JPH0369528B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus equipped with an air supply device and a water supply device.

[Problems with the Prior Art] In general, endoscopes are equipped with an air supply device and a water supply device to facilitate photographing, for example, the internal cavity of a human body. After cleaning, the object may be drained using an air supply device for observation, or air may be supplied continuously after water supply to remove fogging from the objective lens of the endoscope. be.

Conventionally, in such an endoscope device,
As described in Japanese Patent No. 66232, an air supply control switch and a water supply control switch are provided separately. Therefore, the operator is required to operate these switches in order, which poses a problem of time-consuming operation and poor operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope apparatus in which an air supply operation is automatically performed following a water supply operation.

[Means for solving the problem] The above purpose is to drive an air supply means, a water supply means, and the water supply means, and after the water supply by the water supply means is finished, the air supply means is automatically operated for a predetermined period of time. This is achieved by an endoscope device equipped with a control means for driving.

An embodiment of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] Referring to FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The endoscope apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a suction device and a water supply device in addition to an air supply device. In the figure, a suction tube 4 and a flow tube 6 extend to the distal end portion 2 of the endoscope. As shown in the figure, the end of the suction tube 4 extends into the suction tank 7. At the opening of this suction tank 7, one end of a suction connecting pipe 8 is airtightly provided together with the suction pipe 4, and the other end is connected to a first suction port 11 of a suction pump 10. This suction pump 10 is further provided with a second suction port 12, and this second suction port 12 is
It is communicated with the outside air via an auxiliary connecting pipe 14.
A normally open flow control valve 15 is provided in the conduit of this auxiliary connecting pipe 14, and the opening and closing of this conduit can be controlled. The first and second suction ports 11 and 12 of the suction pump 10 are each provided with a valve, and are also provided with a discharge port 16.

The air supply pipe 6 has an air supply pipe 18 in the middle of the pipe line.
The water pipe 20 is branched into a water pipe 20 , and the water pipe 20 extends into a liquid transport tank 22 . A body of water such as physiological saline is stored in the liquid supply tank 22, and one end of a communication pipe 24 is airtightly attached to the opening of the tank 22 together with the water supply pipe 20. The air supply pipe 18 is connected to the first air supply port of the flow pump 30 via a normally closed flow control valve 26 that controls opening and closing of the pipe line and a connecting portion 28 to which the other end of the connecting pipe 28 is connected. It is connected to 32. That is,
The flow pump 30 functions as a water pump that pressurizes the inside of the water tank 22 when the normally closed flow control valve 26 is closed, and functions as an air pump when the normally closed flow control valve 26 is open. This flow pump 30 is further provided with a second air supply port 34 , and this air supply port 32 communicates with the outside air via an auxiliary connecting pipe 36 . A normally open flow control valve 38 is inserted into the connecting pipe 36 to control opening and closing of this pipe.

Each of the flow control valves 15, 26, 38 includes a solenoid 40, 42, 44, and each of these solenoids is connected to a drive signal generator 4 as shown in the figure.
6, and this drive signal generator 46 is connected to a suction switch 48, a water supply switch 50, and an air supply switch 52.

The suction and water supply switches 48 and 50 are, for example, commonly known push button type switches, and the air supply switch 52 is, for example, a first switch, a second switch, as shown in FIGS. 2A, B, and C. and third contact pieces 64, 66 and 68, none of which are in contact as shown in FIG. 2A in a normal state,
As shown in FIG. 2B, when the push button 70 is pushed to the first stroke position, the first and second contact pieces 64, 6
6 come into contact with each other, a first insufflation signal is generated, and the second pushbutton 70 is pressed as shown in FIG. 2C.
When pushed to the stroke position, the first, second and third contact pieces 64, 66, 68 are configured to come into contact with each other and a second air supply signal is generated. That is,
This air supply switch 52 selectively controls the first and second air supply switches.
It is configured to be able to generate an air supply signal.

