JPH0454950A - Deaerated water injector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the stopping of the supply of water quickly and accurately by switching a tank side piping section over to a position of being connected to an atmospheric air-releasing path when the supply of water is stopped while the tank side piping is made to communicate with the atmospheric air only for a specified time length by a path opening/closing means. CONSTITUTION:When a foot switch circuit 18 is operated, a signal thereof is inputted into a control circuit 19 to actuate an air pump 14 based on a signal from the control circuit 19 so that a switching of a passage changeover valve 15 and ON or OFF control of a shutoff valve 17 are accomplished. As a result, when the supply of water is stopped, the shutoff valve 17 is controlled to be opened by a time only necessary for the discharging of a pressure in a tank 10. A direction changeover valve can perform a switch between a first position that lets a tank side piping section 20a communicate with an air source side piping section 20b and a second position that lets the tank side piping section 20a and the air source side piping section 20b communicate with the atmospheric air. Thus, a switch of the direction changeover valve 21 from the first to second position enables the releasing of the pressure in the tank 10 to the atmospheric air thereby putting the air pump 14 into operation without load.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is applicable to, for example, when obtaining information regarding tissue tomography within the body using an ultrasound probe, in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted between an ultrasound transmitter/receiver and a wall of a body cavity. The present invention relates to a degassed water injection device used for interposing a sound wave propagation medium.

LPrior art J--Generally, when performing an ultrasonic inspection, in order to minimize the attenuation of the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transceiver and their reflected echoes, the ultrasonic transceiver and An ultrasonic propagation medium is interposed between the body cavity wall and other areas to be subjected to ultrasonic examination. Here, degassed water is a typical ultrasonic propagation medium.

When transmitting and receiving ultrasound by pressing an ultrasound transceiver against the external wall of the body, a flexible bag called a balloon is used, and the ultrasound transceiver is housed in the bag and degassed. It is designed to be injected with water.

On the other hand, there are also known devices in which the ultrasound transmission block is guided into the body directly or through an insertion path for inserting a treatment tool such as an endoscope, and is pressed against the inner wall of the body cavity to perform a scan. .

In this type of device that is inserted into the body to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, degassed water is injected into the body cavity to be examined. For this purpose, a degassed water injection device is used. This degassed water injection device usually has a tank for storing degassed water and a water supply tube for sending out the degassed water from the tank. The tank is configured to be pressurized in order to forcefully transport degassed water through the water supply tube. For this purpose, a pressurized air supply tube that has one end connected to a pressurized air supply source such as an air pump and the other end facing above the surface of the degassed water in the tank has been conventionally used. ing.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] However, in order to quickly fill a body cavity with deaerated water, it is necessary to supply deaerated water from a tank at a certain high pressure. The supply pressure of pressurizing air must be increased. However, when high-pressure air is supplied, even if the water supply is stopped, the residual pressure in the tank causes the air to be sent into the water supply tube, which has the drawback of poor followability to the stoppage of water supply.

The present invention has been made in view of the ridges, and its purpose is to quickly and reliably stop the water supply when the supply of pressurized air to the tank is stopped. Another object of the present invention is to provide a degassed water injection device that can reliably perform a water feeding operation so that water will not be fed unintended by the operator's intention even if the pressure changes at the tip side of the water feeding tube.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a tank side piping section and an air source side piping section in the middle of the air piping for pressurizing a tank that stores deaerated water. A flow path switching means is installed to switch between the state where the tank is connected and the state where it is connected to the atmosphere release route, and when the water supply is stopped, the tank side piping is switched to the state where it is connected to the atmosphere release route. Either a path opening/closing means is provided in the release path to allow the tank side piping to communicate with the atmosphere for a predetermined period of time, or a check valve is provided in the atmosphere release path to discharge the pressure on the tank side to the atmosphere. However, it is characterized by a check valve that prevents backflow from the atmospheric side.

[Operation J] By employing such a configuration, when water is being fed, the switching valve is brought into communication between the air source and the tank to supply high-pressure air into the tank, thereby achieving rapid water feeding at a large flow rate. When the water supply is stopped, this switching valve is switched to open the tank side piping to the atmosphere, so that no residual pressure is generated in the tank.
Ru. As a result, the ability to follow the water supply stop operation to the water supply stop operation becomes extremely good.

