JP5000081B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to a configuration of an internal space covered with an exterior member of the endoscope.

  Conventionally, endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and the like. By inserting an elongated insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity, an operator or the like observes an organ in the body cavity or performs various treatments using a treatment instrument inserted into an insertion channel of the treatment instrument as necessary. You can do it.

  The distal end of the insertion portion is provided with a bending portion and a distal end portion, and the operator or the like is bent by a wire connected to the endoscope operation portion, whereby the objective lens of the observation optical system disposed in the distal end portion The observation direction can be changed.

  In order to prevent infectious diseases, this endoscope, after being used for endoscopy or the like, passes through the outer surface of the endoscope and pipes such as insertion channels provided in the endoscope. It is essential to ensure sterilization. Conventionally, this disinfection sterilization treatment has been performed using a sterilization gas such as ethylene oxide gas (EOG) or a disinfectant solution.

  However, when sterilization gas is used for the disinfection and sterilization treatment of endoscopes, handling of the endoscope after sterilization and sterilization is necessary, for example, it is necessary to remove the sterilization gas adhering to the endoscope after disinfection and sterilization. Is complicated. Further, the sterilization gas has a problem that the running cost is high.

  Furthermore, when the disinfectant is used for the disinfection and sterilization process of the endoscope, the management of the disinfectant is complicated for the operator, and the disposal of the disinfectant after use is very expensive. There are drawbacks.

  In view of such circumstances, recently, as a sterilization method and apparatus for an endoscopic instrument, a high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization process (hereinafter referred to as an autoclave process) that does not involve complicated work and has a low running cost is also provided. Is becoming mainstream.

An entrance for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the endoscope (hereinafter referred to as a steam entrance) is provided in the exterior member of the endoscope, and when the endoscope is autoclaved, An autoclave treatment method has been proposed in which steam is supplied to the inside of the mirror to prevent damage to the outer skin of the endoscope due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the endoscope, or to easily dry the inside of the endoscope ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-51323 A

  However, in the endoscope autoclave processing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied to the endoscope from the vapor inlet port into the endoscope. If the electric angle of the operation unit or an electric part such as a switch box is touched, the durability of the electric angle may be affected by high-temperature and high-pressure steam.

  Further, in the endoscope autoclave processing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is no particular description regarding efficient sterilization of the endoscope in the duct.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and circumstances, and can reliably sterilize the outer surface of the endoscope and the inside of the pipe and improve the overall durability. An object is to provide an endoscope.

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention is provided in an internal space covered with an exterior member, and is closed in a watertight manner and a first space disposed in the first space. And a tube provided in the internal space, one end of which is closed and a steam inlet that communicates with the outside of the exterior member is formed at the other end, and in the autoclave process through the steam inlet A tube that forms a second space to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied in the inner surface side inner space, and a temperature higher than that of the first built-in object disposed in the inner surface side inner space of the tube that is the second space. A pipe member made of a material having high durability against high-pressure steam, and the high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied from the outside to the inside through the pipe port different from the steam inlet in the autoclave process. And a conduit member is pressurized from the outside temperature of the above high-temperature high-pressure steam supplied to the inner surface side internal space of the tube with the above tube, the inner surface side internal space of the first space and the tube And the high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied to the inner space on the inner surface side of the tube in the autoclave process is prevented from entering the first space .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope in which the outer surface of an endoscope and the inside of a pipe line can be surely autoclaved and the overall durability is improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, prior to the description of the embodiment of the present invention, an example serving as a reference of the present invention will be described.

1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an endoscope and a peripheral device showing a first reference example of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective front view schematically showing the inside of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective front view schematically showing the configuration of an electric circuit and pipes in the endoscope of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective front view of the operation unit of the endoscope of FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope apparatus 40 having an endoscope 2 and a sterilization storage case (hereinafter referred to as a sterilization storage case) in which a part of the endoscope apparatus 40 is stored during autoclave processing. The main part is constituted by a sterilization apparatus 60 in which 34 is stored.

  The endoscope apparatus 40 supplies illumination light to an endoscope 2 having an imaging means such as a solid-state imaging device 122 (see FIG. 3) and a photographing lens, and a light guide (not shown) provided in the endoscope 2. A light source device 3 detachably attached to the endoscope 2 and connected to the endoscope 2 via a signal cable 4 to control the operation of the imaging means of the endoscope 2 and to obtain a video signal obtained from the imaging means. And a monitor 6 for displaying a video signal corresponding to a subject image output from the video processor 5 constitutes a main part.

