JPH10314114A - Endoscope washing and disinfecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the abnormality of a temperature sensor earliest by detecting the trouble of temperature sensors by monitoring the hourly change of the output values of a first temperature sensor measuring the temperature of a liquid in a washing tank and a second temperature sensor measuring the temperature of a disinfectant liquid in a disinfectant liquid tank. SOLUTION: A washing tank temperature sensor 41 detecting the temperature of the liquid in the washing tank 1 is installed in the tank 1 and a disinfectant liquid tank temperature sensor 42 detecting the temperature of the disinfectant liquid stored in the disinfectant liquid tank 11 is installed in the tank 11. A control part controls the heating operation of a heater 46 based on the detection signal of the sensor 41 to control the temperature of the liquid in the tank 1. Then, the detection signals of the sensors 41 and 42 are inputted to a discrimination circuit to detect the trouble of one or both of the sensors 41 and 42 by monitoring the hourly change of the output value of the sensors 41 and 42 or comparing the output value of the sensors 41 and 42, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is provided with a cleaning tank, a dirty endoscope after use is installed in the cleaning tank, and the endoscope is cleaned with cleaning water and then stored in a cleaning tank for disinfection. The endoscope is disinfected by immersing it in the liquid. By the way, when disinfecting an endoscope with a disinfectant, a desired disinfection effect cannot be obtained unless the temperature of the disinfectant is proper.
For this reason, in the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-41025, means for heating the disinfecting solution and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the disinfecting solution are provided, and based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor. The operation of the disinfectant heating means is controlled to adjust the temperature of the disinfectant.

[0003]

However, in a conventional endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus in which the temperature of the disinfecting solution is adjusted, the temperature is detected only by the detection signal of the temperature sensor. If the temperature sensor fails, the temperature control will not be performed properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to quickly detect an abnormality of a temperature sensor and to notify a user of the abnormality in order to appropriately maintain the temperature of a disinfecting solution. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(Constitution) An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a cleaning tank for installing an endoscope for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope, and a first temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a liquid in the cleaning tank. When,
A disinfectant tank for storing a disinfectant for disinfecting the endoscope supplied to the cleaning tank, and a second temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank; A failure of the temperature sensor is detected by monitoring a temporal change in an output value of at least one of the sensor and the second temperature sensor, or by comparing output values of both temperature sensors.

(Operation) The control section judges the detection signal of the temperature sensor to detect an abnormality of the temperature sensor, and if abnormal, informs the user, for example. To detect a failure in which the detected value of the temperature sensor includes an error with respect to the actual temperature of the measurement target, the failure is detected by comparing the detected values of the two temperature sensors. Further, a failure in which the temperature sensor sticks to a constant value without following the temperature change is detected by monitoring a temporal change.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic pipe configuration of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaning tank, in which an endoscope 2 is installed.
The washing tank 1 has an inlet 3 for injecting washing water or disinfectant. The inlet 3 is connected to a water supply system 4 and a disinfectant solution system 5 provided in the main body of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus.

The water supply system 4 has a water supply line 6, and a water supply valve 7 and a check valve 8 are provided in the middle of the water supply line 6. The distal end of the water supply line 6 is connected to the inlet 3, and the other end of the water supply line 6 is connected to a water supply source, for example, a water tap 9 for water supply.

The disinfecting liquid system 5 has a disinfecting liquid pipe 10, and a disinfecting liquid tank 11 and a disinfecting liquid injection pump 12 are provided in the middle of the disinfecting liquid pipe 10. One end of the disinfecting liquid pipe 10 is connected to a drainage switching valve 15 provided below a discharge port 14 formed at the bottom of the cleaning tank 1, and the other end of the disinfecting liquid pipe 10 is connected via a check valve 16. The washing tank 1 is connected to the inlet 3.

