JP3284704B2 - Endoscope cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an endoscope used for medical purposes or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is generally constructed by connecting an insertion portion into a body cavity and a light guide flexible portion connected to a light source device or the like to a main body operation portion. Further, the light guide flexible portion is considerably long, and is formed of a flexible member. When the endoscope having such a configuration is not used, the main body operation unit is hung on a hanger, a hook, or the like, and the insertion unit and the light guide flexible unit are suspended and stored. By the way, in the electronic endoscope, in addition to the light source device, a processor and a monitor device are required, and a hard copy device and other devices are also required. A cart as shown in FIG. 7 is used, and these devices are installed in the cart.

That is, in the figure, 1 indicates a cart,
The cart 1 has a cart body 2 provided with a plurality of shelves, and a caster 3 is attached to a lower surface of a bottom plate 2 a of the cart body 2. The cart body 2 includes, for example, a bottom plate 2
a, an aspirated matter storage container 4 and the like are installed on the lower shelf 2b.
A hard copy device 5 is provided above, and a control device 6 having a mechanism of a light source device and a processor is provided above the upper shelf plate 2c.
Is installed. The monitor device 7 is set on the top plate 2d. Further, the back plate 2
A power supply cord 8 is drawn out from e, and a power supply connector (not shown) is provided on the surface of the back plate 2e or at an appropriate position on the top plate 2d.

A hook 9 for holding an endoscope 11 is mounted on a corner of a top plate 2d of the cart 1 having the above-described configuration. The hook 9 includes a holding portion 9 a for holding the main body operation portion 12 of the endoscope 11, and a light guide flexible portion 13.
Guide section 9 that guides so as to be separated from insertion section 14
b, and in the light guide flexible portion 13, a branch portion fixing tool 10 for detachably fixing a branch portion 13c for branching into the light source connector 13a and the electrical connector 13b is provided at a corner of the shelf 2b. Is provided. When the endoscope 11 is not used, the endoscope 11 is set in a suspended state. When the endoscope 11 is used, the endoscope 11 is detached from the hook 9, the light source connector 13a and the electric connector 13b are connected to the control device 6, the main body operation unit 12 is gripped, and the insertion unit 14 is connected to the patient. Insert into body cavity. After the use of one case, the endoscope 11 can be mounted so as to be hung on the hook 9 again, and the cart 1 can be moved to a desired position.

[0005]

By the way, an endoscope is
Because the insertion part is inserted directly into the patient's body cavity,
After use, the insertion portion is contaminated by fouling or the like. If, after use, the cart is moved by suspending the soiled insertion portion, the insertion portion may shake due to the vibration of the cart and may come into contact with the cart or other objects, which is not preferable from a sanitary point of view. In addition, the endoscope must be cleaned each time it is used, but since the cleaning device is not usually provided in the examination room, it is once mounted on a cart and transported to the position where the cleaning device is provided. It is necessary to take it out of this cart and set it in the washing device. Therefore, it is necessary to touch the soiled insertion portion at least twice when mounting it on the cart and transferring it to the cleaning device, which is uncomfortable for the person who performs the operation, and also performs this operation. Therefore, the work itself is troublesome, such as the need to wear gloves, and is not preferable in terms of hygiene.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable an endoscope to be immediately washed while being mounted on a cart.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a cleaning tank in a cart in which a light source device of an endoscope and other equipment are installed, and the cleaning container includes:
At least a hanger provided with a holder member for detachably supporting the body operation unit of the endoscope, and the holder member,
The lifting drive means lifts the tank, and the holder is configured to be driven up and down between a position where the endoscope is mounted on the holder member and a position where the entire endoscope is immersed in the tank. Is what you do.

[0008]

The lifting drive means is operated to hold the holder member of the hanger in a state of protruding upward from the washing container. In this state, the main body operation unit of the endoscope that has been inserted into the body cavity and is soiled is attached to the holder member. When the insertion portion and the light guide flexible portion are long, the tip portions of the insertion portion and the light guide flexible portion are also held at a position near the holder member. In this state, if the hanger is lowered by the lifting / lowering drive means, the entire endoscope is immersed in the cleaning container, and the endoscope is cleaned. Then, after the endoscope is immersed in the tank for a predetermined time, the lifting / lowering driving means is operated to lift the hanger. Thereby, the endoscope is entirely cleaned, and the endoscope can be reused as it is. In addition, the endoscope can be washed while being mounted on the cart, and for this washing, there is no need to transfer the endoscope, and almost no need to touch the endoscope contaminated with body fluids or the like. . In addition, even when the cart is moved, there is no possibility that the soiled insertion portion may come into contact with the cart itself, devices disposed around the cart, or the like, and become soiled.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cart equipped with a washing device,
FIG. 2 shows the structure of the hanger and its lifting means, FIG. 3 shows the holder member of the operation section of the endoscope, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the holder member of the light guide flexible portion, and FIG. 2 shows a holder member of each section. Here, since the cart and the endoscope are substantially the same as those described in the related art, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. Illustration of various devices installed in the cart is omitted.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a cleaning device. The cleaning device 20 is fixedly installed on a side of the cart body 2 of the cart 1. The cleaning device 20 has a cleaning container 21 in which the cleaning liquid is stored up to a predetermined height. Cleaning container 2
1, a lifting rod 22 is provided, and a support plate 23 extending in the horizontal direction is provided at an upper end of the lifting rod 22.
Are connected. The support plate 23 is configured to detachably mount the endoscope 11, and the lifting rod 22 and the support plate 23 constitute a hanger.

