JPS6244500B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a high-pressure steam sterilizer suitable for sterilizing an object to be sterilized, such as an endoscope, which has a complicated structure and has an airtight interior.

Generally, high pressure steam sterilizer (autoclave)
The item to be sterilized is placed in a pressurized pot and sterilized by introducing high-pressure saturated steam into the pressurized pot. The only objects that can be used for this purpose are surgical scalpels, scissors, and other instruments that are made of metal and have a simple structure, and for this reason, the pressurized humidification process is performed unilaterally. However, when using this conventional high-pressure steam sterilizer to sterilize objects with complicated structures and airtight interiors, such as endoscopes, if there is an abnormality in the airtightness of the object, When this occurred, there was a risk that high-pressure steam could enter the interior and damage things inside. For example, in the case of an endoscope, the bending device, image guide, etc. may be damaged, making the expensive endoscope completely unusable.

The present invention has been made focusing on the above circumstances,
The purpose is to automatically detect and display abnormal situations when an abnormality occurs in the airtightness of the internally sealed object to be sterilized during the sterilization process.
An object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure steam sterilizer that can prevent damage to objects to be sterilized.

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

FIG. 1 shows a high-pressure steam sterilization apparatus, and in the figure, 1 indicates its pressurization. A door 2 for opening and closing is provided on the front surface of the pressurizing pot 1. Further, a mounting shelf 3 is provided inside the pressurizing pot 1, and an object to be sterilized such as an endoscope 4, which will be described later, can be placed on this mounting shelf 3. Furthermore, a supply system 5 for supplying a predetermined amount of saturated steam into the pressurizing vessel 1 is connected thereto. The supply system 5 is connected to a supply source 7 via a pipe 6, and a control valve 8 and a pressure gauge 9 are provided in the middle of the pipe 6. The pressure gauge 9 is adapted to display the pressure inside the pressurizing pot 1.

Further, a detector 10 is provided on the inner surface of the pressurizing pot 1 to detect internal pressure and/or temperature, and this detector 10 is connected to a signal cable 11.
It is connected to the control device 12 via. The control device 12 receives a signal input from the detector 10, controls the supply source 7 and the control valve 8, and supplies saturated steam into the pressurizing pot 1 at a proper time.

An exhaust pipe 14 having an exhaust valve 13 in the middle is connected to the pressurizing pot 1, and the exhaust valve 13 is controlled to be opened at a timely manner by a control device 12 to vent the inside of the pressurizing pot 1 to the atmosphere. At the same time, a blower (not shown) provided in the exhaust pipe 14 is operated to discharge the gas inside the pressurized pot 1 to the outside.

Furthermore, an atmosphere introduction pipe 15 is connected to the pressurizing pot 1, and a blower (not shown) is provided in the middle of the atmosphere introducing pipe 15, so that the atmosphere can be introduced into the pressurizing pot 1 in a timely manner. It's becoming like that. Furthermore, a sterilization filter 16 is provided at the outer end of the air introduction pipe 15.

Further, a connector 17 that can be airtightly connected to the internal pressure detection section of the endoscope 4 is provided inside the pressurizer 1, and a pressure-resistant tube 18 is connected to the connector 17. . Furthermore, this tube 18 is led out to the outside of the pressurizing pot 1 and is connected to a pressure measuring device 19, which will be described later. The internal pressure of the endoscope 4 is transmitted to the pressure measuring device 19 through its pressure detection section, connector 17 and tube 18.

As shown in FIG.
0, a reference pressure signal generator 21 that generates a reference pressure signal based on atmospheric pressure, a comparator 22 that compares both signals, and a meter that displays the comparison value compared by this comparator 22. It is composed of a display device 23. Further, the display device 23 is connected to an alarm device 24 consisting of a flashing lamp, a buzzer, and the like. At the same time as the abnormal value is displayed on the display 23, the alarm device 24 is activated to notify the user of the abnormal situation.

The endoscope 4 as an object to be sterilized also includes an operating section 26, a flexible section 27, a curved section 2, and a flexible section 27, as shown in FIG.
8, a distal end portion 29, an eyepiece portion 30, a light guide cable 31, and a connector 32. The insides of these portions communicate with each other, and the entire structure is airtight. The connector 32 is provided with a connection port 33 that communicates with the inside thereof and constitutes a pressure detection section of the endoscope 4. The above-mentioned connector 17 can be connected to this connection port 33 in an airtight manner. Further, as a means for connecting the connector 17 to the connection port 33, a screwing means is used. Note that the connection port 33 is normally closed by attaching a cap (not shown).

Next, the operation of the high-pressure steam sterilizer will be explained.

