JPH0632085Y2 - Endoscope ventilation connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a ventilation connector used for pressure adjustment and exchange of internal gas of an endoscope.

(Prior Art) As is well known, there are various types of endoscopes according to their uses, functions, etc., but the endoscope most widely used nowadays is X in FIG. Like the endoscope shown with the reference numeral, the external appearance is such that the knob for operating the bending portion of the insertion portion and various operation buttons 1a and 1b, the outside of the forceps insertion opening 1c, the eyepiece portion 1f, and the like. Hand operation part 1 equipped with
In addition, a flexible insertion portion 2 to be inserted into an observation target portion such as a body cavity, and a plug 3 to be inserted and attached to the socket 71 of the control device Y.
A flexible connecting portion 3 or the like having a at the tip portion is connected, and after use, it must be washed and disinfected from the viewpoint of hygiene, and means for performing this work simply and effectively. As a general rule, the entire endoscope X is immersed in a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid, or gas sterilized with ethylene oxide gas or the like.

Therefore, the outer body of the endoscope X of this type not only protects the light guide and the image guide mounted inside the outer body, but also protects other built-in objects against external impacts and the like. In order to prevent damage to various internal components due to the infiltration of the cleaning liquid or the disinfecting liquid, which tends to occur during the cleaning and disinfection as described above, the inside is kept airtight and liquidtight. Further, when a negative pressure is applied to the outside of the endoscope X such as aeration after gas sterilization, it is considered that the connector is normally opened to prevent the damage and the pressure becomes the same as the outside.

Furthermore, since the insertion part 2 of the endoscope X is inserted into a narrow observation target part such as a body cavity, it is essential that the diameter is as small as possible, and the hand operation part 1 and the connection part 3 are Since it is desired to have good operability, there are considerable restrictions not only on the material for forming the outer shell, but also on the thickness, etc.
Damage often occurred during disinfection.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer shell 3b for constructing the plug 3a of the connecting portion 3 is provided with the ventilation connector 110, and the ventilation connector 110 is attached to the outer shell 3b. A gas supply connector 180 connected to (not shown) is connected to inject gas slightly higher than atmospheric pressure into the outer shell communicating with the entire endoscope X to perform a gas leak test at any time. It is possible to know the presence or absence of damage to the outer shell that communicates with the entire endoscope X.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ventilation connector 110 usually has an outer shell 3b for forming a plug 3a.
In the tubular valve body 120 fixed at the base portion, a ventilation passage combined air feeding connector fitting recessed portion 153 for tightly fitting the air feeding connector 180 in the central portion is formed by recessing from the outer end surface. A rod-shaped valve body 150 having a ventilation short-circuit hole 154 formed therein is slidably fitted in the inner part, and is constantly urged by a spring 158 toward the outer end surface of the tubular valve body 120 to close and seal. Since the state is maintained, during the cleaning and disinfection with the cleaning liquid or the disinfecting liquid as described above, the recessed portion 153, the ventilation short-circuit hole 154, and the void portion communicated with the ventilation short-circuit hole 154. The cleaning liquid or the disinfecting liquid enters the almost unwipeable part such as the inside of 161 and remains there, and when the air is then sent to the outer body of the endoscope X through the ventilation connector 110, at the same time as the air is sent. The cleaning liquid or disinfecting liquid remaining in the above-mentioned places is the endoscope X. Total rare blown in the outer body of the hollow in communication over, but this adverse effect given to the internals had immeasurable had been completely neglected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems that cannot be avoided by the conventional technology. The purpose of the present invention is to clean with a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid, and to use a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid at the time of disinfection. Even if it remains, the residual amount is extremely small, and further, it is intended to provide a ventilation connector for an endoscope which can be removed by wiping and can reliably perform air supply operation.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a ventilation connector for an endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope including a manual operation part, an insertion part, and a connecting part to a control device. A ventilation connector that is attached and fixed to the ventilation connector mounting part formed on the outer body for protecting internal components such as light guides and air-tightness and liquid-tightness that are installed inside the An air supply connector equipped with a mounting and fixing part to the connector mounting part and equipped with a rod-shaped valve body pushing part connected to the air supply source is externally fitted. A ventilation hole is opened in the outer wall surface. A tubular valve body, and a tubular valve body that is slidably fitted in the tubular valve body, is constantly urged in a closing and sealing direction toward the outer end surface of the tubular valve body, and has a peripheral wall surface to the tubular valve body. Ventilation at the time of external fitting of the air supply connector with the rod-shaped valve body pushing part A ventilation valve is provided which has a ventilation short-circuit hole which is communicated with the working hole, and the outer end face of the rod-shaped valve body is close to the outer end face of the tubular valve body when closed and sealed. I have.

