JPS6323050Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope air channel cleaning device that can clean the air channel by sending water.

An endoscope generally consists of a tip, an insertion tube, an operating section, and an eyepiece.The tip has an observation window, an objective lens, and an opening for air and water supply, and the insertion tube has an optical fiber. Contains bundles and channels for air and water supply.

When observing the inside of a body cavity with an endoscope, the objective lens forms an image of the examined area on the end surface of the optical fiber bundle through the observation window, and the optical fiber bundle transmits the image to the eyepiece. The examiner observes the image through an eyepiece provided in the eyepiece. At that time, if the organ where the examined part is located is small and the examined part and the observation window are too close to each other, which hinders observation, air is sent to the distal end using an air supply channel. The air is blown into the organ from the air supply opening provided at the tip, expanding the inside of the organ, and securing a distance necessary for observation between the subject part and the observation window.

In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the air supply channel and the air supply opening have the function of cleaning the observation window by removing mucus, dirt, etc. adhering to the observation window with the air jetted from the air supply opening. . In addition, if the observation window cannot be completely cleaned by the air supply, water can be supplied to the insertion tube section and the distal end using the water channel and water supply opening, which are attached to the insertion tube section and the air supply opening. The observation window is cleaned by squirting it onto the observation window.

As described above, the air supply opening needs to be provided to protrude from the front end surface of the tip in order to blow air onto the observation window. Therefore, when the distal end is inserted, the air supply opening protruding from the distal end scrapes the mucous membrane inside the body cavity, and the air supply opening may be blocked by the scraped mucous membrane. In addition, when observing an organ inflated by the air supply mentioned above, the pressure inside the body cavity increases due to the expansion, and when the air supply is stopped, mucus in the body cavity such as gastric juice flows into the air supply channel. It may flow back into the body. Furthermore, even if the pressure inside the body cavity is the same as atmospheric pressure, the mucus may infiltrate into the air delivery channel due to capillary action. After the test is completed, it is possible to drain some of the mucus that has entered in this way from the air supply opening, but
It is not possible to completely drain the mucus adhering to the inner wall of the air supply channel, and if the endoscope is hung on a hanger, the remaining mucus will gradually accumulate in the air supply opening. It may solidify and block the air supply opening.

In addition, endoscopes used for patients with infectious diseases such as HB antigen-positive patients or syphilis patients are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria along with the mucus, and the same endoscope is used for other subjects without completely cleaning and removing the pathogenic bacteria. Its use is dangerous because the pathogen may infect other patients.

Furthermore, when disinfecting the endoscope after the examination, if the disinfectant that adheres to the air channel is not completely removed, the remaining disinfectant will solidify at the air supply opening and block the opening. there is a possibility.

In order to solve these problems, attempts have been made to purify the inside of the air channel by sending a cleaning liquid into the air channel. One example is a method in which a branch pipe is provided that communicates with the water channel and the air channel at the same time, and cleaning liquid is forced into the common branch pipe to clean both the water and air channels at the same time. However, in such a cleaning method, if one channel is clogged with contamination, all the cleaning fluid will flow to the other channel, and even if it is not clogged, the contamination will cause the inside of the pipe to become clogged. If there is a difference in the flow path resistance of
This is undesirable because most of the cleaning liquid flows into channels with low flow resistance, and the channels with high flow resistance are not sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, in this invention, the air supply channel is equipped with its own independent branch pipe, a backflow prevention member is installed in this branch pipe, and a cleaning device separate from the water supply channel is installed to ensure reliable operation. It was intended to perform a cleaning function.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the distal end of the endoscope, 2 is the insertion tube section inserted into the body cavity, 3 is the operation section for bending the insertion tube section, etc., and 4 is the eyepiece section for observing the subject. . When observing the inside of a body cavity with an endoscope, an image of the subject to be examined is captured using an observation window 5 (a portion of which is omitted from the illustration) provided at the distal end 1 and an objective lens 6.
An image is formed on the end face of the optical fiber bundle 7 stored in the optical fiber bundle 7, and the image is transmitted to the eyepiece section 4 through the optical fiber bundle 7, and is transmitted through an eyepiece lens (not shown) provided in the eyepiece section 4. Observe the image. In addition, for air and water supply, the distal end 1 is provided with an air supply opening 8 and a water supply opening 9 that open toward the observation window 5, the operating section 3 is provided with an actuating section A, and the insertion tube section 2 is provided with an operating section A. houses an air channel 10 and a water channel 11 that communicate the openings 8 and 9 with the operating section A, and is equipped with a pump 12 and a closed tank 13 separate from the endoscope, and is connected to the tank 13 and the operating section. The section A is communicated with the air supply tube 14 and the water supply tube 15. The tank 13 stores water with an air layer always left at the top. The ends of the air supply pipe 16 and the air supply tube 14 from the pump 12 are connected to the tank 1.
The end of the water supply tube 15 is opened into the water of the tank 13. Actuating part A
is a type of piston valve consisting of a cylinder 17 and a piston 18, and there are two states in which the piston 18 is pushed upward in the figure by the biasing force of a spring 19, and a state in which the piston 18 is pushed up against the biasing force of the spring 19. The communication between the channel and tube connected to the cylinder 17 is changed depending on the depressed state. Specifically, a through hole 18a is bored in the piston 18 in its axial direction, and a wide communication groove 20 is formed on the outer periphery.
to be drilled. The cylinder 17 has the piston 1
8 is pushed up, the air supply channel 10 is connected to a position corresponding to the upper part of the space formed by the bottom surface of the piston 18 and the cylinder 17, and the air supply tube 14 is connected to a position corresponding to the lower part of the space. The water supply channel 11 is connected to a position corresponding to the lower side of the communication groove 20, and the water supply tube 15 is connected to a position corresponding to the communication groove 20. An O-ring 18b is appropriately fitted into the piston 18 to improve airtightness. With the above configuration, when the piston 18 is pushed down, the air channel 10 and the air tube 14 are disconnected from each other by the piston 18, and the water channel 11 and the water tube 15 are disconnected from each other through the communication groove 20. to communicate.

