JP3821181B2 - Endoscope cleaning method with endoscope cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning method using an endoscope cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an endoscope cleaning method using an endoscope cleaning apparatus having a water cleaning process, a chemical liquid disinfection process, and a rinsing process.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The endoscope used for the inspection is accommodated in a washing tank of the endoscope washing apparatus, and is washed with water injected from a water supply port of the washing tank. This water is drained from a drain outlet provided on the bottom surface of the washing tank after the water washing is completed. Thereafter, the chemical solution is injected from the water supply port into the washing tank, and the endoscope is sterilized. When the chemical liquid sterilization is completed, the chemical liquid is discharged from the drain, and then rinsed and dried to finish the endoscope cleaning.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the endoscope cleaning method using the conventional endoscope cleaning apparatus, even if the water of the water washing is drained, the water is not completely drained but becomes small water droplets, and the surface of the washing tank and the endoscope There is a defect that remains on the surface. For this reason, when performing the chemical liquid sterilization in the next step, the injected chemical liquid is diluted with the water droplets, so that there is a disadvantage that the disinfection effect is lowered.
[0004]
This invention is made in view of such a situation, and provides the endoscope cleaning method by the endoscope cleaning apparatus which can prevent that a chemical | medical solution is diluted with the water used by the water cleaning. Objective.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, the present invention accommodates an endoscope in a washing tub of an endoscope washing apparatus, injects water into the washing tub, and rinses the endoscope with water. After the drainage of the endoscope, the medical solution is injected into the washing tank to disinfect the endoscope, and after the chemical liquid is drained, the endoscope is rinsed by injecting water into the cleaning tank. In the endoscope cleaning method, a step of draining water droplets adhering to the washing tub by applying vibration from the vibration generating means to the washing tub after draining the water of the washing rinsing and before injecting the chemical solution. It is characterized by that.
[0006]
According to the present invention, after draining the water used for the water washing, the washing tank is vibrated, the water droplets adhering to the washing tank are drained, and then the chemical liquid is injected into the washing tank to disinfect the endoscope. . When vibration is applied to the washing tub, a large number of small water droplets remaining in the washing tub after the drainage gather to form large water droplets and are drained from the washing tub. As a result, the chemical solution is prevented from being diluted with water, and the chemical solution can be maintained at an appropriate concentration. Therefore, even if the disinfection cycle is repeated, the disinfection effect can be maintained high.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of an endoscope cleaning method using an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an endoscope cleaning apparatus. As shown in the figure, the endoscope cleaning apparatus 10 includes a box-shaped apparatus main body 12 having an upper lid 14 that can be opened and closed. A cleaning tank 18 is formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12, and the used and contaminated endoscope 16 is accommodated in the cleaning tank 18.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a water supply port 24 is formed on the side surface of the washing tub 18, and water and chemicals are injected into the washing tub 18 through the water supply port 24. A drain outlet 26 is formed at the upper center of FIG. 2 showing the bottom surface of the washing tub 18, and a drain pipe 28 is attached to the drain outlet 26. The water and chemicals injected into the washing tub 18 are drained from the drain pipe 28 through the drain port 26 after use.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 3, the side wall 30 of the washing tub 18 is inclined toward the bottom surface 42, and water droplets flowing down along the side wall 30 are formed so as to concentrate toward the bottom surface 42. The side wall 30 is bent stepwise and is gently inclined as it approaches the bottom surface 42. Thereby, the washing tank 18 has a sufficient volume as compared with the washing tank whose side walls are inclined straight. Further, since the bottom surface 42 is inclined toward the drain port 26 as shown in FIG. 4, the water and chemicals in the washing tub 18 flow down to the drain port 26 along the side wall 30 and the bottom surface 42.
[0010]
A plurality of ultrasonic transducers 44, 44... Are disposed on the back side of the side wall 30 and the bottom surface 42 of the cleaning tank 18, and when the ultrasonic transducer 44 is oscillated, the cleaning tank 18 is ultrasonically vibrated. Further, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the endoscope in contact with the washing tub 18 through the washing tub 18 and vibrates. In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 44 is applied as the vibration generating means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other vibration generating means may be applied.
[0011]
A cylindrical injection device 20 is provided at the center of the washing tub 18, and a heater 21 (see FIG. 5) is provided therein. In addition, nozzles 22, 22, 22 are disposed on the upper surface of the injection device 20.