(Operation) The ventilation connector of the endoscope according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, and the rod-shaped valve body slidably fitted in the tubular valve body is always attached to the tubular valve body. A closed airtight direction in the direction of the outer end surface on the side opposite to the end surface on the base side, that is, a ventilation hole opened on the outer wall surface of the tubular valve body and a ventilation short-circuit hole for the ventilation passage provided in the rod-shaped valve body. Since it is urged in such a direction as to cut off the communication state, the inside of the endoscope, that is, the outer shell is shielded from the outside world, and the outer shell is kept airtight and liquid tight.

However, if the rod-shaped valve body is pushed toward the base side of the tubular valve body against the urging force, the ventilation short-circuit hole of the ventilation passage provided in the rod-shaped valve body will form the outer wall surface of the tubular valve body. Since the inside of the outer shell of the endoscope is short-circuited with the outside world by being communicated with the ventilation hole opened in, the gas inside the outer shell and the gas in the outside world are exchanged with each other.

After that, when the pushing operation of the rod-shaped valve element is released, the rod-shaped valve element returns to the original state, and the inside of the endoscope, that is, the outer shell is in an airtight or liquid-tight state.

Therefore, at the time of gas leak inspection from the endoscope, etc., the air valve connector with the rod-shaped valve element pushing portion connected to the air feeding source is fitted on the tubular valve body in an airtight manner. If the rod-shaped valve body pushing portion attached to the air-feeding connector is used to push the rod-shaped valve body, the inside of the outer shell of the endoscope has a base portion of the tubular valve body opened into the outer shell. A hollow portion on the side, a ventilation path of the rod-shaped valve body, a ventilation short-circuit hole provided in the ventilation path,
A ventilation hole opened on the outer wall surface of the tubular valve body having the ventilation short-circuit hole communicated with it; and an air feeding connector with a rod-shaped valve body pushing portion connected to an air feeding source. It is connected to an air supply source via an air supply source, and it is possible to supply air into the outer shell, and the air pressure inside the outer shell can be made higher than the atmospheric pressure of the outside so that a gas leak test or the like can be easily performed. Become.

Furthermore, as a notable effect, when performing the above-described gas leak test in water, or when cleaning or disinfecting an endoscope that is immersed in a cleaning solution or a disinfectant solution,
In the ventilation connector for an endoscope according to the present invention, the inspection liquid, the cleaning liquid, and the disinfectant liquid are introduced as in the conventional ventilation connector for the endoscope of this kind, and the inspection, cleaning,
Since it remains after disinfection and cannot be removed by wiping, since there are no recesses or voids, it is possible to wipe off each of these liquids, and the harmful effects of the residual liquid are eliminated.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. In the description of this embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those of the conventional endoscope, control device, and the like described with reference to FIG. We decided to avoid duplication.

In the figure, 10 is a ventilation connector, and this ventilation connector 10 is the most troublesome in using the endoscope X, similarly to the ventilation connector 110 shown in the drawings from FIG. 4 as a conventional example. A female connector attachment portion 3c for ventilation provided on an outer shell 3b that forms a plug 3a on the free end side of the connection portion 3 that is inserted and fixed in the socket 71 of the control device Y, which is considered to be a place without fear. The cylindrical valve body 20 and the rod-shaped valve body 50 are mainly configured to be screwed and fixed in the screw hole 3d.

The tubular valve body 20 (see especially FIG. 2) is provided with a seal member 39 and the like, and the ventilation connector mounting portion 3 is provided.
A tubular valve body 30 on the base side used for mounting and fixing to c and a rod-shaped valve body 50, both of which will be described later, are slidably mounted in an air-tight and liquid-tight state, and connected to an air supply source. The main part 40 of the tubular valve body in which the air-supplying connector 80 is fitted to the outside in an airtight manner.
It has become.

