JP4656951B2 - Airtight inspection method for ultrasonic endoscope, waterproof housing and inspection apparatus used for the inspection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airtight inspection method for an ultrasonic endoscope, a waterproof housing and an inspection apparatus used for the inspection method.

  In the ultrasonic endoscope, an insertion portion into the body is extended from an operation portion held by an operator (operator), and an ultrasonic probe is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion. An ultrasonic signal line guide tube having an ultrasonic signal connector at the distal end and a light guide guide tube having a light guide connector at the distal end are extended from the operation unit. The light guide connector is connected to an external light source device.

This ultrasonic endoscope is configured to be airtight as a whole for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization treatment (chemical solution immersion, etc.) after use, but the ultrasonic signal connector at the tip of the ultrasonic signal guide tube has an ultrasonic signal connector. Since a plurality of terminals through which electricity flows through connection to the sound wave signal processing device are arranged, these cannot be easily and airtightly configured. Therefore, in the sterilization process, the ultrasonic signal connector portion is stored in a waterproof housing.
JP 2004-41333 A JP-A-8-24209

  However, in the past, no preliminary inspection could be performed on the airtightness (waterproofness) of the waterproof housing. For this reason, if there is a problem with the airtightness of the waterproof housing (if the inside and outside are in communication), water may enter the airtight space of the ultrasonic endoscope during sterilization, causing failure. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method, a waterproof housing, and an inspection apparatus that can easily inspect the airtightness of an ultrasonic endoscope including a waterproof housing for waterproofing an ultrasonic signal connector portion in advance.

An airtight inspection method for an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention includes an insertion portion having an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave at a distal end portion, and an ultrasonic signal for transmitting a signal input to and output from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic signal line guide tube having an ultrasonic signal connector with a wire inserted and arranged at the tip and connected to an external ultrasonic signal processing device, and a base of the insertion portion and the ultrasonic signal line guide tube, respectively An ultrasonic endoscope air-tightness inspection method having an airtight structure other than the ultrasonic signal connector portion, wherein air is supplied or sucked simultaneously from the same air intake / exhaust source the ultrasonic endoscope positive pressure or ultrasonic signal connector portion waterproof housing and said airtight cover airtightly the steps of the negative pressure, positive pressure of the inner waterproof housing and the ultrasonic endoscope Or negative pressure change And having a step of monitoring, the.

  The waterproof housing used in the above-described ultrasonic endoscope airtightness inspection method has an air supply / exhaust port.

  An airtightness inspection apparatus for an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave at an end part, an insertion part having an illumination window, and an ultrasonic wave for transmitting signals inputted to and outputted from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic signal line guide tube having an ultrasonic signal connector having an ultrasonic signal connector connected to an external ultrasonic signal processing device at the distal end portion, and a light guide for supplying illumination light to the illumination window. A light guide guide tube having a light guide connector that is inserted inside and connected to an external light source device at the tip, and an operation in which the insertion portion, the ultrasonic signal line guide tube, and the base of the light guide guide tube are connected to each other. And an airtight inspection device for an ultrasonic endoscope having an airtight structure other than the ultrasonic signal connector portion, and a waterproof housing for airtightly covering the ultrasonic signal connector portion; An air supply / exhaust port that communicates with the inside of the waterproof housing; an air supply / exhaust port that is formed in the light guide connector and communicates with the inside of the ultrasonic endoscope having an airtight structure; A Y-tube having a supply / discharge connector connected to the port, a supply / discharge connector connected to the air supply / discharge port of the light guide connector, and a supply / discharge connector connected to the air supply / discharge source; An air supply / discharge source connected to the supply / discharge connector; an observation means for observing a pressure change of positive pressure or negative pressure coupled to the inside of the waterproof housing and the ultrasonic endoscope via the air supply / discharge source; It is characterized by having;

  According to the present invention, since the airtightness of the waterproof housing can be easily and reliably confirmed with a simple configuration, the cleaning / disinfecting liquid enters the waterproof housing during the cleaning / disinfecting sterilization process after using the ultrasonic endoscope. Thus, the possibility of causing failure of the ultrasonic signal connector portion can be reduced.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of an airtight inspection apparatus for an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a single configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope 10 used for inspection. The ultrasonic endoscope 10 includes an operation unit 11 held by an operator and a flexible insertion unit 12 having a base connected to the lower end of the operation unit 11.

