JPH0663002U - Endoscope cover type endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an endoscope cover-type endoscope device suitable for recycling, which is easy to disassemble and separate each material. [Structure] An endoscope cover including an insertion section cover section 11, an operation section cover, and a universal cord cover,
An endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover type, comprising: an insertion section 17, an operation section, and an endoscope for an endoscope that covers the surface of a universal cord by using this endoscope cover. At least two or more members of the main members that form the insertion portion cover portion 11 of, for example, the tip forming portion 2
An endoscope cover-type endoscope apparatus in which 6 and the endoscope operation unit fixing mouth unit 36 are formed of the same material such as polysulfone which is a recyclable thermoplastic resin.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system, which uses an endoscope cover for preventing contamination of an endoscope.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field and the like. When performing endoscopy using the endoscope used in this medical field, it is necessary to use a clean endoscope that has been thoroughly washed and disinfected before the examination.

However, since an endoscope is often provided with an air / water supply conduit, forceps channels, etc., after use, the inside of these conduits is completely cleaned and sterilized. Has a problem that it takes a long time. If such sterilization is not performed sufficiently, the effect cannot be expected.Therefore, the sterilization must be carried out for a long time, which reduces the efficiency of use of the endoscope and the sterilization process. There was a problem that it was troublesome.

In view of such a problem, by using the endoscope main body covered with the endoscope cover and exchanging only the endoscope cover after use, the endoscope main body can be replaced even after use. Endoscope cover-type endoscope devices that do not require cleaning or sterilization to keep the endoscope body clean are disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,050,585, US Pat. No. 4,646,722, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-54734. No. 3,162,190 and the like.

More specifically, in an endoscope for an endoscope to which such an endoscope cover is attached, an insertion portion of the endoscope is cleaned and sterilized and disinfected in advance, and the endoscope cover is used. It is designed to be inserted into the patient's body cavity with the insertion part of the mirror covered, for inspection and treatment. After use, the endoscope cover that covered the endoscope body is removed and discarded. In this way, by disposing the endoscope cover for each patient, the endoscope body does not need to be washed or disinfected, and can be kept clean at all times, which is very hygienic. In addition, the endoscope body can be continuously used without re-cleaning and re-disinfecting, resulting in high usage efficiency.

By the way, in recent years, the problem of disposal of disposable products has been highlighted from the viewpoint of environmental protection, and it is desirable that manufacturers consider recycling, for example, when providing products to consumers. It is in. However, it cannot be said that the above-mentioned conventional endoscope cover has been sufficiently considered. In other words, in recycling, it is necessary to separate each material, but in the conventional endoscope cover, there is a problem that the separation is troublesome because the constituent members are made of various materials. Furthermore, it cannot be said that the materials for forming the members are materials that fully consider recycling. In addition, in the conventional endoscope cover, an adhesive or the like may be used to connect the constituent members to each other, which makes it difficult to disassemble, and the adhesive generally contains various components. Therefore, there is also a problem that the member to which the adhesive is attached is not suitable for recycling.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As described above, conventional endoscope covers do not take sufficient consideration of recycling, so it is troublesome to disassemble them into their respective constituent members, and each member is formed of various materials. It was difficult to sort the products, and it could not be said that they used materials suitable for recycling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope cover-type endoscope apparatus suitable for recycling, in which disassembling and separating each material is easy. There is.

[0009]

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an endoscope cover having an insert cover portion and at least the surface of the insert portion using the endoscope cover. In an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus having an endoscope for an endoscope cover, at least two or more members of the members forming the insertion portion cover portion of the endoscope cover can be recycled. It is made of the same material.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the entire configuration of an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system, and FIG. 2 is an endoscope for an endoscope cover. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the insertion section cover part of the endoscope cover in a state of being attached to the endoscope for an endoscope cover, and FIG. 4 is a state in which it is not attached to the endoscope for an endoscope cover. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an insertion portion cover portion of the endoscope cover of FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a forceps plug attached to a forceps insertion port and used.

The endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a movable cart 1, a light source apparatus 2 having a light source for illuminating a subject, a video processor 3 for processing a signal from an image pickup device (not shown), and the like. , A fluid control device for controlling air supply, water supply, etc. 4, an endoscope cover extender (hereinafter abbreviated as an extender) extending an extension tube 14, a monitor 6 for observing images, etc. And an endoscope cover endoscope (hereinafter, abbreviated as cover) 7 covered with an endoscope cover (hereinafter abbreviated as cover) 10 is connected to the light source device 2. Being made up of its main part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover endoscope 7 has an elongated insertion portion 17 extending from the operating portion 16 on the proximal side, and a universal cord 18 extending from the side portion of the operating portion 16. It has been extended. A bending operation wire 47 (see FIG. 3) is inserted through the inside of the insertion portion 17 in which a bending portion 46 and a cover endoscope leading end portion 27, which are constructed in the same manner as in the past, are connected to each other at the tip end side thereof. A bending operation can be performed via the angle knob 21 of the operation unit 16 with the cover 10 attached. On the other hand, a connector 18a is provided at the tip of the universal cord 18, and a cable 8 is extended from the side of the universal cord 18 to the video processor 3 as shown in FIG. An output signal of an image pickup device (not shown) provided inside the tip portion 27 is transmitted and input. The operation section 16 is formed by connecting a grip section 19 for gripping the endoscope 7 to the distal end side of the operation section body 20, and the operation section body 20 includes the angle knob 21 and an air / water supply control switch. 22, a suction control switch 23, a function switch 24 for taking a picture, and the like are provided. The angle knob 21 is detachably attached to the operation section main body 20, and an angle knob cover (not shown) is also attached to the angle knob 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 10 is mainly composed of an insertion portion cover portion 11, an operation portion cover 12, and a universal cord cover 13 from the front end side. Details of the insertion portion cover portion 11 of the cover 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The cover endoscope 7 is mounted in a state in which the insertion portion cover portion 11 is held by the cover holder 15 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in the figure, the insertion section cover section 11 has, in order from the front end side, a tip section 25 of the cover, an insertion section cover outer skin 32, and an endoscope operation section fixing mouth section 36. There is.