  The endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 7 having flexibility, an operation portion 8 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 7, and one end connected to a first surface of the operation portion 8. A universal cord 9 having flexibility, a connector portion 10 provided at the other end of the universal cord 9 and attachable to and detachable from the light source device 3, and provided on an outer peripheral surface of the connector portion 10 and detachable from the video processor 5 It has an electrical connector portion 11 to which the connector 4a of the signal cable 4 to be connected is attached and detached, and the main portion is configured.

  At the connection portion between the insertion portion 7 and the operation portion 8, an insertion portion side anti-folding member 12 made of an elastic member that prevents sudden bending of the connection portion is provided. Further, a similar operation unit side folding member 13 and connector unit side folding member 14 are provided at a connection portion between the operation unit 8 and the universal cord 9 and a connection portion between the universal cord 9 and the connector unit 10.

  The insertion portion 7 is provided with a flexible flexible tube portion 15 having flexibility, and a bending control device 300 (see FIG. 5) by a pushing operation of a joystick 30 described later of the operation portion 8 provided on the distal end side of the flexible tube portion 15. 3) and a distal end portion 17 provided at the distal end that is one end of the insertion portion 7 and provided with an observation optical system, an illumination optical system, etc. (not shown). The part is composed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, one end of an interior (hereinafter referred to as “inside”) 145 in which a portion other than an exterior member opening and an opening of each duct member, which will be described later, of the endoscope 2 is covered with the exterior member is formed. A liquid supply pipe 93 which is a pipe member connected to the liquid supply port 44 provided at the distal end portion 17 and the other end connected to the injection mouthpiece 26 provided at the connector portion 10, and one end of the distal end portion 17. The air supply / water supply line 94, which is a pipe member connected to the air supply / water supply nozzle 24 and the liquid supply base 24, which is connected to the air / water supply nozzle 42 provided in the connector portion 10, and the other end of the connector portion 10. And a suction conduit 95 which is a conduit member having one end connected to the suction port 39 provided in the tip end portion 17 and the other end connected to the suction base 25 provided in the connector portion 10. ing.

  The air / water supply nozzle 42 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the air / water supply conduit 94 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during the autoclave process. That is, the air / water supply nozzle 42 is a steam inlet for allowing steam to enter the air / water supply conduit 94 and sterilizing the air / water supply conduit 94.

  The suction port 39 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the suction conduit 95 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during autoclave processing. That is, the suction port 39 is a steam inlet for allowing steam to enter the suction conduit 95 and sterilizing the suction conduit 95.

  Further, the liquid supply port 44 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the liquid supply conduit 93 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during the autoclave process. That is, the liquid supply port 44 is a vapor inlet for allowing the vapor to enter the liquid supply pipe 93 and sterilizing the liquid supply pipe 93.

  As described above, the endoscope 2 is provided with various conduits that are open at both ends to the outside and through which fluid or the like can be inserted. Moreover, both the insertion portion 7 and the universal cord 9 are formed of flexible members and are not solid but hollow. Further, most of the pipes 93, 94, 95 in the insertion portion 7 and the universal cord 9 are provided in a non-fixed state in the hollow part so as to be able to cope with flexible movements, and the circumference of the pipe is surrounded by other built-in parts. Although there are things, it is almost space.

  The periphery of each of the pipes in an intermediate portion of these pipes 93, 94, and 95 (in this case, a range that is somewhat wide in the sense of a position away from the end) communicates with the endoscope interior 145, and this The interior 145 communicates with the exterior through exterior member openings 37 and 55 described later. That is, the periphery of the conduit is in a state of communicating with the outside through the endoscope inside 45 and the exterior member openings 37 and 55.

In the first reference example , for example , the inner portion 145 of the endoscope 2 is not filled with a filler or a solid around the middle portion of the path connecting the opening and the opening of a certain pipe line, A space in which the interior 145 is formed is secured. There are various built-in objects and parts in the middle of the path between the interior 145 and the exterior member openings 37 and 55, but they are arranged so as not to block the passage of steam. Therefore, the vapor can pass through this route without being obstructed.

  The pipe member inserted into the endoscope 2 is not limited to the liquid supply pipe line 93, the air / water supply pipe line 94, and the suction pipe line 95, and is provided at the distal end portion 17, and is a treatment instrument. It may be a pipe line through which an operation wire for operating a forceps guide device for guiding the forceps in a predetermined direction is inserted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the liquid supply pipe 93, the air / water supply pipe 94, the suction pipe 95, and the operation wire insertion pipe are described later. 190.

