JPH0254085B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning aid for scrubbing and cleaning the suction path of an endoscope.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a general endoscope.
In FIG. 1, a forceps channel 4 whose both ends are fixed to a forceps opening 2 provided at the front of the operating section 1 and a forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip thereof communicates within the insertion section 5. One end of the first suction pipe 7, which branches off from the forceps channel 4 at a branch 6 near the forceps mouth 2, is fixed to one of two connecting ports provided on the side wall of the cylinder 9 of the suction control valve 8. There is. Also, from the other connection port on the side wall of the cylinder 9,
A suction cap 1 provided on a connector 11 that is inserted through the light guide flexible tube 10 and connected to a light source.
A second suction pipe line 13 is connected to the suction tube 2, and the suction mouthpiece 12 is connected to a separately provided suction device (not shown). Here, when the forceps channel 4 and a suction device (not shown) are brought into communication by operating the piston 14 of the suction control valve 8, dirt, mucus, etc. are suctioned from the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip. Suction is passed through the forceps channel 4 forming a suction path, the first suction pipe 7, the cylinder 9 of the suction control valve 8, the second suction pipe 13, and the suction mouthpiece 12 to a separately provided suction device (not shown). It is discharged.

In the above-mentioned endoscope, when cleaning the suction channel, suction cleaning is usually performed by suctioning disinfectant or water, but this alone often does not clean the forceps channel 4, the first suction conduit 7, and the second suction conduit. This causes dirt and mucus to remain on the inner wall of the suction pipe 13. In particular, the connection part between the cylinder 9 and the first suction pipe line 7, the connection part between the cylinder 9 and the second suction pipe line 13, and the connection part between the second suction pipe line 13 and the suction cap 12, etc. In areas with uneven surfaces, dirt and mucus tend to remain in the gaps, steps, etc., and are often unable to be removed by suction cleaning alone. As a result, the remaining dirt and mucus not only solidify and cause blockage in the suction channel, but also bacteria may propagate and infect the examiner and patient the next time they use the endoscope. In order to reliably remove any residue in the suction path of the endoscope, it is important to perform scrubbing and cleaning with a cleaning brush.

However, in the conventional endoscope, the first suction pipe 7 is formed between the side wall of the cylinder 9 and the branch part 6 near the forceps mouth 2, and the second suction pipe is connected from the side wall of the cylinder 9 to the suction mouthpiece 12. Channel 13 has bent portions near both ends, so it is impossible to insert a cleaning brush into it, and the only part that can be scrubbed and cleaned is between the forceps mouth 2 and the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip. was limited to. Therefore, the first suction pipe 7 and the second suction pipe 13 become unclean areas, and as mentioned above, the dirt and mucus remaining in the suction pipes solidify, causing the suction pipes to become clogged and bacteria to grow. there's a possibility that.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 indicates an eyepiece section fixed to the operating section 1, and reference numeral 16 indicates an air/water supply control valve.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the forceps opening 2 is provided on the eyepiece 15 side of the operating section 1, and the connection port provided on the side wall of the forceps channel 4 is communicated with the connection port on the side wall of the cylinder 9. In an endoscope having a structure in which the end of the suction pipe is fixed to the forceps mouth part 2, the first suction pipe 7 shown in FIG. 1 is unnecessary, and the only unclean area is the second suction pipe 13. The forceps mouth part 2 is the eyepiece part 15
Because it is located nearby, the biopsy tool is likely to hit the examiner's face when using the endoscope, and dirt in the forceps channel 4 will spray out from the forceps mouth 2 and adhere to the examiner, making it unhygienic. However, there is a problem in that the biopsy tool is difficult to operate. For this reason, endoscopes such as the one shown in FIG. 1 in which the forceps opening 2 is located at the front of the operating section 1 are now becoming mainstream.

Therefore, the forceps mouth part 2 is installed in the front part of the operating part 1, and in order to minimize the unclean area, one of the connecting ports of the cylinder 9 of the suction control valve 8 is connected to the bottom of the cylinder 9 as shown in FIG. By installing and fixing one end of the second suction pipe on the central axis of the cylinder 9, the piston 14 is removed from the cylinder 9, and a cleaning brush is inserted from the outer opening of the cylinder 9. Some devices allow the second suction line 13 to be scrubbed and cleaned. However, due to structural constraints, the other connection port of the cylinder 9 must be provided on the side wall, and the first suction pipe line 7 is fixed to the connection port on the side wall of the cylinder 9. Scrub cleaning cannot be performed.

Also, the first suction line 7 is fixed to the connection port on the bottom of the cylinder 9, and the second suction line 13 is fixed to the connection port on the side wall of the cylinder 9, so that the first suction line 7 is relatively large. Even in the structure in which the first suction line 7 is connected to the branch part 6 near the forceps mouth 2 with a radius of curvature, the first suction line 7 can perform abrasion cleaning, but the second suction line 13 cannot perform abrasion cleaning. do not have. (Not shown) Even if one of the connection ports is provided at the bottom of the cylinder 9 in this way, the other connection port must be provided on the side wall due to the structure, so the connection port of the cylinder 9 is fixed to the connection port provided on the side wall. The brush cannot pass through the suction pipe, which may cause the suction pipe to become clogged as described above.