The tip portion 25 of the cover is mainly composed of a tip forming portion 26 made of polysulfone which is a thermoplastic resin. As shown in FIG. 4, a position corresponding to the outside of the optical axis of the observation optical system 28 provided on the distal end portion 27 of the cover endoscope 7 and the illumination optical system (not shown) is provided on the distal end forming portion 26. A transparent observation window 29 made of plastic such as polypropylene is fitted into the mounting hole 42 via a rubber packing 43 made of silicon rubber. That is, the observation window 29 is biased outward by the rubber packing 43 and is prevented from coming off by the locking portion 51 provided near the outer end surface of the mounting hole 42. Watertightness is maintained by the rubber packing 43 so that water or the like does not enter the inside. Further, the tip 25 of the cover is further provided with an air / water supply nozzle 30 that opens toward the observation window 29 for cleaning the observation window 29, and a forceps outlet 31 that serves as an outlet for a treatment tool or the like. It is provided.

The distal end portion 26 as described above is provided with an insertion portion cover skin 32 made of a thermosetting resin such as polyurethane for isolating the insertion portion 17 of the cover endoscope 7 from the external environment. , A thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, which is airtightly sandwiched and fixed by a retaining ring 44, and inside thereof, the insertion portion side suction tube 48 communicating with the forceps outlet 31 and the air supply / water supply nozzle 30. The resin tube-shaped insertion part side air supply conduit 49 and the insertion part side water supply conduit 50 that are communicated with the above are fixed to the tip forming part 26 in an airtight manner. These conduits 48, 49, 50 are made of thermosetting resin such as polyurethane, and the other end side is press-fitted into the mouthpiece portion 36 for fixing the endoscope operation portion described later in an airtight manner. It is fixed.

On the proximal side of the insertion portion cover outer skin 32, an endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 36 formed of the same material as the tip forming portion 26 such as polysulfone is also provided with a heat treatment such as epoxy resin. A retaining ring 44 made of a curable resin is airtightly fixed and attached. As shown in the figure, the forceps insertion opening 33 inserted through the forceps outlet 31 and the expansion tube 14 extending from the dilator 5 are provided in the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 36 (see FIG. 1). There is provided an expansion tube mouth 34 for connecting (see FIG. 1), a connecting portion 35 connected to the holder 15 (see FIG. 1), and the like. An opening 38 of an endoscope insertion channel 37 provided inside the insertion portion cover outer skin 32 is provided on the near side of the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 36.

Then, the proximal end side of the mouthpiece portion 36 for fixing the endoscope operation portion is connected to the insertion portion side suction tube 48, the insertion portion side air supply conduit 49, and the insertion portion side water supply conduit 50, respectively. The suction conduit 41, the air supply conduit 39, and the water supply conduit 40 made of thermosetting resin such as polyurethane are press-fitted and connected. The other ends of these conduits 39, 40, 41 pass through the inside of the operation section cover 12 and the universal cord cover 13, and through the fluid control section 56 of the fluid control device 4, respectively, an air supply source and a water supply source. , Is in communication with the suction source.

A forceps plug 52 as shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the forceps insertion port 33. This forceps plug is composed of a shell 53 made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, and two valves 55 having a slit 54 formed of rubber provided therein.

The operation part cover 12 is made of a resin-made substantially cylindrical sheet, one end of which is fixed to the endoscope operation part fixing mouth part 36, and the other end of which is a base end part of the universal cord 18. It is fixed. The universal cord cover 13 covers the universal cord 18. The operating section cover 12, the universal cord cover 13, and the angle knob 21 which is detachable from the operating section 16 are also made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

The tip forming section 26 and the endoscope operating section fixing mouth section 36 are made of the same material, such as polysulfone, as described above, but these materials are made of a recyclable thermoplastic resin. Is. If an olefin resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polybutylene is used as such a thermoplastic resin, the recycling process becomes easier.

Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, when connecting the members forming the insertion portion cover portion 11, all the joining between the members formed of different kinds of materials does not require an adhesive agent. It is fixed by press fitting or locking so that it can be disassembled. The extension tube mouth 34 and the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 36 are made of the same material, but are fixed by press fitting without using an adhesive.

The operation of the first embodiment thus configured will be described. After the endoscopic inspection, the cover endoscope 7 is removed from the insertion portion cover portion 11, and the insertion portion cover portion 11 is sterilized by an autoclave or a sterilizing gas. Then, the insertion portion cover portion 11 is disassembled in order to separate the materials, but the dissimilar materials can be easily disassembled because they are joined by press fitting or engagement as described above. At this time, for example, although the mouthpiece portion 36 for fixing the endoscope operation portion and the extension tube mouthpiece 34 are separate bodies, they are made of the same material (polysulfone) and need not be disassembled because no adhesive or the like is used. There is no.

After that, a member made of a thermosetting resin that cannot be recycled, that is, an insertion portion cover outer skin 32 made of polyurethane resin, a suction pipe line 41, an air supply pipe line 39, a water supply pipe line 40, an insertion part side water pipe pipe. A passage 50, an insertion portion side air supply pipe passage 49, an insertion portion side suction tube 48, and a snap ring 44 made of an epoxy resin, and a member made of a recyclable thermoplastic resin, that is, a tip constituent portion 26 made of a polysulfone resin. The endoscope operation part fixing mouth part 36, the observation window 29 made of polypropylene, and the rubber packing 43 are classified into two types, and further, recyclable members are classified according to the material and collected through a collecting means such as a recycle box. Process as a recycling material.

Further, since the operation section cover 12, the universal cord cover 13, the forceps plug 52, and the angle knob cover (not shown) are also made of a recyclable material, the same processing as the insertion section cover section 11 is performed. To do.

According to the first embodiment as described above, the insertion portion cover portion is disposable, but since at least two main members are formed of the same recyclable material, the separation at the time of disposal is facilitated. It is easy and can contribute to resource saving. Since no adhesive is used for joining different materials, disassembly and separation are easy.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an insertion portion cover portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is almost the same as the above-mentioned first embodiment, so only different parts will be described. The distal end forming portion 26 and the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion 36 of the second embodiment are made of the same material as in the first embodiment and made of a recyclable (renewable) material such as polypropylene. In addition, it is colored green to show that it is recyclable. On the other hand, other non-recyclable parts, such as the insert part cover outer skin 32, are colored gray. More specifically, members made of the same material are colored in the same color for each type of material.

The second embodiment as described above has substantially the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment described above, and has an advantage that it can be recognized immediately that it is recyclable. Furthermore, since recyclable members made of the same material have the same color, they are easy to identify and easy to separate, and reliable.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an endoscope operation part fixing mouth part and a tip forming part of an insertion part cover part according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is almost the same as the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, so only different parts will be described. Recycle marks 45 are displayed on the mouthpiece 36 for fixing the endoscope operation section and the tip forming section 26. Further, the materials of the mouthpiece portion 36 for fixing the endoscope operation portion and the tip forming portion 26 are the same, and the point that they are recyclable is also the same as in the above embodiment.

The operation and effect of the third embodiment are almost the same as those of the first and second embodiments described above, and the advantage that the recyclable mark makes it possible to visually recognize that they can be recycled. Have.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of the distal end constituent portion of the insertion portion cover portion in FIG. 8, the distal end constituent portion 26 and the observation window 29 are separated. Instead of being made into a body, it may be integrally molded with a transparent recyclable plastic such as polypropylene. In this case, of course, at least two members such as the distal end forming section 26 and the endoscope operating section fixing mouth section 36 are made of the same material.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the distal end constituting portion and the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion are formed of the same material, but of course, all the members constituting the insertion portion cover portion are made of the same recyclable material. It may be formed of. In this case, there is no need to disassemble or separate the waste during processing. The material that can be recycled may be appropriately selected from various materials that are thermoplastic resins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester.

[0033]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus which is easy to disassemble and separate each material and is suitable for recycling.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the entire configuration of an endoscope device of an endoscope cover system.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the cover endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the insertion portion cover portion mounted on the cover endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the insertion portion cover portion in a state where it is not attached to the cover endoscope.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a forceps plug used by being attached to a forceps insertion port.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an insertion portion cover portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing a mouthpiece portion for fixing the endoscope operation portion and a distal end constituent portion of the insertion portion cover portion.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end constituent portion of an insertion portion cover portion showing another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 ... Endoscope for endoscope cover 10 ... Endoscope cover 11 ... Insert part cover part 17 ... Insert part

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 11, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 4]

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page (72) Yoshio Tashiro 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshihiro Iida 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Akira Suzuki 24-22-1 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Osamu Mizuta 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Yosuke Yoshimoto 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An endoscope cover system comprising: an endoscope cover having an insertion portion cover portion; and an endoscope cover endoscope that covers at least the surface of the insertion portion using the endoscope cover. In the endoscope device, at least two or more members of the members constituting the insertion portion cover portion of the endoscope cover are formed of the same recyclable material, Endoscope device.