JPS59174132A - Air and liquid sending apparatus of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an air/liquid feeding device for an endoscope, which is capable of sending liquid to an air passage provided in an endoscope to clean the air passage.

Generally, when using an endoscope, dirt such as mucus adheres to the observation window, which often obstructs the visual field. For this purpose, water is supplied from the liquid supply path of the endoscope to the tip nozzle and sprayed onto the surface of the observation window to clean it, and then air is supplied from the air supply path to the tip nozzle and the observation window is sprayed with water. By removing adhering water, observations can be made better.

Incidentally, in recent years, nosocomial infections due to the use of endoscopes have become a problem. For this reason, after using the endoscope, the insertion part is immersed in liquid or a chemical liquid is passed through the button channel to disinfect the inside of the channel. Further, the liquid feeding path is cleaned and disinfected in the same way as the button channel (because water and chemical solutions can be easily passed through).

However, when considering how to thoroughly disinfect the entire endoscope, it is necessary to clean and disinfect the inside of the air passage as well, as dirt may flow back into the air passage from the tip nozzle. However, in reality, due to the structure of the endoscope, it is not easy to clean and disinfect it. As a result, the air supply path is not cleaned and replaced, and there is a risk that the dirt adhering to the air supply path may cause in-hospital infection.

This invention was made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to clean and disinfect the air passage by sending liquid to the air passage, and to supply air while the endoscope is inserted into the patient's body cavity. An object of the present invention is to provide an air/liquid feeding device for an endoscope that can prevent the dangerous erroneous operation of feeding liquid into a tract.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is an endoscope consisting of an operating section 2 and an insertion section 3. As shown in FIG. A universal cord 4 is connected to the operation section 2, and the end of the cord is connected to a light source device 5, which will be described later.
Alternatively, a connector 6 that is selectively connected to one of the liquid feeding units 40 is provided. The endoscope I and the universal cord 4 are provided with an air passage 7 and a liquid passage 8 over their entire length.

A midway portion between the air supply path 7 and the liquid supply path 8 is connected to a first switching operation valve 9, which is a first switching mechanism, in the operating section 2. This first switching valve 9 has a cylinder 10, a piston 11 slidably inserted into the cylinder IO, and a piston 11 inserted into the cylinder IO as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a bolt Z2 which is biased in a direction protruding from zero. The cylinder 101 has an upstream side 7a and a downstream side 7b of the air supply path 7 connected to the lower end of its peripheral wall,
Above the air supply passage 7 is the upstream 4dl F of the liquid supply passage 8.
la and the downstream side 8b are connected.

The piston 11 is provided with a leak hole 13 that passes through it in the axial direction, and a circumferential groove 14 on the outer periphery.
is engraved. When the piston 11 is urged in the direction of protruding from the cylinder IO by the spring 12 as shown in FIG. 7b, and the upstream side 8a and downstream side 8b of the liquid feeding path 8 are connected and disconnected by the piston 11. You're so talented, you hit Piston II Z
The upstream side 7a of the air supply path 7 is pressed against the urging force of 2.
and the downstream side 7b are connected to each other by the piston II, and the upstream side 8a and the downstream side 8b of the liquid feeding path 8 communicate with each other via the circumferential groove 14 of the piston 11. Note that the piston 11 is provided with an OII ink 15 that maintains airtightness between the piston 11 and the cylinder 1o.

One end of each downstream side 7b, 8b located on the distal end side of the insertion section 3 of the upper bC air supply path 7 and the liquid supply channel 8 merges and communicates with a nozzle 16 provided at the distal end of the insertion section 3. There is. Also, the above connector 6 I? The upstream side 7a, which is the other end of the air supply path 7, is connected to the connection cap 1-, which is protruded from the end surface of the connector 6.
It opens at 7. Furthermore, the upstream side 8a, which is the other end of the liquid feeding path 8 led from the connector 6c, is connected to the 1f of this connector 6.
It opens into a connecting portion 18 formed on the lJ plane.

Further, a blade mouth pressure path 19 branched from the upstream side 7a of the air supply path 7 is opened in this connection portion I8. The connection portion I8 has a connection cap 20 at one end thereof, and a vibrator 21 is airtightly connected thereto via the connection cap 20. The double vibrator 2I is composed of an inner tube 22 and an outer tube 23, and the inner tube 22 has a center hole 24 formed in the 4F-u base 20.
The outer tube 23 communicates with the peripheral hole 25.

