case, in general, a user (hospital or the like) himself / herself checks a cleaning / disinfecting effect and inputs a program in which the number of steps is shorter than that of the recommended program 1 according to the protocol. Here, the protocol refers to, for example, a process before being applied to the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 40 and a condition of the disinfecting solution to be used.

In the apparatus 40 of the present embodiment, when the program 2 or 3 is selected, a warning is generated so that the user can reconfirm the processing according to the original protocol of cleaning and disinfection. This ensures the safety of processing.

In FIG. 7A, reference numeral 55 denotes a disinfectant temperature display window. In the disinfectant temperature display window 55, the set temperature of disinfectant heating and the real-time temperature are alternately displayed. When the set temperature is reached, the disinfectant temperature display window 55 is displayed.
Shows only the set temperature. The detailed description of the disinfecting solution heating step is omitted (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-31588).
Reference).

As described above, the cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 40 of this embodiment is not an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus, instead of manually performing alcohol flushing using a syringe prepared separately from the cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 40. Since the alcohol flush can be automatically performed by using the apparatus 40 itself, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 40 can be effectively used, and water can be easily and quickly removed from the internal conduit of the endoscope. be able to. In particular, since the automation is suitably realized by the self-priming pump 12, no alcohol remains in the pump or the pipeline, and the apparatus is complicated to prevent ignition or explosion. Nor. Alcohol, even in small amounts, can be supplied to the second pump 12
Thus, the liquid is positively sucked and actively discharged, and is surely sent into the internal conduits of the endoscopes 1 and 1 ′ through the circulation path 7.

The following configurations can be obtained by the embodiment described above. 1. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus for automatically cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope, comprising a step of sending a designated liquid into an endoscope conduit.

2. 2. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a step of removing the specified liquid from the endoscope channel by sending compressed air after the specified liquid is supplied.

3. 2. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified liquid is a disinfectant such as alcohol. 4. 2. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified liquid is a liquid having a property of being more volatile than water, such as alcohol.

5. 2. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified liquid is supplied by operating a pump for cleaning an endoscope conduit. 6. 6. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the endoscope channel cleaning pump is a self-priming type, and a suction port thereof is opened in the cleaning tank.

7. 2. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified liquid is diluted with water and then discharged after the specified liquid is supplied. 8. 8. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the dilution of the specified liquid is performed by automatically mixing the specified liquid and water in the cleaning tank.

9. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device separately feeds and feeds at least the suction pipe and the air / water supply pipe of the endoscope via an electromagnetic valve. Endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device. 10. 10. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein air is selectively supplied to the suction pipe and the air / water supply pipe at least in the air supply step.

[0056]

As described above, according to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily and quickly remove water and bacteria in the internal conduit of the endoscope.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a pipeline of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between an endoscope side pipe and an apparatus side pipe;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter provided at a drain port of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operation state diagram of an electromagnetic on-off valve and a compressor during an air supply process.

FIG. 5 is an operation state diagram of various driving elements during an alcohol flush.

FIG. 6 is a pipeline configuration diagram showing another configuration of the alcohol flush.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation unit of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1 ': endoscope, 12: liquid feed pump, 40: endoscope washing and disinfecting device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope to be washed and disinfected is set.
Of the endoscope set in the washing tank and the inside of the washing tank
Sending means for sending a volatile liquid having a function, and a liquid having a sterilizing ability sent into an internal conduit of an endoscope
Is discharged from the internal conduit into the cleaning tank.
Discharging means for supplying water into the washing tank to discharge the first discharging means;
The sterilizable liquid discharged into the washing tank by the step
Diluting means for diluting in the washing tank, and washing the liquid having a sterilizing ability diluted by the diluting means.
An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus , comprising: a second discharging means for discharging from the cleaning tank .