JP3544656B2 - Endoscope sterilization system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope sterilization system for sterilizing an endoscope used when diagnosing a body cavity of a living body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, this type of endoscope includes an operation unit, a flexible tube extending from the operation unit, and a curved tube provided at a distal end of the flexible tube. The insertion part is formed with the bending tube. The flexible tube of such an endoscope is formed by covering a mesh tube called a blade on the surface of a spiral tube made of a band-shaped metal thin plate, and further covering a flexible tube made of polyethylene or the like on the surface of the mesh tube. It has moderate flexibility and elasticity.
[0003]
By the way, in such an endoscope, the flexibility and resilience of the flexible tube forming the insertion portion greatly affect the insertability into the body cavity, making the distal end side of the flexible tube flexible and the proximal end. It is conventionally known that by making the side relatively harder than the distal end side, the insertability into the body cavity can be improved. Therefore, conventionally, in order to improve the insertability of the flexible tube forming the insertion portion of the endoscope into the body cavity, a part of the flexible tube forming the outer skin of the flexible tube is formed into a two-layer structure to form the flexible tube. One in which the base end side is harder than the distal end side has been proposed (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-38961).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the bending portion of the endoscope is generally covered with soft rubber. However, when autoclaving an endoscope having a curved portion made of this soft rubber, the pressure inside the soft rubber becomes higher than the outside pressure when the pressure is reduced, so that the rubber expands. May be lost.
[0005]
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope sterilization system capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and preventing expansion of a flexible rubber for a bending portion during autoclave sterilization.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an endoscope sterilization system for autoclave sterilization of an endoscope, in which a space inside a curved rubber that covers a curved portion of the endoscope is provided. And a ventilator for communicating and reducing the internal pressure of the space.
[0007]
Claim 2 is an endoscope having a curved portion, and in an endoscope sterilization system for autoclaving the endoscope, a curved rubber for covering the curved portion of the endoscope, and an inside of the curved rubber. And a ventilator communicating with the space and reducing the internal pressure of the space.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible tube 2 includes a spiral tube (flex) 3 made of a band-shaped metal thin plate, a mesh tube (blade) 4 attached to the outer periphery of the spiral tube 3, and the mesh tube. 4 and a flexible tube (outer skin) 5 that covers the surface, and has appropriate flexibility and elasticity.
[0009]
In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a bending tube provided at the distal end of the flexible tube 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a distal member provided at the distal end of the bending tube 6, and the bending tube 6 and the distal member 7 are as described above. The insertion section of the endoscope is formed together with the flexible tube 2.
[0010]
In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a bending operation knob provided on the operation section 1. When the bending operation knob 8 is rotated, the bending tube 6 bends vertically and horizontally. The operating section 1 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 9, and a treatment instrument such as forceps inserted from the treatment instrument insertion port 9 is provided with a flexible tube provided inside the flexible tube 2 and the bending tube 6. 10 (see FIG. 5), and is guided by an opening 11 formed at the distal end of the distal end member 7.
[0011]
An observation window 12 (see FIG. 5) is provided at the tip of the tip member 7, and an object for forming an optical image from the observation window 12 on a solid-state imaging device (CCD) 21 is provided behind the observation window 12. A lens system 13 is provided.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 6, the objective lens system 13 includes a first lens 14 provided on the rear side of the observation window 12, a first lens holder 15 for holding the first lens 14, and the first lens 14, rear group lenses 16a, 16b, 16c, a second lens holder 17 for holding the rear group lenses 16a, 16b, 16c, the second lens holder 17 and the first lens And a cylindrical insulator 18 for electrically insulating the lens holder 15 from the lens holder 15.
[0013]
A chamfered portion 19 (see FIG. 7) is formed at the rear end of the insulator 18. The chamfered portion 19 is used for fixing the first lens holder 15 and the second lens holder 17 to the insulator 18 by soldering. Is plated with metal (not shown).
[0014]
The first lens 14 is formed of plastic so that dew condensation does not occur due to a temperature difference on the lens surface 14a on the side facing the rear group lens 16a. A glass plate 20 is provided on the front side of the first lens 14 so that the first lens 14 made of plastic is not corroded by chemicals. Note that instead of forming the first lens 14 from plastic, a hydrophilic coat may be applied to the lens surface 14a.
[0015]