According to FIG. 5 showing the piping of the endoscope cleaning apparatus 10, a water supply pipe 52 is connected to a faucet 50 provided outside the apparatus, and the water supply pipe 52 extends to a valve 54 communicated with the water supply opening 24. Is done. The water supply pipe 52 is provided with a water supply valve 56 and a filter 58 in order. When the faucet 50 and the valve 54 are opened, water flows through the water supply pipe 52 and is injected into the washing tub 18 through the water supply opening 24. The
[0012]
The drain pipe 28 is provided with a switching valve 60. When the switching valve 60 is moved rightward in FIG. 5, the drain pipe 28 is connected to the circulation pipe 62. When the switching valve 60 is moved to the left in FIG. 5, the drain pipe 28 is connected to the discharge pipe 64, and when the switching valve 60 is further moved to the center (position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5), the drain pipe 28 is Blocked.
One end of a circulation pipe 62 is connected to the switching valve 60. The circulation pipe 62 extends to the valve 54, and a chemical tank 66 and a pump 68 are provided in the middle thereof. Thereby, the chemical solution stored in the chemical solution tank 66 is sucked into the pump 68 and injected into the washing tank 18 via the valve 54 and the water supply port 24. Moreover, since the chemical | medical solution inject | poured into the washing tank 18 is returned to the chemical | medical solution tank 66 via the switching valve 60, a chemical | medical solution can be circulated and used. A drain pipe 70 is branched to the circulation pipe 62, and a drain 72 is connected to the drain pipe 70.
[0013]
On the other hand, the drain pipe 64 is extended outside the apparatus, and a pump 74 is provided in the middle thereof. The water injected into the washing tub 18 is led into the drain pipe 64 through the switching valve 60 after use, and is sucked into the pump 74 and drained outside the apparatus.
Next, the operation of the endoscope cleaning apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an endoscope cleaning process by the endoscope cleaning apparatus 10. According to the figure, first, the endoscope 16 is accommodated in the washing tub 18, the upper lid 14 is closed, and the pre-washing is started (step 10). That is, the water supply valve 56 and the valve 54 shown in FIG. 5 are opened, and water is supplied from the water supply port 24 to the washing tub 18 through the water supply valve 56 and the valve 54. The endoscope 16 is pre-washed with this water, and the water used for the pre-washing is discharged from the discharge pipe 64 to the outside of the apparatus via the switching valve 60.
[0014]
When the pre-washing is finished, water storage is started (step 12). That is, after the switching valve 60 is operated in the center to close the drain pipe 28, the water supply valve 56 is opened, water is poured into the washing tub 18, and the endoscope 16 is immersed in water. The position of the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 76, and when the liquid level rises to an appropriate position, the water supply valve 56 is closed to stop water storage.
[0015]
When the water storage is completed, ultrasonic cleaning is started (step 14). That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 44 is oscillated to apply ultrasonic vibration to the washing tub 18. As a result, ultrasonic vibration is generated in the water stored in the cleaning tank 18, and the endoscope 16 is ultrasonically cleaned. When the ultrasonic cleaning is completed, drainage is performed (step 16). That is, when the switching valve 60 is operated to the discharge pipe 64 side, the water stored in the washing tub 18 is guided to the discharge pipe 64 through the switching valve 60, sucked by the pump 74, and drained outside the apparatus. The
[0016]
After draining the water, draining by ultrasonic vibration is performed (step 18). That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 44 is oscillated again, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaning tank 18. As a result, small water droplets adhering in the washing tub 18 gather to form large water droplets, flow down along the side wall 30 and the bottom surface 42, and drained out of the apparatus from the discharge pipe 64. In this way, the water droplets remaining in the washing tub 18 can be drained by oscillating the ultrasonic vibrator 44 again after draining. At this time, since the ultrasonic vibrator 44 used for ultrasonic cleaning is also used for water droplet drainage, it is not necessary to separately provide vibration generating means, and space saving can be realized.