The lifting rod 22 is inserted into a cylinder 24 in the washing container 21. The cylinder 24 is connected to a fluid supply / discharge unit 25 for a pressurized fluid including a pump 25a and a fluid supply / discharge pipe 25b. When the pressure fluid is supplied into the cylinder 24 by the fluid supply / discharge means 25, the lifting rod 22 rises, the support plate 23 rises to a predetermined height position, and when the pressure fluid is discharged from the cylinder 24, the lifting rod 22 descends and the support plate 2
Numeral 3 moves below the liquid level of the washing container 21. Therefore, the cylinder 24 and the fluid supply / discharge means 25 constitute a hanger elevating drive mechanism.

An operation section holder member 26 for detachably supporting the main body operation section 12 of the endoscope 11 and the distal end portions of the light guide flexible section 13 and the insertion section 14 are detachably engaged with the support plate 23. A soft part holder member 27 and an insertion part holder member 28 for holding are provided. Here, the operation unit holder member 26 is provided at a central position of the support plate 23,
In addition, the flexible portion holder member 27 and the insertion portion holder member 28
Are disposed at predetermined positions at left and right positions of the operation unit holder member 26.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, the operating portion holder member 26 connects a pair of spring plate portions 26a, 26a and the two spring plate portions 26a, 26a by bending a metal plate having spring properties. The connecting plate 26b is fixed to the support plate 23 with screws or the like. The spring plate portions 26a, 26a are curved in a direction approaching each other from a portion connected to the connecting plate portion 26b, and are further bent in a direction away from each other in the middle. The closest portions thereof are narrower than the width of the main body operation portion 12, and the ends on the open side are wider than the width of the main body operation portion 12. Therefore, when the main body operating portion 12 is inserted between the spring plate portions 26a, 26a,
a and 26a are mutually expanded so that the main body operating portion 12 can be clamped by the spring force.

Next, the flexible portion holder member 27 has, for example, the configuration shown in FIGS. That is, the support plate 2
3 has a base portion 29 fixedly provided thereon. An elastic bending portion 30 is connected to the base portion 29, and both ends of the elastic bending portion 30 are connected via spring-like connecting pieces 31, 31. Holding ring 32 is connected. The retaining ring 32
A slit is formed, and a V-shaped cut portion 32a is formed at a position between the spring-like connecting pieces 31, 31. A large arc portion 32b and a small arc portion 3 are bounded by the cut portion 32a.
2c. And, as shown in FIG.
When the large arc portion 32b and the small arc portion 32c are joined to the holding ring 32, the connector portion can be sandwiched. When the connector portion is pulled out from this state, the holding ring 32 becomes large arc portion 32b and small arc portion 32b.
However, at this time, the elastic bending portion 30 bends and bends in the returning direction from the middle, and as shown in FIG. 5, the large arc portion 32b and the small arc portion 32c are opened. It is also kept in a stable state. Here, since the distal end portion of the light guide flexible portion 13 branches into the light source connector 13a and the electric connector 13b, it is preferable to hold the light source connector 13a and the electric connector 13b separately. It is preferable that both the shape of the holding ring 32 adapted to the outer diameter of the light source connector 13a and the shape of the holding ring 32 adapted to the electrical connector 13b be provided side by side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the insertion portion holder member 28 includes a pair of holding finger pieces 2 protruding from the support plate 23.
8a, 28a, and these holding finger pieces 28a, 28a
Is formed of an elastic member, and is fixed by holding the distal end portion of the insertion portion 14 therebetween. In order to facilitate the insertion of the insertion portion 14 between the holding finger pieces 28a, 28a, the tip portions thereof are spherical, and in order to keep the insertion portion 14 out of contact with the support plate 23. The portion on the base side has a large diameter. Thereby, in order to hold the insertion portion 14,
The area in contact with the insertion portion holder member 28 and the support plate 23 is made as small as possible.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the cart 1 is provided with a cleaning device 20 fixed thereto.
The hanger on which the endoscope 11 is mounted is the cleaning device 20.
The endoscope 11 is provided on the side of the monitor device 7.
The cleaning device 20 is transported to a desired position by the movement of the cart 1 as well as the devices such as. In order to examine a patient with the endoscope 11 in an examination room or the like, the support plate 2
Operation member holder member 26, flexible portion holder member 2 provided in 3
The light source connector 13a and the electric connector 13b of the light guide flexible portion 13 are connected to the control device 6 installed in the cart 1 after being separated from the insertion portion holder member 28 and the insertion portion holder member 28.