However, if the tank-side piping is left open to the atmosphere, when a suction force is applied to the tip of the water supply tube, the degassed water in the tank will be sucked out. In order to prevent such a situation, a path opening/closing mechanism is provided on the atmosphere opening path, and this path opening mechanism opens the tank to the atmosphere for a predetermined period of time, specifically, for a period of time necessary to discharge the residual pressure in the tank. Alternatively, a check valve is interposed in this air release path to prevent air from being sucked in. This prevents the degassed water in the tank from being sucked in even if negative pressure is applied within the water supply tube.

Furthermore, even if the tip of the water supply tube becomes negative pressure due to a drop in the pressure inside the body cavity, there is no risk that the degassed water in the tank will be drawn out, which is contrary to the operator's intentions. There will be no inconvenience such as supply of degassed water into the body or the like.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an extremely thin ultrasonic probe 1 with a single-plate transducer 1a attached to the tip is used, and this ultrasonic probe 1 is used as a treatment instrument in an endoscope 2. A degassed water supply device that supplies degassed water from an auxiliary water supply section 4 formed in an introduction section 3a in the insertion path 3 of the endoscope 2 to be guided into the body etc. through the insertion path 3 will be described. However, the degassed water supply device of the present invention is not limited to what has been described above.

The degassed water supply device is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, in the figure, 10 indicates a tank for storing deaerated water, and the tank 10 is covered with a lid 10a. A degassed water suction vibrator 11 is attached so as to pass through the lid 10a.

The tip of this suction vibrator 11 extends to near the bottom of the tank 10, and the base end is formed with a luer lock portion 11a for connecting a water supply tube 12 whose one end is connected to the auxiliary water supply channel 4. .

In order to forcefully feed degassed water from this suction vibrator 11 toward the water supply tube 12, the liquid level of the tank 10 is pressurized. In order to pressurize the tank 10, a pressurized air supply pipe 13 is connected to the lid 10a so as to open into the tank 10. The other end of this pressurized air supply pipe 13 is connected to an air pump 14 as an air source. A flow path switching valve 15 is interposed in the middle of this pressurized air supply pipe 13, whereby the pressurized air supply pipe 13 is divided into a tank side piping section 13a and an air source side piping section 13b. has been done.

Here, the flow path switching valve 15 switches between a state in which the tank-side piping section 13a is connected to the air source-side piping section], 3b, and a state in which the tank-side piping section 13a is connected to the atmospheric release path 16. It is configured so that it can be used. Further, an on-off valve 17 is provided in the atmosphere release path 16,
This on-off valve 17 allows the tank-side piping section 13a to be communicated with or shut off from the atmosphere.

Reference numeral 18 indicates a foot switch for controlling water supply; 19 indicates a control circuit; foot switch 1;
8, the signal is input to the control circuit 19, and based on the signal from the control circuit 19, the operation of the air pump 14, the switching of the flow path switching valve 15, and the ON/OFF control of the on-off valve 17 are performed. It looks like this. On the other hand, the on-off valve 17 operates for a period of time required to discharge the pressure inside the tank 10 when the water supply is stopped, for example, 2 hours.
The valve will be controlled to open for only seconds.

This embodiment is constructed as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

First, when performing water supply, the water supply tube 12 is connected to the suction vibrator 11 and also connected to the auxiliary water supply section 4 of the endoscope 2 . In this state, when the foot switch 18 is operated, the air pump 14 is operated and pressurized air is supplied to the pressurized air supply pipe 13.

At the same time, the tank side piping section 13a and the air source side piping section 13b of the pressurized air supply pipe 13 are connected to the flow path switching valve 1.
5. For this purpose, pressurized air is supplied into the tank 10 to pressurize the liquid level. As a result, the degassed water in the tank 10 is supplied from the suction vibrator 11 to the insertion passage 3 of the endoscope 2 via the water supply tube 12.

Next, when the water supply is stopped by the foot switch 18,
When the air pump 14 is activated or stopped, the flow path switching valve 1 is
5, the tank-side piping portion 13a of the pressurized air supply pipe 13 is connected to the atmosphere opening path 16. Therefore, an on-off valve 17 provided in this atmosphere opening path 16
When the valve is opened, the residual pressure in the tank 10 is released to the atmosphere.