[0017]
When drainage is completed, chemical disinfection is started (step 20). That is, after the switching valve 60 is operated in the center to close the drain pipe 28, the pump 68 is operated to inject the chemical stored in the chemical tank 66 into the washing tank 18, and the endoscope 16 is immersed in the chemical. The liquid level of the chemical liquid is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 76, and when the liquid level rises to an appropriate position, the pump 68 is stopped. In this state, the endoscope 16 is oscillated to sterilize the endoscope 16 while vibrating the drug solution. At this time, since the water droplets remaining in the draining process by ultrasonic vibration are drained, the disinfecting effect can be maintained high without the chemical solution being diluted.
[0018]
When the chemical solution disinfection is completed, the chemical solution is drained (step 22). That is, the switching valve 60 is operated to the discharge pipe 64 side, and the chemical solution injected into the washing tank 18 is discharged from the discharge pipe 64 to the outside of the apparatus.
After the chemical solution is drained, the chemical solution is drained by ultrasonic vibration (step 24). That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 44 is oscillated, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaning tank 18. As a result, small chemicals adhering to the washing tub 18 gather to form large water droplets, flow down along the side walls 30 and the bottom surface 42, and are discharged from the discharge pipe 64 to the outside of the apparatus. In this way, the chemical solution remaining in the washing tank 18 can be drained by oscillating the ultrasonic transducer 44 again after draining.
[0019]
After the chemical is drained, rinsing is performed (step 26). That is, the water supply valve 56 is opened, and water is supplied from the water supply port 24 to the washing tub 18 through the water supply valve 56 and the valve 54. The endoscope 16 is rinsed with this water, and the water used for rinsing is discharged from the switching valve 60 to the outside of the apparatus.
After rinsing is completed, drainage is performed by ultrasonic vibration (step 28). That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 44 is oscillated, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaning tank 18. As a result, small water droplets adhering to the washing tub 18 gather to form large water droplets, flow down along the side wall 30 and the bottom surface 42, and drained out of the apparatus from the discharge pipe 64. As described above, after rinsing, the ultrasonic vibrator 44 is oscillated to drain water droplets remaining in the washing tub 18.
[0020]
After draining the water, drying is performed (step 30). That is, the endoscope 16 is dried by a drying device (not shown). Thus, the cleaning of the endoscope 16 by the endoscope cleaning apparatus 10 is completed.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the endoscope cleaning method by the endoscope cleaning apparatus of the present invention, after draining the water used for the water cleaning, a step of applying vibration to the cleaning tank is provided, and the drain remains in the cleaning tank after draining. Since the water droplets are drained from the washing tank, the chemical solution is not diluted with water. As a result, the chemical solution can be maintained at an appropriate concentration, and the disinfection effect can be maintained high even if the disinfection cycle is repeated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an endoscope cleaning apparatus. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a structure of a cleaning tank applied to the endoscope cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a line 3-3 in FIG. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the washing tub along line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a piping diagram of the endoscope washing apparatus in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 Flow chart showing endoscope cleaning process by endoscope cleaning device 【Explanation of symbols】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Endoscope washing apparatus 12 ... Apparatus main body 16 ... Endoscope 18 ... Washing tank 24 ... Water supply port 28 ... Drain pipe 30 ... Side wall 42 ... Bottom 44 ... Ultrasonic vibrator 50 ... Faucet 56 ... Water supply valve 60 ... Switching Valve 64 ... Drain pipe 66 ... Chemical solution tank

Claims (4)

An endoscope is housed in a washing tank of an endoscope washing apparatus, water is poured into the washing tank to wash the endoscope, and after the water is drained, a chemical solution is poured into the washing tank. In the endoscope cleaning method by the endoscope cleaning apparatus for sterilizing the endoscope by sterilizing the endoscope, injecting water into the cleaning tank after draining the chemical liquid,
An internal view comprising a step of draining water droplets adhering to the washing tub by applying vibration from the vibration generating means to the washing tub after draining the water of the water rinsing and before injecting the chemical solution. Endoscope cleaning method using a mirror cleaning device. After draining the chemical solution, before injecting the rinsing water, there is provided a step of draining the chemical solution adhering to the washing tank by applying vibration from the vibration generating means to the washing tank. An endoscope cleaning method using the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The endoscope cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the water for rinsing is drained, the washing tank is vibrated from vibration generating means to drain water droplets adhering to the washing tank. 4. Endoscope cleaning method. 2. The endoscope cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means is an ultrasonic wave generating means.

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