  An ultrasonic probe 12a for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion 12, and an observation window (not shown) for optical observation and an illumination window (not shown) are attached to the distal end surface of the insertion portion 12. Are arranged side by side.

  An ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13 and a light guide guide tube 14 that are flexible are extended from the operation unit 11 in a different direction from the insertion unit 12. The ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13 is configured by, for example, covering a spiral tube made of a stainless steel strip or the like with a mesh tube made of a stainless steel fine wire or the like and further covering the outside with a flexible tube.

  An ultrasonic signal connector 17 connected to an external ultrasonic signal processing device (not shown) is attached to the tip of the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13, and an external light source device is attached to the tip of the light guide guide tube 14. A light guide connector 18 connected to (not shown) is attached. The light guide connector 18 is provided with a pressurized air supply port (air supply / exhaust port) 18 a, and this pressurized air supply port 18 a is an ultrasonic endoscope having an airtight structure via the light guide guide tube 14. It communicates with the inside (the operation unit 11, the insertion unit 12, and the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13). The pressurized air supply port 18a is provided with a check valve that allows the supply of pressurized air from the outside to the inside of the light guide connector 18 and does not allow the reverse air flow.

  A series of ultrasonic signal lines 15 are inserted into the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13, the operation unit 11, and the insertion unit 12, and both ends of the ultrasonic signal line 15 are connected to an ultrasonic signal connector 17 and an ultrasonic probe. 12a. A series of light guides 16 for supplying illumination light to the illumination window are inserted into the light guide guide tube 14, the operation unit 11, and the insertion unit 12, and both ends of the light guide 16 are connected to the light guide connector 18 and the illumination window. It faces.

  The ultrasonic endoscope 10 described above has an airtight structure other than the ultrasonic signal connector 17 portion. That is, the ultrasonic signal connector 17 portion is provided with a plurality of terminals (not shown) through which electricity is connected to the ultrasonic signal processing device, and thus cannot be easily waterproofed.

  In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic signal connector 17 is hermetically (liquid-tight) covered by being housed in the waterproof housing 20. The structure of the waterproof housing 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the entirety of an air tightness inspection apparatus including a closed waterproof housing 20, and FIG. 3 shows a state of the open waterproof housing 20 alone.

  The waterproof housing 20 has an upper lid 21 and a lower lid 22 that are large enough to accommodate the ultrasonic signal connector 17 therein. The upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 are provided with projections 21X and 22X having ring insertion holes 21a and 22a. A coupling ring 20a is inserted into the ring insertion holes 21a and 22a, and the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 are coupled via the coupling ring 20a. The waterproof housing 20 is formed with an opening 23 for holding the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13 coming out from the stored ultrasonic signal connector 17 in an airtight manner. The opening 23 includes semicircular recesses 23 a and 23 b that are formed in the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 and face each other. On the opposing surfaces of the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22, O-rings 25 and 26 are disposed including the recesses 23 a and 23 b.

  The upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 are formed with a plurality of latching buckles 27 for locking the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 in a closed state, and a plurality of hooks 28 corresponding to these latching buckles 27. . The ultrasonic signal connector 17 is housed in the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22, and the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 are brought into close contact with each other in a state where the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13 is led out from the recesses 23 a, 23 b, and the latching buckle 27. When the hook 28 is engaged, the ultrasonic signal connector 17 is accommodated in the waterproof housing 20 in a sealed (liquid-tight) state by the O-rings 25 and 26.

  The upper cover 21 of the waterproof housing 20 is provided with a pressurized air supply port (air supply / discharge port) 29. The pressurized air supply port 29 is provided with a check valve that allows the supply of pressurized air from the outside to the inside of the waterproof housing 20 and does not allow the reverse air flow.