At the rear end of the solid-state imaging device 21, a signal line 22 for transmitting an image signal from the solid-state imaging device 21 extends. The signal line 22 passes through the bending tube 6 and the flexible tube 2, and further passes through the inside of a universal cord 23 extending from the side of the operation unit 1, and passes through a connector 24 provided at the tip of the cord 23. It is connected. The connector 24 is connected to a connector section (not shown) of the control device 25, and the image signal supplied from the solid-state imaging device 21 to the control device 25 is subjected to signal processing by the signal processing section of the control device 25 to generate a video image. It is converted to a signal. The video signal obtained by the signal processing unit of the control device 25 is displayed on a screen of a monitor TV 27 connected to the control device 25 via a cable 26.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a first reinforcing member 28a having a length substantially equal to the entire length of the flexible tube 2 is provided inside the flexible tube 2; And a second reinforcing member 28b having a length of the flexible tube 2 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube 2. These reinforcing members 28a and 28b are formed of a metal pipe made of, for example, stainless steel or the like, and have appropriate flexibility and elasticity. The first reinforcing member 28 a has a distal end fixed to a connecting pipe 30 connecting the flexible pipe 2 and the curved pipe 6, and is inserted through a plurality of guide members 29 attached to the inner surface of the spiral pipe 3. And extends to the proximal end side of the flexible tube 2. On the other hand, the distal end of the tubular member 28b is fixed to a guide member 29 provided at a substantially intermediate position of the flexible tube 2, and extends to the proximal end side of the flexible tube 2 through a plurality of guide members 29. Have been. That is, the reinforcing members 28a and 28b are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube 2 such that their rear ends are aligned with the base end side of the flexible tube 2.
[0017]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the endoscope 35 is housed in an autoclave sterilizer 36, and an air supply tube 37 and a suction tube 38 are connected to the connector 24 of the endoscope 35. These tubes 37 and 38 are connected to a ventilator 39, and are configured to ventilate the humidity in the endoscope 35 by the suction force of the ventilator 39.
[0018]
Since the endoscope 35 has a watertight structure, if the autoclave sterilization is performed, the curved portion rubber of the endoscope 35 may expand during suction, but the internal pressure of the endoscope 35 is reduced by the ventilation device 39. By reducing the pressure, expansion of the curved portion rubber can be prevented.
[0019]
FIG. 9 is a view showing a carrying case type autoclave container 40 used when sterilizing the endoscope 35 by autoclaving. The autoclave container 40 includes a container body 41, an upper cover 42 a and an upper cover that cover an opening of the container body 41. 42b. A scope holding member 43 is detachably provided on the container body 41. The scope holding member 43 is formed in a U-shape as shown in FIG. 10, and the autoclave sterilized endoscope 35 can be taken out of the autoclave container 40 without touching by hand as shown in FIG. , So that it can be hung on a scope hanger as it is.
[0020]
The flexible tube 2 of the endoscope having such a configuration has a higher rigidity at the proximal end than at the distal end, and a greater elasticity at the proximal end than at the distal end. Even if the outer skin 5 of the tube 2 does not have a two-layer structure, the insertion property of the flexible tube 2 into the body cavity can be improved. Therefore, the durability can be improved without impairing the followability and the insertability of the flexible tube 2 with respect to the insertion operation.
[0021]
In the above-described first embodiment, the second reinforcing member 28b having a length substantially half of the entire length of the flexible tube 2 is provided in parallel with the first reinforcing member 28a. As shown in (1), the first reinforcing member 28a may be passed through the inside of the second reinforcing member 28b having substantially half the length of the flexible tube 2.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the endoscope has a watertight structure, if the autoclave sterilization is performed, the curved portion rubber of the endoscope may expand during suction, but the ventilation device By reducing the internal pressure of the endoscope, the expansion of the curved portion rubber can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary sectional view showing the inside of the flexible tube according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the objective lens system shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an insulator.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an autoclave sterilizer.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a portable autoclave sterilizer.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a scope holder.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a method of using the scope holder. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a flexible tube showing a second embodiment of the endoscope according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 13;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member.
[Explanation of symbols]
35 ... endoscope 36 ... autoclave sterilizer 39 ... ventilator

Claims (2)

In an endoscope sterilization system for autoclaving an endoscope,
An endoscope sterilization system comprising: a ventilation device that communicates with a space inside a curved rubber that covers a bending portion of the endoscope and reduces internal pressure in the space. An endoscope having a curved portion;
In an endoscope sterilization system for autoclaving the endoscope,
A curved rubber for covering a curved portion of the endoscope,
An endoscope sterilization system comprising a ventilator communicating with the space inside the curved rubber and reducing the internal pressure of the space.

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