JPS6320134B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope capable of discharging residual liquid in a liquid feeding path.

Generally, the insertion section of an endoscope is provided with an air supply channel and a liquid supply channel that open at the distal end, and the operation section is equipped with air and liquid supply channels that selectively supply air or liquid to these air supply channels and liquid supply channels. A switching mechanism is provided. An air pump and a liquid tank are connected to this endoscope, and air and liquid are supplied from the air pump and the liquid tank, and these are switched by the air/liquid feeding switching mechanism and sent through the air supply path. It is configured to eject air from the distal end of the insertion portion and to eject liquid from the distal end of the insertion portion via the liquid feeding path.

However, when the ejection of the liquid is finished, there is a problem in that the liquid remains in the liquid feeding path and the pipe line between the liquid tank and the air/liquid feeding switching mechanism. If such residual liquid were to flow out during the next inspection, it would be extremely unsanitary, and this residual liquid would cause problems such as corrosion of various parts. In order to eliminate such problems, air is selectively supplied into the liquid delivery pipes such as liquid delivery lines, and the remaining liquid in these pipes is pushed out and removed by the air. is being developed. However, such a device requires a complicated switching valve device between the air pump and the liquid tank, resulting in problems such as a complicated structure and troublesome operation.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to push out and remove the liquid remaining in the liquid delivery pipe line with air, and to have a simple structure and easy operation. The goal is to obtain an endoscope.

The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the figure, 1 is an endoscope, 2 is its insertion part,
3 is an operation section. A first air passage 4 and a first liquid passage 5 are provided inside the insertion section 2, and these air passage 4 and liquid passage 5 merge at the distal end of the insertion section 2. It communicates with a nozzle 6 provided in the. Furthermore, an air/liquid feeding switching mechanism 7 is provided within the operating section 1 . The air supply passage 4 and the liquid supply passage 5 are connected to this air and liquid supply switching mechanism 7, and this air and liquid supply switching mechanism 7 has a second
An air supply path 8 and a second liquid supply path 9 are connected to each other. Further, 10 is an air pump, and an air pipe 1
1 to the second air supply path 8. Further, 12 is a liquid tank, and this liquid tank 12
is connected to the second liquid feeding path 9 via a liquid feeding pipe 13. Further, the air supply pipe 11 is branch-connected to this liquid tank 12, and the air pressure fed from the air pump 10 is introduced into this liquid tank 12, and the liquid 14 in the liquid tank 12 is pumped by this pressure. It is configured to The supplied air and liquid 14 are switched and controlled by the air/liquid switching mechanism 7, and are passed through the first air passage 4 or the first liquid passage 5 to the nozzle at the tip of the insertion section 2. 6
It is configured to erupt from.

Next, the configuration of the air/liquid feeding switching mechanism 7 will be explained. Reference numeral 15 designates the cylinder, and a piston 16 is slidably inserted into the cylinder 15. A first air supply passage 4 and a second air supply passage 8 are opened at the lower inner surface of the cylinder 15, and the second air supply passage 8 is deviated upward, that is, in the direction in which the piston 16 is pulled out. It is well located. Also,
A first liquid feeding path 5 and a second liquid feeding path 9 are open on the inner surface of the intermediate portion of the cylinder 15, and the second liquid feeding path 9 is deviated upward, that is, in the direction in which the piston 16 is pulled out. positioned.

Further, an annular communication groove 17 is formed on the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the piston 16, and the upper edge of this communication groove 17 is formed to be inclined with respect to the axial direction of the piston 16. On the one hand, the rim is located high above, and on the other hand, 180° opposite, it is low. Further, the piston 16 is urged upward by a spring 18. Further, a stopper 19 is provided protruding from the upper outer periphery of the piston 16, and a notch 20 is formed on the upper surface of the cylinder 15 through which the stopper 19 can pass.
Therefore, the stopper 19 is configured to stop against the upper surface of the cylinder 15.

Further, an air discharge hole 21 is formed in the center of the piston 16 along its central axis. When the finger is released from the piston 16, the piston 16 is moved upward by the biasing force of the spring 18, and the second air passage 8 and the first air passage 4 are communicated with each other. Communication between the liquid feeding path 9 and the first liquid feeding path 5 is cut off, and this piston 16
When the stopper 19 is pressed down until it touches the top surface of the cylinder 15, the second air passage 8 and the first air passage 4 are opened.
The communication with the second liquid feeding path 9 and the first
It is configured to communicate with the liquid feeding path 5 through the communication groove 17. Further, when this piston 16 is rotated to correspond to the notch 20 of the cylinder 15 and further pushed in, the above-mentioned communication groove 17
The second air supply passage 8 and the first liquid supply passage 5 or the second air supply passage 8 and the second liquid supply passage 9 are configured to communicate with each other via.

