JPH01119228A - Washing and disinfecting apparatus for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and effectively perform the disinfection of the pipeline and tank in an apparatus, by providing the injection port communicating with a washing water tank to a washing tank and connecting the drain pipeline of the washing tank to the injection port in a communication state. CONSTITUTION:A washing tank 2 is provided to the upper part of an apparatus main body 1. The injection port 26 provided in the washing tank 2 is allowed to communicate with the drain pipeline 24 of the washing tank 2 by a recirculation pipeline 22 to form a flow passage between the water injection side of a washing water tank 8 and the drain side of the apparatus main body 1. By discharging an antiseptic solution from the drain pipeline 24 by said flow passage, the antiseptic solution is transferred to the washing water tank 8 and subsequently recirculated by utilizing a washing process to disinfect the pipeline in the apparatus inclusive of the washing water tank 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device for cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes.

[Conventional technology] The endoscope washer/disinfector uses a water tank (cleaning water tank).
, which is equipped with a disinfectant tank, and uses the cleaning water and disinfectant sent from each tank to clean the used endoscope.
It is cleaned and disinfected in the cleaning tank.

By the way, in such an endoscope washer/disinfector, there is a possibility that bacteria that have entered from, for example, a water supply source may breed in the pipe through which the cleaning water passes or in the water supply tank.

For this reason, the endoscope, which is the object to be cleaned, may be contaminated with germs that have grown on it.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 5'7-158042, the present applicant provided an inlet for the water supply tank in the cleaning tank, and injected disinfectant into the inlet to perform the normal cleaning process. Therefore, we proposed a system that can disinfect the inside of the device by sending a disinfectant instead of the cleaning water to the pipe through which the cleaning water passes.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with this technique, in order to disinfect the inside of the device, it is necessary to take the trouble to pour the disinfectant solution into the water supply tank from the injection port in the cleaning tank. Moreover, when the disinfectant in the water supply tank is drained and the amount decreases to a certain level, the cleaning process stops, making it difficult to send enough disinfectant to the pipes inside the device.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope washer/disinfector that can easily and effectively disinfect the pipes and tanks within the device. With the goal.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] This endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device has a means 22 for communicating and connecting an inlet 26 provided in the cleaning tank 2 and a drain pipe 24 of the cleaning tank 2. A flow path is formed between the water injection side of the cleaning water tank 8 and the drainage side of the apparatus main body 1. Then, by discharging the disinfectant from the drain pipe 24 through this flow path, the disinfectant is transferred to the cleaning water tank 8. Thereafter, the disinfectant is circulated using the cleaning process, and the disinfectant is transferred to the cleaning water tank 8. Disinfect the pipes inside the equipment, including the

[Example 7] The present invention will be described below based on a first example shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the main body of the apparatus, and a cleaning tank 2 with an open top surface is provided at the top of the main body of the device, and a cover 3 that can be opened and closed to close the top opening is provided on this cleaning tank 2. It is provided. Further, inside the cleaning tank 2, a holding member 5 for holding the endoscope 4 in a detachable manner is provided. Furthermore, in the center of the cleaning W32,
A cleaning head 6 is inserted through the bottom of the cleaning tank 2 and the center of the holding member 5. This cleaning head 6 has a flow path formed therein through which water can flow. The cleaning head 6 is connected to a motor 7 provided below outside the cleaning tank 2, and rotates using the motor 7 as a driving source. Note that the cleaning head 6 is provided with an upper spray nozzle 6a that sprays cleaning water from above onto the endoscope 4 held by the holding member 5 at its upper part, and an upper spray nozzle 6a that sprays cleaning water from above onto the endoscope 4 held by the holding member 5 at its lower part. A lower injection nozzle 6b is provided for spraying cleaning water from below onto the endoscope 4.