The drainage switching valve 15 has a disinfecting liquid collecting position, a waste liquid position, and a closing position which are switched by a control unit (not shown). It will be in a state of communication. At the waste liquid position, the discharge port 14 is in communication with the waste liquid pipeline 18. At the disinfecting solution recovery position, the disinfecting solution in the cleaning tank 1 can be recovered from the discharge port 14 into the disinfecting solution tank 11 through the disinfecting solution recovery conduit 17. The waste liquid pipe 18 has a drain pump 19 in the middle thereof, and when the drain switching valve 15 is at the waste liquid position, the washing water and the disinfectant in the washing tank 1 are discarded outside the washing / disinfecting apparatus main body. It is supposed to.

Further, the main body of the cleaning / disinfecting apparatus is provided with an endoscope liquid flow cleaning conduit 20 and an endoscope conduit internal cleaning conduit 21. The suction sides of the two pipelines 20 and 21 are connected to communicate with a circulating fluid suction port 22 provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 1. An endoscope fluid washing pump 23 is interposed in the middle of the endoscope fluid washing pipe 20. The end of the endoscope liquid flow washing pipe 20 is connected to a liquid flow outlet 24 provided in the cleaning tank 1 so as to communicate therewith.

The other end of the cleaning / disinfecting conduit 21 in the endoscope conduit is connected to a channel connection port 25 provided in the cleaning tank 1 so as to communicate therewith. Pipeline for washing / disinfecting 2 in the endoscope pipe
An endoscope channel cleaning / disinfecting pump 27 and a solenoid valve 28 are interposed in the middle of 1. The channel connection port 25 is provided with a cleaning / disinfecting tube 29 (for example, a cleaning tube for a suction channel, an air / water pipe, etc.) prepared for each pipe (channel) such as a suction pipe of the endoscope 2 and an air / water pipe. Road cleaning tube, etc.). Then, the cleaning / disinfecting tube 29
Is connected to the endoscope 2 to circulate the washing water or the disinfectant in the washing tank 1 to perform washing and disinfection in the conduit of the endoscope 2.

Further, an air supply pipe 30 is connected to the channel connection port 25. A check valve 31 and a sterilization filter 32 are provided in the middle of the air supply line 30, and a compressor 34 is connected to the other end of the air supply line 30. And the air supply line 30,
Compressed air is sent from the compressor 34 into the endoscope channel through each channel connection port 25 and the washing / disinfecting tube 29 to remove water in the endoscope channel.

On the other hand, a washing tank temperature sensor 41 for detecting the temperature of the liquid stored in the washing tank 1 is provided in the washing tank 1. Further, in the disinfectant tank 11, a disinfectant tank temperature sensor 42 for detecting the temperature of the disinfectant stored in the disinfectant tank 11 is provided. A central tower 45 is provided at the center of the washing tank 1. The central tower 45 is provided with a heater 46 for heating the liquid stored in the washing tank 1. The control unit controls the heating operation of the heater 46 based on the detection signal of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41, and adjusts the liquid in the cleaning tank 1 to an appropriate temperature.

The detection signals from the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 and the disinfectant tank temperature sensor 42 are both input to a discriminating circuit (not shown), for example, as described later.
Monitoring the temporal change of the output value of at least one of the temperature sensors 41, 42, or both temperature sensors 4
The temperature sensors 41, 4 are compared by comparing the output values of the temperature sensors 41, 42 and the like.
One or both failures are detected.

Next, the operation of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus will be described. First, the endoscope 2 used for the inspection is set in the washing tank 1, and the mouth of each conduit of the endoscope 2 is connected to the channel connection port 25 using the washing and disinfecting tube 29. Thereafter, when the start button on the operation panel is pressed, the steps of washing, disinfection, rinsing, and air supply are performed according to the set conditions.

First, in the cleaning step, the water supply valve 7 is first opened, and the cleaning water from the water tap 9 is supplied into the cleaning tank 1 through the water supply line 6 and the inlet 3. Then, when the storage amount reaches the designated water level due to the supply of water into the cleaning tank 1, the water supply valve 7 is closed, and the cleaning is started. For the cleaning, the endoscope fluid washing by operating the endoscope fluid washing pump 23, the opening of the solenoid valve 28, and the endoscope duct washing by operating the endoscope duct washing / disinfecting pump 27 are performed. Both are done. In other words, the washing water in the washing tank 1 is circulated through the endoscope liquid washing pipe 20, and a high-pressure liquid stream is jetted into the washing tank 1 from the liquid jet port 24. 2 mainly cleans the outer surface, and on the other hand, circulates the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 1 through the cleaning / disinfecting conduit 21 in the endoscope conduit to clean the inside of the endoscope conduit.