Further, a switching valve mechanism 22 is provided between the air supply pipe 11 and the liquid tank 12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this switching valve mechanism 22 has a pressure relief port 23 that is open to the atmosphere in the middle of the branched air pipe 11, and the inner end surface of this pressure relief port 23 is oriented obliquely upward. There is. Further, a valve seat 24 which also serves as a stopper is attached near and above the pressure relief port 23. A valve body 25 is pivotally attached to the lower surface of the valve seat 24 and rotates from below to sit on the valve seat 24. This valve body 25 is moved by a spring 26 in the direction in which it is seated on the valve seat 24. is energized by The valve element 25 opens downward in response to pressure from above, that is, from the air pipe 11 side, allowing flow from the air pipe 11 to the liquid tank 12, and seats on the pressure relief port 23 to block it. It is configured as follows. Conversely, when pressure is applied from the liquid tank 12 side, this valve body 25 seats on the valve seat 24 from below and blocks the flow from the liquid tank 12 toward the air pipe 11. Pressure relief port 2 away from pressure relief port 23
3 is configured to be open.

In one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, when the piston 16 is released, the second air supply path 8 and the first air supply path 4 communicate with each other as in the mode shown in FIG. Since the air supplied from the second air supply path 8 is released from the air discharge hole 21, it is not sent to the first air supply path 4. Then, when the air release hole 21 is closed with a finger, air is no longer released from the air release hole 21 and is sent to the first air supply path 4.

Next, when this piston 16 is pushed down, communication between the second air supply path 8 and the first air supply path 4 is cut off as in the mode shown in FIG.
and the first liquid feeding path 5 are communicated with each other via the communication groove 17, and the liquid is sent to the first liquid feeding path 5. When the liquid feeding is completed, the piston 16 is rotated so that the stopper 19 of the piston 16 corresponds to the notch 20 of the cylinder 15, and the piston 16 is further pushed in. Then, as in the mode shown in FIG. 7, the second air supply passage 8 and the first liquid supply passage 5 are communicated via the communication groove 17, and air is supplied into the first liquid supply passage 5. The liquid remaining in the liquid sending path 5 is pushed out and removed. In this case, the upper edge of the communication groove 17 is inclined, so that if the higher position of the upper edge faces the first liquid feeding path 5, the lower position of the opposite upper edge faces the second liquid feeding path 9. This is blocked by opposing.

Next, the piston 16 is rotated 180 degrees so that the high part of the upper edge of the communication groove 17 faces the second liquid feeding path 9, thereby communicating the second air feeding path 8 and the second liquid feeding path 9. .

Therefore, the air flows back into the second liquid feeding path 9, pushing out the liquid remaining in the liquid feeding pipe 13 and returning it to the liquid tank 12. In this case, air is pushed out from inside the liquid tank 12, and the pressure of this pushed out air causes the valve body 25 of the switching valve mechanism 22 to sit on the valve seat 24, causing the air to flow from the liquid tank 12 to the air supply pipe 11. Backflow is prevented and the pressure relief port 23 opens to relieve the pressure inside the liquid tank 12.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the structure of the air/liquid feeding switching mechanism is not necessarily limited to the one described above, and any structure may be used as long as it has a similar effect.

Furthermore, a switching valve mechanism or the like between the air pipe and the liquid tank does not necessarily need to be provided.

As mentioned above, the present invention provides the second
The air supply route and the first air supply route and the second liquid supply route and the first liquid supply route are switched and communicated with each other, and when the liquid supply is finished, the second air supply route and the first liquid supply route are connected. An air/liquid feeding switching mechanism capable of communicating the second liquid feeding paths is provided in the operating section of the endoscope. Therefore, it goes without saying that the air from the air pump connected to the second air supply path can be delivered to the body cavity etc. through the first air supply route, and also the air from the air pump connected to the second air supply route can be delivered to the body cavity etc. At the end of the liquid transfer through the liquid path, the first
By force-feeding the air from the air pump not only into the liquid feeding path but also into the second liquid feeding path or into the liquid feeding pipe, the liquid remaining in these pipes can be reliably removed. In addition, this endoscope has a simple structure because the air/liquid switching mechanism itself has the liquid removal function described above, and the air/liquid switching mechanism is easy to operate. The effect is great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air/liquid supply switching mechanism, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a partially cut away view, and FIG. 4
The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the switching valve mechanism, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the same part cut away, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the operation of the air/liquid feeding switching mechanism. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Endoscope, 4... First air supply path, 5... First liquid supply path, 7... Air/liquid feeding switching mechanism, 8... Second air supply path, 9... Second liquid feeding path, 10...Air pump, 11...Air pipe, 12...Liquid tank, 1
5... Cylinder, 16... Piston, 17... Communication groove, 19... Stopper, 20... Notch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first air supply passage and a first liquid supply passage formed in the insertion section and opening at the distal end of the insertion section, and a second supply passage formed in the operation section and connected to the air pump. In an endoscope having an air supply route and a second liquid supply route connected to a liquid tank, the operation unit has a mode in which only the first air supply route and the second air supply route are communicated; A mode in which only the first liquid feeding path and the second liquid feeding path communicate with each other, a mode in which only the first liquid feeding path and the second air feeding path communicate with each other, and a mode in which only the first liquid feeding path and the second air feeding path communicate with each other; 1. An endoscope comprising an air/liquid feeding switching mechanism capable of selectively switching between a mode in which only the second air passage is communicated and a mode in which only the second air passage is communicated.