The base-side tubular valve body 30 (see in particular FIG. 3) has a plug-shaped outer shape, and the small-diameter plug-shaped portion 31 and the large-diameter head-shaped portion 32 have a substantially outer shape in the axial direction. A similar ventilation passage forming hole 33 is made to penetrate therethrough, and a rod-shaped valve body 50, which will be described later, constantly urges a rod-shaped valve body 50, which will be described later, in the closing direction from the inner wall surface of the small diameter forming the hole 33. Annular projection wall 34 for receiving one end of the pushing spring 58
A male thread 35 for screwing and fixing into the female screw hole 3d of the ventilation connector mounting portion 3c is engraved on the outer wall surface of the plug-like portion 31 and has a large diameter. The inner wall surface of the head-shaped portion 32 is engraved with a female screw hole 36 for screwing and fixing performed by applying a sealing agent or the like to a male thread 46 of a cylindrical valve body main portion 40 described later, and from the outer wall surface. Is a female screw hole into which the locking screw 38 is screwed.
37 are provided.

Further, the tubular valve body main portion 40 (see in particular FIG. 3) has a large-diameter portion 42 on the side of the connecting portion 41 to the base-side tubular valve body portion 30.
_It has a slightly larger diameter than the middle part 42 with ₁ , and the tip part 43 side is the middle part 4
The diameter is slightly smaller than 2, and the tip 43
By providing the rod-shaped valve disc locking step wall 44 near the side,
A rod-shaped valve body sliding hole with a large diameter hole 45 ₁ and a small diameter hole 45 ₂
A male thread 46 to be screwed into the female screw hole 36 is engraved on the end portion side of the connecting portion 41 in the tubular body through which 45 passes,
The remaining outer wall surface is formed as an air-feeding connector contact surface 47 for air-tightly fitting and closely fitting the air-feeding connector 80 with a rod-shaped pushing rod for pushing the rod-shaped valve body, which will be described later, and the middle portion 42 is for ventilation. A hole 48 is opened, and the distal end portion 43 is formed by providing several slits 49, 49 ... For forming an air supply path.

Similarly, (see especially FIG. 2) the rod-shaped valve body 50, the the slidable rod-shaped valve body main portion 51 which is brought furnished the large-diameter hole portion 45 _1,該杆shaped valve body main portion from the end surface of the outer end of the 51 have been caused to extend in the axial direction, the in the slidable small-diameter hole portion 45 within _2, the tubular valve cylindrical valve body main portion 40 for the main body 20 formed The shaft rod to which the end face of the rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod portion 86 of the air-feeding connector 80 is brought into contact when the air-feeding connector 80 with a rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod portion to be described later is externally fitted. With the part 52 as the main body, from the end face opposite to the end face where the shaft rod part 52 of the rod-shaped valve body main part 51 forming this main body is extended, in the axial direction, The tubular valve main body 40
A ventilation passage 53 having a ventilation short-circuit hole 54 that is communicated with the ventilation hole 48 when the air supply connector 80 is externally fitted to the air passage 53 is formed. The annular recessed grooves 55 ₁ , 55 ₂ , 55 _{3 in} which the rings 56 ₁ , 56 ₂ , 56 ₃ are fitted are spaced apart in the axial direction and the recessed groove 55 ₁
And 55 ₂ and the O-rings 56 ₁ and 56 ₂ fitted to them, when the rod-shaped valve body 50 is placed in a closed and sealed state,
On either side of the vent hole 48, the groove 55 ₂ and 55 _3, and the O-ring 56 ₂ and 56 ₃ which are allowed fitted thereto, the rod-shaped valve body 50
When the ventilating short-circuit hole 54
Are formed at positions that can be arranged on both sides of the.

Then, the annular protruding wall 34 of the base-side tubular valve main body 30
And a ventilation passage 53 of the rod-shaped valve body main portion 51 of the rod-shaped valve body 50.
A spring 58 for urging the rod-shaped valve body 50 in the closed and sealed direction toward the outer end of the rod-shaped valve body 50 is interposed between the open end face and the open end face. .

