JPH05103750A - Endoscope washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To wash an endoscope top end surface while holding the sterilized state. CONSTITUTION:When a pushbutton 21 for an air sending/fluid sending selector valve 10 is pushed, the sterilized washing solution stored in a washing solution bottle 12 is injected to an objective lens 5 from a washing solution injection nozzle 9 through a fluid pipeline 8 by the sterilized gas pressure from a sterilized gas generating device 14 to wash the objective lens. Since the gas for pressurizing the washing solution and the washing solution are sterilized, various bacteria never enter a subject such as a body cavity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning apparatus capable of cleaning the front end surface of an endoscope while maintaining sterilization even in a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, an endoscope capable of observing a deep part in a body cavity by inserting the body cavity or the like and performing a medical treatment or the like by using a treatment tool if necessary is used in the medical field. It has become widely used.

Also in the industrial field, endoscopes are widely used for inspecting the inside of jet engines or the inside of plants.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, an observation window 53 is formed at a distal end 52 of an insertion portion of a conventional medical endoscope,
An objective lens system 54 is attached to the observation window 53, a front end surface of an image guide 55 is arranged on the focal plane of the objective lens system 54, and an optical image is formed on the front end surface.

An air / liquid sending channel 56 is formed adjacent to the observation window 53, and a cleaning liquid jet nozzle 57 is attached to the tip of the air / liquid sending channel 56. The tip of the cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 57 is bent and the objective lens system 5 attached to the observation window 53 is attached.
4 is directed to the outer surface of the cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 5
The outer surface of the objective lens system 54 (observation window 53) that has been contaminated with body fluid or the like is washed with the washing liquid ejected from 7.

[0006]

By the way, it is general that the above-mentioned operation for cleaning the distal end surface of the endoscope is performed with the endoscope inserted in a subject such as a body cavity. Therefore, the cleaning solution needs to be supplied in a sterilized state.

However, conventionally, there is a possibility that various bacteria may enter the cleaning liquid from the gas supplied under pressure to the cleaning liquid,
As a result, it was difficult to completely sterilize the cleaning solution.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning apparatus capable of cleaning the distal end surface of an endoscope while maintaining sterilization.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle which can be directed to the distal end surface of an endoscope, and a liquid feeding conduit communicating with the cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle. And storing the sterilized cleaning liquid, communicating with the cleaning liquid storage means in which the inflow port of the liquid feed pipe is exposed in the cleaning liquid, and adding the sterilization gas into the cleaning liquid storage means. A sterilizing gas generating means for supplying pressure is provided.

[0010]

[Operation] In the above configuration, when the sterilized cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage means is pressurized by the sterilizing gas supplied from the sterilizing gas generating means, the cleaning liquid flows in from the inlet of the liquid supply pipe and The liquid passes through the liquid pipe and is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection nozzle that can be directed to the front end surface of the endoscope.

Then, the cleaning liquid cleans the front end surface of the endoscope. Since the cleaning liquid and the gas that pressurizes the cleaning liquid are sterilized, the sterilized state of the cleaning liquid can be constantly maintained.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope cleaning apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a catheter proximal side, and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a catheter tip portion.

Reference numeral 1 in the drawing is an endoscope, and the endoscope 1
Is composed of an elongated insertion part 2 which can be inserted into the abdominal cavity or the like, an operation part 3 connected to the rear end of the insertion part 2, an eyepiece part 4 connected to the rear end of the operation part 3, and the like. The optical image formed by the objective lens 5 provided on the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion 2 is passed through an image guide (not shown) to the eyepiece 4
Be transmitted to. The insertion part 2 is wholly or partially flexible. In addition, a channel 6 for inserting a treatment tool or the like is provided in the insertion section 2. The distal end opening 6a of the channel 6 is the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion 2.
It is open to. Further, the rear end of the channel 6 is communicated with the insertion port 3a which opens to one side of the operation portion 3.

A liquid supply conduit 8 of the endoscope cleaning device 7 is freely inserted into the channel 6, and a cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 9 is formed on the peripheral side of the distal end of the liquid supply conduit 8. In addition, an air / liquid transfer switching valve 10 is provided in the middle of the liquid transfer conduit 8.
The air / liquid switching valve 10 is continuously provided and the insertion port 3 is provided.
A cap nut 11 that can be screwed onto a is interposed. When the fixing cap nut 11 is screwed into the insertion port 3a, the forward / backward movement of the liquid feeding conduit 8 in the channel 6 is restricted, and the insertion port 3a is sealed and the air feeding / The liquid transfer switching valve 10 is fixed to the insertion port 3a. Further, when the fixing cap nut 11 is screwed into the insertion opening 3a, the cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle 9 slightly protrudes from the distal end opening 6a of the channel 6 and the endoscope distal end surface 2a, particularly the objective. It is directed in the direction of the lens 5.