  Air supply used when jetting cleaning liquid or air toward the optical member on the outer surface of the observation optical system (not shown) by pushing the air supply / water supply operation button 28 (to be described later) of the operation unit 8 to the distal end portion 17. An air / water supply nozzle 42 connected to one end of a water supply conduit 94 and an end of a suction conduit 95 for inserting the treatment instrument into the insertion portion 7 and sucking the liquid in the body cavity. A suction port 39, which is an opening on the distal end side of a treatment instrument channel (not shown), and a liquid supply port 44 connected to one end of a liquid supply conduit 93 for ejecting liquid toward the observation object are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.

  A gas supply base 21 detachably attached to a gas supply source 700 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, is provided at one end of the connector unit 10. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the connector portion 10 and at a position other than the position where the electrical connector portion 11 is provided, a water supply tank pressurizing base 23 and a liquid supply which are detachable from the water supply tank 22 constituting the liquid supply source 700 are provided. A base 24 is provided.

  The other end of the air / water supply conduit 94 is connected to the water supply tank pressure cap 23 and the liquid supply cap 24. The water supply tank pressurizing base 23 and the liquid supply base 24 are used for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the air / water supply conduit 94 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during autoclave processing. With an opening. That is, the water supply tank pressure cap 23 and the liquid supply cap 24 are steam inlets for allowing steam to enter the air / water supply conduit 94 and sterilize the air / water supply conduit 94.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface of the connector portion 10 is connected to a suction source (not shown) for performing suction from the suction port at a position substantially opposite to the positions of the water supply tank pressurizing base 23 and the liquid supply base 24. A suction base 25 is provided. The other end of the suction pipe 95 is connected to the suction base 25.

  The suction cap 25 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the suction conduit 95 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during autoclave processing. That is, the suction cap 25 is a steam inlet for allowing the steam to enter the suction conduit 95 and sterilizing the suction conduit 95.

  Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the connector portion 10 and in the vicinity of the suction cap 25, there is provided an injection cap 26 connected to a water supply means (not shown) for supplying water from the liquid supply port. The other end of the liquid supply conduit 93 is connected to the injection hole 26.

  The injection cap 26 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the liquid supply conduit 93 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during autoclave processing. That is, the inlet 26 is a steam inlet for allowing the vapor to enter the liquid supply pipe 93 and sterilizing the liquid supply pipe 93.

  Further, high-frequency leakage current was generated in the endoscope when a high-frequency treatment or the like was performed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector portion 10 and in the vicinity of the suction base 25, the water supply tank pressure base 23, and the liquid supply base 24. In this case, a ground terminal base 27 is provided for returning leakage current to the high-frequency treatment apparatus.

  A waterproof cap 33 can be attached to and detached from the electrical connector portion 11 of the connector portion 10. The waterproof cap 33 is attached after the connector 4a of the signal cable 4 is removed during the autoclave process, so that water at the time of cleaning and high-temperature and high-pressure steam at the time of the autoclave process enter the connector part 10. It is for prevention. The waterproof cap 33 is provided with a pressure adjustment valve (not shown).

  A base 137 having an exterior member opening 37, which is at least one opening in the present invention, is provided in the vicinity of the surface of the connector part 10 where the electrical connector part 11 is provided. A base 137 having an exterior member opening 37 is for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to a second space 190 (described later) in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during autoclave processing. That is, the base 137 is a steam inlet for supplying steam into the second space 190 of the interior 145.

  An important element of the exterior member opening 37 is its size. If the opening is too small, it cannot follow the speed of pressure change, the vapor permeation into the endoscope interior 145 is delayed, and the sterilization process in the pipes 93, 94, 95 is delayed. Therefore, the size of the exterior member opening 37 is preferably larger, for example, 1 mm or more, preferably 5 mm or 10 mm or more.

  If the area of the exterior member opening 37 is larger than the clearance area of the portion with the smallest clearance in the endoscope interior 145 communicated with the exterior member opening 37, the exterior member opening 37 is a bottle of vapor permeation. It can prevent becoming a neck.

Note that to supply the high-temperature high-pressure steam into the second space 190 inside 145, liquid feed conduit within 93, air water conduit 94. The high-temperature high-pressure steam to the suction conduit 95 when autoclaving sterilizing each duct is provided sheet, the second space 190 arranged liquid transport conduits within 93, air water conduit 94. the suction conduit 95 conduit This is because the sterilization temperature is kept constant over the entire area of each pipe line by heating from the outside, and the inside of each pipe line is sterilized reliably and with a short sterilization time.