By the way, if the tank 10 is left open to the atmosphere, when internal fluids are aspirated using the insertion passage 3 of the endoscope 2, the auxiliary water supply tube 12 or the connected auxiliary water supply The deaerated water in tank 0 is sucked out from part 4,
Suction of body fluids is no longer possible. Therefore, the control circuit 19 limits the opening time of the on-off valve I7. That is, the valve is opened for, for example, two seconds necessary to release the residual pressure in the tank 10, and after this time has elapsed, the valve is closed again. As a result, the tank-side piping section 13a is maintained in a state where it is not in communication with either the air source side or the atmosphere side, so that when suction is performed using the insertion passage 3, the deaerated water in the tank 10 is sucked. There is no risk of being released.

Furthermore, after the residual pressure in the tank 10 is released, the pressurized air supply pipe 13 is placed in a closed state, so even if the inside of the body becomes negative pressure, the degassed water will not meet the operator's intention. On the other hand, it does not cause the inconvenience of being withdrawn.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, a tank 10 and an air pump 14 are shown.
A directional control valve 21 is connected to the pressurized air supply pipe 20 connecting between the
is installed, and the directional switching valve 21 separates the tank side piping section 20a and the air source side piping section 20b.

Here, the directional switching valve 21 has a first position where the tank side piping section 20a and the air source side piping section 20b are communicated with each other, and a second position where the tank side piping section 20a and the air source side piping section 20b are communicated with the atmosphere. It is possible to switch between the two positions. Also, the second
In the position shown in FIG.
The check valve 2 communicates with the atmosphere through the check valve 2.
2, the pressure on the tank-side piping portion 20a is released to the atmosphere, or the suction of atmospheric air is prevented.

With this configuration, when water supply is stopped, the directional control valve 2
1 from the first position to the second position, the pressure inside the tank 10 can be released to the atmosphere,
Furthermore, the air pump 14 is in a no-load operating state. Moreover,
When suction is performed, the check valve 22 prevents the tank-side piping section 20a from sucking in atmospheric air, so there is no risk that the degassed water in the tank 10 will be suctioned.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention provides a flow path switching means for switching between a state in which a tank-side piping section is connected to an air source-side piping section and a state in which it is connected to an atmospheric release path in the middle of the air piping. A configuration in which a path opening/closing means is provided in the atmosphere release route, or a check valve is provided in the atmosphere release route to allow air to flow from the tank side piping to the atmosphere side but prevent backflow. As a result, it is possible to prevent residual pressure from being generated in the tank when switching from the water supply state to the water supply stop state, and the follow-up of the water supply stop to the water stop operation is extremely good. Even if negative pressure is applied inside the tube, there is no risk of the degassed water inside the tank being sucked out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a degassed water injection device, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ultrasonic probe and an endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a degassed water injection device showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1: Ultrasonic probe, 2: Endoscope, 3: Insertion path, 4: Auxiliary water supply section, 10: Tank, 11: Suction vibrator, 12
・Water supply tube, 13, 20: Pressurized air piping, 13a
, 20a: Tank side piping section, 13b, 20b
: Air source side piping section, 14: Air pump, 15・Flow path switching valve, 15: Atmospheric release path, 17: Open/close valve, 18・Foot switch, 2: Directional switching valve, 22: Check valve.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A water supply tube is connected to a tank that stores deaerated water, and in order to send out deaerated water from the water supply tube, pressurized air supplied from an air source via air piping is applied to the deaerated water in the tank. In a device that is supplied above the liquid surface and pressurizes this liquid surface, there are two states: one in which the tank-side piping is connected to the air source-side piping in the middle of the air piping, and the other is in which it is connected to the atmospheric release route. A flow path switching means for switching to the atmosphere is provided, and a path opening/closing means is provided in the atmosphere opening path, and when water supply is stopped, the tank side piping is switched to a state where it is connected to the atmosphere opening path, and the path opening/closing means: A degassed water injection device characterized in that the tank-side piping is communicated with the atmosphere for a predetermined period of time. (2) Connect a water supply tube to a tank that stores deaerated water, and in order to send out deaerated water from the water supply tube, pressurized air supplied from an air source via air piping is applied to the deaerated water in the tank. In a device that is supplied above the liquid surface and pressurizes this liquid surface, there are two states: one in which the tank-side piping is connected to the air source-side piping in the middle of the air piping, and the other is in which it is connected to the atmospheric release route. The atmosphere opening path is provided with a check valve that allows air to flow out from the tank side piping to the atmosphere but prevents its backflow. A deaerated water injection device characterized by: