JPH02168927A - Air and water supplying device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily remove remaining water in a water supply pipe with the simple device without the fear of intra-hospital infection, etc., by sending air in an air feed pipe into the water supply pipe by operating an air supply/water supply switching valve device provided on an operation part. CONSTITUTION:When an air supply switching valve 50 is pushed into a cylinder by a button operation under a standby state, the air in an air feed pipe 9a is sent into an air supply pipe 9c, and an air supply state is obtained, and when a water supply switching valve 30 is pushed in together with the air supply switching valve, water in a water feed pipe 9b is sent into a water supply pipe 9d, and a water supply state is obtained. Further, when the air supply switching valve is pulled out of the cylinder under the standby state, a click spring 62 gets over a stroke limiting groove 61 and engages with a recessed part 63, an air supply switching valve element is pulled out, while the respective openings of the water feed pipe and the air supply pipe are blocked as they are, the air feed pipe and the water supply pipe communicate with each other through water removing communicative holes 35, 36, 55, and 56 and a water removing communicative path 57, and the air in the air feed pipe is sent into the water supply pipe. Thus, the remaining water in the water supply pipe can be easily discharged to the internal part of a patient's body, and the intra-hospital infection can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an air and water supply device for an endoscope that is capable of removing water remaining in a water supply pipe.

[Prior Art] Generally, in an endoscope, water can be sent out from a nozzle through a water pipe in order to clean dirt on the surface of an observation window. However, bacteria and viruses can easily invade the water remaining in the water pipe from within the patient's body cavity, so if the remaining water is left and used for the next patient, infection may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to drain the water inside the water pipe after use.

Therefore, in the past, a switching valve was installed in the water tank that stored water for water transmission, and when the switching valve was switched to the drain state and the water was operated, air was sent into the water pipe, and the residual water in the water pipe was removed. It was designed to drain water (Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-48540).

[C] Problem to be solved by the invention [N] However, the water tank is generally attached to a light source device, etc., and is installed away from the operation section of the endoscope. Therefore, in order to perform the draining operation, it is extremely difficult to operate the endoscope with the endoscope inserted into the patient's body cavity, so it is necessary to remove the endoscope from the patient's body cavity and clean it. It was common. However, when air is sent into the water pipe, the water in the pipe is forcefully ejected from the nozzle and eventually scatters in the form of a mist.

Therefore, if the water is contaminated with bacteria or viruses, the bacteria may be dispersed to the surrounding area, causing in-hospital infections.

Until now, this phenomenon has received little attention and nothing has been done about it. However, one inventor noticed the magnitude of this problem and came up with the invention of this air/water supply device for an endoscope in order to solve the problem.

That is, the present invention provides air and water supply for an endoscope that allows residual water in the water pipe to be drained easily and with a simple device without the risk of in-hospital infection. The purpose is to provide a J location.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an air and water supply device for an endoscope according to the present invention includes a cylinder provided in an operating section of an endoscope, and a cylinder for supplying air into the cylinder. an air supply pipe for supplying air, a water supply pipe for supplying water, an air supply pipe for sending out air from within the cylinder, a water supply pipe for sending out water, and an air supply pipe that is slidably inserted into the cylinder, and the water supply pipe and the water supply pipe. and an air supply +j1 switching valve that is slidably inserted into the water supply switching valve and switches the communication state between the air supply pipe and the air supply pipe, and in a standby state, The air supply switching valve and the water supply switching valve cut off each other between the air supply pipe, the air supply pipe, the water supply pipe, and the water supply pipe, and when the air supply switching valve is first pushed into the cylinder, the air supply pipe and When the air supply pipe is in communication with the air supply state and the water supply switching valve is further pushed into the cylinder together with the air supply switching valve,
While the space between the air supply pipe and the air supply pipe is closed, the water supply pipe and the water supply pipe communicate with each other to enter a water supply state, and from the standby state, the air supply switching valve is pulled out from inside the cylinder. When the pipe is moved to , the air supply pipe and the water pipe communicate with each other to completely block off the drained state.

[Operation] When the air supply switching valve is pushed into the cylinder from the standby state,
The air in the air supply pipe is sent into the air supply pipe and becomes air supply state,
When you roughly push in the water supply switching valve together with the air supply switching valve, the water in the water supply pipe is sent into the water supply pipe, and the water supply state is established. Then, when the air supply switching valve is moved from the standby state in the direction of pulling it out from inside the cylinder, the air in the air supply pipe is sent into the water pipe, resulting in a draining state.

[Example] Examples will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows the overall configuration of the air and water supply device. In FIG. 9, l is the endoscope body, which is constructed by connecting the insertion section 3 and the flexible connecting tube 4 to the operation section 2. ing. Flexible connecting pipe 4
A connector 5 is provided at the tip of the connector 5, and the connector 5 can be detachably connected to the air pump 7 provided in the light source device 6. It is a water tank that can be pressurized by the water tank to send out the water inside.