Further, the inflow port 8a of the liquid sending conduit 8 is exposed to the bottom of the cleaning liquid bottle 12 which is an example of the cleaning liquid storage means.

The inside of the cleaning liquid bottle 12 is sealed by a lid 12a, and the air supply conduit 13 is exposed in the sealed upper space. The air supply line 13 communicates with the sterilizing gas generator 14, and the air supply line 13
In the middle of the process, from the sterilizing gas generator 14 to the pressure controller 1
5, the relief valve 16 is inserted in order. The sterilizing gas is, for example, CO2 gas, and the sterilizing gas generator 14 sterilizes the CO2 gas and then supplies it under pressure to the air supply conduit 13.

Further, an insufflator 18 is connected to the inflow side of the insufflation / fluid transfer switching valve 10 through an insufflation air supply line 17 for in-body cavity. This pneumoperitoneum 18 has CO2 after sterilization.
A sterilizing gas such as gas is supplied to the above-mentioned intracorporeal pneumoperitoneum air supply conduit 17.

On the other hand, the spool 19 of the gas supply / liquid transfer switching valve 10 receives the urging force of the return spring 20 to shut off the liquid supply line 8, and the air supply line 17 for intraperitoneal pneumoperitoneum and the air supply line. The liquid conduit 8 is set so as to always communicate with the cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 9 side. Further, a push button 21 is provided on the spool 19 so as to project. When the push button 21 is pushed, the spool 19 moves backward against the urging force of the return spring 20, and the liquid feeding conduit 8
Are communicated with each other, and the above-mentioned intracorporeal pneumoperitoneum air supply conduit 17
Is cut off.

Reference numeral 26 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a catheter, and the catheter 26 has an elongated catheter portion 27,
A large-diameter grip portion 2 that is continuously provided at the rear end of the catheter portion 27.
8 and the grip portion 28 is provided with an endoscope insertion port 29 and a fluid passage port 30.

Further, the catheter portion 27 has a lumen 31 communicating with the endoscope insertion opening 29, and a plurality of fluid passages arranged around the lumen 31 and branched and connected to the fluid passage opening 30. And 32 are provided. Further, an endoscope chamber 27a having a predetermined depth is formed at the tip of the catheter 27, and the lumen 31 and the fluid passages 32 are opened in the inner wall surface of the endoscope chamber 27a.

The lumen 31 is provided with the endoscope insertion opening 2
The insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 is inserted through the connector 9.

A high-pressure fluid supply device (not shown) can be connected to the fluid passage port 30.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, the spool 19 of the air / liquid switching valve 10 in the normal state receives the urging force of the return spring 20 to shut off the liquid supply conduit 8, and at the same time, the above-mentioned in-body pneumoperitoneal air supply pipe. The passage 17 and the cleaning liquid jet nozzle 9 side of the liquid supply pipe 8 are communicated with each other.

Sterilizing gas is constantly supplied from the insufflator 18 to the insufflation tube 17 for intraperitoneal cavity in the body cavity, and the sterilizing gas propagates through the solution delivery tube 8 and from the washing solution jet nozzle 9 to the endoscope. It is ejected in the direction of the objective lens 5 provided on the front end surface 2a of the insertion portion 2 of No. 1.

Since the sterilizing gas is constantly sent to the objective lens 5, dirt is unlikely to adhere to the objective lens, and the cleaning solution jet nozzle 9 is not clogged due to blood adhesion or the like.

On the other hand, sterilizing gas is constantly supplied from the sterilizing gas generator 14 to the air feeding conduit 13, and the midway of the liquid feeding conduit 8 is shut off by the air feeding / liquid feeding switching valve 10. Therefore, the sterilizing gas is discharged from the relief valve 16.

Then, when the push button 21 projecting from the spool 19 of the air / liquid switching valve 10 is pushed and the spool 19 is retracted against the urging force of the return spring 20, the inhalation in the body cavity is performed. The air supply conduit 17 is cut off and the liquid supply conduit 8 is communicated.

