JPS6340536B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates primarily to an air and water supply device for an endoscope that supplies water and air to clean the outer surface of an observation window.

Generally, when an endoscope is introduced into a body cavity, the observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion section becomes contaminated with dirt and the like from within the body cavity, thereby hindering normal observation. Therefore, a nozzle directed toward the observation window is provided near the observation window, and cleaning water is sprayed onto the observation window through this nozzle to clean it. However, if cleaning water is simply sprayed onto the observation window, water droplets remain on the surface of the observation window after cleaning, which impedes normal observation. For this reason, the above-mentioned nozzle is used to supply air after supplying water to blow away the water droplets. However, since the same nozzle is used to continue supplying air after supplying water, moisture remaining inside the nozzle or in the supply path connected to the nozzle may blow out for a while during the initial stage of supplying air and adhere to the observation window. . In other words, when switching from air supply to water supply, the water drains poorly, and the air supply time has to be considerably longer.

For this reason, a nozzle for air supply and a nozzle for water supply are provided separately, and the air supply pipe and water supply pipe are connected to each nozzle completely separately and independently, and air and water are supplied separately. There has been provided a device which solves the above-mentioned problem and reduces the time required for draining water.

However, in this type of device, when the tip of the insertion portion is immersed in a lake of gastric juice, for example, the gastric juice enters into each conduit through each nozzle and contaminates each conduit. For this reason, each pipe must be cleaned, but the air supply pipe in particular cannot be cleaned simply by supplying air. Therefore, it is necessary to pass the cleaning liquid through the distal end side, which is particularly heavily contaminated.

Furthermore, when performing endoscopic examinations of the upper gastrointestinal tract, it is common to perform more than ten examinations in the morning, and cleaning must be done within a short period of time between patients. However, it is necessary to pass a cleaning liquid through the air supply pipe for each case, which is very time-consuming, and there is a strong desire to provide a simple means that can quickly and reliably clean the air.

On the other hand, in the above method, the observation window is cleaned from the water nozzle, in other words, water is sent only from one direction, so the cleaning area is relatively narrow and limited. Only the center of the observation window is cleaned, but the periphery is clean. What often happened was that I couldn't see.

The present invention has been made focusing on the above circumstances,
The purpose of this is to quickly and easily clean the tip side, which is particularly contaminated, in systems where the water supply system and air supply system are installed separately.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air and water supply device for an endoscope that can also improve the cleaning ability of an observation window.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1 in the figure is an operating section of an endoscope 2 in this embodiment, and an insertion section 3 is connected to this operating section 1. An observation window 4 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 3, and an objective lens 5 is provided inside the observation window 4.
The distal end surfaces of the image guides 6 are opposed to each other via. The image guide 6 is connected to the insertion section 3 and the operation section 1.
It is connected to the eyepiece section 7 of the operation section 1 through the inside.

Furthermore, each observation window 4 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 3.
An air supply nozzle 8 and a water supply nozzle 9 are provided facing toward. Further, the air supply nozzle 8 and the water supply nozzle 9 are installed at positions facing each other with the observation window 4 in between. An air supply pipe line 10 is connected to the air supply nozzle 8, and a water supply pipe line 11 is connected to the water supply nozzle 9. The air supply pipe line 10 and the water supply pipe line 11 are inserted across the insertion section 3 and the operating section 1, and their proximal ends are led out to the outside through a cable (not shown) or the like. The air supply pipe line 10 is connected to an air supply pump 12, and the water supply pipe line 11 is connected to a water supply tank 13.
connected to. Note that the base end side of the water supply pipe 11 is immersed in the wash water 14 in the water supply tank 13. Further, the water tank 13 is connected to the discharge side of the air pump 12 and is configured to receive pressure from the air pump 12 and pressurize the cleaning water 14 so that the cleaning water 14 can be sent to the water pipeline 11. It's getting old.

In addition, the operation unit 1 includes an air supply pipe line 10 and a water supply pipe line 1.
A switching valve 15 is provided in the middle of the valve 1 to perform a switching operation between air supply and water supply. The switching valve 15 has a hollow piston 17 slidably inserted into a bottomed cylinder 16, and the piston 17 is supported by a coil spring 18 wound around its protruding outer end. It is biased to protrude outward. The piston 17 is waiting at a position where the outer end of the inner insertion portion 19 abuts the locking edge 20 of the cylinder 16. In this standby state, a certain space 21 is left at the bottom of the cylinder 16, and this space 21 communicates with the outside through a leak hole 22 formed from a hollow hole in the piston 17.