  The operation unit 8 is provided with an air / water supply operation button 28 for operating air / water supply on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a suction operation button 29 for operating a suction operation. Further, an airtight / watertight inspection base 144 to be described later is disposed on the third surface of the operation unit 8, and the fourth surface opposite to the third surface of the operation unit 8 includes: A base 155 for airtight and watertight inspection and for supplying high temperature and high pressure steam having an exterior member opening 55 which is at least one opening in the present invention is disposed.

  The base 155 having the exterior member opening 55 is for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the second space 190 in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during the autoclave process. That is, the base 155 is a steam inlet for supplying steam into the second space 190 of the interior 145.

  The size of the exterior member opening 55 is preferably larger, for example, 1 mm or more, preferably 5 mm or 10 mm, as with the exterior member opening 37. If the area of the exterior member opening 55 is larger than the clearance area of the portion with the smallest clearance in the endoscope interior 145 communicating with the exterior member opening 55, the exterior member opening 55 is a vapor permeation bottle. It can prevent becoming a neck.

  Further, a treatment instrument insertion port 32 which is an opening communicating with the treatment instrument channel is provided in the vicinity of the insertion section side folding preventing member 12 of the operation section 8, and a switch is provided at the upper end of the operation section 8. A switch box 45 which is a device is provided.

  The treatment instrument insertion port 32 has an opening for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the suction conduit 95 disposed in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2 during the autoclave process. In other words, the treatment instrument insertion port 32 is a steam inlet for allowing the vapor to enter the suction pipe 95 and sterilizing the inside of the suction pipe 95.

The switch box 45 is provided with an abnormal switch 39b (see FIG. 3) to be described later on the first surface. In the first reference example , a joystick 30 is provided on the second surface opposite to the first surface as a bending operation means for remotely bending the switching operation lever 39a and the bending portion 16. .

  Furthermore, a remote switch 38 for remotely operating the video processor 5 is provided on the third surface, which is the upper surface of the switch box 45. The internal configuration closed by the exterior member of the switch box 45 will be described in detail later.

  When the joystick 30 is pushed, the operation wire 92 as a power transmission member fitted to the outer periphery of the sprocket 91 (see FIG. 3) connected to the clutch-equipped transmission portion 132 of the bending motor 131 is attached to the stick. A pulling action and a relaxing action are generated through the part motor 50, the substrate 200, and the bending control device 300 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the bending portion 16 can be bent in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and the visual field direction of the insertion portion 7 is variable.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit of the endoscope apparatus 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a sprocket 91, a potentiometer 134, a clutch-equipped transmission unit 132, and a bending motor 131 are disposed inside the operation unit 8 covered with the exterior member.

  Further, inside the switch box 45 covered by the exterior member, the substrate 200, the stick unit motor 50 to which the joystick 30 is connected, the state detection switch 133 to which the switching operation lever 39a is connected, the remote switch 38, In addition, an electrical contact point (hereinafter referred to as a contact point) of the switch 39b at the time of abnormality, a contact point of the air / water supply operation button 28, and a contact point of the suction operation button 29 are arranged.

  The sprocket 91 is connected to the transmission unit 132 with clutch and the potentiometer 134. The clutch-equipped transmission unit 132 is connected to the bending motor 131, and the bending motor 131 is connected to the bending control device 300. Further, the potentiometer 134 and the bending motor 131 are connected to the bending control device 300. This bending control device may be provided in the video processor 5 described above.

  The stick unit motor 50, the abnormality switch 39b, and the state detection switch 133 are connected to a substrate 200, and the substrate 200 is connected to the bending control device 300 by a signal line 153. In addition, the state detection switch 133 is connected to the bending control device 300 through a signal line 152.

  A contact point of the air / water supply operation button 28 and a contact point of the suction operation button 29 are connected to the substrate 200. The remote switch 38 is connected to the bending control device 300, and the remote switch 38 is connected to the video processor 5 through a signal line 151. Further, the video processor 5 is connected to the solid-state image sensor 122 by a signal line 122a.

  As described above, the liquid supply conduit 93, the air / water supply conduit 94, and the suction conduit 95 are disposed in the second space 190 of the interior 145 covered with the exterior member of the endoscope 2. ing. As described above, these conduits 93, 94, and 95 are connected to the water supply tank pressurizing base 23, the liquid supply base 24, the suction base 25, and the injection base 26 connected to the air / water supply / suction device 700, respectively. .