When the insertion section 13 is inserted into a patient's body cavity and an examination is performed, the portion of the insertion section 13 that has been inserted into the patient's body is contaminated. Become. Therefore, the cylinder 2
A pressurized fluid is supplied into the inside of the cleaning device 4, the lifting rod 22 provided in the cleaning device 20 is raised, and the support plate 23 is kept in a raised state, and the used endoscope 11 is mounted on the support plate 23. I do. That is, the main body operation unit 12 is operated by the operation unit holder member 26.
The light source connector 13a and the electrical connector 13b of the light guide flexible portion 13 are fixed to the flexible portion holder member 27.
Further, the distal end portion of the insertion section 14 is fixed to the insertion section holder member 28. Accordingly, the endoscope 11 is configured such that the light guide flexible portion 13 and the insertion portion 14, which are long members, are made compact in the height direction, and the support plate 2 which forms the hanger
3 will be mounted.

Then, the pressure fluid in the cylinder 24 is discharged from the fluid supply / discharge pipe 25b in the fluid supply / discharge means 25. As a result, the lifting rod 22 descends, and the endoscope 11 mounted on the support plate 23 is immersed in the cleaning container 21 of the cleaning device 20. And the endoscope 1
The endoscope 1 is immersed in the cleaning liquid for a predetermined time and, if necessary, ultrasonic vibration is generated in the cleaning liquid.
1. Particularly, the insertion portion 14 which is inserted into a body cavity and becomes dirty can be easily and quickly washed. When the cleaning is completed, the lifting rod 22 is raised, the endoscope 11 is pulled up from the cleaning container 21, and the draining and drying are performed.
It can be reused as it is.

The endoscope 11 has a support plate 23, a main body operation section 12, a light guide flexible section 13 and an insertion section 14.
Are fixed at the three points at the front end of the light guide, the light guide flexible portion 13 and the insertion portion 14 formed of a long member are mounted in a compact state, and the cleaning container 21 for cleaning the light guide is used. The cart can be miniaturized, and does not shake when the cart 1 moves, and is extremely stably held. And, since the endoscope 11 can be washed immediately after use, there is no need to transport or transfer the contaminated endoscope 11, and the endoscope 11 can be installed in the hands of workers or in the surroundings. This is extremely advantageous in terms of hygiene and the like without causing stains on the used equipment and the like.

As a mechanism for driving the lifting and lowering rods 22 and the support plate 23 constituting the hanger, not only the above-mentioned cylinder but also any suitable means such as a rack-pinion method can be used.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention is constructed as described above, so that the cart can be transported while the endoscope is held on the cart, and the endoscope can be transferred without changing the endoscope. By simply performing a simple operation of elevating the endoscope, it is possible to surely clean a stained endoscope by inserting the endoscope into a body cavity, and it is possible to reuse the endoscope as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a cart equipped with a cleaning device.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory view showing a hanger elevating mechanism in the cleaning device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an operation unit holder member.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a flexible portion holder member.

5 is an external view of a flexible portion holder member showing an operation state different from that of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an external view of an insertion portion holder member.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional cart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cart 11 Endoscope 12 Main body operation part 13 Light guide flexible part 13a Light source connector 13b Electric connector 14 Insertion part 20 Cleaning device 21 Cleaning container 22 Lifting rod 23 Support plate 24 Cylinder 25 Fluid supply / discharge means 26 Operation part holder member 27 Flexible Part holder member 28 insertion part holder member

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-59-200621 (JP, A) JP-A-3-60620 (JP, A) JP-A-3-297437 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning tank is provided in a cart on which a light source device and other devices of an endoscope are installed, and a holder member for detachably supporting at least a main body operation unit of the endoscope is provided in the cleaning container. Providing a hanger provided, and raising the holder member above the tank by the lifting drive means, between the position where the endoscope is mounted on the holder member and the position where the entire endoscope is immersed in the tank. A cleaning device for an endoscope, wherein the cleaning device is configured to be driven up and down.