Further, inside the main body 1 of the apparatus, a water supply tank 8 (corresponding to a cleaning water tank) and a disinfectant tank 9 are arranged below the cleaning tank 2. The upper part of the water tank 8 is connected to a water tap 11, which is a water supply source, via an electromagnetic water valve 10. Further, a water supply pipe 13 is connected to the lower end of the water supply tank 8, and a water supply pipe 13 is provided with a wash water pump 12 interposed therebetween. The tip of this water supply pipe 13 is connected to the cleaning head 6, so that cleaning water can be sent to each injection nozzle 6a, 6b. Further, the disinfectant tank 9 stores a disinfectant therein. The lower end of the disinfectant tank 9 is connected to an outflow pipe 15 in which a disinfectant pump 14 is interposed. The tip of the outflow pipe 15 communicates with the inside of the cleaning tank 2 through an inlet 15a provided on the periphery of the cleaning tank 2, and allows the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank 9 to flow out into the cleaning tank 2. I'm trying to do that. In addition, the upper part of the disinfectant tank 9 has a three-way switching valve 1 in the middle.
6 is connected to a drainage section 18 provided on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 2 via a conduit 17 in which a cleaning tank 6 is disposed.

Furthermore, a drainage pump 20 is installed in the middle of the three-way switching valve 16.
A pipe line 19 is connected thereto, and the tip of this pipe line 19 is connected to a three-way switching valve 21 provided in the main body 1 of the apparatus. One end of the three-way switching valve 21 is connected to a conduit 23 that together with the aforementioned conduit 19 constitutes a drainage conduit 24 . Further, the other end of the three-way switching valve 21 is connected to a long circulation pipe 22 leading out of the device main body 1 . The circulation conduit 22 has a diameter that allows it to be inserted through a slot 25 (used for cleaning the endoscope 4 in which only the insertion portion can be cleaned) provided at the edge of the cleaning tank 2 shown in FIG. and the slot 2
5, and the tip can be connected to an in-tank inlet 26 (corresponding to the inlet of the present invention) which connects to the water supply tank 7 provided on the bottom of the cleaning tank 2. In other words, while keeping the cover 3 closed, the circulation pipe 22 and tank inlet 26 are
It has a structure that allows it to be connected. In addition, 27
is a conduit that communicates and connects the water supply tank 7 and the tank internal/inlet 26.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, 28 is the operation panel, and 29 is the operation panel 2.
Based on the instructions from 8, motor 7 and various valves 10.16
, 21, and a control device 29 that operates each of the vertical pumps 12, 14, 20, and the like. At the top of each of the water supply tank 8 and the disinfectant tank 9, there are air vent pipes 30 and 31.
are connected separately. These air vent pipes 30.
A U-shaped hook tube 33 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided at the tip of the container 31 so that a drain receptacle 32 outside the device main body 1 can be attached to the container. And this hook is pipe 33
The bent portion of the drain pipe is hooked onto the drainage receiver 32 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a small hole 34 is provided in the bent portion of the pipe 33, for example, and this small hole 34 allows the hook to be used when drainage water is collected in the drainage receiver 32. When at least one of the tanks 8 and 9 becomes negative pressure, suction of the waste water can be prevented. In other words, the structure is such that tq water is prevented from being sucked in rather than air being sucked through the small holes 34.

Next, the operation of the endoscope washer/disinfector configured as described above will be explained.

The endoscope 4 set in the cleaning tank 2 is cleaned and disinfected in a washing process, a disinfection process, and a rinsing process, which are performed based on the control device 29.

That is, to explain the washing process, the water supply tank 8 stores water that is replenished from the water faucet 11 every time the water supply valve 10 is opened.

Then, the cleaning water in the tank 8 is transferred to the cleaning water pump 12.
It is sucked in by the operation of , and is sent to the cleaning head 6 through the water supply pipe 13 . Here, since the cleaning head 6 is rotated by the operation of the motor 7, the head 6
upper and lower injection nozzles 6a.

Cleaning water is sprayed toward the endoscope 4 from 6b.