An air and water supply pipe line 9 is installed inside the endoscope body 1.
A switching valve device IO provided in the operating section 2 is interposed in the middle of the air and water supply pipe line 9. 9a and 9b are an air supply pipe that supplies air to the switching valve device 10 and a water supply pipe that supplies water, and the air supply pipe 9a is connected to the air supply pump 7,
9b is connected to a tube that opens into the water in the water tank 8. Further, 9c and 9d are an air pipe that sends out air from the switching valve device 10, and a water pipe that sends out water,
These air supply '1I9c and water supply pipe 9d are connected to one nozzle 11 at the tip of the insertion section 3. This nozzle 11
is open toward the surface of an objective lens (not shown). Note that the nozzles may be provided separately in the water pipe 9d and the air pipe 9C.

FIG. 1 shows the switching valve device 0 in a standby state.

20 is a cylinder, and an air supply pipe 9a, a water supply pipe 9b, an air supply pipe 9C, and a water supply pipe 9d are connected to the side wall of the cylinder.

Nut 22 fixes the cylinder 20 to the operating section 2;
3 is a cover tube surrounding the head of the cylinder 20.

Inside the cylinder 20, a water supply switching valve body 30 that switches the communication state between the water supply pipe 9b and the water supply pipe 9d, and an air supply switching valve body 50 that switches the communication state between the air supply pipe 9a and the air supply pipe 9C are arranged in the axial direction. It is slidably installed on the Water supply switching valve body 3
0 is a cylindrical valve body inserted into the cylinder 20,
First to third O-rings 31, 32, 33 are attached to the outer circumferential surface. The first and second O-rings 31.32 are
In the standby state, both sides of the water pipe 9d are sealed, and the third O-ring 33 connects the water switching valve body 3 above the water communication groove 34 formed above the second O-9 ring 32.
0 and the inner wall of the cylinder 20 is sealed. Also,
A draining communication hole 35 is provided between the first and second O-rings 31 and 32, and a draining communication hole 35 is provided on the lower side of the water switching valve body 30.
Air supply communication holes 36 and 37 are bored at positions facing the air supply pipe 9a and the air supply pipe 9C.

The tip of the water supply switching valve body 30 protrudes from the cylinder 20. A water supply operation button 38 is attached to the tip end thereof, and the water supply switching valve body 30 and the water supply operation button 38 form a water supply switching valve. Further, the water supply switching valve body 30 is always urged in the direction of popping out from the cylinder 20 by a coil spring 39 having a strong spring force. 4
0 is a bottom cover that watertightly covers the bottom of the water supply switching valve body 30, and also serves as a stopper that prevents the water supply switching valve body 30 from being pulled out from the cylinder 20 by colliding with the cylinder 20.

The air supply switching valve body 50 is slidably inserted into the water supply switching valve body 30, and an O-ring 5 for sealing is provided at the fitting part.
1 is installed. The tip of the air supply switching valve body 50 protrudes from the water supply switching valve body 30. And at its tip,
The air supply operation button 52 protrudes from the water supply operation button 38.
These air supply switching valve body 50 and air supply operation button 52
An air supply switching valve is formed by the above. 53 is a second coil spring that urges the air supply switching valve body 50 in a direction to pop out from the water supply switching valve body 30, and
A weaker spring is used. Note that the air supply switching valve body 50 of this embodiment is not provided with a leak hole that constantly leaks the air inside the cylinder 20 fed through the air supply pipe 9a into the atmosphere, and is closed by the air supply operation button 52. has been done. Moreover, since the air supply pipe 9a is blocked by the lower end of the air supply switching valve body 50, the dirty liquid and the like in the body cavity can be removed from the air supply pipe 9a.
There is no possibility that the liquid will flow back into the cylinder 20 through C, and the dirty liquid will not be scattered outside.

Reference numeral 54 denotes an air supply communication groove which becomes an air flow path when the air is in the air supply state, and 55, 56 and 57 indicate a draining passage hole and a water draining communication passage which become air flow channels when the water is drained. be.

A click device 60 is provided between the inner surface of the water supply switching valve body 30 and the outer surface of the air supply switching valve body 50. This click device 60 is configured by a vertical stroke limiting groove 61 formed on the outer periphery of the air supply switching valve body 50 and a click spring 62 inserted into the stroke fMffl#It81 from the water supply switching valve body 30 side by spring force. It is configured. The upper end surface of the stroke limiting groove 61 is formed as a flat surface, and the lower end surface is formed as an inclined surface.If the click spring 62 collides with the upper end surface of the stroke limiting groove 61, it cannot go over it. At the bottom end,
If a strong force is applied, the click spring 62 can overcome the stroke limiting groove 61. 63 is a recess that engages with the click spring 62 when the click passes over the stroke limiting groove 61; 64 is a stopper that prevents the air supply switching valve body 50 from being removed from the water supply switching valve body 30; It is formed by a bolt screwed onto the bottom of the air supply switching valve body 50.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Figure 1 shows a standby state, in which @trachea 9a and air supply'! ? Air supply +7J4 between 9C! ! ! The water supply pipe 9b and the water supply pipe 9d are closed by the valve body 50, and the water supply switching valve body 30 closes the space between the water supply pipe 9b and the water supply pipe 9d. Therefore, neither air nor water is supplied.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the air supply operation button 52 is pushed in with a fingertip, the first coil spring 39 is activated! s2 coil spring 5
3, so the water supply operation button 38 is not pushed in.
Only the air supply operation button 52 is pushed in. As a result, the air supply switching valve body 50 is pushed into the water supply switching valve body 30, and as a result, between the air supply pipe 9a and the air supply pipe 9C, the air supply communication hole 36° 37 and the air supply communication groove 54 in communication via
The air in the air supply pipe 9a is sent into the air supply pipe 9c, and becomes in an air supply state.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the air supply switching button 52 is pushed further with force with the fingertip, the first coil spring 39 is compressed, and the water supply switching button 38 is moved into the cylinder 20 together with the air supply switching button 52. Pushed in.