  Both end portions of the operation wire 92 are connected and fixed to a chain (not shown), for example, and this chain is meshed with a vertically movable sprocket 91. For this reason, when the sprocket 91 rotates in a predetermined direction, the operation wire 92 fixed to the chain is pulled, and the bending portion 16 is bent in a predetermined direction.

  The sprocket 91 includes a transmission unit (hereinafter, referred to as a clutch mechanism) including a plurality of gear trains (not shown) and a clutch mechanism unit that attaches and detaches a meshing state between gears. (Referred to as a transmission portion with clutch) 32. Then, by setting the state where no tension is applied to the operation wire 92 by the transmission portion 132 with the clutch, the bending portion 16 is in a bending-free state in which the bending portion 16 is freely bent by an external force.

  The clutch-equipped transmission unit 132 switches the switching operation lever 39a, which is a state switching unit, to a driving force transmission cutting position (hereinafter referred to as a bending-free instruction position) or a driving force transmission restoration position (hereinafter referred to as an angle operation instruction position). By operating, the driving force transmission cutting state in which the clutch mechanism 32a is in a disconnected state and the driving force transmission restoring state in which the clutch mechanism 32a is in a connected state are switched.

  In other words, the bending motor 131 and the sprocket 91 are reversibly attached / detached by switching the switching operation lever 39a to mechanically switch the clutch mechanism 32a of the transmission section with clutch 132 to a disconnected state or a connected state. It is possible. The amount of rotation of the sprocket 91 is detected by a potentiometer 134.

  The state detection switch 133 detects whether the switching operation lever 39a is located at the bending-free operation instruction position or the angle operation instruction position. The stick unit motor 50 restores the tilt angle of the joystick 30 to correspond to the bending angle of the bending unit 16. The stick unit motor 50 is configured by two motors so as to correspond to the up and down direction and the left and right direction of the bending unit 16, respectively.

  The abnormal state switch 39 forcibly switches the driving force transmission restoration state of the clutch-equipped transmission portion 132 to the driving force transmission disconnection state. When the clutch transmission portion 132 is in the driving force transmission restoration state, By operating the time switch 39b and simultaneously operating the switching operation lever 39a to the bending free operation instruction position, it is forcibly switched to the bending free state.

Returning to FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 of the endoscope apparatus 40 configured as described above is stored in the storage case 34 during the autoclave process, and the storage case 34 is placed in the sterilizer 60 that performs the autoclave process. Stored. The storage case 34 includes a tray 35 that stores the endoscope 2 and a lid member 36 that covers the upper side of the tray 35. (The tray 35 and the lid member 36 are provided with a plurality of vent holes (not shown) through which high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied into the sterilizer 60 can permeate. Is a device in which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is introduced, but since it is a well-known device, a detailed description thereof is omitted here, and the endoscope 2 is obtained by autoclaving using the sterilizer 60. The outer surface of the endoscope 2 and the inside of the duct of the endoscope 2 are sterilized.)
Here, the operation unit 8 and the switch box 45 are separated by a wall 170 which is a sorting unit. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a switch box 45 is provided at the upper end of the operation unit 8 of the endoscope.

  The inside of the operation portion 8 closed by the exterior member is a wall portion 170 that is a dividing means that seals and separates the inside of the operation portion 8 into a first space 180 and a second space 190 that are watertightly closed. Is formed.

  In addition, the inside of the universal cord 9 and the connector portion 10 is sealed with the first space 180 and the second space 190 that are watertightly closed inside the universal cord 9 and the outer portion of the connector portion 10. A wall 170, which is a separating means for stopping and separating, is formed.

  The first space 180 is an internal space closed by the exterior member of the switch box 45, and includes a substrate 200, a large number of signal lines, a remote switch 38 of three signal lines 151, 152, and 153, and a state detection switch 133. , First built-in objects such as a number of electrical contact contacts including contacts 151a, 152a, 153a to the substrate 200 are disposed. That is, in the first space 180, from a second built-in component, which is less durable against high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the second built-in component described later, for example, an electrical component such as a switch device for various operations of an endoscope. Metal parts such as brass, which are easy to rust, are used.

  The second space 190 is a member having higher durability against steam at a higher temperature and pressure than the first built-in component, for example, a part using a heat-resistant material such as stainless steel or Teflon (registered trademark), that is, a liquid feeding pipe. A passage 93, an air / water supply conduit 94, a suction conduit 95 and the like are arranged as shown in FIG. The various conduits 93, 94, 95, etc. constitute the second built-in object in the present invention.