In addition, for reference, a rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod portion which is externally fitted to the tubular valve body main portion 40 in the tubular valve body 20 for forming the ventilation connector 10 of the endoscope constructed according to the present invention. The attached air supply connector is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with only half of which is indicated by a chain double-dashed line and is designated by the reference numeral 80. This air supply connector 80 is used for an air supply device (not shown) or the like. The flexible connection pipe having one end attached to the air supply source is attached to the free end side, and the inner wall of the tip end of the air supply passage 81 penetrating in the axial direction is used for this air supply. When the connector 80 is externally fitted to the tubular valve body main portion 40, an annular recess in which an O-ring 83 as a packing is fitted and held so as to airtightly contact the air supply connector contact surface 47 of the tubular valve body main portion 40. A groove 82 is formed, and a through hole 85 for forming an air supply passage is provided in the middle of the air supply passage 81.
Axial rod support plate 84 for pushing the rod-shaped valve disc with several holes
From, when fitted to the air supply connector 80 to the tubular valve body main portion 40, fitted in the cylindrical valve body main portion 40 the outer end portion side of the small-diameter hole portion 45 in the _second, rod-shaped valve The rod-shaped valve disc pushing shaft rod portion 86 serves as a rod-shaped valve disc pushing portion for pushing the rod-shaped valve disc 50 by contacting the end face of the shaft rod portion 52 of the body 50 with the rod-shaped valve disc pushing portion. Is projected.

The ventilation connector 10 of the endoscope according to the present invention has a rod-shaped valve body sliding hole in the tubular valve body main portion 40 that forms the tubular valve body 20 for forming the ventilation connector 10 as described above. The rod-shaped valve body 50, which is slidably fitted in the 45, is always spring 58.
By the urging force of the base valve member, the rod-shaped valve body locking step wall 44 on the side opposite to the base-side tubular valve main body 30 side is abutted and locked, and the ventilation hole 48 and the ventilation short-circuit hole 54 communicate with each other. Since the state is cut off, the entire outer shell of the endoscope X connected to the outer shell 3b, that is, the inside of the endoscope X is shielded from the outside world, and the inside is hermetically sealed.
It will be kept liquid-tight.

However, if the rod-shaped valve body 50 is pushed toward the base side of the tubular valve body main portion 40 against the urging force of the spring 58, the ventilation short-circuit hole of the ventilation passage 53 provided in the rod-shaped valve body 50 is formed. 54 is short-circuited and communicated with the ventilation hole 48 of the main part 40 of the tubular valve body, the interior of the endoscope X is short-circuited with the outside world, and the gas inside the outer shell of the endoscope X is exchanged with the gas outside. Will be carried out.

After that, when the pushing operation of the rod-shaped valve body 50 is released, the rod-shaped valve body 50 returns to the original state, and the inside of the endoscope X becomes airtight and liquid-tight.

Therefore, at the time of a gas leak test from the endoscope X, the air-feeding connector 80 with a rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod portion that is connected to an air-feeding source such as an air-feeding device, O-ring 83
The main part of the tubular valve body that constitutes the tubular valve body 20 using
Airtightly fitted to the rod 40, and the end surface of the rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod 86 as the rod-shaped valve body pushing portion reaches near the outer end surface of the tip end portion 43 of the tubular valve body main portion 40. If the rod-shaped valve body 50 is brought into contact with the end face of the shaft rod portion 52 of the rod-shaped valve body 50 and the rod-shaped valve body 50 is pushed to the base side of the tubular valve body main portion 40 against the biasing force of the spring 58, ventilation is achieved. The short-circuit hole 54 for communication is made to communicate with the hole 48 for ventilation, and the endoscope X
The inside of the is short-circuited to the air supply source through the ventilation path 53, and it becomes possible to supply air to the inside of the endoscope X, and the air pressure inside the endoscope X is made slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure of the outside world, and It is possible to easily perform a leak test or the like.

And, as a notable operation effect, when the gas leak test as described above is performed in water, or when the endoscope X is washed by immersing it in a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid after the use of the endoscope X, When disinfecting, in the endoscope X according to the present invention, the air supply as seen in the rod-shaped valve body 150 in the ventilation connector 110 of the conventional endoscope X described as an example. Inspection liquid, cleaning liquid, disinfectant liquid, etc. enter into the connector fitting recess 153, ventilation short-circuit hole 154, and void 161 etc., and remain after inspection, cleaning, and disinfection, and cannot be removed by wiping. Since there is no recessed portion or void portion and it is possible to wipe each of these liquids, the test liquid, the cleaning liquid, or the disinfectant liquid is blown into the interior of the endoscope X during the subsequent air supply. Such as a light guide protected by It has become possible to be swept adverse effects given to the built object. Further, the O-ring 83 also has a function of wiping off the droplets adhering to the outer end depression of the ventilation hole 48 when the air supply connector 80 is connected.