In this way, the endoscope 4 in the cleaning tank 2 is washed with water.

After washing with water, the three-way switching valve 16 operates to connect the drainage section 18 and the pipe line 19. At the same time, the three-way switching valve 21 switches to connect the pipe line 19 and the pipe line 23, and the drain pump 20 is operated, so that the wastewater in the cleaning tank 2 passes through the pipe line 19 and the pipe line 23. It is discharged outside the device main body 1.

After that, the disinfection process begins. That is, after draining, the disinfection pump 14 is operated, and the disinfectant solution stored in the disinfectant tank 9 is supplied to the cleaning tank 2 through the outflow pipe 15. As a result, the endoscope 4 is immersed in the disinfectant and disinfected. When the immersion disinfection is completed, the three-way switching valve 16 is operated to connect the drain section 18 and the disinfectant tank 9, and the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 2 is collected into the disinfectant tank 9.

Next, move on to the rinsing process. That is, the three-way switching valve 16
is operated to connect the drainage section 18 and the pipe line 19, and the three-way switching valve 21 is switched to allow the pipe line 19 and the pipe line 23 to communicate with each other. Then, the wash water pump 12 and the drain pump 20 operate together,
The endoscope 4 is being rinsed.

Through this series of steps, the endoscope 4 is cleaned and disinfected.

In such cleaning and disinfection, when the disinfectant loses its efficacy and needs to be replaced, the disinfectant in the disinfection tank 9 must be drained. To explain this disinfectant discharging process, first, the three-way switching valve 16 is connected to the pipe line 19.
and switch the three-way switching valve 21 to the conduit 23 side. By operating the disinfectant pump 14 together with the drain pump 20, the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank 9 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 through the cleaning tank 2, the pipe line 19, and the pipe line 23.

Now, when disinfecting the pipes inside the device main body 1 that are likely to be contaminated, first drain the cleaning water in the water supply tank 8 from the drainage drain (not shown) and empty it, then tap the faucet 1.
Close 1. Next, the circulation pipe 22 is connected to the tank inlet 26, the three-way switching valve 16 is switched to the pipe 19 side, and the three-way switching valve 21 is switched to the circulation pipe 22 side. Next, disinfectant pump 11.4 and drain pump 20
By operating both the disinfectant tank 9, the disinfectant solution in the disinfectant tank 9 passes through the cleaning tank 2, the pipe line 19, and the circulation pipe line 22, and moves into the water supply tank 8. Next, the above-described main process is performed while leaving the three-way switching valve 21 in the same state. Then, instead of the washing water, the disinfectant solution passes through the pipe through which washing water normally passes, and then returns to the water supply tank 8 again via the circulation pipe 22.

However, the disinfectant circulates within the device, and the
This makes it possible to easily and effectively disinfect each conduit within the system.

After the disinfectant has been sufficiently circulated, the circulation pipe 22 is connected to the external injection port 33a of the disinfectant tank 9, and the cleaning water pump 12 and drain pump 20 are operated together, and the disinfectant is transferred to the disinfectant tank 9. The endoscope 4 can be recovered and used again to disinfect the endoscope 4. In other words, it is also economical.

Of course, after such disinfection is performed, the faucet 11 is opened and the aforementioned rinsing step is thoroughly performed to rinse out the disinfectant remaining in the pipe (washing water).

However, a joint 40 equipped with an O-ring 41 on the outer periphery as shown in FIG. 4, for example, is installed at the tip of the circulation pipe 22 (the side attached to the inlet 26 or external inlet 33a). , and is connected watertightly to the injection port 26 or the external injection port 33a and 41.