The drive signal generator 46 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the suction switch 48 is connected to a trigger detection circuit 72 that detects the closing of the contact piece of this switch 48, and a time width generation circuit 74 that operates upon receiving a detection signal from this trigger detection circuit 72 detects this trigger. It is connected to the detection circuit 72. This time width generation circuit 74 includes a time setting circuit 76 that sets the time width to be given to this circuit 74. This time width setting circuit 7
6 is a circuit whose time constant can be variably set using, for example, a variable resistor 78. The time width generation circuit 7
4 is connected to a valve drive circuit 80 that energizes the solenoid 40 of the circulation control valve 15 for suction operation to close the normally open circulation control valve 15 as long as this circuit continues to generate the activation signal for a set time. has been done.

The first and second contact pieces 6 of the air supply switch 52
4 and 66 are connected to a trigger detection circuit 82 similarly to the suction switch 48, and this trigger detection circuit 82 is connected to a time width generation circuit 84.
The third contact piece 68 of the air supply switch 52 is connected to a time width setting circuit 86 included in the time width generating circuit 84 . This time width setting circuit 86 can set the time width to an arbitrary time _t1 using a variable resistor 88, and when the closing signal is supplied from the third contact piece 68, the set time can be changed to a circuit-specific value. The setting time is configured to switch to a specific setting time t ₂ which is usually longer than the setting time by the variable resistor 88 . The time range setting circuit 86 is connected to a drive circuit 90 that controls energization of the solenoid 42 of the normally closed flow control valve 26 and a valve drive circuit 92 that controls energization of the solenoid 44 of the normally open flow control valve 38. There is.

The water supply switch 50 is also connected to a trigger detection circuit 94 similar to the suction switch 48, and this trigger detection circuit 94 is connected to a time width generation circuit 100 having a time width setting circuit 98 including a variable resistor 96.
The time width detection circuit 100 is connected to the valve drive circuit 92 so as to supply its output.

This drive signal generator 46 includes a time width generation circuit 1 that includes a time width setting circuit 106 including a trigger detection circuit 102 and a variable resistor 104 as shown in the figure.
08 is further provided. These circuits are provided to complete water supply and perform air supply to remove fogging of the objective lens of the endoscope, and their trigger detection circuit 102 is connected to the time width generation circuit 100 for water supply. In addition, the time width generation circuit 106
are connected to valve drive circuits 90 and 92 similarly to the time width generation circuit 84 for air supply.

As described above, the device of this embodiment includes the air supply pipe 18, the flow pump 30, the normally open flow control valve 38, the normally closed flow control valve 26, and the solenoids 42 and 44 that open and close these valves. and solenoid 4
Valve drive circuits 90 and 92 that drive valves 2 and 44 constitute an air supply means for supplying gas to the flow pipe. The flow pump 30, the normally open flow control valve 38, the normally closed flow control valve 26, the solenoids 42, 44 that open and close these valves, and the valve drive circuits 90, 92 that drive the solenoids 42, 44.
The liquid feeding tank 22 and the water pipe 20 constitute a water feeding means. In addition, an air supply switch 52, a trigger detection circuit 82, a time width generation circuit 84, a time width setting circuit 86, and a variable resistor 88 supply a drive signal to the air supply means. constitutes a means. Furthermore, a water supply switch 50 is provided as a device for supplying a drive signal to the water supply means.
, a trigger detection circuit 94, a variable resistor 96, a time width setting circuit 98, and a time width generation circuit 100 constitute water supply signal supply means. and,
In addition to the air supply signal supply means, a second air supply signal supply means includes a trigger detection circuit 102, a variable resistor 104, a time width setting circuit 106, and a time width generation circuit 108.

The air supply, water supply, and suction device for an endoscope according to the present invention is constructed as described above and is operated as follows. First, in a normal state, that is, when air supply, water supply, and suction are not performed, the suction pump 10 and the flow pump 30 are activated by turning on the power switch (not shown) of the device. At this time, since the flow control valves 15 and 38 are both open, outside air only flows into both pumps 10 and 30, and no suction flow is generated in the suction pipe 4.
Air and water are not supplied to the flow pipe 6, and neither air nor water nor suction is performed.

