JPH1156746A - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an endoscope from being broken, by detecting the environment in which the endoscope is place, judging the treatment device applied to the endoscope, and counting the number of executing the treatment. SOLUTION: Environment in which an endoscope is placed is detected by a detecting sensor 2 comprising a combined sensor to measure temperature, pressure, and pH. A judging means 4 comprises a one-chip microcomputer to make information preliminarily store in a built-in ROM etc. The judging means 4 judges kinds of washing, disinfecting and sterilizing means applied to the endoscope from the stored information and the information obtained by the detecting means 2. A count means 3 counts the number of times applied to those treatment devices and displays the number to a user. A power means 5 comprising cells supplies electricity to the detecting means 2, the judging means 4, and the count means 3. Thus repair can be made before fatal failure such as 'a water leak occurs to prolong the life of an endoscope.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting deterioration of an endoscope due to processing such as cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization performed on the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various methods have conventionally been used for processing such as cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization performed on an endoscope.
At first, a method with relatively weak chemical attack on substances such as glutaraldehyde and iodine was used,
The chemical resistance of the endoscope was rarely a problem.

However, the demands on the market for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing endoscopes have increased, and accordingly, stronger cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing means have been used. For example, a method of immersing the endoscope in a heated aqueous solution of peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide, a method of placing the endoscope in water vapor of hydrogen peroxide, or the generation of hydrogen peroxide plasma by applying high frequency to this Some make it work. In addition, depending on the object to be sterilized, a means such as immersing the endoscope in a strong alkali such as an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution is also used.

However, these powerful cleaning, disinfection,
It is technically difficult to ensure the resistance of the endoscope to the sterilization means, and the resistance is guaranteed by limiting the number of use cases. Furthermore, if these cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing means are used excessively due to their attack properties, there is a surface that may deteriorate the target endoscope and destroy it. While observing the endoscope, the deterioration of these endoscopes was judged.

[0005]

As described above, conventionally, the user has judged the state of deterioration of the endoscope from the external appearance. Therefore, it is necessary to detect that state before the endoscope falls into a fatal state of deterioration. And the endoscope could be destroyed.

The endoscope of the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to notify a user before the endoscope falls into a fatal deterioration state. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that can prevent the endoscope from being destroyed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detecting means for detecting an environment in which an endoscope is placed, and information obtained by the detecting means. A determining means for determining what kind of processing device the endoscope has been applied to, and a count for counting the number of cases in which the processing device specified by the determining means has performed processing on the endoscope. Means for operating the detecting means, the detecting means, the determining means, and the counting means.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is provided in an endoscope connector section described later and includes a composite sensor that measures temperature, pressure, and pH. Means 2 and a one-chip microcomputer, from information obtained from the detecting means 2 and information stored in advance in a ROM or the like built in the one-chip microcomputer, washing, disinfection, or Judging means 4 for judging the type of sterilizing means, and how many times the endoscope has been applied to the processing device specified by this judging means 4, that is, the number of cases is counted and displayed (notified) to the user. It comprises a counting means 3 and a power means 5 comprising a battery (a rechargeable battery) for supplying electricity for operating the detecting means 2, the judging means 4, and the counting means 3.

FIG. 2 is an external view around an endoscope connector section according to the first embodiment, wherein 1 is an endoscope connector section,
Reference numeral 2 corresponds to the above-described detection means, and reference numeral 3 corresponds to the above-described counting means.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. In the present embodiment, the temperature, pressure, pH, and the like as the environment in which the endoscope is placed are monitored, and the monitored values are used to operate various cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing means stored in advance in the determining means 4. By comparing the conditions, the type of processing apparatus to which the endoscope is mounted is specified. Next, the counting means 3 counts how many times the specified processing apparatus has been used, and notifies the user of the count value.

For example, in a sterilizer using a certain hydrogen peroxide plasma, the pressure in the apparatus is once reduced to less than 1 Torr,
Thereafter, the pressure is adjusted to about 10 Torr by spraying hydrogen peroxide vapor. After a certain period of time has elapsed, plasma is generated by applying high frequency to sterilize, and then returned to normal pressure, reduced to about 1 Torr again, finally returned to normal pressure, and the process is terminated. The pressure change at this time is monitored by the detecting means 2 comprising a composite sensor, and the judging means 4 detects that the endoscope has been applied to a specific sterilizing apparatus.
Then, the number of cases subjected to the specific sterilization apparatus is counted by the counting means 3 and notified to the user.