By the way, when it is necessary to disinfect the air vent line 30, 31, the hook of the pump attachment joint 34a shown in FIG. 5 pushes the tube attachment part 35 into the tip of the tube 33. As a result, a watertight connection is established using the O-ring 47 provided inside. Next, pump mounting joint 34a
The disinfection pump 3 shown in FIG.
7 (commonly used for refueling with commercially available kerosene). That is,
By shifting the presser foot 50 of the pump mounting part 36 in the direction in which the spring 47a contracts while pushing the connector part 38,
The ball 45 of the pump mounting part 36 shifts outward, and the connector part 3
8 has entered even deeper (. After that, when the presser foot 50 returns to its original position, the ball 45 enters inside again, and it enters the groove 38a of the connector portion 38 and is fixed.

Then, in this state, the head of the disinfection pump 37 is contracted, and the disinfectant is applied from the pipe 3 to the air vent pipe 30.
．． 31, where it will be disinfected.

Further, when disinfecting the water supply hoses 39 connected to the water supply tank 8, the disinfection pump 37 may be connected to the three water supply hoses.

That is, the faucet 11 is provided with a connector 51 having the same shape as the connector portion 38 of the disinfection pump 37, as shown in FIG. Further, the portion of the water supply hose 39 that connects to the faucet 11 has the same structure as the pump mounting portion 36 shown in FIG.

That is, by attaching the disinfection pump 37 to the water supply hose 39 in the same manner as described above and operating the disinfection pump 37, the water supply hose 39 will be disinfected by feeding the disinfectant solution. However, after disinfection, the disinfection pump 37 sends sufficient rinsing water for rinsing.

Further, in the above explanation, cleaning and disinfection of the endoscope 4 which can be completely immersed has been described, but when cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope 4 where only the insertion section 4b can be immersed, it is necessary to clean and disinfect the endoscope 4 other than the insertion section 4b. The part is taken out of the cleaning tank 2 and cleaned and disinfected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a fixture 40a is attached to the device main body 1 adjacent to the slot 25, and
The operating section 4a of the endoscope 4 is fixed by a. As a result, only the insertion portion 4b is set to be inserted into the cleaning section 152, and cleaning and disinfection are carried out.

At this time, it is necessary to push the piston of the operating section 4a in order to open each channel of the endoscope 4 and perform cleaning and disinfection, but this work is performed by the fixture 40a. That is, when the endoscope 4 is attached to the device main body 1, the endoscope detection lever 42 is pushed by the endoscope 4 and turned ON.
A structure that is a state is used. In addition, when the fixture 40a is correctly pushing the piston of the operating part 4a, a microswitch (not shown) inside the fixture 40a6 is turned on, resulting in a short-circuit state, and the state is passed through the connector 43 of the fixture 40a. Sensing structures are also used. When both of these conditions are detected, it is assumed that the endoscope 4 in which only the insertion section 4b can be immersed is correctly set, and cleaning and disinfection is performed.If only one of these conditions is detected, it is abnormal. It is assumed that this is the case and is not allowed to operate.

However, in the case where such a fixture 40a is used, when the circulation pipe 2 is connected to the tank injection port 26 through the slot 25 and the cover 3 is closed, the endoscope detection lever 42 is pushed and turned on. Therefore, a short-circuited connector (not shown) is installed in advance so that the fixture 40a does not detect a short-circuited signal to ensure proper operation.

Note that this invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, but also the ninth embodiment.
The second embodiment shown in the figure, the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, and the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be used.

That is, in the second embodiment, the circulation pipe 22 shown in the first embodiment is removably divided into a circulation pipe 46a and a circulation pipe 46b using, for example, connectors 44 and 45. be. Note that each connector 44, 45 has the same structure as the connector portion 36 and connector 51 of the first embodiment.

With this structure, the circulation line 46b can be removed and stored when the inside of the apparatus is not sterilized, so that the circulation line 45b does not get in the way.

In the third embodiment, the pipe line inside the device can be disinfected without using the three-way switching valve 21.

Specifically, first, an O2 pipe as shown in FIG.
A joint 40 with a ring 41 is attached so that the tip of the drain pipe 60 is attached to the tank inlet 26 in a watertight manner. In this state, the three-way switching valve 16 is connected to the drain section 1.
At the same time, the disinfectant pump 14 and the drain pump 20 are operated. As a result, the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank 9 is transferred to the cleaning tank 2.
, passes through the conduit 19 and the seawater conduit 60, and moves to the water supply tank 8. Next, by operating both the wash water pump 12 and the drain pump 20 while leaving the three-way switching valve 16 as it is, the disinfectant in the water tank 8 passes through the pipe through which washing water normally passes, and then flows through the drain pipe 60. After that, it returns to water tank 8. In other words, the disinfectant solution circulates through the main body 1 of the apparatus, and as in the first embodiment, the pipes within the apparatus are easily and effectively disinfected.

The fourth embodiment is a partial modification of the third embodiment.

That is, from the connector 53 and the connector 55 (both of which are the same as the connector part 36 and connector 51 of the first embodiment) shown in FIG. It is detachably divided into a channel 57 and can be used depending on the purpose. Specifically, a circulation pipe 56 shown in FIG. 12 is provided at each end with the connector 55 in FIG. 11 and the joint 40 in FIG. 57 to drain sewage, etc. When disinfecting the inside of the device body 1, the circulation pipe 5
6 is connected to the drain pipe line 54, and the other side is connected to the tank inlet 26.

According to this, in the third embodiment, the tip of the drain pipe line 6o, which may be contaminated, is inserted into the tank inlet 26, so there is a feeling of some uncleanness, but in the present embodiment, When disinfecting the inside of the device, the drain pipe 57 outside the device, which may be contaminated, is removed, a circulation pipe 56 is installed in its place, and its tip is inserted into the tank inlet 26, so there is no feeling of uncleanliness. .

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to disinfect the pipes in the device including the washing water tank by circulating the disinfectant using the washing process.

Therefore, it is easy to disinfect the pipes and tanks inside the equipment.
And it can be done effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the endoscope washer/disinfector, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the entire device, Fig. 3 is a front view showing a hook pipe connected to the air vent pipe, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the endoscope washer/disinfector. FIG. 5 is a half-sectional view showing the joint at the tip of the circulation pipe, FIG. 5 is a half-sectional view showing the joint that connects to the air vent pipe, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing the disinfection pump that connects to the joint. , FIG. 7 is a half-sectional view showing the connection structure of the water supply hose, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an endoscope washer-disinfector that cleans and disinfects an endoscope in which only the insertion portion can be immersed, and FIG. 9 10 is a half-sectional view showing the main parts of the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the main parts of the third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 11 is the fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 12 is a half-sectional view showing a main part of the apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a half-sectional view showing a circulation pipe connected to a connector on the apparatus side. 2...Cleaning tank, 4...Endoscope, 8...Water supply tank (cleaning water tank), 22...Circulation pipe (means for communicating and connecting), 24...Drain pipe, 26 ... Tank inlet (
inlet). Applicant's representative Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi Figure 2 Mine 3 Figure w & 4 Figure 55'I Figure 7 Figure 10 Procedural amendment 62.12.15 Showa year, month, day Director of the Japan Patent Office Kunio Ogawa 1, of the case Indication Patent Application No. 62-275448 2, Name of the invention: Endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device 3, Relationship to the amended case Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 4, Agent: Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 3-7-2 UBE Building 7,
Contents of amendment (1) ry' on page 11, line 15 of the specification
. ;; 41" is deleted. (2) "Circulation pipeline 2" on page 14, line 20 of the specification is corrected to "circulation pipeline 22."

Claims (1)

[Claims] An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting device that has a cleaning water tank and a disinfectant tank and cleans and disinfects an endoscope in the cleaning tank, wherein the cleaning tank is provided with an injection port communicating with the cleaning water tank, and the cleaning tank is provided with an injection port that communicates with the cleaning water tank, and A cleaning and disinfecting device for an endoscope, comprising means for communicating and connecting a drain pipe of a tank and the inlet.