JP2000197605A - Endoscope washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the recovery time of waste liquid and liquid chemicals by forcibly discharging or forcibly recovering water or the liquid chemicals stored inside a washing tank directly from the inside of the washing tank through a pump and a changeover valve. SOLUTION: After soaking and leaving an endoscope 80 inside a washing tank main body 2 filled with detergent water W', the endoscope 80 is washed with water W and bubble mixed flowing water W1. At the time, the flow passage of the water W, the bubble mixed water W1 and the detergent water W' inside the washing tank main body 2 during the washing process of the endoscope 80 is executed by being divided into the circulation system of passing them from a water discharge port 2D through a filter F1, a water discharge stop valve MV1 and an adjustment valve V1 to a vortex turbine pump P2 and supplying them to a micro bubble nozzle N1 by two circulation/water discharge switching valves V2 and a vortex SOL3 and the discharge system of discharging them from the second circulation/water discharge switching valve V2 to the outside and they are forcibly discharged or forcibly recovered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for cleaning an endoscope for medical equipment for observing, photographing, and removing cells from a diseased part of a patient, and more particularly, to a method for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope in a cleaning tank. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope cleaning apparatus in which accumulated water or chemical liquid is forcibly drained or forcibly collected from a cleaning tank by a pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope cleaning device has been known as Japanese Patent Publication 5
What is found in JP-A-6-34155 is provided. This endoscope cleaning device is a cleaning device that mixes bubbles and running water. By adopting the disinfection method, the processing capacity is high and the operability is improved. The specific configuration is
`` The upper surface of the cleaning tank main body is constituted by a panel made of a resin molding material or the like in which a number of pores are perforated on the wall of a spiral groove having a gradient that gradually decreases as going from the outside to the inside, The fluid such as washing water supplied to the spiral groove has a flow velocity, and air is jetted from a large number of pores formed on the wall surface of the spiral groove to generate air bubbles in the water flow. Endoscope cleaning apparatus "for cleaning an endoscope.

In the above-mentioned endoscope cleaning apparatus, in the cleaning / disinfecting process for cleaning / disinfecting the endoscope (fiber), the endoscope (fiber) is arranged in an annular shape in a cleaning tank, and water is supplied into the tank. When the full water level is reached, bubbles and a mixture of bubbles are generated until the time set by the operator,
Waste water (drainage) is discharged from the drain port through the water accumulated in the washing tank
Then, the chemical in the chemical tank is filled into the cleaning tank via the chemical pump, and the endoscope (fiber) is immersed and disinfected until a set time. After immersion disinfection, the chemical in the cleaning tank is collected in the chemical tank from the same drain, and water is supplied to the cleaning tank to rinse the endoscope (fiber). Wastewater (drainage).

According to the endoscope cleaning apparatus, when cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope (fiber), a height difference is provided between a cleaning tank, a drainage tank, and a chemical liquid tank in order to collect waste liquid and chemical liquid into the tank. Equipment configuration. with this,
Utilizing the natural fall, the liquid is drained to the drain tank via the drain valve at the time of chemical liquid. Thereafter, the wastewater is drained (drained) to the outside of the endoscope cleaning device by the drainage pump. At the time of collection, the liquid is collected in a chemical tank via a collection valve. However, there are issues that need to be improved in the following areas. (1)
Since natural fall is used for waste liquid and recovery, it takes a lot of time for waste liquid and recovery. (2) If a forced pump for forcibly performing waste liquid and recovery is added, the cost including piping and the like attached to it is increased.
(3) In the cleaning step, since the liquid in the cleaning tank is circulated via the circulation pump, there is a problem that bacteria may propagate in the circulation pump.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional endoscope cleaning apparatus, the present invention forcibly collects waste liquid and chemical solution during the endoscope cleaning step directly from the cleaning tank. The present invention provides an endoscope cleaning device that can shorten the collection time of a waste liquid and a chemical liquid by performing the collection, and can also use the circulation pump as a recovery path for the chemical liquid to disinfect the circulation pump. Aim.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention
In the endoscope cleaning apparatus, in an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting process, water or chemical liquid accumulated in the cleaning tank is forcibly discharged or collected from the cleaning tank directly from the cleaning tank via a pump and a switching valve. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the circulation pump is used as a recovery path when the chemical solution is collected, and the inside of the circulation pump is disinfected by passing the chemical solution. It is characterized by that.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recovery of the waste liquid and the chemical during the cleaning process of the endoscope is forcibly performed directly from the cleaning tank by the switching valve and the pump, thereby shortening the recovery time of the waste and the chemical. Is playing. Thus, the fiber cleaning time can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when recovering the chemical solution after immersion and disinfection of the fiber with the chemical solution, the chemical solution is collected into the chemical solution tank by using the circulation pump as a recovery route for the chemical solution, so that the chemical solution passes through the circulation pump. And the inside of the circulation pump is disinfected. Thereby, the endoscope cleaning device can always be kept clean (sanitary).