Further, a communication passage 23 consisting of an annular groove is formed on the circumferential surface of the inner insertion portion 19 of the piston 17, and a closing circumferential surface 24 is formed on the inner end side of the communication passage 23. The inflow side tip of the air supply pipe 10 is connected to the bottom wall of the cylinder 16, and the outflow side proximal end of the air supply pipe 10 is connected to the side wall thereof so as to communicate with the space 21 at the bottom of the cylinder 16. When the piston 17 is in a standby state, the cylinder 16 is closed on both the inlet and outlet sides of the air supply pipe line 10.
However, when the piston 17 is pushed in, it is cut off by its closing peripheral surface 24. Further, the inflow side tip of the water supply pipe 11 is connected to face the circumferential surface of the piston 17 in the standby state, and is normally closed. The base end of the water supply pipe 11 on the outflow side is connected to the side wall of the cylinder 16, facing the communication path 23 of the piston 17 in the standby state. That is, in a normal standby state, the inflow side and the outflow side of the water supply pipe 11 are blocked by the closing circumferential surface 24 of the piston 17, and
When the piston 17 is pushed in, communication is established through the communication passage 23.

Further, the operating portion 1 is provided with a cap 25 that communicates with both the air supply pipe line 10 and the water supply pipe line 11 on the distal side of the switching valve 15. That is, the cap 25 communicates with the air supply pipe 10 and the water supply pipe 11 through two branched pipes 26 and 27, respectively, and a flow toward the cap 25 is provided in the middle of each pipe 26 and 27. Check valves 28 and 29 are inserted for blocking. Furthermore, the connecting end of the pipe line 26 and the switching valve 1
A check valve 30 is inserted in the middle of the air supply line 10 between the air supply line 5 and the air supply line 10 to block the flow toward the switching valve 15 side. Therefore, from the air supply pipe line 10 side to the base 2
5 is blocked, and backflow from the air supply nozzle 8 side to the switching valve 15 is also blocked. The cap 25 has a taper for a syringe, for example, as defined by the Japanese Industrial Standards, and is designed such that the connecting end 32a of a syringe 31 having a capacity of, for example, 50 c.c. can be fitted into it. It's summery. The syringe 31 is made up of a cylinder 32 and a piston 33, similar to a medical syringe, and is designed to be able to inject cleaning fluid and air from the mouthpiece 25.

Next, the operation of the air and water supply device will be explained.

When using the endoscope 2, the air supply pump 12 connected to the air supply pipe line 10 is constantly operated, and the air supply pipe line 10
Continue supplying air. However, when the piston 17 of the switching valve 15 is in a standby state, it is discharged to the outside through the leak hole 22, so that it is not sent to the tip side. Further, the water supply pipe 11 is blocked by a closing circumferential surface 24 of the piston 17. Therefore,
In this standby state, neither air nor water is supplied.

When air is supplied, the leak hole 22 of the piston 17 is blocked with a finger to block the release of air, and the air is sent to the tip side of the air supply conduit 10, and the air is supplied from the air supply nozzle 8 into the body cavity. can do.
Note that at this time, due to the action of the check valve 28, the base 25
It doesn't flow to the side.

When water is to be supplied, the piston 17 is pushed in while blocking the leak hole 22 with a finger, and the air supply pipe 10 is blocked by the closing surface 24.
The communication path 23 opens the water supply pipe 11. As the air supply pipe line 10 is cut off, the water supply tank 1
3 is pressurized. Then, water is supplied from the water supply tank 13 through the water supply pipe 11 to the water supply nozzle 9,
Washing water 14 can be sprayed onto the observation window 4 from the water supply nozzle 9. The observation window 4 can be cleaned by carrying out normal water supply in this manner. Further, water droplets remaining on the surface of the observation window 4 after this cleaning are supplied by returning the piston 17 to the above-mentioned air supply state while blocking the leak hole 22 with a finger, and air is supplied from the air supply nozzle 8 to the observation window 4. Spray it on and blow it away.

Note that the observation window 4 is heavily contaminated with dirt and grime, and cannot be completely removed by the above-mentioned normal air and water supply operations. Further, there are times when it is desired to remove dirt from a wide area of the observation window 4. In such a case, insert the syringe 31 into which cleaning water has been drawn into the nozzle 25.
, and operate the syringe 31 to feed cleaning water into the air supply line 10 and the water supply line 11 under strong pressure. As a result, the cleaning water flows through the air supply pipe 10 and the water supply pipe 11 toward the air supply nozzle 8 and the water supply nozzle 9, and water is supplied under strong pressure from both nozzles 8 and 9 toward the observation window 4 for observation. The window 4 is strongly cleaned, and the inside of each conduit 10, 11 and the inside of each nozzle 8, 9 is also cleaned. Also, after this cleaning, the syringe 31
Remove the holder, this time suck in air, and then insert the clasp 25 again.
and inject air into each pipe line 10, 1.
1. Blow off the remaining water in each nozzle 8, 9 and each check valve 28, 29. Therefore, it will not interfere with subsequent tests.