According to the first embodiment, by checking the number of cases in which the endoscope has been applied to the cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing means, repair can be performed before a fatal failure such as water leakage occurs. And the life of the endoscope can be extended. In addition, since the number of cases in which the endoscope has been cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized can be ascertained, it is determined whether deterioration of the endoscope is caused by a user error or due to the life of the endoscope. be able to.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is provided in an endoscope connector section described later and includes a detection sensor including a composite sensor for measuring temperature, pressure, and pH. Means 11 and a one-chip microcomputer, based on information obtained from the detecting means 11 and information stored in advance in a ROM or the like built in the one-chip microcomputer, washing, disinfection, or Determining means 12 for determining the type of sterilizing means;
The number of times the endoscope has been applied to the processing device specified in 2, that is, the number of cases is counted, and whether the number of cases is no problem in the endoscope endurance level or a dangerous area Counting means 14 for checking whether or not
And an LED that can emit two colors of red and green. If the information of the counting means 14 indicates that there is no problem in the endoscope's resistance, the LED is green, and if the resistance has reached a dangerous level, Warning means 15 for making LED emit red light
And power means 13 for supplying electricity for operating these detecting means 11, determining means 12, counting means 14, and warning means 15. The power means 13 is connected to a connector power supply line 16 provided in the endoscope connector section.

FIG. 4 is an external view around an endoscope connector section according to a second embodiment, wherein 10 is an endoscope connector section, 11 is the above-described detecting means, and 14 corresponds to the above-described counting means. doing.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. In the present embodiment, the environment in which the endoscope is placed is determined by the detection means 11 comprising a composite sensor constantly monitoring the environment (temperature, pressure, pH) in which the endoscope is placed. For example, in a certain apparatus, sterilization is performed by immersing in a peracetic acid aqueous solution heated to about 50 ° C. for about 30 minutes. By monitoring the temperature and the pH, it is determined that a specific sterilizer has been used. Then, the total number of the specified cases of the sterilizing apparatus is counted by the counter means, and it is determined whether or not the total number of the cases is at a level having no problem in endoscope resistance. If the result is not a problem, the warning means 15 turns green, and if it reaches a dangerous level, the warning means 1
5 emits red light to notify the user of the situation.
The power means 13 is charged by electricity from the connector power supply line 16 when the endoscope is used.

According to the above-described second embodiment, the danger is visually notified to the user when the user checks the endoscope, so that the user can be surely repaired before a fatal failure such as water leakage occurs. And the life of the endoscope can be extended.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration around an endoscope connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is characterized in that the endoscope connector portion 71 is provided with a warning indicator 19 made of a solid aluminum alloy fixed by the fixing pin 18.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The warning indicator 19 made of an aluminum alloy has a property of being eroded when subjected to cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization means of a type immersed in a solution such as an aqueous solution of peracetic acid or an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. The warning indicator 19 made of an aluminum alloy mechanically fixed to the endoscope connector portion 17 is eroded every time it is immersed in a disinfecting sterilizing solution of a hydrogen peroxide solution or a peracetic acid solution. Therefore, by adjusting the size and the shape of the warning index 19, the warning index 19 is dropped in the number of cases within the endoscope resistance level, and it is confirmed that the endoscope has reached a limit in resistance. Let the user know.

According to the above-described third embodiment, it is possible to easily inform the user that the endoscope has reached the limit in tolerance as compared with the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the fourth aspect of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration around an endoscope connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is characterized in that a warning indicator 21 is fixed to an endoscope connector 20 with an epoxy adhesive 22.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. By subjecting the endoscope to cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing means, the epoxy adhesive 22 fixing the warning indicator 21 gradually deteriorates. Therefore, by adjusting the composition of the epoxy-based adhesive 22 and the conditions for performing the bonding treatment, the warning index 21 is dropped off by the number of cases within the resistance level of the endoscope. Let the user know you came to.