As a result, the sterilizing gas pressure from the sterilizing gas generator 14 is applied to the cleaning liquid bottle 12 via the relief valve 16. Then, the sterilized cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid bottle 12 is transferred to the liquid transfer conduit 8 described above.
And is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 9 to clean the objective lens 5. The pressure of the cleaning liquid can be adjusted by the pressure controller 15 provided in the air supply line 13.

When the cleaning of the objective lens 5 is completed in a predetermined manner, the push button 2 of the gas / liquid switching valve 10 is pressed.
The pressing force for 1 is released. Then, the spool 1
9 moves under the urging force of the return spring 20,
The midway of the liquid supply conduit 8 is blocked, and the intracorporeal pneumoperitoneum air conduit 17 is communicated.

As a result, the sterilizing gas is sent again from the cleaning liquid jet nozzle 9, and the sterilizing gas wipes off the water droplets adhering to the objective lens 5.

According to this embodiment, one liquid supply line 8
Easy to use because you can select air supply or liquid supply with.

Further, since the sterilizing gas is used as the gas to be fed and the gas for pressurizing the inside of the cleaning liquid bottle 12, bacteria can not enter into the body cavity, and the objective lens 5 can be cleaned while maintaining sterilization. it can.

Further, the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 from which the endoscope cleaning device 7 is removed is inserted into the lumen 31 from the endoscope insertion opening 29 provided in the grip portion 28 of the catheter 26, and the endoscope 31 is inserted. The distal end 2a of the insertion portion 1 is projected into the endoscope chamber 27a of the catheter portion 27.

Further, a high pressure fluid is supplied from a high pressure fluid supply device (not shown) to the fluid passage port 30 provided in the grip portion 28.

Then, this high-pressure fluid is transferred to the fluid passage port 3 described above.
It is ejected to the endoscope chamber 27a through a plurality of fluid passages 32 that are branched and connected to 0.

As a result, the distal end surface 2 of the insertion portion of the endoscope 1 is
a vibrates violently due to fluid pressure, and the tip surface 2a of the insertion portion
The dirt attached to the is swept away, and the dirt is washed away by the fluid.

Using this catheter 26, the endoscope 1
It is not necessary to attach the function of cleaning the insertion portion distal end surface 2a to itself, and the configuration can be simplified.

By using the catheter 26 of the disposable type, the cleaning can be performed more cleanly and safely.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a catheter tip according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the distal end portion of the catheter portion 27 provided in the catheter 26 shown in the first embodiment is changed, and the configuration on the hand side is the same as in the first embodiment described above. Is omitted.

When cleaning the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 inserted through the lumen 31 of the catheter 26, first, the insertion portion 2 is retracted so that the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion is outside the lumen 31. It is set slightly rearward of the plurality of cleaning liquid ejection nozzles 32a opening on the wall surface. The cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle 32a is oriented in the axial center direction of the lumen 31, and the cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle 32a is connected to a fluid passage 32 formed around the lumen 31 as a liquid supply conduit.

Then, the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion of the endoscope 1 is
However, the cleaning liquid jet nozzle 32 passes through the fluid passage 32.
It is cleaned with the cleaning liquid ejected from a.

Then, when the cleaning of the insertion portion distal end surface 2a is completed in a predetermined manner, the insertion portion distal end surface 2a is projected from the catheter portion 27. Then, the ejection nozzle 32
a is closed by the outer wall of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1,
Inflow of filth into this jet nozzle 32a is prevented.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the gas for pumping the cleaning liquid and the cleaning liquid are sterilized, excellent effects such as being able to clean the distal end surface of the endoscope while maintaining the sterilized state are exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the proximal side of the catheter.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the catheter tip portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a catheter tip according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure on the distal end side of a conventional endoscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 2a ... End face of endoscope 7 ... Cleaning device for endoscope 8, 32 ... Liquid supply pipe line 8a ... Inflow port 9, 32a ... Cleaning liquid ejection nozzle 12 ... Cleaning liquid storage means 14 ... Sterile gas generating means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Nobuhiko Washizuka 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Omagari 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ichiro Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshinao Daimei 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle that is capable of being directed to the distal end surface of an endoscope, a liquid supply conduit communicating with the cleaning liquid ejecting nozzle, a sterilized cleaning liquid is stored, and the liquid supplying conduit is contained in the cleaning liquid. And a sterilizing gas generating means that communicates with the rinsing liquid storing means and supplies sterilizing gas under pressure to the rinsing liquid storing means. ..