The present invention was made with attention to the above circumstances, and
The purpose of this is to attach a cleaning aid that can be replaced with the piston of the suction control valve, or that also serves as the piston, to the cylinder of the suction control valve. To provide a cleaning aid capable of thoroughly scrubbing and cleaning the entire suction path up to the suction mouthpiece provided at the connector at the end of the flexible guide tube.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. First, in order to facilitate understanding of the content of the present invention,
A sectional view of the suction control valve 8 of the endoscope shown in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, a first suction pipe 7 is provided on the side wall of the cylinder 9, and a second suction pipe 1 is provided on the bottom of the cylinder 9.
3 are fixed to each other, and a positioning groove 17 for positioning the cleaning aid of the present invention when it is installed and a fixing groove 18 for preventing it from coming off are provided on the outside opening side. Now, from the state shown in the fourth figure, close the outside air port 20 of the head 19 of the suction control valve,
When the head 19 is pushed in against the urging force of the spring 21, the side opening 22 provided in the piston 14 of the suction regulating valve 8 communicates with the connection port 23 of the first suction pipe line 7, and the suction device (not shown) dirt and mucus are suctioned from the forceps channel opening 3 (not shown in FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the piston 14 is in the protruding position due to the biasing force of the spring 21, a separately provided suction device (not shown) communicates with the outside air port 20, so outside air is constantly sucked, and the side opening 22
Since the connecting port 23 is blocked, suction is not performed from the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip. Also, rotate the control valve holder 24 to tighten the threaded part 25.
By loosening the cylinder 9 and piston 1
4 can be separated.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. In the suction regulating valve 8 shown in FIG. 4, the regulating valve holder 24 is rotated to loosen the screw portion 25 and the piston 14 is removed. Cleaning aid 26 instead
is attached to the cylinder 9 and the first suction pipe line 7 is being rubbed with the cleaning brush 27. The cleaning aid 26 is provided with a brush insertion opening 29 into which a cleaning brush 27 is inserted into the head 28 for photographing with a finger.
The brush insertion hole 29 forms one end of a vertical brush insertion hole 30 toward the bottom. The other end of the brush insertion vertical hole 30 communicates with one end of the brush insertion diagonal hole 31,
The other end of the brush insertion diagonal hole 31 forms a side wall opening 32 for communication with a connecting port 23 provided in the cylinder 9.

Further, the side wall near the head 28 of the cleaning aid 26 is fitted with a positioning groove 17 provided in the cylinder 9, and the connecting port 23 of the cylinder 9 and the cleaning aid 2 are connected to each other.
A positioning protrusion 33 is provided for communicating the side wall opening 32 provided at 6. Mounting groove 34
shows a groove fixed by the fixing groove 18 provided in the cylinder 9 and the snap spring 35.

According to this structure, the cleaning aid 26 is attached to the cylinder 9.
When the cleaning aid 26 is attached, the cylinder 9 and the cleaning aid 26 become detachably semi-fixed by the snap spring 35, and when the cleaning brush 27 is inserted through the brush insertion opening 29 provided in the head 28 of the cleaning aid 26, , the cleaning brush 27 is inserted into the vertical brush insertion hole 3.
0. Through the brush insertion diagonal hole 31, side wall opening 3
2 through the connecting port 23, the interior of the first suction pipe 7 can be scrubbed and cleaned.

The snap spring 35 used to prevent the cleaning aid 26 from coming off is not limited to this, but an O-ring made of an elastic material such as rubber may also be used, or it can be prevented from coming off by pressing it with your fingers without applying anything special. You may do so.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. A brush stopper 36 made of an elastic material such as rubber and having a cut in the center is fixed to the brush insertion opening 29 of the cleaning aid 26 shown in FIG. A vertical hole 37 for suction operation that penetrates to the bottom of the cleaning aid 26
is provided.

According to this structure, the cleaning aid 26 is attached to the cylinder 9.
When the separately provided suction device is operated, it communicates with the vertical hole 37 for suction operation and the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip, but from the forceps channel opening 3, the first suction Due to the long lengths of the pipe line 7 and the forceps channel 4, there is little suction due to the resistance over the entire length, and normally outside air is sucked only from the vertical hole 37 for suction operation.

In this state, the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip is soaked in cleaning water, and the cleaning brush 27 is inserted through the brush plug 36 and into the first suction conduit 7, as in the first embodiment, and the vertical hole for suction operation is inserted. When 37 is closed with a finger, the forceps channel opening 3 and the suction device are communicated with each other, and scrubbing and cleaning can be performed while suctioning the cleaning water into the first suction conduit 7.