When the washing process is completed, the drainage switching valve 15 is set to the discard position, and at the same time, the drainage pump 19 is driven, and the washing liquid in the washing tank 1 is discarded to the outside. In the latter half of the rinsing step, the operation of the endoscope pipeline cleaning / disinfecting pump 27 is stopped, and the operation of the compressor 34 is started.
Air is introduced into each conduit of the endoscope 2 through 9,
Drainage in the pipe of the endoscope 2 is performed.

After the rinsing step is completed, a disinfection step is subsequently performed. In this disinfecting process, the disinfecting solution in the disinfecting solution tank 11 is supplied from the inlet 3 into the cleaning tank 1 through the disinfecting solution pipe 10 by operating the disinfecting solution injecting pump 12. When the storage amount of the disinfectant reaches the designated water level, the entire endoscope 2 is completely immersed in the disinfectant. At this time, the temperature of the disinfecting liquid is measured by the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41. When the temperature is lower than an appropriate temperature, the heater 46 is operated based on the detection signal of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 to heat the disinfecting liquid to an appropriate temperature. Corrective temperature adjustment, stop of the process, and the like are performed.

The disinfectant supplied to the cleaning tank 1 is usually heated to an appropriate temperature in advance. That is, the disinfecting solution is heated in advance in the disinfecting solution heating step. The disinfecting solution warming step is to store the disinfecting solution supplied from the disinfecting solution tank 11 in the cleaning tank 1 and operate the cleaning tank heater 46 to heat the disinfecting liquid in the cleaning tank 1 to the target temperature. Upon reaching, the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 1 is collected in the disinfectant tank 11.

Then, the endoscope 2 is immersed in the disinfecting solution in the cleaning tank 1 to disinfect the disinfecting solution, and the operation of the endoscope channel washing and disinfecting pump 27 is started to thereby disinfect the disinfecting solution in the washing tank 1. Is sucked and sent into the conduit of the endoscope 2 through the washing / disinfecting tube 29, and disinfection in the conduit is also performed. Thus, the endoscope 2 is disinfected.

When the predetermined disinfecting time has elapsed, the operation of the endoscope channel cleaning / disinfecting pump 27 is stopped, and the drain switching valve 15 is switched to the disinfecting liquid collecting position. Then, cleaning tank 1
The disinfecting solution in the inside is discharged, flows down through the disinfecting solution collecting pipeline 17, and the disinfecting solution is collected in the disinfecting solution tank 11.

Thereafter, the same operation as in the above-described washing step is performed.
The operation of the compressor 34 is performed in the rinsing step and in the latter half thereof, and the water draining and air supplying step is carefully performed by supplying air into each pipe of the endoscope 2. The endoscope 2 is washed and disinfected by the above steps.

In the above disinfection step, each temperature sensor 4
The abnormalities 1, 42 are monitored, and this monitoring is performed, for example, according to the procedure shown in FIG. That is, immediately before the disinfectant is injected from the disinfectant tank 11 into the cleaning tank 1,
The temperature of the disinfecting solution is detected by the disinfecting solution tank temperature sensor 42, and the value of the detection signal is taken into the control unit. When the disinfectant has been injected into the cleaning tank 1, the temperature of the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 1 is detected by the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41, and the value of this detection signal is also taken into the control unit.

In the control section, two temperature sensors 4
Each of the disinfectant temperatures T ₁ ,
T ₂ is calculated, and the respective disinfectant temperatures T ₁ , T
_It is determined whether or not the absolute value of the difference ΔT ₁ of ₂ exceeds the threshold value X. If the absolute value does not exceed the threshold value X, the disinfection process is continued. , 42
Is determined, the process is stopped, and the abnormality is reported. The abnormality notification is performed by notification means such as a display lamp and / or a buzzer provided on the operation panel.