Next, when the suction switch 48 is pressed, the suction trigger detection circuit 72 is activated and an activation signal is applied to the time width generation circuit 74. The time width generation circuit 74 thereby continues to supply the suction operation signal to the valve drive circuit 80 for a period of time preset by the variable resistor 78 of the time width setting circuit 76. As a result, the valve drive circuit 80 starts supplying power to the solenoid of the suction flow control valve 15 and closes the flow control valve 15. By closing this flow control valve 15, negative pressure is generated in the suction tank 7,
Fluid delivery and the like are sucked into the body fluid area within the body cavity through the suction tube 4 . When the time set by the time width setting circuit 76 has elapsed, the power supply to the solenoid 40 of the flow control valve 15 is stopped, and as a result, the flow control valve 15 is opened and the suction operation is completed. In water supply operation,
Closing the water supply switch 50 activates the trigger detection circuit 94, and the time width generation circuit 100 continues to supply the water supply activation signal to the valve drive circuit 92 for a preset time. As a result, power continues to be supplied to the solenoid 44, and the flow control valve 38 is maintained in the closed state. When the flow control valve 38 is closed, since the normally closed flow control valve 26 is closed, the connecting pipe 24 is
And the pressure inside the liquid sending tank 22 increases and the water area becomes
Physiological saline flows into the water supply pipe 20 and the flow pipe 6,
Supplied into body cavities. When the predetermined set time has elapsed, the time width generation circuit 100 stops generating the water supply signal, and as a result, the power supply from the valve drive circuit 92 to the solenoid 44 is stopped, the flow control valve 38 is opened, and the water supply is stopped. will be stopped.

Although the air supply operation is performed even after the water supply operation described above, first, a case based on the normal closing of the air supply switch 52 will be described. When the push button 70 of the air supply switch 52 is pressed to the first stroke position, the time width generation circuit 84 sets the air supply signal to the valve drive circuits 90 and 92 in response to the output of the trigger detection circuit 82. Continue feeding for time t ₁ . As a result, the flow control valve 26 is held open and the flow control valve 38 is held closed. Therefore, the external airflow is supplied from the flow pump 30 into the body cavity via the air supply pipe 18 and the flow pipe 6. Here, since the pressure within the connecting pipe 24 and the pressure within the water supply pipe 20 are substantially equal, simultaneous water supply is prevented. When the predetermined time _t1 has elapsed, the normally closed flow control valve 26 is closed and the normally open flow control valve 38 is opened, so that the air supply is stopped.

If the push button 70 is pushed to the second stroke position when the air supply switch 52 is closed, in addition to the contact between the first and second contact pieces 64 and 66, the third contact piece 68 As a result of being touched, the closing signal is applied to the time width setting circuit 86. Therefore, this circuit 86 selects a time width at a unique time t ₂ that is longer than the preset time t ₁ and continues to supply the air supply signal from the time width generation circuit 84 during time t ₂ . Become. That is, by changing the stroke position of the air supply switch 52, the air supply time can be changed.

In air supply that starts after water supply, the trigger detection circuit 102 is activated at the falling edge of the water supply signal that has been continuously supplied from the time width generation circuit 100, and during an arbitrarily determined air supply time after water supply, As a result of the time width generation circuit 108 continuing to supply the air supply signal to the valve drive circuits 90 and 92, air is supplied for a certain period of time.

An implementation example of an endoscope system incorporating the air supply, water supply, and suction devices as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The endoscope system shown in FIG.
10, a light source device 112,
In the illustrated example, a suction device 114 consisting of a suction pump 10 and a flow control valve 15 and a suction tank 7 are shown.
The suction device 118 consisting of the light source device 11
2 is provided separately, and the liquid feeding tank 22 is attached to the light source device 112, and the feeding pump 3
Flow sending device 1 consisting of 0 and flow control valves 26 and 38
20 and a drive signal generator 46 are built into the light source device 112. At the side of the operation section of the endoscope 110, suction, water supply, and air supply switches 48, 50, and 52 are provided as shown. The connections between these switches 48, 50, 52 and the drive signal generator 46, as well as the connections between the flow control valve 15 and the drive signal generator 46, are made along the illustrated pipeline. In this embodiment, it is preferable for the suction device 114 to be built into the light source device 112 from the viewpoint of circuit connection. Further, the drive signal generator 46 may be built into the operation section of the endoscope 110, or may be a separate body. Furthermore,
The flow device 120 may also be provided separately.
The switches 48, 50, and 52 may be further attached to the light source device 112 so that an assistant in addition to the endoscope operator can press the switches, and only the air supply switch 52 may be a foot switch. May be replaced.