First, open the door 2, place the endoscope 4 as an object to be sterilized on the shelf 3 inside the pressurized pot 1, and connect the connector 17 to the connection port 33 of the endoscope 4 in an airtight manner. do. Then, the door 2 is closed to seal the inside of the pressurized pot 1. Next, when an operating switch (not shown) is turned on, the control device 12 starts operating and the control valve 8 is opened, and the supply source 7 also starts operating, and a supply of, for example, 121
A sterilization process is carried out by supplying 1 Kg/cm ² of saturated steam at a temperature of 1 Kg/cm 2 . After this sterilization operation has been carried out for a certain period of time, the supply operation of the supply source 7 is stopped by a signal output from the control device 12, and the control valve 8 is closed to stop the supply of saturated steam. At the same time, the exhaust valve 13 is opened in response to a signal from the control device 12, and at the same time, a blower (not shown) provided in the exhaust pipe 14 is activated, and the pressurized pot is discharged through the exhaust pipe 14.
Exhaust the saturated steam inside. Further, in conjunction with this evacuation operation, a blower (not shown) provided in the atmosphere introduction pipe 15 operates to introduce outside air into the pressurizing pot 1, so that the evacuation operation is quickly performed.

On the other hand, if an abnormality occurs in the airtight structure of the endoscope 4 (for example, a crack occurs in the outer skin of the curved part 28) during the sterilization process, the pressure inside the endoscope 4 will fluctuate, and this will cause Connection port 33
The signal is detected by the test object internal pressure measuring device 20 of the pressure measuring device 19 through the connector 17 and tube 18 connected to the , and is compared with the signal from the reference pressure signal generator 21 in the comparator 22 and displayed. Vessel 2
The abnormal value is displayed in 3 and the alarm device 2
4 is activated and notifies you of an abnormal situation.

Therefore, we manually operated the high-pressure steam sterilizer to immediately stop the sterilization operation, opened the exhaust valve 13, and also opened the exhaust pipe 14 and the atmosphere inlet pipe 1.
While operating the blowers (not shown) installed in each of the pressurized pots 1 and 5 to introduce outside air into the pressurized pot 1,
Exhaust the steam inside to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large amount of steam from entering the endoscope 4 and damaging interior components, such as the bending device and the image guide, to the point where they become unusable.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a pressure sensor 4 is installed in a connector 32 of a sealed endoscope 4 at a portion communicating with the inside of the endoscope 4.
0 is enclosed, and one lead wire 41 of this pressure sensor 40 is led out through the base 42 and connected to the contact 43, and the lead wire 41
is attached to the cap 42 via an insulator 44. Further, the other lead wire 45 is directly connected to the base 42. Furthermore, a receiver 47 attached to the tip of a connecting cable 46 having a built-in conductive wire is screwed onto the base 42 so that it can be detachably connected. A spring-shaped contact 48 that contacts the contact 43 and is electrically connected to one of the conductive wires is attached to the receiver 47 via an insulator 49. The other conductive wire of the connection cable 46 is connected to the base 42 through the base 47 itself.
It is designed to conduct. Further, the connecting cable 46 is connected to the pressure measuring device 19, and receives a signal from the pressure sensor 40 obtained through the connecting cable 46, detects the pressure inside the endoscope 4, and operates in the same manner as described above. I'm starting to do that.

In this embodiment, the inside of the endoscope 4 is completely airtight, so that the inside can be set to either positive pressure or negative pressure. In this case, the reference pressure signal generator 21 is set to the same level as the internal pressure of the endoscope 4.

As explained above, in the high-pressure steam sterilizer of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the airtightness of the object to be sterilized during the sterilization process, the sterilization operation can be immediately stopped in order to notify this abnormal situation. It is possible to prevent the product from being damaged to the point where it becomes unusable due to the intrusion of steam.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a high-pressure steam sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a pressure measuring device according to the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is an overall diagram of an endoscope according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a connector portion of an endoscope according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a connector portion of an endoscope according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Pressure pot, 4... Endoscope, 5... Supply system, 12... Control device, 19... Pressure measuring device,
23...Display device, 24...Alarm device, 33...Connection port, 40...Pressure sensor, 46...Connection cable.

Claims (1)

[Claims of Claims] 1. A pressurized vessel that houses objects to be sterilized with the inside and outside airtight, a supply system that supplies a predetermined amount of saturated steam into the pressurized vessel, and control of the supply operation of this supply system. a pressure measuring device that measures the internal pressure of the object to be sterilized contained in the pressurizing vessel; and a pressure measuring device that indicates an abnormal situation when the measured value of the pressure measuring device shows an abnormal value. A high-pressure steam sterilizer characterized by comprising a display device. 2. The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm device that issues an alarm when the measured value of the pressure measuring device shows an abnormal value. 3. The pressure measuring device is provided on the object to be sterilized housed in the pressurized pot, and connects a tube to the connection port communicating with the inside thereof, and measures the internal pressure of the object to be sterilized obtained through this tube. The high-pressure steam sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4 The above pressure measuring device is equipped with at least a pressure sensor inside the object to be sterilized housed in a pressurizing pot, a terminal of this pressure sensor is provided outside the object to be sterilized, and a connecting cable is connected to this terminal. The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal pressure of the object to be sterilized is measured based on the signal.