The threshold value X takes into account the temperature drop ΔC ₁ of the disinfecting solution due to the disinfecting solution injection operation. The temperature drop ΔC ₁ of the disinfectant is determined experimentally by setting the predicted minimum tap water temperature, minimum ambient temperature, and maximum tank disinfectant temperature in consideration of the use environment. Further, the threshold value X also takes into account an error range ΔD resulting from individual differences between the temperature sensors 41 and 42. Therefore, the threshold value X is determined by the following equation. X = △ C ₁ + △ D The threshold value X thus obtained is stored in the control unit, and the abnormality is detected in the above-described procedure.

When recovering the disinfecting solution from the cleaning tank 1 into the disinfecting solution tank 11, the temperature sensors 41 and 42 may be detected in an abnormal manner by the procedure shown in FIG. That is, the detection value of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 is obtained before collection, the detection value of the disinfectant tank temperature sensor 42 is obtained after collection, and the difference between the disinfectant temperatures indicated by the two temperature sensors 41 and 42 is obtained. If ΔT ₂ exceeds the threshold value Y, it is detected that the temperature sensors 41 and 42 are abnormal. In this case, the threshold value Y takes into account the temperature drop ΔC ₂ of the disinfectant due to the disinfectant recovery operation. The above ΔC ₂ is experimentally obtained by setting the predicted minimum ambient temperature, minimum tank temperature, and maximum disinfectant temperature in consideration of the use environment. Further, an error range ΔD resulting from the individual difference between the temperature sensors 41 and 42 is considered. Therefore, the threshold value Y is determined by the following equation. Y = △ C ₂ + △ D The threshold value Y thus obtained is stored in the control unit, and abnormality detection of the temperature sensors 41 and 42 is performed.

According to the detection method described above, one of the two temperature sensors 41 and 42 is used as the temperature sensor 4.
In the event that a failure occurs in which the first and second 42 output a detection value including an error, the failure can be detected. When an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection method, the process is stopped and the user is notified of the abnormality.

As described above, an alarm buzzer or a display provided on an operation panel is used as the abnormality notification means.
It is desirable to display an abnormality code indicating the content of the abnormality on the display. Table 1 below shows the correspondence between the abnormal codes and the abnormal contents.

[0030]

[Table 1]

On the other hand, if no abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection method, the rinsing step is performed again after the disinfection step is completed. After the completion of this rinsing step, the washing tank 1
The washing liquid in the inside is discharged, and subsequently, a water removing step is performed, and drainage in the endoscope channel is performed.

In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 41,
The abnormality detection at 42 is performed during the cleaning / disinfecting process, but may be performed in a process other than the cleaning / disinfecting process. For example, it may be carried out in the above-mentioned disinfectant heating step which is performed in advance before performing a series of washing and disinfecting steps. That is, by storing the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 1 and operating the heater 46,
The disinfectant in the cleaning tank 1 is heated, and when the temperature of the disinfectant reaches a target value, the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 1 is disinfected.
Collect in 1. In this step, when the disinfectant is injected into the cleaning tank 1 or when the disinfectant is collected in the disinfectant tank 11, the abnormality of the temperature sensors 41 and 42 is detected by substantially the same procedure as the above-described temperature sensor abnormality detection method. Can be.

Further, at the time of heating the disinfecting solution during the washing and disinfecting process, and at the time of the disinfecting solution heating process, the disinfecting solution stored in the washing tank 1 is heated by operating the heater 46.
At this time, the detection value of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 also changes as the temperature of the disinfectant increases. Then, by comparing the temporal change ΔC ₃ of the detection value of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 with the threshold value Z, it is possible to detect the abnormality of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41. Here, the threshold value Z is experimentally set to a maximum change amount Z by setting the expected ambient temperature, the temperature of the disinfectant at the start of heating, and the heating capacity of the heater 46 of the cleaning tank 1 in consideration of the use environment. it can be obtained as ₁ and the lowest variation Z _2. That is, when the ambient temperature is low, the heating capacity of the heater 46 is low, and the temperature of the disinfectant at the start of heating is high, the rate of temperature rise of the disinfectant decreases. On the other hand, when the ambient temperature is high, the heating capacity of the heater 46 is high, and the temperature of the disinfectant at the start of heating is low, the rate of temperature rise of the disinfectant increases.

The level of the heating capacity of the heater 46 means a change in the heating capacity caused by an input voltage supplied to the apparatus or an individual difference. This indicates a change in the heating capacity caused by the above threshold value and an input voltage supplied to the cleaning tank temperature sensor device and individual differences.

The above threshold value and the temporal change ΔC ₃ of the detection value of the cleaning tank temperature sensor 41 are compared by the following equation. Z ₁ ≧ ΔC ₃ ≧ Z _{2 When the} above expression is not satisfied, the process is stopped and the user is notified as an abnormality of the temperature sensor. In addition, similarly, the abnormality of the disinfectant tank temperature sensor 42 can be detected.

(Appendix) According to the above description, at least the following items can be obtained. 1. A cleaning tank for installing the endoscope for cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope; a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid in the cleaning tank; and a disinfecting endoscope supplied to the cleaning tank. A disinfectant tank for storing a disinfectant, and a second temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank;
Monitoring the temporal change of the output value of at least one of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, or detecting the failure of the temperature sensor by comparing the output values of both temperature sensors. Endoscope cleaning and disinfecting device. 2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the disinfecting solution is detected by the second temperature sensor immediately before the disinfecting solution is injected from the disinfecting solution tank into the cleaning tank. Detecting the temperature of the disinfectant in the cleaning tank by the first temperature sensor, and judging the failure of the temperature sensor based on whether or not the difference between the disinfectant temperatures detected by the respective temperature sensors exceeds a threshold value; An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. In the first aspect, when the disinfectant is recovered from the cleaning tank into the disinfectant tank, the temperature of the disinfectant in the cleaning tank is detected by the first temperature sensor, and after the disinfectant is recovered in the disinfectant tank. The temperature of the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank is
An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus characterized in that a failure of the temperature sensor is determined based on whether or not a difference in temperature of the disinfecting solution based on a detection signal of each temperature sensor exceeds a threshold value. 4. A cleaning tank for installing the endoscope for cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope, a heater for heating the disinfectant stored in the cleaning tank, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid in the cleaning tank, A disinfectant tank is provided for storing the disinfectant for disinfecting the endoscope by supplying the disinfectant to the cleaning tank. When the disinfectant stored in the cleaning tank is heated by the heater, the disinfectant changes as the temperature of the disinfectant increases. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus characterized in that an abnormality of the temperature sensor is detected by comparing a temporal change of a detected value of the temperature sensor with a threshold value. 5. 5. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus includes an abnormality notifying unit that notifies a user of a failure of the temperature sensor.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the failure of the temperature sensor is detected, and the abnormality of the temperature sensor is notified to the user or the process is stopped. Incorrect disinfection due to poor adjustment of the device can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a pipe configuration of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an abnormality detection method.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of another abnormality detection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cleaning tank 2 ... Endoscope 4 ... Water supply system 5 ... Disinfectant liquid system 10 ... Disinfectant liquid pipe 11 ... Disinfectant liquid tank 12 ... Disinfectant liquid injection pump 17 ... Disinfectant recovery pipe line 41 ... Cleaning tank temperature sensor 42 ... Disinfectant tank temperature sensor 46 ... heater

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning tank for installing an endoscope for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope, a first temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a liquid in the cleaning tank, and an internal supply to the cleaning tank. A disinfectant tank for storing a disinfectant for disinfecting an endoscope; a second temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the disinfectant in the disinfectant tank; the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus, wherein a failure of the temperature sensor is detected by at least one of monitoring a temporal change of an output value of at least one of the temperature sensors and comparing output values of both temperature sensors.