The implementation example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a suction device 114 and a flow device 120 are incorporated into a light source device 112, and a time adjustment switch 122 is further attached to the side of the endoscope operation section. has been done.
In FIG. 2, an air supply switch 52 whose set time is determined by the stroke position is used;
In the figure, the air supply switch 52 is a conventional push button switch, and the time adjustment switch 122 corresponds to the third contact piece 68, and the closing of the time adjustment switch 122 causes the air supply time to be t. ₁ to t ₂
is configured to change to . If the time adjustment switch 122 only changes the air supply time, it may be wired in a circuit so as to change the water supply and suction time.

In the above embodiment, the time setting was explained as being able to be set to either of the two preset times t ₁ and t ₂ , but the multi-stage time can be selected by changing the switch format and circuit configuration. It is easy to do so.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the air supply switch 52 for supplying a drive signal for normal air supply, the trigger detection circuit 82, the time width generation circuit 84, and the time width setting circuit 86 and variable resistor 8
In addition to the air supply signal supply means consisting of 8, a new air supply signal supply means is provided which operates in response to the termination of the water supply drive signal. That is, a second air supply signal supply means is provided which includes a trigger detection circuit 102 that receives a signal from the time width generation circuit 100 of the water supply signal supply means, a variable resistor 104, a time width setting circuit 106, and a time width generation circuit 108. Therefore, not only when the air supply switch is operated, but also when water supply ends, air supply is automatically executed for a predetermined period of time, improving the operability of the endoscope.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, air supply is automatically executed for a predetermined period of time after water supply is completed, and the operability of the endoscope is significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the air supply, water supply and suction device of the endoscope of the present invention, and Fig. 2 A, B and C are
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the air supply switch and its operation; FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an embodiment of the drive signal generator shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an implementation example of the present invention. 2...Endoscope tip, 18...Air supply pipe (air supply means), 20...Water supply pipe (water supply means), 22...Liquid supply tank (water supply means), 26...Normally closed flow control valve ( Air supply means, water supply means), 30... Flow pump (air supply means, water supply means), 38... Normally open flow control valve (air supply means, water supply means), 42, 44... Solenoid (air supply means) , water supply means), 50...water supply switch (water supply signal supply means), 52...air supply switch (air supply signal supply means), 82...trigger detection circuit (air supply signal supply means), 84...time width Generation circuit (air supply signal supply means), 86... Time width setting circuit (air supply signal supply means), 88... Variable resistance (air supply signal supply means), 90, 92... Valve drive circuit (air supply means) , water supply means), 94...Trigger detection circuit (water supply signal supply means), 96...Variable resistance (water supply signal supply means), 98...Time width setting circuit (water supply signal supply means), 100...Time width generation circuit (water supply signal supply means), 102... trigger detection circuit (second
(air supply signal supply means), 104... variable resistor (second air supply signal supply means), 106... time width setting circuit (second air supply signal supply means), 108... time width generation circuit ( second air supply signal supply means), 11
0...Endoscope.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flow tube that guides gas and fluid to the distal end of the endoscope, an air supply means for sending gas into the flow tube, a water supply means for sending fluid into the flow tube, and the air supply means. an air supply signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to the water supply means; a water supply signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to the water supply means; inputting a drive signal from the water supply signal supply means and operating in response to termination of the drive signal; and second air supply signal supply means for supplying a drive signal to the air supply means for a predetermined period of time.