When the connection cap 20 is connected to the connection part 1B, the inner tube 22 communicates with the liquid feeding path 8 through the center hole 24, and the outer tube 23 communicates with the pressure path 19 through the peripheral hole 25. It looks like this. In addition, the other end of the double pipe 21 is filled with liquid,
is airtightly connected via a cap 27 to the first liquid feeding tank 26 in which the liquid feeding tank 26 is housed.
The inner tube 22 is open to the upper nitrogen chamber, and the inner tube 22 is filled with liquid.

Immersed inside.

On the other hand, the light source device 5 to which the connector 6 is connected is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the binding body 28
Inside, there is provided a light source 29, a lens 30 for focusing the light from the light source 29, and a coupling hole 31 in which the connection cap 12 protruding from the end face of the connector 6 can be removably inserted. The receiving portion 32 is connected to the first air pump 34 whose discharge side communicates with the fitting hole 314 via the air sending vibrator 33.
It has When the connector 6 is connected to the first receiver part 32, the light from the light source 29 enters the light guide fiber 361 in the light guide base 35 protruding from the end surface of the connector 6, and the light from the light source 29 enters the first receiver. Air from the air supply pump 34 opens into the connection mouthpiece 17 through the air supply path 7.
upstream of l1lI7a.

The air supply unit 4o is constructed as shown in FIG.
The discharge side thereof communicates via a pressurizing pipe 43 with an upper space within a second liquid supply tank 44 in which liquid is accommodated. Further, a switching operation valve 46 is provided in the unit body 40, and a second receiving portion 45 is provided with a fitting hole 45a into which the connection mouthpiece 17 of the connector 6 is detachably fitted. . The switching operation valve 46 of w, 2 includes a cylinder 47, a piston 48 that is slidably inserted into the cylinder 47 and has one end projected outside the unit body 41, and a direction in which the piston 48 is projected from the cylinder 47. A circumferential groove 50 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 48. Further, the piston 48 is provided with O2 to maintain airtightness between the piston 48 and the cylinder 47.
II song 1 has been set up. ”2 cylinder 47
The peripheral wall of the air supply tube 52 (which has one end near the bottom thereof communicated with the upper space in the second liquid supply tank 44)
The other end of the connecting tube 53 is connected, and the bent end is connected to the fitting hole 45a of the portion 45, and the other end of the connecting tube 53 is connected to the peripheral wall of the cylinder 47. A pumping tube 54 is provided with one end connected to the upper, lower and lower ends of each tube 52 and 53, and the other end of the pumping tube 54 is airtightly inserted into the second liquid feeding tank 44. The second switching operation valve 46 is in the state shown in FIG. 3, that is, the piston 48
When the spring 49 protrudes, the air supply tube 52 and the connecting tube 53 communicate with each other through the inner space 9 of the cylinder 47, pushing the piston 48, and when the piston 48 is pushed in, the piston 48 is pushed through the circumferential groove 5o. The water pumping tube 54 and the connecting tube 53 are communicated with each other.

Next, the operation of the air/liquid feeding device will be explained. When the endoscope I is used for normal observation, etc., the connector 6 is connected to the first receiver 32 of the light source device 5, and the light source device 5 is activated. Then, the light from the light source 29 enters the light guide cap 35, and the air from the first air pump 34 passes through the air vibrator 33 into the air passage 7 opened to the connection cap 17 of the connector 6. The upstream side 7al flows in. The air flowing into the upstream side 7a of the air supply path 7 flows through the leak hole 13 of the piston 11 of the first switching valve 9.
is emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, the leak hole 13
When the air is closed with a finger, the air passes through the downstream side 7b of the air supply path 7 and is ejected from the nozzle I6. In addition, when sending liquid to the liquid sending path 8, the piston lZ of the first switching operation valve 9 is pushed in to shut off the upstream side of the air feeding path 7 (jilt 7a and the downstream side 7b, and the upstream side of the liquid feeding path 8 The side 8a and the downstream side 8b are connected. By blocking the air supply path 7, the air flowing into the upstream side 7a of the air supply path 7 is transferred from the pressurization path 19 to the outside of the double vibrator 21. It flows through the pipe 23 and flows into the first liquid feeding tank 26, pressurizing the liquid L1 inside.Therefore, the liquid L1
flows through the inner pipe 22 of the double vibrator 21 to the upstream side 8a of the liquid feeding path 8, and from there flows to the piston I of the first switching operation valve 9.
It flows to the downstream IL118b through the circulation a14 of I, and flows out from the nozzle I6.

On the other hand, when the observation using the endoscope 1 is finished and the air supply path 7 is to be cleaned, the connector 6 is connected to the liquid supply unit 4.
The second receiver of θ is connected to part 45j. Then, while operating the second air supply pump 42, the piston 48 of the second switching operation valve 46 is pushed in, and the water pumping tube 54 and the connector tube 53 are communicated via PI3t=s5o of the piston 48. Then, the liquid L2 is pressurized by the air sent from the second air pump 42 to the second liquid feeding tank 44ζ, and this liquid L2 flows into the second receiving part 45. The liquid flows into the upstream side 7a of the air supply path 7 from the connection mouthpiece 17 of the connector 6 connected to the part 45. Therefore, if the leak hole 13 of the piston II of the first switching valve 9 is closed, the liquid Since Lt flows out from the nozzle 16 through the downstream side 7b of the air supply path 7,
The entire length of the air supply path 7 is cleaned by the flow of this liquid L2. Further, if the liquid L2 is a medical liquid, the air supply path 7 is eliminated.

After cleaning the air supply path 7 in this manner, the piston 48 of the second switching operation valve 46 (excluding the applied biasing force), the air supply tube 52 and the connection tube 53 are in communication with each other, and the air supply path 7 Since air flows through the air, the liquid L remains in the air supply path 7.
A so-called draining process is carried out to remove 2.

Further, according to the above configuration, when wiping and disinfecting the air supply path 7, the first receiver of the light source device 5 is removed from the part 32, and the second receiver of the liquid supply unit 40 is connected to the part 45. Must be piled up.

When the connector 6 is connected to the second receiving part 45, the light from the light source 29 is no longer incident on the light guide base 35. That is, the illumination light is not emitted from the endoscope 1 (therefore, the insertion section 3 of the endoscope Wll cannot be inserted into the patient's body cavity. In other words, the insertion section 3 can be inserted into the patient's body cavity. When the connector 6 is in the
2 (in this case, even if the second switching operation valve 46 of the liquid feeding unit 40 is accidentally replaced, the liquid L2 in the second liquid feeding tank 44 is sent into the patient's body cavity. In particular, if the liquid L2 is a medicinal liquid, a serious accident will occur if the liquid L2 is sent into the patient's body cavity, but such a risk can be eliminated.

Note that in the first embodiment, the second air pump 4
The pressure tube 9L 43 connected to the discharge side of the second liquid supply tank 43 may be connected to the air supply tube 52 instead of being connected to the collar of the second liquid supply tank.

Further, a leak valve (not shown) that opens at a predetermined pressure may be connected to the pressurizing pipe 43 to prevent an abnormal pressure rise inside the pressurizing pipe 43.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to a second switching operation valve 46 as a second switching mechanism in the liquid feeding unit 40, a device having the same structure as the second switching operation 46 is provided. A third switching operation valve 60 was provided, and a third liquid feeding tank 61 containing liquid L3 was also provided. The third switching operation valve 60 has one end connected to the circumferential wall of the sill 47 and the other end connected to the first end.
The second receiver is connected to the fitting hole 45a of the portion 45 through the check valve 62.
The liquid feeding tube 63 connected to the
7 and the other end is connected to the liquid L of the third liquid sending tank 61.
A second pumping tube 64 is provided which is immersed in the s. In addition, a pressurizing pipe 4 is provided in the third liquid sending tank 61.
A pressurized branch vibro 5 branched from 3 is connected to communicate with the upper protrusion.

Note that the connecting tube 53 is provided with a second check valve 66 .

According to such "4+ kl, the second switching operation valve 4
6, the liquid L2 in the second liquid supply tank 44 can be caused to flow into the air supply path 7, as in the first embodiment. In the pushed-in state, the piston 4 of the third switching operation valve 60
8 to connect the liquid feeding tube 63 and the water pumping tube 64 of the leg 2 through the circumferential groove 50 of the piston 48, the third liquid feeding tube 63, which had been under zero pressure due to the air from the pressurized branch vibro 5, is opened. The liquid L3 in the tank 61 flows through the air supply path No. 7. That is, only the liquid L2 in the second liquid feeding tank 44 or the liquid in the second liquid feeding tank 44 and the liquid L3 in the third liquid feeding tank 61 may flow through the air feeding path 7. Since liquid L2 can be used as cleaning liquid,
If the liquid L3 is a chemical liquid, and the mixture of the liquid and the liquid L3 is flowed through the air passage 7, and then the liquid L is flowed, the air passage 7 can be used as a cleaning liquid and a chemical liquid. After cleaning and disinfecting with a mixed solution, the remaining chemical solution can be removed using only the cleaning solution. That is, the cleaning liquid and the chemical solution can be arbitrarily selected and flowed into the air supply path 7.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is the second embodiment of the second embodiment. Third switching operation valve 46.60
Instead, only one fourth switching operation valve 70 capable of two-stage switching is used as the second switching device. That is, the fourth switching operation valve 70 includes a sill 71, a piston 72 slidably inserted into the sill 21, a cypress handle 173 connected to the piston 72 and protruding from the sill 71, and an opening in the sill 71. Lid body 7
It is composed of 4.