According to the above-described fourth embodiment, it is possible to notify the user of the limit of endoscope durability with a simple structure as in the second embodiment. In the endoscope for detecting these cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing means, a hardness changing means comprising a coil wire and a rod made of a superelastic alloy may be provided in the insertion portion. At least a part of the superelastic alloy used for the hardness varying means has a large diameter or a small diameter.

That is, in the endoscope insertion portion 23 shown in FIG.
The tip of the coil wire 26 is brazed and fixed at a position of about 0 cm, and the tip of the superelastic alloy rod 25 is fixed to the endoscope insertion base front base 24. In this case, the rod 2 made of a superelastic alloy
Numeral 5 is smaller in diameter than the fixed portion of the coil wire 26 on the operation portion side.

The above-described hardness varying means compresses the coil wire 26 by pulling the rod 25 made of a superelastic alloy to harden the coil wire 26. At this time, when the coil wire 26 is compressed, a rotational stress is generated from the coil wire 26 to the superelastic alloy rod 25. When the rod 25 made of the superelastic alloy loses the rotational stress and twists, the coil wire 26 expands in the radial direction and shortens to reduce the hardness.

According to the present embodiment, the diameter of the superelastic alloy rod 25 on the distal end side from the fixed portion of the coil wire 26 is made larger so that even if a torsional stress from the coil wire 26 is applied, the superelastic alloy rod 25 becomes super elastic. Since the alloy rod 25 is not twisted, high hardness can be obtained.

In the endoscope insertion section 27 shown in FIG. 8, the diameter of the superelastic alloy rod 29 in the coil wire 30 may be large or small. In this case, since the hardness varying means obtains the hardness by the compressive force of the coil wire 30, a partially different hardness cannot be obtained.

In this embodiment, the coil wire 30
The diameter of the superelastic alloy rod 29 is reduced to about 30 cm on the operation unit side from the portion where the coil wire 30 is fixed on the superelastic alloy rod 29.

The hardness of the hardness varying means is determined by the coil wire 30
And the hardness of the superelastic alloy rod 29 is increased. Therefore, the rod 2 made of a superelastic alloy
By reducing the diameter of 9, about 30 cm on the tip side can be made softer than the operation section side.

The above-described specific embodiment includes an invention having the following configuration. (1) detecting means for detecting an environment in which the endoscope is placed, and determining means for determining what kind of processing device the endoscope has been applied to from information obtained by the detection by the detecting means. Counting means for counting the number of cases in which the processing device specified by the determination means has performed processing on the endoscope, the detection means, the determination means,
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a power unit configured to operate the counting unit. (2) In the endoscope device according to (1), the processing device includes a washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing means, and the endoscope is cleaned,
A warning means is provided for issuing a warning when the number of cases of disinfection or sterilization exceeds a range in which endoscope resistance can be guaranteed. (3) The endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the detection means is a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a pH sensor, or a composite sensor thereof. (4) The endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the power unit is a rechargeable battery. (5) The endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the determination unit deteriorates by the washing, disinfecting, or sterilizing unit, and notifies the endoscope of the limit of the endurance level by the deterioration. I do. (6) The endoscope device according to (5), wherein the determination unit is made of an aluminum alloy. (7) The endoscope apparatus according to (5), wherein the warning means is a warning index fixed with an adhesive.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the endoscope is notified to the user before the catastrophic deterioration occurs, so that the endoscope can be prevented from being destroyed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view around an endoscope connector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the periphery of an endoscope connector according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration around an endoscope connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration around an endoscope connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example in which hardness varying means is provided.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining another example in which hardness varying means is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 10: Endoscope connector part, 2, 11: Detection means, 3, 14: Counting means, 4, 12: Judging means, 5, 13: Power means, 15: Warning means, 16: Connector power line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A detecting means for detecting an environment in which the endoscope is placed; and a determining means for determining what kind of processing device the endoscope has been applied to from information obtained by the detecting means. A counting means for counting the number of cases in which the processing device specified by the determination means has performed processing on the endoscope; a power means for operating the detection means, the determination means, and the counting means An endoscope apparatus, comprising: