JPH041921Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a ventable watertight endoscope.

[Conventional technology]

Currently, endoscopes used for observation and treatment inside body cavities are cleaned and disinfected after use before being used for the next time. Therefore, the entire endoscope has a watertight structure to prevent cleaning water from entering the endoscope during cleaning.

Furthermore, disinfection is performed using ethylene oxide gas (hereinafter referred to as EOG), and this EOG is performed in an atmosphere at approximately 55°C.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

According to the prior art as described above, the endoscope has a watertight structure. For this reason, when disinfecting, approximately 55
When heated to ℃, the flexible outer covering of the flexible tube section, especially the angle section, expands like a balloon and in severe cases may burst, and even if this is not the case, this expansion will be repeated every time disinfection is performed. There is a problem in that durability becomes extremely low due to elastic fatigue.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a watertight endoscope consisting of a flexible tube section, a handle section, and a guide tube section, each of which has a watertight structure, and each connecting section thereof has a watertight structure. A filter tube with a built-in filter is attached to the opening, and a valve section is attached to this opening, so that communication can be established between the inside of the endoscope and the outside air only when the valve section is opened. It is characterized by what it did.

[Effect]

According to the above structure, the valve is closed during observation and cleaning, and the valve is opened during heating and disinfection by EOG to communicate the inside of the endoscope with outside air. The pressure inside and outside air can be equalized, and the expansion of the flexible tube portion of the endoscope, which conventionally occurs, can be prevented.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the endoscope in a closed state, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the endoscope in an open state.
A rigid part 2 has an observation window, an illumination window, a forceps opening, an air/water spout, etc. at its tip, followed by an angle part 3 that changes the observation direction of the observation window, and then a flexible tube 4.
It is becoming. In general, an image guide, a light guide, an air/water supply tube, a suction tube, a forceps introduction tube, an ankle operation wire, etc. are passed through the flexible tube section 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a handle portion, which includes an eyepiece portion 6, an ankle operation dial 7, a forceps introduction port 8, and the like.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a guide tube section, which guides the light guide, air/water supply tubes, etc. as a single guide or divides them into a plurality of guide tubes, and in this embodiment, one guide tube section is shown. Reference numeral 10 denotes a connection plug, which can be connected to a light source device (not shown) or the like.

Each of the flexible tube section 1, the handle section 5, and the guide tube section 9 and each connection section have a watertight and airtight structure, and constitute the endoscope 11 as a whole.

12 is a valve part attached to the guide pipe part 9;
This valve portion 12 has a structure in which the inside of the endoscope 11 and the outside air communicate with each other, and will be described in detail below.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a filter tube attached to an opening 14 provided in the guide tube section 9, one side of which opens into the guide tube section 9 and the other side open to the outside air, and is attached by screwing into the opening 14. The filter housed inside is made of a material such as Gore-Tex (registered trademark) that allows air to pass through but does not allow moisture to pass through.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a valve body, and the valve may be of any type, for example, as shown in the figure, a valve 19 may be pressed against a valve port 18 by a spring 17 in a valve chamber 16, and the tip of the valve body 15 is It communicates with the filter tube 13. 20 is a cap.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an opener for the valve body 11, which is separate from the valve body 11, and has a pressing portion 23 having a communication hole 22, which allows the valve chamber 16 to communicate with the outside air. 24 is a locking portion.

According to the above configuration, under normal conditions, spring 1
The valve 19 is closed by a pressing force of 7, and is used for observation and other work in this state, and the valve body 11 is closed by a cap 20 to prevent dirt and the like from entering.

Next, after being used for observation, it is cleaned and disinfected, and the cleaning is carried out with the cap 20 attached to the valve body.

Therefore, during disinfection, the cap 20 is removed, the opener 21 is press-fitted into the valve body 11, and the pressing part 23 presses the valve 19 against the force of the valve spring 17 to open the valve 19 and open the opener 21. The open state is maintained by the locking portion 24, whereby the inside of the endoscope is brought into communication with the outside air.

Since this communication state is achieved through the filter tube 13, the air within the endoscope is communicated, but no moisture enters. In this state, EOG
It is disinfected internally, but at this time the EOG
Even at 55°C, the flexible tube of the endoscope has the same pressure as the outside air, does not expand due to heating, and can be sterilized.

After the disinfection is completed, the opener 21 is removed, the valve is returned to its original state, and the cap 20 is fitted.

Note that the filter tube 13 can be replaced if the filter becomes clogged.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention described above, in an endoscope with a watertight structure, a valve body is attached to the guide tube section to enable communication between the inside of the endoscope and the outside air as desired. By opening the body and communicating the inside of the endoscope with outside air, the pressure can be equalized, preventing the expansion of the flexible tube of the endoscope that conventionally occurs, and improving the durability of the endoscope. It has an effect that can be improved.

Further, since moisture does not enter the endoscope, it is possible to prevent electrical leakage due to water intrusion when wiring is done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with the valve portion in a closed state, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with the valve portion in an open state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Flexible tube part, 5... Handle part, 9... Guide tube part, 12... Valve part, 13... Filter cylinder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a watertight endoscope consisting of a flexible tube section, a handle section, and a guide tube section, each of which and their connecting sections have a watertight structure, an opening in the guide tube section that communicates the inside of the endoscope with outside air. A filter tube with a built-in filter is attached to the opening, and a valve section is attached to the opening, so that the inside of the endoscope can communicate with outside air only when the valve section is opened. Watertight endoscope.