FIG. 7 is a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view showing a piston-cum-cleaning aid having both a cleaning aid and a piston. Piston and cleaning aid 38
is similar to the suction aid 26 of the second embodiment of the present invention,
Brush plug 36, brush insertion vertical hole 30, brush insertion diagonal hole 31, side wall opening 32, vertical hole 37 for suction operation
Further, the piston/cleaning aid 38 is configured such that a convex portion 40 on the side wall of the piston/cleaning aid 38 is always pressed against a stopper portion 41 by the force of a spring 39.

According to this structure, when the piston/cleaning aid 38 is in the protruding position due to the repulsive force of the spring 39,
The separately provided suction device communicates with the outside air through the vertical hole 37 for suction operation, so it constantly sucks outside air, and the side wall opening 32 and the connecting port 23 are blocked, so the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip. Do not inhale from.

Here, from the state shown in Figure 7, the vertical hole 37 for suction operation is
with your fingers and remove the piston/cleaning aid 38 from the spring 3.
When pushed in against the force of 9, the brush insertion diagonal hole 31
The side wall opening 32 is the connecting port 23 of the first suction pipe line 7.
By communicating with the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip thereof, dirt and mucus are sucked into a separate suction device.

Also, when scrubbing and cleaning the first suction pipe 7 with a cleaning brush, in this pushed-in state, remove the brush stopper 3.
When the cleaning brush 27 is inserted through the forceps channel 6 and the forceps channel opening 3 provided at the tip is immersed in the cleaning liquid, the first suction pipe 7 can be scrubbed and cleaned while sucking the cleaning liquid.

As an example of the present invention, an example has been given based on the structure of the endoscope shown in FIG. 3, but the present invention is not limited to this example. It goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to the structure in which the fixation of the second suction pipe 13 is reversed, and to the endoscope shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As described above, the present invention provides a cleaning aid that can be replaced with the piston of the suction control valve or can also be used as the piston. The entire area of the suction path, including the suction path connected to the cylinder side wall that could not be cleaned, can be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an entire general endoscope, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another general endoscope, Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another general endoscope, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of another general endoscope. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the suction control valve, Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 7 is the sectional view of the invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Operation part, 2... Forceps mouth part, 3... Forceps channel opening, 4... Forceps channel, 5... Insertion part, 6
... Branch part, 7... First suction pipe line, 8... Suction control valve, 9... Cylinder, 10... Light guide flexible tube,
13...Second suction pipe line, 14...Piston, 20...
Outside air vent, 26...Cleaning aid, 27...Cleaning brush,
{29...Brush insertion port, 30...Brush insertion vertical hole,
31... Diagonal hole for brush insertion, 32... Side wall opening} passage, 37... Vertical hole for suction operation, 38... Piston and cleaning aid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A suction control valve consisting of a cylinder and a piston that can be attached to and detached from the cylinder is provided in the operating section, and the suction control valve is inserted in the middle of the suction path, and the forceps is operated by the suction control valve. An endoscope that suctions dirt and mucus from a body cavity through a channel opening, which has a passage through which a cleaning brush is inserted, and which is attached to the cylinder to communicate the passage with the suction passage to scrub the suction passage. A cleaning aid for an endoscope that is replaceable with the piston that enables cleaning. 2. A suction control valve consisting of a cylinder and a removable piston is provided in the operation section, and the suction control valve is inserted in the middle of the suction path, and by operating the suction control valve, the forceps channel opening is inserted into the body cavity. An endoscope for suctioning dirt and mucus, which has a passage for inserting a cleaning brush and a vertical hole for suction operation to suck outside air, and is attached to the cylinder to connect the passage and the vertical hole for suction operation. A cleaning aid for an endoscope that is replaceable with the piston, which communicates with the suction passage, and enables scrubbing and cleaning of the suction passage while suctioning cleaning liquid by adjusting the degree of occlusion of the vertical hole for suction operation. 3. A suction control valve consisting of a cylinder and a piston that can be attached to and detached from the cylinder is provided in the operating section, and the suction control valve is inserted in the middle of the suction path, and by pressing the piston against the cylinder, the outside air port of the piston is connected to the outside air port of the piston. In addition to communicating with the suction channel and suctioning dirt and mucus from the body cavity through the forceps channel opening,
In an endoscope that normally protrudes and disconnects the communication between the outside air port and the suction path and sucks only outside air through the outside air port, there is a passage for inserting a cleaning brush and a vertical hole for suction operation to suck outside air. is slidably fitted to the cylinder to communicate the passage and the vertical hole for suction operation with the suction path, and the suction path is closed while sucking the cleaning liquid by adjusting the degree of closure of the vertical hole for suction operation. An endoscope cleaning aid that enables scrubbing and cleaning of the endoscope, and normally uses the vertical hole for suction operation as an outside air port of the piston.