On the other hand, by performing powerful cleaning using the syringe 31 when cleaning the endoscope 2 after the examination, the inside of each conduit 10, 11 and each nozzle 8, 9 can be quickly and efficiently cleaned. Can be cleaned reliably.
In particular, if the tip of the insertion section 3 is immersed in gastric juice or filth, it will penetrate not only into the nozzles 8 and 9 but also into the tips of the conduits 10 and 11, contaminating them. Of course, since each of the conduits 10 and 11 is long, even the upstream side near the mouthpiece 25 will not be contaminated.) However, even in such a case, powerful and quick cleaning can be performed. Incidentally, since cleaning water cannot flow into the air supply pipe 10 by operating the switching valve 15, it is difficult to remove dirt reliably, but this method allows the dirt to be removed easily and quickly.

This cleaning can be easily performed between inspections.

For added safety, it is sanitary to sequentially inject cleansing water such as tap water, cleansing water such as inverted soap water, cleansing water such as pure water, and finally inject air.

Further, the means for injecting into the nozzle 25 is not limited to the use of the injector 31, but may be performed by connecting other supply means. Also, the base 25
The syringe 31 may not be connected directly to the syringe 31, but may be connected via a flexible tube or the like.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the base 40. That is, this mouthpiece 40 has a piston 42 inserted into a mouthpiece body 41 constituting a cylinder, and this piston 42 is provided with a passage hole 43 that penetrates inside and out, and a syringe is inserted into the outer end of the passage hole 43. A tapered portion 44 is formed to connect 31. moreover,
A pair of blocking holes 45, 4 are provided in the inner bottom wall of the cap body 42.
A pipe line 2 is formed in the blockage holes 45 and 46, and the pipe line 2 is connected to the air pipe line 10 and the water pipe line 11, respectively.
6 and 27 are connected. Each blockage hole 45,
Protruding closing portions 47 and 48 are provided on the piston 42 opposite to the piston 46 . When the piston 42 is pushed in, each of the blocking portions 47 and 48 fits tightly into each of the blocking holes 45 and 46, and the conduit 2
6, 27 are closed, and when the piston 42 is pulled out, it comes off from the closing holes 45, 46 and communicates with the passage hole 43 of the piston 42.

Therefore, when supplying water and air using the cap 40, the piston 42 is pulled as shown in FIG.
8 is removed. In other words, the communication hole 43 is placed in communication with each of the pipes 26 and 27. Then, by connecting the syringe 31 to the passage hole 43, air and water can be supplied in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. Normally, the piston 42 is pushed in and its closing portions 47, 48 are fitted into the closing holes 45, 46 to close the closing holes 45, 46. In other words, the conduits 26 and 27 are kept closed.

As explained above, the present invention provides a water supply nozzle and an air supply nozzle separately, configures the cleaning pipe and the air supply pipe separately and independently, and furthermore, the air supply pipe and the water supply pipe on the tip side of the switching valve. A cleaning cap is provided that communicates with both, and cleaning water and air can be fed through the cleaning cap.

Therefore, even if the dirt is particularly heavy, it can be cleaned powerfully. For example, even if the observation window does not come off with normal water supply, it can be easily and quickly washed over a wide area by spraying cleaning water under strong pressure from both nozzles. Also,
Since both the water supply pipe side and the air supply pipe side are cleaned at the same time, the time required for cleaning can be greatly shortened, and there is no need to install a cap on each pipe side, making the device smaller and lighter. be able to. In addition, since cleaning water is supplied to each pipe line at the same time, there is no need to connect syringes or the like individually, resulting in good operability. Further, by performing the above-mentioned cleaning operation for each inspection, clogging of each nozzle, especially the air supply nozzle side, can be prevented, and good operating conditions can be maintained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the entire endoscope showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the base portion showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Operation section, 2... Endoscope, 3... Insertion section,
4...Observation window, 8...Air supply nozzle, 9...Water supply nozzle, 10...Air supply pipeline, 11...Water supply pipeline, 15...Switching valve, 31...Injector, 40...
...cap.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 An air supply nozzle and a water supply nozzle are provided, each facing the observation window provided at the tip of the insertion section and independent from each other, and the air supply nozzle is connected to an air supply pipe line, and the water supply nozzle is connected to a water supply pipe line, respectively. A switching valve is provided in the middle of the air supply pipe and water supply pipe, which are connected independently, and switches between air and water supply. An air and water supply device for an endoscope, characterized by being provided with a mouthpiece.