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an endoscope cleaning apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cleaning tank. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram including a control system.

First, in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the endoscope cleaning apparatus 100 has a cleaning tank main body 2 in which an endoscope 80 is placed on the upper surface 1A of the box 1. This washing tank body 2
Is a dish shape having an annular tank 2A having a U-shaped cross section with an open upper surface. Therefore, when running water or mixed bubble water is sprayed into the cleaning tank main body 2, the running water circulates while rotating in the spiral groove 2, and reaches the filter F from the overflow hole 2C provided in the central portion 2B, It is discharged through the drain pump P1. Endoscope 8 housed in cleaning tank body 2
Numeral 0 is washed by the flow of running water W, mixed bubble flowing water W1, detergent water W ', etc., and is sterilized by the chemical Y.

At the outer peripheral position of the cleaning tank main body 2, four vortex nozzles (spray nozzles) N and a disinfectant discharge port S
1 and this disinfecting tap S2 and two level switches LS
1, LS2 and the “suction port K1,
Water supply port K2, forceps K3 "attachment coupler AK
And the vinyl pipes H1, H2, and H3. On the front side of the upper surface 1A of the box 1, there are provided various operation switches (water supply port switch Sa, suction port switch Sb of an attachment coupler, and switch Sc of a water leakage check coupler. As a result, cleaning / disinfection is performed.・ Can perform automatic cleaning operation.

Next, a schematic configuration of a control system for controlling the operation of the endoscope cleaning apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The washing tank main body 2 is a dish type having an annular tank 2A whose upper surface is open. First, bubble mixed flowing water (microbubbles) W1 generated in the cleaning step (A) is supplied to the cleaning tank main body 2 from the microbubble nozzle N1. The generation method is produced by, for example, the vortex turbine pump P2. The manufacturing route is as follows.
The air E is connected to the air suction portion (a) of the vortex turbine pump P2 via the OL1 so that the air E can be sent. The water W is supplied to a drain port 2D provided at the lowest part of the cleaning tank body 2.
The filter F1 is connected to a regulating valve V1 via a drainage opening / closing valve MV1, where the flow rate is controlled and water W is supplied to a water suction portion (b) of the vortex turbine pump P2 so as to be able to be sent.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air E and the water W fed (supplied) to the vortex turbine pump P2 are mixed by the rotating impeller H which rotates the air E and the water W at a high speed. And very fine bubble mixed flowing water (micro bubbles)
W1 is manufactured. The bubble-mixed flowing water W1 reaches the microbubble nozzle N1 via the circulation / drainage switching valve V2 and the “air separator + air release valve” V3. Of course, other types of pumps may be used in addition to the vortex turbine pump P2.

The water W, the bubble-mixed flowing water W1, the detergent water W 'and the like in the cleaning tank main body 2 are supplied from a drain port 2D to a filter F.
1, a drainage on-off valve MV1, a vortex turbine pump P2 via a control valve V1, and two circulation / drainage switching valves V2
By the vortex flow SOL3, the water is distributed to a circulation system supplied to the microbubble nozzle N1 or the vortex nozzle (spray nozzle) N and a discharge system discharged to the outside from the second circulation / drainage switching valve V2.

