JPH05253183A - Washing and disinfecting device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the washing and disinfecting device for endoscope which prevents the trouble of the device and a decease in a washing effect and disinfecting effect by a defoaming agent and assures the safety of an operator by eliminating the laboriousness of the addition of the defoaming agent to be carried out by the operator, suppressing the amt. of foaming to a certain specified amt. or below and averting more than the required addition of the defoaming agent. CONSTITUTION:An object to be washed and disinfected is housed in a washing and disinfecting chamber 2 of the washing and disinfecting device body. A defoaming agent tank 14 is provided within this device body 1 and the defoaming agent is added from the defoaming agent tank 14 into the washing and disinfecting chamber 2 by a porous member 30 according to the amt. of the foam to be generated in the washing and disinfecting chamber 2. In addition, the amt. of the defoaming agent to be added is controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for cleaning / disinfecting an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope has been frequently used for the purpose of examination and treatment in a body cavity. This endoscope must be washed and disinfected after every use, for example, JP-A-1-153.
No. 133, and the endoscope cleaning device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-6811 are used. When cleaning and disinfecting with such a device, bubbles are generated during the process. When the foam was to be erased, an appropriate amount of antifoaming agent was placed in the tank each time it was foamed. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147427/1988 discloses that the antifoaming agent is supplied to the antiseptic solution tank by detecting the antiseptic solution when the antiseptic solution tank is put into the antiseptic solution tank. In this case, since the defoaming agent is added every time the disinfecting solution is added, the defoaming agent was supplied even when bubbles did not appear in the disinfecting solution.

[0003]

The above-described endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus is troublesome because the operator injects an appropriate amount of defoaming agent every time foaming occurs in the cleaning or disinfecting process. ..

Further, since the worker injects an appropriate amount of defoaming agent, if the defoaming agent is injected more than necessary, the cleaning effect and the disinfecting effect may be impaired. It is also considered that the defoaming agent that does not completely melt adheres to various members and may interfere with the operation of the members. Further, the operator may forget to inject the defoaming agent and the foam may cause the device to malfunction, or the bubble may overflow from the tank to cause a malfunction of the device or an electric shock.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to eliminate the troublesomeness of an operator to add an antifoaming agent and to keep the foaming amount below a certain level.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting device capable of preventing the device from being damaged by the defoaming agent and reducing the cleaning and disinfecting effects.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention is provided with a cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body provided with a cleaning / disinfecting tank for storing a material to be cleaned and disinfected,
A defoaming agent storage tank provided inside the apparatus body is provided, and means for adding an antifoaming agent from the defoaming agent storage tank to the cleaning and disinfecting tank is provided according to the amount of foam generated in the cleaning and disinfecting vessel. A control means for controlling the addition amount of the defoaming agent is provided and configured.

[0007]

According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus having the above-described structure, the cleaning disinfectant is stored in the cleaning disinfecting tank, and after the cleaning disinfectant is washed with the cleaning water, the disinfectant is sprayed from the cleaning disinfecting tank to disinfect the cleaning disinfectant. .. At this time, a defoaming agent is added from the defoaming agent storage tank of the cleaning / disinfecting tank. At this time, the defoaming agent is added in an appropriate amount by the control means.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. A washing and disinfecting tank 2 is provided on the upper part of the apparatus body 1. The cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 is covered with an opening / closing cover 3 so as to be openable / closable. At the center of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2, a cylindrical rotating body 6 having injection nozzles 5a and 5b at the upper and lower portions is provided.

The rotating body 6 is configured to be rotationally driven by a motor 7. A mounting table 10 for mounting an endoscope 9 which is an object to be cleaned is spirally provided around the rotating body 6, and the cleaning water is sprayed onto the entire endoscope 9 from the jet nozzles 5a and 5b. It is designed to be used.

A water tank 1 is provided inside the apparatus body 1.
2, a disinfectant solution tank 13 and a defoaming agent tank 14 are provided. The water supply tank 12 is connected to a water faucet 17 via an electromagnetic valve 16. The cleaning water supplied from the water faucet 17 is stored in the water supply tank 12, is then pressurized by the water supply pump 18, and is injected into the cleaning and disinfecting tank 2 from the injection nozzles 5a and 5b through the rotating body 6. ing.

On the other hand, the disinfectant solution in the disinfectant solution tank 13 is pressurized by the disinfectant solution injection pump 19, and the disinfectant solution injection port 2 is provided.
It is designed to be injected into the cleaning and disinfecting tank 2 from 2. Further, the disinfectant solution accumulated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 is collected in the disinfecting solution tank 13 from the drain 23 provided at the bottom of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 via the three-way switching valve 24.

A drain pump 25 is connected to the remaining outlet of the three-way switching valve 24 so that the cleaning water accumulated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 is drained to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by the drain pump 25. ing.

Further, a wall 27 is provided at the center of the inside of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2, and the rotating body 6 including the injection nozzles 5a and 5b.
Side and the end side of the cleaning and disinfecting tank 2. Further, in the upper part on the end side of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2, a means for adding an antifoaming agent configured to be always wet with the antifoaming agent during use of the apparatus and a sponge or the like as a control means for controlling the amount added. The porous member 30 is attached.

The porous member 30 is impregnated with an antifoaming agent, and is attached and fixed at a height position where it comes into contact with the foam when a certain amount of foam is foamed and rises in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2. Further, a small amount of antifoaming agent is fed into the porous member 30 each time the device is used, at a level where it does not drip.

According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus thus constructed, the cleaning step is started by turning on the main switch of the apparatus main body 1. When bubbles are generated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 and reach the porous member 30, the defoaming agent injection pump 20 supplies the defoaming agent to the porous member 30 through the defoaming agent tank 14, and the porous member 30 As the bubbles of the washing water adhere to, erase the bubbles.

Therefore, since the porous member 30 is impregnated with the defoaming agent, an excessive amount of defoaming agent does not enter the washing water, and only a minimum amount is added when bubbles are generated. Become.

A second embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Porous member 3 of the first embodiment
This is an example that includes means instead of 0. The rest of the configuration is substantially the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, a defoaming agent contact rod 40 is rotatably provided at the upper end of the apparatus body 1 as a means for adding a defoaming agent. When this rod 40 is tilted to the side of the defoaming agent container 41, its tip is in contact with the defoaming agent. When the cleaning process is started, the rod 40 is rotated by about 180 degrees by a drive motor (not shown) and is moved to the upper surface of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 with the defoaming agent attached to the tip thereof. According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the second embodiment configured as described above, substantially the same actions and effects as the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

A third embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The first embodiment and the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus described above are of a type in which the disinfectant solution is circulated. As shown in FIG. It is configured to be jetted to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2 via the switching valve 50.

Further, the disinfectant pump 19 and the three-way switching valve 5
A pressure sensor 51 for detecting the water pressure is provided between the pressure sensor 51 and zero. The foam generated in the washing and disinfecting tank 2 is mixed with the disinfectant solution,
The liquid enters the disinfectant tank 13 through the drain port 23, is pressurized again by the disinfectant pump 19, and is sent to the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2.

At this time, when the pressure becomes lower than a certain level by the pressure sensor 51, a signal is output from the control unit 52 as a control means inside the apparatus main body 1 to drive the defoaming agent pump 20 to wash a small amount of defoaming agent. Add to disinfectant tank 2.

According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the third embodiment constructed as above, the water pressure between the disinfecting liquid pump 19 and the three-way switching valve 50 is detected by the pressure sensor 51, and the water pressure is kept constant. When the pressure falls below the pressure, the control unit 5 inside the apparatus body 1
By adding a small amount of the defoaming agent from 2, the same action and effect as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

A fourth embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Porous member 3 of the first embodiment
This is an example using a means instead of 0. The rest of the configuration is substantially the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, a box-shaped frame member 60 is provided at the upper edge of the cleaning / disinfecting tank 2. The box-shaped frame member 60 has upper and lower openings. A container 61 is provided inside the box-shaped frame member 60 so that the defoaming agent can be easily injected from above with the open / close cover 3 open.

According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the fourth embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, the bubbles 61 are contained in the box-shaped frame member 60.
When you get inside, erase with a defoamer, and bubbles will come out again.
Bubbles are supposed to disappear when you reach part 1.

A fifth embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A humidity sensor 70 is provided inside the box-shaped frame member 60 of the above-described fourth embodiment, and when bubbles come into contact with the humidity sensor 70, a pump (not shown) is activated to inject a defoaming agent into the antiseptic solution tank 13. Is configured. According to the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus configured as described above, substantially the same actions and effects as in the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

In the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus shown in FIG. 6, a thick discharge tube 76 is provided below the common tank 75 in which the cleaning process, the disinfecting process and the rinsing process are performed.
This tube 76 has flexibility. A valve 77 is provided at the inlet of the thick tube 76.

The valve 77 is sucked by the pump 78 provided at the tip of the thick tube 76 in a state where the valve 77 is not completely closed, and the inside of the tube 76 is made a negative pressure so that the inner diameter of the tube is substantially reduced. Configured to.

Thus, when the liquid does not flow, the pump 7
By driving 8 to crush the thick tube 76 by negative pressure and make it thin so that it becomes a normal tube only when the liquid flows, the residual liquid remaining in the tube 76 is reduced.

The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus shown in FIG.
At least two types of filters 80 and 81 (20 micron and 0.45 micron) having different pore diameters were provided in the water supply pipeline in the apparatus, and tap water could pass through both pipelines. Therefore, at the time of washing, it goes through the 20-micron filter 80, and at the time of rinsing, the 0.45-micron filter 81.
By passing through, it is possible to prevent bacteria from adhering to the endoscope 9 during rinsing water. The filter 81 may be equipped with a tap water washer having a sterilizing means.

Further, a large amount of water is required to wash away the detergent between the washing step and the disinfecting step, and the residual adhering detergent is sprayed by isopropanol between the washing step and the disinfecting step. Then, the effect of dropping the rest of the detergent is great, and the washing time can be shortened by injecting or dipping isopropanol after draining the detergent in the washing tank in the washing step.

[0033]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible for an operator to keep the foaming amount below a certain level without the need for a hand, and also to prevent equipment failure caused by overflow of bubbles from the tank. It is possible to prevent electrical dangers, and prevent excessive addition of defoaming agent to prevent failure due to device sticking, and to not significantly affect the cleaning and disinfection effects. A disinfection device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a second embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a common tank.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body, 2 ... Cleaning / disinfecting tank, 9 ... Endoscope,
14 ... Defoaming agent tank, 30 ... Porous member, 40 ... Defoaming agent contact rod, 41 ... Defoaming agent container, 52 ... Control part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning / disinfecting apparatus main body having a cleaning / disinfecting tank for storing a material to be cleaned, a defoaming agent storage tank provided inside the apparatus main body, and an amount of foam generated in the cleaning / disinfecting tank. Accordingly, the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is provided with means for adding an antifoaming agent to the cleaning and disinfecting tank from the antifoaming agent storage tank, and control means for controlling the addition amount of the antifoaming agent.