  Further, during autoclaving, high temperature and high pressure for sterilization are provided in the outer surface of the endoscope 2 and the space in the liquid supply pipe 93, the air / water supply pipe 94, and the suction pipe 95. Of steam is supplied. Further, a high temperature for heating the pipes 93, 94, 95 from the base 155 having the exterior member opening 55 or the base 137 having the exterior member opening 37 to the second space 190 in the interior 145 of the endoscope 2. High pressure steam is supplied.

  At this time, since the first space 180 and the second space 190 are sealed and separated by the wall portion 170, the high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied into the second space 190 is There is no entry into the space 180.

Thus, in the endoscope system showing the first reference example of the present invention, the wall portion 170 or the like is provided in the interior 145 covered with the exterior member of the endoscope 2, and the sterilization apparatus 60 is provided by the wall portion 170. A second space 190 covered by the exterior member of the operation unit 8 to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied from the base 155 having the exterior member opening 55 or the base 137 having the exterior member opening 37 is supplied; It is sealed and separated into a switch box 45 which is a watertightly closed first space 180 to which high-pressure steam is not supplied.

  Therefore, by heating the inside of the liquid supply pipe 93, the air / water supply pipe 94, and the suction pipe 95 arranged in the second space 190 from the outside of the pipe, the sterilization temperature is set to each pipe. The high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied to the second space 190 of the operation unit 8 is kept at a high temperature in order to keep the entire area of the tube constant and securely sterilize each pipe line by shortening the sterilization time. It does not enter the space where the high-pressure steam is not supplied, that is, the switch box 45.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent damage caused by high-temperature and high-pressure steam, such as electrical parts such as various switch devices for endoscopes and rust-resistant metal parts, which have low durability to high-temperature and high-pressure steam disposed in the switch box 45. Can do. Therefore, the durability of the endoscope 2 can be improved.

In the first reference example , the switch box 45 to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is not supplied is connected to the first built-in object, that is, the substrate 200, the stick unit motor 50 to which the joystick 30 is connected, and the state detection switch. 133, the remote switch 38, the contact point of the switch 39b at the time of abnormality, the contact point of the air / water supply operation button 28, and the contact point of the suction operation button 29 are shown. Of course, any component may be used as long as it is a component having lower durability to steam at a higher temperature and pressure than the second built-in component.

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view schematically showing the configuration of the electric circuit and pipes in the endoscope showing the second reference example of the present invention.
The configuration of the endoscope of the second reference example is almost the same as that of the endoscope shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but in the second reference example , the first high temperature / high pressure steam is not supplied. The only difference is that the space is provided not only in the switch box but also in the inside of the operation unit 8 closed by the exterior member. Therefore, only this difference will be described, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first reference example, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a member having higher durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the first built-in member, such as stainless steel or Teflon (registered trademark), is covered inside the exterior member of the operation unit 8 of the endoscope 220. A wall portion 70 is formed which is configured by a heat-resistant member such as the like, and is a dividing unit that divides the inside of the operation portion 8 closed by the exterior member into a first space 80 and a second space 90.

  Further, the inside of the universal cord 9 and the connector portion 10 that is closed by the exterior member of the universal cord 9 and the connector portion 10 is also divided into the first space 80 and the second space 90 for separating the inside. The wall part 70 which is is formed.

  In the first space 80, the switch box 45, the signal lines, the potentiometer 134, the bending motor 131 serving as an electric angle driving unit, which is an electrical component, the transmission unit 132 with a clutch, and the like are disposed. Yes. Each signal line, potentiometer 134, bending motor 131, and clutch-equipped transmission portion 132 are components having lower durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the second built-in components.

  Further, as described above, the airtight watertight inspection base 144 that is an opening that communicates the first space 80 and the outside of the operation unit 8 is disposed in the first space 80.

  In the second space 90, a sprocket 91, an operation wire 92, and a liquid supply conduit 93, an air / water supply conduit 94, and a suction conduit 95, which are pipe portions, are provided.

  Further, in the second space 90, a base 155 for an airtight watertight inspection and a high-temperature high-pressure steam supply having an exterior member opening 55 that communicates the second space 90 and the outside of the operation unit 8 is disposed.

  The inside of the operation unit 8 configured as described above is closed by the high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied from the base 155 having the exterior member opening 55 or the base 137 having the exterior member opening 37 in the autoclave process. Is supplied only to the second space 90.

  At this time, since the first space 80 and the second space 90 are sealed and separated by the wall portion 70, the high-temperature and high-pressure steam that has entered the second space 90 becomes high-temperature and high-pressure such as the motor 81. The steam is not supplied to the watertightly closed first space 80 in which parts having low durability are disposed.

Thus, even if it comprises the wall part 70, the effect similar to the 1st reference example mentioned above can be acquired.

In the second reference example, it is shown that the potentiometer 134 and the bending motor 131 are disposed in the electrical parts disposed in the first space 80 to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is not supplied. Not limited to this, it is needless to say that any component having low durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam can be used.

6 is a perspective front view schematically showing the inside of an endoscope showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
The configuration of the endoscope of this embodiment is almost the same as the endoscope of the first reference example shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the endoscope of the second reference example shown in FIG. However, the present embodiment is different only in that the space to which the high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied is limited to a part of the inside closed by the exterior member of the operation unit 8. Therefore, only this difference will be described, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the first reference example and the second reference example, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the following description, the liquid supply pipe 93 will be described as an example among the liquid supply pipe 93, the air / water supply pipe 94, and the suction pipe 95.
As shown in FIG. 6, the inlet 230 is connected to the liquid feeding port 44, one end of which is provided in the distal end portion 17, and the other end is provided in the connector portion 10. 26 is connected to the liquid supply line 93.

  Further, the liquid feeding conduit 93 is covered with a tube 500 that is a covering member made of a member having high durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam, for example, a heat-resistant member such as Teflon (registered trademark). One end of the tube 500, that is, a position adjacent to the liquid feeding port 44 of the distal end portion 17 is not opened, and the other end of the tube 500 is opened to a fixing member 550 disposed on the outer periphery of the injection mouthpiece 26. It is connected.

  In the autoclave process of the endoscope 230 configured in this way, high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied to the outer surface of the endoscope 230, the space in the liquid supply conduit 93, and the space in the tube 500. Is done.

  Therefore, since the high-temperature and high-pressure steam enters only the space in the tube 500 and the space in the liquid supply conduit 93, the high-temperature and high-pressure steam is not supplied to the outside of the tube 500. Therefore, the space in the tube 500 becomes the second space 290 in the present invention to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied, as shown in FIG. The outside is a space to which high-temperature and high-pressure steam is not supplied, and becomes the first water-tightly closed space 280 in the present invention, and the tube 500 serves as a sorting means.

  That is, even if the first space 280 is provided with components that are less durable to high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the second built-in items, such as electrical components such as an endoscope switch device, and metal components that easily rust, It is possible to prevent the damage due to the high-temperature and high-pressure steam of the parts having low durability to the high-temperature and high-pressure steam.

  In addition, by heating the inside of the liquid supply conduit 93 arranged in the second space 290 from the outside of the conduit, the sterilization temperature is kept constant over the entire area of each conduit, and the sterilization time is ensured. The inside of each pipe line can be sterilized by shortening.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the tube 500 is covered with the liquid supply conduit 93 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the suction conduit 95 and the air / water supply conduit 94 are also covered. May be. Therefore, by heating the inside of the suction pipe 95 and the air / water supply pipe 94 arranged in the second space 290 from the outside of the pipe, the sterilization temperature is kept constant over the entire area of each pipe, It is possible to reliably sterilize the inside of each pipeline by shortening the sterilization time.

In addition, even when the sorting means is configured as described above, the same effects as those of the first reference example and the second reference example described above can be obtained.

Further, in the first reference example , the second reference example, and the present embodiment described above, the bending portion 16 has been shown to be electrically driven by the joystick 30, the bending motor 131, and the like. Needless to say, it may be driven by an operation knob.

  Examples of the first built-in material include electric parts, rust-prone metals such as brass, non-surface-treated or rust-prone metal, resin materials with low heat resistance, and the like.

  Furthermore, the second built-in materials include Teflon (registered trademark) (PTFE), highly heat-resistant resin such as polysulfone and Radel R, rust-resistant metal such as stainless steel, and rust-resistant surface treatment such as aluminum subjected to alumite treatment. The metal which performed it.

  In addition, the electrical component or the like may be a second built-in component as long as durability is improved by filling a silicon-based sealant or the like so that the vapor is not directly applied.

  Similarly, even metals that are generally hard to rust, such as stainless steel, become more rust-resistant by performing treatment such as electrolytic polishing, so those that were not subjected to electrolytic polishing were subjected to the first built-in material, electrolytic polishing. The thing may be a second built-in object.

  As described above, it is possible to improve individual resistance by filling an electrical component with a sealant or performing a surface treatment on a metal, but the cost for the treatment may increase. Considering the balance between the structure of the endoscope, the cost, and the resistance, it may be determined whether to perform the process for improving the resistance of each individual part.

  Whether the first built-in object or the second built-in object is selected is the first built-in object, which is relatively resistant among the built-in objects incorporated in each endoscope. By using a higher one as the second built-in object, the resistance of the entire endoscope can be improved.

[Appendix]
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained. That is,
(1) It is characterized by having a dividing means for dividing the internal space covered by the exterior member into a first space closed in a watertight manner and a second space communicating with the outside through at least one opening. Endoscope.

  (2) A first built-in object is disposed in the first space, and a second built-in object having higher durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the first built-in object is disposed in the second space. The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the endoscope is arranged.

  (3) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the second built-in object is a duct member inserted through the endoscope.

  (4) The endoscope according to appendix 2 or appendix 3, wherein the first built-in object is an electrical component provided in the endoscope.

  (5) The endoscope according to appendix 4, wherein the electrical component is a switch device for operating the endoscope.

  (6) The endoscope according to appendix 4, wherein the electric component is an electric angle driving unit that changes a visual field direction of the endoscope.

  (7) The endoscope according to appendix 3, wherein the pipe member is covered with a covering member, and the covering member is the sorting means.

  (8) The appendix 1 or appendix 2 is characterized in that a base for an airtight watertight inspection and a high-temperature high-pressure steam gas supply is disposed at a part of the endoscope having the second space. Endoscope.

  (9) The endoscope according to appendix 8, wherein the base for airtight and watertight inspection and high-temperature and high-pressure steam gas supply is formed in the at least one opening.

  (10) The endoscope system according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein a base for an airtight and watertight inspection is disposed at a part of the endoscope having the first space.

(11) the endoscope according to any one of appendix 1 to appendix 10,
High-temperature high-pressure steam supply means for supplying high-temperature high-pressure steam from the at least one opening to the second space of the endoscope from the outside of the endoscope;
An endoscope system comprising:

The perspective view which shows the outline of a structure of the endoscope which shows the 1st reference example of this invention, and a peripheral device. The perspective front view which showed the inside of the endoscope of FIG. 1 schematically. The perspective front view which showed schematically the structure of the electric circuit inside an endoscope of FIG. 1, and a pipe line. The partial see-through | perspective front view of the operation part of the endoscope of FIG. The transparent front view which showed schematically the structure of the electric circuit inside an endoscope which shows the 2nd reference example of this invention, and a pipe line. The perspective front view which showed schematically the inside of the endoscope of the endoscope system which shows one embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the VII-VII line in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope system 2 ... Endoscope 7 ... Insertion part 17 ... Tip part 38 ... Remote switch 39a ... Switching operation lever 39b ... Switch for abnormality 45 ... Switch box 50 ... Motor for stick part 55 ... Exterior member opening 60 ... Sterilizer 70 ... Wall 80 ... First space 90 ... Second space 93 ... Pipe for liquid supply 94 ... Pipe for air / water supply 95 ... Pipe for suction 131 ... Bending motor 133 ... State detection switch 134 ... Potentiometer 145 ... Inside of endoscope 151a, 152a, 153a ... Electrical contact 155 ... Base for airtight and watertight inspection and high temperature and high pressure steam supply 170 ... Wall part 180 ... First space 190 ... Second space 200 ... Substrate 220 ... Endoscope 230 ... Endoscope 500 ... Tube

Claims (5)

A first space provided in an internal space covered by an exterior member and sealed watertight;
A first built-in object disposed in the first space;
A tube provided in the internal space, one end of which is closed and a steam inlet that communicates with the outside of the exterior member is formed at the other end, and high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied through the steam inlet in autoclave processing. A tube for forming the second space to be formed in the inner surface side internal space ;
A pipe member made of a material having higher durability against high-temperature and high-pressure steam than the first built-in material, which is disposed in the inner space on the inner surface side of the tube , which is the second space, and the autoclave treatment The high-temperature and high-pressure steam is supplied from the outside of the exterior member to the inside through a pipe opening different from the steam inlet, and is heated from the outside by the high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied to the inner space on the inner surface side of the tube. A pipe member,
With
Said tube, said with partitioning an inner surface side internal space of the first space and the tube, the high-temperature high-pressure steam supplied to the inner surface side internal space of the tube in the autoclaving to said first space Prevent entry
An endoscope characterized by that .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first built-in object is an electric component provided in the endoscope.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the electrical component is a switch device for operating the endoscope.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the electrical component is an electric angle driving unit that changes a viewing direction of the endoscope.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first built-in object is a metal part that rusts more easily than the second built-in object.

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