The washing tank main body 2 is provided with a water supply nozzle N2 used for water supply. The water supply nozzle N2 is provided with a "water supply tap" K, a "pressure reducing valve" G, and a "water supply" SOL from a water supply or the like.
The water W is supplied via 4. In addition, a detergent is supplied to the detergent nozzle N3 used in the immersion step from a detergent tank T1 containing a detergent of PROTECLIN through a detergent pump P4. When an appropriate amount of detergent is supplied from the detergent nozzle N3 into the washing tank main body 2, the detergent water W 'is diluted with water in the washing tank. The detergent water W 'is supplied into the vortex turbine pump P2 together with air, and a delicate bubble-mixed detergent liquid Wo in which bubbles are mixed inside the pump is obtained by means similar to the bubble-mixed flowing water W1.

That is, the air E and the detergent water W 'sent (supplied) to the vortex turbine pump P2 rotate the air E and the detergent water W' at a high speed as shown in FIGS. The mixture is mixed by the rotary impeller H to produce a very fine bubble-mixed detergent liquid (microbubble) Wo. The bubble-mixed detergent liquid Wo passes through the circulation / drainage switching valve V2 and the “air separator + air release valve” V3, and the microbubble nozzle N1.
Leads to.

A chemical solution Y in a chemical solution tank T2 containing a sterilizing solution is supplied to a chemical solution faucet N4 functioning in the disinfecting step (B) by a chemical solution pump (chemical solution circulating pump) P3.
The path supplies the chemical Y in the chemical tank T2 from the chemical pump (chemical circulating pump) P3 to the chemical tap N4. Then, the chemical Y in the cleaning tank reaches the swirl turbine pump P2 from the drain 2D via the filter F1, the drain opening / closing valve MV1, and the regulating valve V1, and from the first circulation / drain switching valve V2 to the chemical tank T2. Form a circulation system that is returned.
In addition, a discharge system that discharges the chemical solution from the second circulation / drainage switching valve V2 to the outside is formed by the switching operation of the second circulation / drainage switching valve V2.

In the rinsing step (C), water W is supplied to the water supply nozzle N2 from a "water supply tap" K such as water supply via a "pressure reducing valve" G and a "water supply" SOL4 into the cleaning tank. . The water W in the washing tank reaches the vortex turbine pump P2 from the drain port 2D via the filter F1, the drain opening / closing valve MV1, and the regulating valve V1, and from the second circulation / drain switching valve V2 to the air separator + air. Release valve V3 and vortex open / close S
The swirling flow W2, which is a swirling flow, is injected from the swirling nozzle N into the cleaning tank main body 2 via the OL3.

The endoscope 80 has an appearance as shown in FIG. The main body portion 80A and the operation portion 80B are connected by a connection pipe 80C, and the main body portion 80A has an insertion portion 80D.
It has. The main body 80A has a suction port (a), a water supply port (b), and forceps (c), and a vinyl pipe H branched from the discharge port of the vortex turbine pump P2.
1, H2 and H3 are connected. With this pipe, the bubble-mixed detergent liquid Wo is supplied into the fiber pipe, and becomes a pipe path for cleaning this pipe.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
Has a dish-shaped cross section having an annular tank 2A whose upper surface is open, and the main body and the fiber portion of the endoscope 80 are wound into the annular tank 2A and accommodated therein.

The endoscope cleaning apparatus 100 of the present invention is configured as described above, and operates as follows. First,
As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 80 to be cleaned is wound around the circumference and placed in the annular tank 2 </ b> A of the cleaning tank body 2. continue,
As shown in FIG. 8, the endoscope 80 is washed in the washing step (A) in a detergent immersion step (A1) in which the endoscope 80 is immersed in the washing tank body 2 filled with the detergent water W ′. )When,
The bubble mixed detergent liquid W after the detergent immersion step (A1)
o, and a vortex cleaning step (A2) using bubble mixed flowing water W1 and vortex W2. Subsequently, the process proceeds to a disinfection step (B) using the chemical solution Y and a final rinsing step (C).