A circumferential groove 75 is carved on the outer periphery of the piston 72, and an oil ring 76 is provided to maintain airtightness between the piston 72 and the sill 71. Further, on the outer periphery of the operating rod 73, a first locking groove 77 and a second locking groove 77 are spaced apart in the axial direction.
#7& are formed, and these retaining grooves 77 and 78 are formed so that when the operating rod 73 is pushed into the cylinder 71, the lid body 7
The inner circumferential surface of the through hole 79 of No. 4 (which is adapted to elastically engage sequentially with the provided O-ring 80. Also, one end of the circumferential wall number 710 is connected to the throat of the second receiving portion 45). Matching hole 4
The other end of the air/liquid feeding tube 81 communicating with 5a is connected approximately halfway in the axial direction. Further, one end of the peripheral wall of the cylinder 71 is connected to the liquid of the second liquid feeding tank 44, and the other end of the pumping tube 54 immersed therein is connected to the same lower part in the axial direction via a first check valve 82, Further, the other end of the second water pumping pump 4 whose one end is immersed in the liquid L3 of the third liquid sending tank 61 is connected to the upper part in the axial direction via the second check valve 83. When the piston 72 is raised within the cylinder 71 and is in the state shown in FIG. ing. 1st operating lever 73
until the engagement groove 77 of the piston 7 engages with the O-ring 80.
2, the air/liquid feeding tube 81 and the second pumping tube 64 are brought into communication via the circumferential groove 75, and the piston 72 is further pushed in to engage with the second engagement groove 78 of the operating rod 73. , air/liquid feeding tube 81 and water pumping tube 5
4 are communicated with each other via a circumferential groove 75.

Therefore, if the fourth switching operation valve 70 having such a configuration is used, by operating the piston 72 to connect the air/liquid feeding tube 8 and the second water pumping tube 64, the third switching operation valve 70 can be operated. The liquid L2 in the liquid supply tank 61 can be sent to the air supply path 7, and if the air and liquid supply tube 81 and the water pumping tube 54 are communicated, the liquid L2 in the second liquid supply tank 44 can be sent to the air supply path 7. 7. That is, either the liquid L2 or the liquid droplet 3 can be selectively sent to the air supply path 7.

In addition, in this third embodiment, the piston 72
If the length of the circumferential groove 75 is set so that both the pumping tube 54 and the second pumping knee pro 4 communicate with the air/liquid feeding tube 81 when the air/liquid feeding tube 81 is pushed in, the air feeding path Either liquid L3 or a mixed liquid of several bodies Lt and liquids L3 and Q can be selectively sent to 7.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the second air supply pump, the second
．． The third liquid feeding tank and the second switching operation mechanism may be provided outside the unit main body.

As described above, the present invention connects the connector provided at the end of the endoscope Q) universal cord to the first terminal of the light source device.
Remove the receiver from the part and connect the second receiver of the liquid delivery unit to the part (thereby, the above inner part, frog, universal cord and G are formed). Therefore, when cleaning and disinfecting the air passage, the connector can be removed from the first receiver and connected to the second receiver. Therefore, when using the endoscope to examine a patient, etc., it is important to avoid the risk of injecting special cleaning liquid into the patient's body cavity through the air passage. I can do it,
Excellent safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration, FIG. 2 is a diagram of the internal configuration of the light source @, and FIG. 3 is the interior of the liquid feeding unit. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first switching operation valve provided in the operating section of the endoscope, and FIG. 6 1 is a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a liquid feeding unit, and is a cross section (2) of a fourth switching valve showing a third embodiment of the present invention. I...Endoscope, 2...Operation unit, 4...Universal cord, 5...Light source device, 6...Connector, 7...
. . . Air supply path, 8 . . . Liquid transmission path, 32 . air supply pump, 44...second liquid supply tank, 45...second receiver, 46...second switching operation valve, 60...third switching operation valve, 61. ...Third liquid sending tank, 70...Fourth switching operation valve. Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] An endoscope, a universal cord connected to the operating section of the endoscope, a connector provided at the end of the universal cord, and an air supply path and liquid supply provided between the endoscope and the universal cord. a light source device having a first receiver to which the connector can be connected; a liquid feeding unit having a second receiver to which the connector can be connected; an air supply means for supplying air to the air supply path when the connector is connected to the part;
An air/liquid feeding device for an endoscope, characterized in that the second receiver comprises a liquid feeding means for feeding liquid to the air passage when a connector is connected to the second receiver.