As a cleaning device, first, a check valve 21 is provided as a backflow prevention member in the air supply channel 10, and the check valve 21 is installed as a backflow prevention member.
An independent cleaning pipe 22 dedicated to the air supply channel 10 is branched downstream of the air supply channel 10, that is, near the tip 1, and the cleaning pipe 22 is provided with a connecting fitting 23 and a check valve 24 as a backflow prevention member. In the check valve 21, a substantially spherical closing member 25 is biased by a spring 26, and for a flow to the left in the figure, the closing member 25 moves in accordance with the pressure applied to the closing member 25, thereby blocking the air. Allows flow, but spring 26 for rightward flow
The closing member 25 is pressed against the opening of the air supply channel 10 by the biasing force and the pressure applied to the closing member, thereby closing the opening and preventing flow of fluid flowing back. The connecting fitting 23 protrudes from the operating section 3 to the outside and has a shape that can be connected to a washing water injector such as a syringe. The check valve 24 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or plastic, and as shown in FIG. 2a, it has a pointed end 27 and two slopes 28, 28, which look like a cylinder cut out diagonally. are doing. Also, as can be seen from the cross section shown in Figure 2b,
The check valve 24 is hollow and has a notch 29 in its tip 27. In this check valve 24, when the fluid flows in the direction of the upper arrow in FIG.
opens and allows the fluid to pass through, but when the fluid flows in the opposite direction, the pressure of the fluid is lower than the slope 2.
8 and 28 and tightly closes the cut 29, thereby preventing passage of the fluid.

As the backflow prevention member of the present invention, it is possible to employ various types of check valves in addition to the check valve having the structure described above. Also, as a backflow prevention member,
The present invention can also be carried out by using the air supply channel closing position of the operating part A instead of the check valve 21, or by using a removable cap that closes the opening of the connecting fitting 23 instead of the check valve 24. It is possible. Furthermore, as the actuating part A, in addition to the above-mentioned piston valve type, a switching type can be considered, and as the connection fitting 23, in addition to connecting a syringe, there are also types for connecting a tube, etc. Conceivable.

According to the endoscope air channel cleaning device of the present invention, mucus and pathogenic bacteria that adhere to the air channel during endoscopy, or disinfectant that adheres due to post-examination disinfection can be easily removed. It is possible to wash and remove it. Therefore, situations such as blockage of the air supply opening due to solidification of the mucus or infection of other patients with remaining pathogenic bacteria do not occur.

In the cleaning device of the present invention, an independent cleaning pipe 22 is branched from the air supply channel 10, and the cleaning liquid is injected from this branch, so that the flow condition of the water supply channel is completely controlled. It is possible to always have an appropriate cleaning effect on the air tube without any consideration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2a is a perspective view showing an example of a check valve, and FIG. 2b is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the check valve. 8...Air supply opening, 9...Water supply opening, 10...Air supply channel, 11...Water supply channel, 12...
... Pump, 13 ... Tank, 14 ... Air supply tube, 15 ... Water supply tube, 21, 24 ... Check valve, 22 ... Washing pipe, 23 ... Connection fitting, A ...
Actuation part.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A backflow prevention member is provided in the air supply channel 10 of the endoscope, and an independent cleaning pipe dedicated to the air supply channel 10 from the air supply channel 10 downstream of the backflow prevention member is provided. 22 is branched, and the cleaning pipe 22 is provided with a backflow prevention member and a connecting fitting 23. (2) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the backflow prevention member provided in the independent branched cleaning pipe 22 dedicated to the air supply channel 10 is a check valve 24. Air channel cleaning device.