Then, the water supply switching valve body 30 is pushed into the cylinder 20. Then, water is supplied between the air supply pipe 9a and the air supply pipe 9C.
It is closed by the jJ switching valve body 30. - side, water supply pipe 9b
The water supply pipe 9d and the water supply pipe 9d communicate with each other via the water supply communication groove 34, and the water in the water supply pipe 9b is sent into the water supply pipe 9d to enter a water supply state.

As shown in FIG. 4, from the standby state, press the air supply operation button 5.
2 from inside the water supply operation button 38 in the drawing direction, the click spring 62 overcomes the stroke limiting groove 61 and engages with the recess 63, and the air supply switching valve body 50 is pulled out. Then, while the openings of the water supply pipe 9b and the air supply pipe 9c remain closed, the air supply pipe 9a and the water supply pipe 9d are connected to the draining communication holes 35, 38, 55.56 and the draining communication passage 57.
The air in the air supply pipe 9a is sent into the water supply pipe 9d. As a result, residual water in the water pipe 9d is discharged from the nozzle 11 at the tip of the insertion portion.

In addition, the position of the air supply pipe 9C may be shifted so that air is also sent into the air supply pipe 9C during the draining state.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the air and water supply device for an endoscope of the present invention, the air in the air supply pipe can be sent into the water supply pipe to drain the water in the water pipe, and the operation can be performed by providing the operation part in the operation section. This can be done using a switching valve device for air and water supply. Therefore, after the examination of - patient is completed, the endoscope is drained into a cylindrical shape while still inside the patient's body cavity to remove any remaining water. ! It is possible to completely eliminate the phenomenon of residual water scattering into the room, preventing hospital infections, and even if the residual water is sterilized with ETO gas, it can be discharged into the human body. It has excellent effects such as being free from the problem that it is difficult to completely sterilize the inside of water pipes, etc.

In addition, as a device, the positional relationship and water supply and
There is no need to change the air supply operation. Furthermore, the water supply tank and other system components can be used as is, and there is no need to provide a key mechanism to prevent rotation of each switching valve element for air and water supply. The device is simple and can be easily realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the air and water supply device for an endoscope according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the air and water supply device of the embodiment. l...endoscope, 2...operation section, 3...insertion section, 9
a...Air supply pipe, 9b...Water supply pipe, 9C...Air supply pipe, 9d...Water pipe, 10...vJ valve switching device, 11.
... Nozzle, 20... Cylinder, 30... Water supply switching valve body, 36.37... Draining communication hole, 38... Water supply operation button, 50... Air supply switching valve body, 5z. ... Air supply operation button, 55.56... Communication hole for draining, 57... Communication path for draining. Agent Patent Attorney Kazuhiko Mitsui Figure 2 Figure 1 Figure 5 Procedural Amendment Statement December 6, 1999

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A cylinder provided in the operating section of the endoscope, an air supply pipe that supplies air into the cylinder, and a water supply pipe that supplies water, an air supply pipe that sends air out from inside the cylinder, and an air supply pipe that sends out water. a water supply pipe; a water supply switching valve that is slidably inserted into the cylinder and switches the communication state between the water supply pipe and the water supply pipe; a water supply switching valve that is slidably inserted into the water supply switching valve and is inserted into the air supply pipe; and an air supply switching valve for switching the communication state between the air supply pipe, the air supply pipe, the water supply pipe, and the water supply pipe. When the air supply switching valve is pushed into the cylinder,
When the air supply pipe and the air supply pipe communicate with each other to enter the air supply state, and when the water supply switching valve is further pushed into the cylinder together with the air supply switching valve, the space between the air supply pipe and the air supply pipe is blocked. , the water supply pipe and the water supply pipe communicate with each other to enter a water supply state, and when the air supply switching valve is moved from the inside of the cylinder in the pulling direction from the standby state, the air supply pipe and the water supply pipe communicate with each other. An air and water supply device for an endoscope, characterized in that the endoscope is in a draining state. (2) The air/water supply device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the air supply switching valve closes the air supply pipe in a standby state. (3) The air and water supply device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the air supply switching valve and the water supply switching valve close all of the air supply pipe, the air supply pipe, the water supply pipe, and the water supply pipe in a standby state.