(Effect of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the operation of supplying air to the inside of the endoscope formed in the airtight and liquid-tight manner by the outer shell is extremely easy, and the operation is performed underwater. Even if a leak test for grasping the air-tightness and liquid-tightness of the endoscope, or a cleaning and disinfection that is the most effective at the time of cleaning and disinfection essential after each use, Since there is no recessed portion or void in this type of conventional endoscope ventilation connector, there is no remaining test liquid, cleaning liquid, disinfectant liquid, etc. that is difficult to remove by wiping operation. , The residual liquid is blown into the endoscope when the gas inside the endoscope is exchanged after that, and it is possible to eliminate the harmful effects of giving built-in objects such as light guides that hate humidity extremely. Mirror ventilation connector It is now possible to provide the tar.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 of the drawings show an embodiment of a ventilation connector for an endoscope according to the present invention.
The figure is an external view of an endoscope equipped with a ventilation connector when connected to a control device, and Fig. 2 shows only the upper half of the air supply connector that is being connected to the ventilation connector by a chain double-dashed line. Along with this, an explanatory view of the structure of the main part, which is shown by cutting only the upper half of the ventilation connector when closed and closed, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a main part configuration in which only half is shown by a chain double-dashed line, and only the upper half of the venting connector when it is possible to ventilate is cut, and FIGS. Fig. 4 shows an example of a ventilation connector for an endoscope, Fig. 4 is an external view in the same manner as Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is connected to the ventilation device to the ventilation connector. Only the lower half of both of them are cut and shown just before connecting the air supply connector Part configuration explanatory diagram, FIG. 6 is a sectional view when the coupling state. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or equivalent components. X: Endoscope 1; Hand operation part 1a, 1b; Operation button, 1c; Forceps insertion opening 1f; Eyepiece part 2; Insertion part 3; Connection part 3a; Plug 3b; Outer shell 3c; Ventilation connector attachment part 3d; Female screw hole 10; Ventilation connector 20; Cylindrical valve body 30; Base side cylindrical valve body portion 31; Plug-like portion, 32; Head portion 33; Ventilation passage forming hole, 34; Annular protruding wall 35 Male thread, 36, 37; female screw hole 38; locking screw, 39; seal member 40; tubular valve body main part 41; connecting part, 42; intermediate part 42 ₁ ; some of intermediate parts 42 Large diameter portion 43; tip portion 44; stepped wall 45 for locking rod-shaped valve body; hole for sliding rod-shaped valve body 45 ₁ ; large-diameter hole portion, 45 ₂ ; small-diameter hole portion 46; male thread 47; Air supply connector contact surface 48; ventilation hole, 49; slit 50; rod-shaped valve body 51; rod-shaped valve body main portion, 52; shaft rod portion 53; ventilation passage, 54; ventilation short-circuit hole 55 ₁ , 55 _2, 55 _3; annular grooves 56 _1, 56 _2, 56 _3; Ring 58; Rod-shaped valve body pushing spring Y: Control device 71; Socket 80: Rod-shaped valve body pushing shaft rod-equipped air-feeding connector 81; Air-feeding passageway 82; Annular groove 83; O-ring, 85; through-hole 84; rod-shaped valve body pushing rod support plate 86; rod-shaped valve pushing rod

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An outer shell for protecting a built-in object such as a light guide and for air-tightness and liquid-tightness, which is mounted inside an endoscope including a manual operation part, an insertion part, and a connecting part to a control device. A rod-shaped valve body having a ventilation connector to be mounted and fixed to the ventilation connector mounting part formed on the base, and a mounting and fixing part to the ventilation connector mounting part on the base side, and connected to an air supply source. A tubular valve body having ventilation holes opened in an outer wall surface to which an air feeding connector with a pushing portion is fitted, and a tubular valve body slidably fitted in the tubular valve body, and the tubular valve body is always fitted. Is urged in the closing direction of the outer end face of the
Further, the peripheral wall surface is provided with a ventilation path in which a ventilation short-circuit hole that is communicated with the ventilation hole is opened when the air feeding connector with a rod-shaped valve body pushing portion to the tubular valve body is fitted externally,
A ventilating connector for an endoscope, characterized in that an outer end face when closed and sealed is constituted by a rod-shaped valve body that is brought close to the outer end face of the tubular valve body.