  Pressurized air is supplied to the pressurized air supply port 29 of the waterproof housing 20 and the pressurized air supply port 18a of the light guide connector 18 by a Y-shaped tube (three-way tube) 30 shown in FIG. The Y-shaped tube 30 is literally a hollow tube connected in a Y-shape, and housing-side connectors (supply / discharge connectors) connected to the pressurized air supply ports 29 at the tip ends of the three tubes, respectively. 31, a light guide side connector (supply / discharge connector) 32 connected to the pressurized air supply port 18a, and an air source side connected to a manual pressure device (air supply / discharge source) 40 (FIGS. 1 and 5) A connector (supply / discharge connector) 33 is provided.

  The illustrated manual pressurizing device 40 is a manual type that applies an internal pressure by expanding / contracting the manual pressurizing balloon 43, a connector receiving port 41 connected to the air source side connector 33 of the Y-shaped tube 30, and a pressure gauge (observation means). 42). The manual pressurizing device 40 can of course use a known electric pump or the like.

  The airtight inspection of the ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention is performed according to the following procedure. First, it is confirmed that the O-rings 25 and 26 of the waterproof housing 20 are not damaged such as cracks, and a lubricant such as grease is applied. In addition, the ultrasonic signal connector 17 is housed in the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22, and the upper lid 21 and the lower lid 22 are closed and latched in a state where the ultrasonic signal line guide tube 13 is led out from the recesses 23a and 23b. When the buckle 27 is engaged with the hook 28, the ultrasonic signal connector 17 is housed in the waterproof housing 20 in an airtight state.

  Next, the light guide side connector 32 of the Y-shaped tube 30 is connected to the pressurized air supply port 18a of the light guide connector 18, the housing side connector 31 is connected to the pressurized air supply port 29 of the waterproof housing 20, and the air source The side connector 33 is connected to the connector receptacle 41 of the manual pressure device 40.

  In this connected state, when the manual pressurizing balloon 43 of the manual pressurizing device 40 is expanded and contracted, pressurized air is supplied into the waterproof housing 20 and the light guide connector 18 through the Y-shaped tube 30. Thus, the supply of pressurized air into the waterproof housing 20 and the supply of pressurized air into the light guide connector 18 are performed simultaneously from the same manual pressurizing device 40.

  When pressurized air of a predetermined pressure is supplied into the waterproof housing 20 and the light guide connector 18, the supply of air is stopped and the pressure drop of the pressurized air is monitored. That is, the operator observes the pressure change of the pressurized air supplied into the waterproof housing 20 and the light guide connector 18 via the manual pressurizing device 40 with the pressure gauge 42. Since the waterproof housing 20 covers the ultrasonic signal connector 17 in an airtight manner, the supplied pressurized air does not leak from the waterproof housing 20 into the atmosphere. Similarly, since the light guide connector 18 has an airtight structure, the pressurized air does not leak into the atmosphere. Therefore, when the value indicated by the pressure gauge 42 is constant (does not decrease), it can be confirmed that the waterproof housing 20 and the light guide connector 18 are airtight.

  When it is confirmed that there is no pressure drop (the pressure gauge 42 shows a constant value), the operator can use the pressurized air supply port 29 of the waterproof housing 20 and the pressurized air supply port 18a of the light guide connector 18. Then, the housing side connector 31 and the light guide side connector 32 of the Y-shaped tube 30 are removed. Thereafter, the entire ultrasonic endoscope 10 can be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized while the ultrasonic signal connector 17 is housed in the waterproof housing 20.

  If a pressure drop is recognized, there is a high possibility that the waterproof property of the waterproof housing 20 is impaired. Therefore, a precise airtight inspection or repair of the waterproof housing 20 is performed. Even if a similar airtight inspection is performed using the waterproof housing 20 that has been confirmed to be waterproof, the waterproofness of the light guide connector 18 (endoscope body) is impaired if a pressure drop is still observed. Therefore, we will perform a detailed inspection or repair of this waterproof property.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, the operator can easily perform the airtight inspection of the waterproof housing 20, and the ultrasonic wave can be obtained by submerging the chemical solution or the like in the waterproof housing 20 during the cleaning / disinfecting sterilization process. A failure of the endoscope 10 can be avoided.

Instead of supplying pressurized air by the manual pressurizing device 40, the air in the waterproof housing 20 and the light guide connector 18 is sucked by a suction pump or the like to make negative pressure in the sealed space, and the negative pressure change is changed. You may check.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the airtight inspection apparatus of the ultrasonic endoscope of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the waterproof housing of the airtightness inspection apparatus of the ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention. It is a front view of the Y-shaped tube of the airtight inspection device for an ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the manual pressurization apparatus of the airtight inspection apparatus of the ultrasonic endoscope of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic endoscope 11 Operation part 12 Insertion part 12a Ultrasonic probe 13 Ultrasonic signal wire guide tube 14 Light guide guide tube 15 Ultrasonic signal wire 16 Light guide 17 Ultrasonic signal connector 18 Light guide connector 18a Supply of pressurized air Mouth (Air supply / exhaust port)
20 Waterproof housing 20a Connecting ring 21 Upper lid 21a 22a Ring insertion hole 21X 22X Protrusion 22 Lower lid 23 Opening 23a 23b Recess 25 26 O-ring 27 Locking buckle 28 Hook 29 Pressurized air supply port (air supply / exhaust port)
30 Y-shaped pipe 31 Housing side connector (supply / discharge connector)
32 Light guide connector (supply / discharge connector)
33 Air source side connector (supply / discharge connector)
40 Manual pressurizer (Air supply / exhaust source)
41 Connector receptacle 42 Pressure gauge (observation means)
43 Pressurized air balloon

Claims (3)

An insertion part having an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic transmission and reception at the tip part;
An ultrasonic signal line having an ultrasonic signal connector for transmitting an input / output signal to / from the ultrasonic probe and having an ultrasonic signal connector connected to an external ultrasonic signal processing device at the tip A guide tube,
An operation unit that connects the insertion unit and the base of the ultrasonic signal line guide tube, respectively, and an airtight inspection method for an ultrasonic endoscope having an airtight structure other than the ultrasonic signal connector part,
Providing a positive pressure or a negative pressure in a waterproof housing that covers the ultrasonic signal connector part in an airtight manner and in the ultrasonic endoscope of the airtight structure by supplying or sucking air simultaneously from the same air intake / exhaust source; ,
Positive or in the waterproof housing and the ultrasonic endoscope comprising the steps of monitoring the pressure change of the negative pressure,
An airtight inspection method for an ultrasonic endoscope, characterized by comprising: The waterproof housing for use in an airtight inspection method for an ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising an air supply / exhaust port. An insertion portion having an ultrasonic probe and an illumination window for ultrasonic transmission and reception at the tip;
An ultrasonic signal line having an ultrasonic signal connector for transmitting an input / output signal to / from the ultrasonic probe and having an ultrasonic signal connector connected to an external ultrasonic signal processing device at the tip A guide tube,
A light guide guide tube having a light guide connector which is inserted and arranged inside to provide illumination light to the illumination window, and which is connected to an external light source device at a tip portion;
An ultrasonic endoscope air tightness inspection apparatus having an insertion part, an operation part to which the bases of the ultrasonic signal line guide tube and the light guide guide pipe are respectively connected, and having an airtight structure other than the ultrasonic signal connector part Because
A waterproof housing that hermetically covers the ultrasonic signal connector portion;
An air supply / exhaust port formed in the waterproof housing and communicating with the waterproof housing;
An air supply / exhaust port formed in the light guide connector and communicating with the inside of the ultrasonic endoscope having an airtight structure;
A Y-shape having a supply / discharge connector connected to the air supply / discharge port of the waterproof housing, a supply / discharge connector connected to the air supply / discharge port of the light guide connector, and a supply / discharge connector connected to the air supply / discharge source A tube;
An air supply / discharge source connected to the Y-tube supply / discharge connector;
An observation means for observing a pressure change of positive pressure or negative pressure, which is coupled in the waterproof housing and the ultrasonic endoscope through the air supply / discharge source;
An airtight inspection apparatus for an ultrasonic endoscope, comprising:

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