First, a detergent dipping step (A1) of immersing the endoscope 80 in the cleaning tank body 2 filled with the detergent water W '.
The washing tank body 2 is provided with a water supply nozzle N2, and water W is supplied to the water supply nozzle N2 from a "water supply main tap" K such as a water supply via a "pressure reducing valve" G and a "water supply" SOL4.
Detergent is supplied to the detergent nozzle N3 from a detergent tank T1 containing a detergent of PROTECLEAN via a detergent pump P4. An appropriate amount of detergent is supplied from the detergent nozzle N3 into the cleaning tank main body 2 to make the detergent water W 'diluted with water in the cleaning tank.

The endoscope 80 is placed in the detergent water W 'in the washing tank, and the detergent immersion step (A1) proceeds. After a predetermined time,
The detergent immersion step (A1) is completed, and the mode is switched to the vortex cleaning step (A2) using the bubble-mixed detergent liquid Wo and the bubble-mixed flowing water W1 and the vortex W2 after the detergent immersion step (A1). Here, the vortex turbine pump P2
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air E and the detergent water W ′ sent (supplied) to the air E and the detergent water W ′ are mixed by a rotating impeller H that rotates at a high speed. A fine bubble mixed detergent liquid (microbubble) Wo is produced. This bubble-mixed detergent liquid Wo reaches the microbubble nozzle N1 via the circulation / drainage switching valve V2 and the “air separator + air release valve” V3, and is supplied into the cleaning tank main body. In particular, a delicate bubble mixed detergent liquid Wo can be easily obtained with one pump,
The surface of the endoscope is finely cleaned by the bubble mixed detergent liquid Wo. As a result, even with room temperature water, the action of the delicate bubble-mixed detergent solution Wo exerts an excellent action of cleaning the surface of the fiber.

Subsequently, the vortex cleaning step (A2) using the bubble-mixed flowing water W1 proceeds as follows. Bubble-mixed running water W to be supplied to the cleaning tank body containing the endoscope
1 is a vortex turbine pump P as shown in FIGS.
In 2, the air E and the water W are mixed by the rotating blades H rotating at a high speed to produce very fine bubble-mixed flowing water (microbubbles) W1. The bubble mixed flowing water W1 can be delicately obtained continuously from the discharge port only by supplying water and air into the pump. The bubble-mixed flowing water reaches the microbubble nozzle N1 via the circulation / drainage switching valve V2 and the “air separator + air release valve” V3.

In the endoscope cleaning process, the water W in the cleaning tank main body 2 and the mixed bubble water W1, the detergent water W ', W
The flow paths of o, W2, etc. are provided from the drain port 2D to the filter F1,
A circulation system which reaches the vortex turbine pump P2 via the drainage on-off valve MV1 and the control valve V1, and is supplied to the microbubble nozzle N1 or the vortex nozzle (spray nozzle) N by two circulation / drainage switching valves V2 and the vortex SOL3. ,
The operation is distributed to the discharge system drained from the second circulation / drainage switching valve V2 to the outside. That is, at least one or more switching valves and at least one or more pumps are forcibly performed directly from the cleaning tank, thereby shortening the recovery time of the waste liquid / chemical solution and shortening the fiber cleaning time.

The bubble-mixed flowing water W1 injected from the microbubble nozzle N1 is, as shown in FIGS.
The endoscope 8 rotates while rotating counterclockwise in the annular tank 2A.
0, and therefore the delicate bubble-mixed running water W1 is
Endoscope fiber surface (and part of fiber interior)
It can penetrate into the details and can be washed finely.

Further, since the bubble-mixed flowing water W1 circulates in the annular tank while circulating in the circumferential direction, the flow of the bubble-mixed flowing water becomes smooth, and the fiber surface of the endoscope (and the inner surface of the fiber) is circulated. Part) is efficiently and densely washed with a stream of water and bubbles.

In order to clean the inside of the endoscope 80 more clearly, the suction port (a), the water supply port (b) and the forceps (c) provided in the main body 80A of the endoscope 80 are provided with Connect the vinyl pipes H1, H2 and H3, and
This is performed by supplying the bubble mixed flowing water W1 to H2 and H3. Thereby, the fiber surface of the endoscope and the inside of the fiber can be efficiently and densely washed independently. Therefore, each part of the endoscope is completely cleaned, and the endoscope can be maintained in a sanitary state.

Finally, in the disinfecting step (B), the chemical Y in the chemical tank T2 containing the disinfecting liquid is supplied to the chemical tap N4 functioning in the disinfecting step (B) by the chemical liquid pump (chemical liquid circulating pump) P3. You. The route is the chemical tank T
The chemical solution Y of 2 is supplied from a chemical solution pump (chemical solution circulating pump) P3.
It is supplied to the chemical tap N4. Then, the chemical solution Y in the cleaning tank
From the drain 2D to the filter F1, the drain valve MV
1, reaching the vortex turbine pump P2 via the regulating valve V1, forming a circulation system, the first circulation / drainage switching valve V2
From the tank T2. In addition, the second circulation /
By the switching operation of the drainage switching valve V2, a discharge system is formed, and the chemical solution is discharged from the second circulation / drainage switching valve V2 to the outside.

When recovering the chemical after immersion and disinfection of the fiber with the chemical, the circulation pump is used as a recovery path for the chemical, and the chemical is recovered into the chemical tank. Is disinfected. Thereby, the endoscope cleaning device can always be kept clean (sanitary).

According to the endoscope cleaning device 100 of the present invention,
The following effects are obtained. First, the recovery of waste liquid and chemical liquid during the endoscope cleaning process is forcibly performed directly from the cleaning tank by the switching valve and the pump, thereby shortening the collection time of waste liquid and chemical liquid and shortening the fiber cleaning time. Can be achieved.

When the chemical solution is collected after the fiber is immersed and disinfected with the chemical solution, the circulation pump is used as a chemical solution collection path to collect the chemical solution into the chemical solution tank. Is disinfected. Thereby, the endoscope cleaning device can always be kept clean (sanitary).

The above is an introduction of a limited embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the endoscope cleaning apparatus 100 shown in the above embodiment. For example, the configuration of the control system for controlling the operation of the endoscope cleaning apparatus 100 is not limited to the pump type and the number thereof and the switching valve type and the number thereof shown in FIG. Further, the configuration of the detailed pipeline can be appropriately changed in design.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning and disinfecting step of the endoscope, water or chemical solution accumulated in the cleaning tank is directly discharged from the cleaning tank via the pump and the switching valve from the cleaning tank. Forced waste liquid or forced recovery
The effect of shortening the fiber cleaning time is achieved by shortening the recovery time of the chemical solution.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when collecting the chemical, the circulation pump is used as a recovery path, and the inside of the circulation pump is disinfected by the passage of the chemical, so that the endoscope cleaning device is always cleaned (sanitary). It is possible to maintain (clean) and disinfect and clean (sanitarily) the inside and outside of the fiber of the endoscope.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an external perspective view of an endoscope cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the endoscope cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the endoscope cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an operation sectional view of a vortex turbine pump.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a perspective view of an impeller of a vortex turbine pump.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning tank main body.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the endoscope.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a process diagram of cleaning and disinfection.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Box 1A Upper surface 2 Cleaning tank main body 2A Annular tank 2B Central part 2C Overflow hole E Air H Rotating blade H1, H2, H Vinyl piping N1 Micro bubble nozzle P1 Drain pump P2 Eddy flow turbine pump P3 Chemical pump P4 Detergent pump W Water W 'Detergent water W1 Bubble-mixed running water Wo Bubble-mixed detergent liquid 80 Endoscope 80A Main unit 80B Operation unit 80C Connection tube 80D Insertion unit (A) Cleaning process (A1) Detergent immersion process (A2) Eddy flow cleaning process (B) Disinfection Process (C) Rinse process (A) Suction port (B) Water supply port (C) Forceps 100 Endoscope cleaning device

Claims (2)

[Claims] In the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting step, water or chemical liquid accumulated in the cleaning tank is forcibly discharged or collected from the cleaning tank directly from the cleaning tank via a pump and a switching valve. Endoscope cleaning device. 2. The endoscope cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a circulation pump is used as a recovery path when the chemical solution is collected, and the inside of the circulation pump is sterilized by passing the chemical solution.