KR102081479B1 - An apparatus for washing and sterilizing endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is an insertion unit (1) provided at the tip of the photographing unit, an operation unit (2) connected to the proximal end of the insertion unit (1) to perform various operations by an observer, and the insertion unit (1) and operation unit ( As formed in 2), for cleaning and sterilizing the endoscope 6 including the channel 3 through which the treatment tool for treatment is inserted through the manipulation unit 2 to the tip of the insertion unit 1, the endoscope ( 6) a case 10 in which a storage groove 12 is formed so that the cradle 11 on which it is mounted is accommodated; A washing water spray unit 20 having a plurality of spray nozzles 21 for spraying washing water with an endoscope 6 mounted on a cradle 11; A tube unit 30 having a connection pipe 35 formed with a nozzle N detachable to the channel 3 of the endoscope 6; It characterized in that it comprises a; washing water supply unit 40 for supplying the washing water for the washing of the endoscope (6).

Description

An apparatus for washing and sterilizing endoscope

The present invention relates to an endoscope auto-cleaning and sterilizing device, and more particularly, to an endoscope auto-cleaning and sterilizing device that can be reused by quickly cleaning and sterilizing the inside and outside of an endoscope having a complicated structure.

1 is a view for explaining an embodiment of the endoscope.

As shown, the endoscope 6 is a medical device that is inserted into the body and directly observes or treats the internal organs or body cavity, and an insertion unit in which a camera module or a light source is installed at the tip ( 1), an operating portion 2 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 1 and gripped by an observer to perform various operations, and an insertion portion (through the operating portion 2) formed on the insertion portion 1 and the operation portion 2 It includes a channel 3 into which a treatment tool for treatment (treatment, tissue collection, treatment, etc.) is inserted into the tip of 1). In addition, the endoscope 6 may include a universal cord 4 extending from the operation portion 2 and a connector portion 5 installed at an end of the universal cord 4.

The insertion portion 1 is connected to the tip portion 1a where the camera module or light source is installed, and the curved portion 1b freely curved by being connected to the tip portion 1a, and the flexibility to connect the curved portion 1b and the operation portion 2 The material includes a soft portion 1c. At this time, although not shown in the tip portion 1a, the treatment tool inserted through the channel 3 of the operation portion 2 is exposed.

The operation unit 2 is provided with an operation lever 2a for remotely controlling the bending operation of the curved portion 1b, a plurality of switches 2b for freeze or release of images, and the like.

In the channel 3, a treatment tool for collecting or performing a procedure for collecting cells or tissues of the lesion is inserted and exposed to the opening of the distal end portion 1a.

A light guide connector 5a or a camera connector 5b is installed in the connector part 5, and a peripheral device such as a light source device or a camera control unit is connected to the light guide connector 5a or the camera connector 5b.

 With such a structure, the internal organs are observed through the camera of the tip portion 1a while the insertion portion 1 is inserted into the body, and a treatment tool protruding to the tip of the tip portion 1a is observed using the operation portion 2. Operation enables treatment. Prior art related to this is disclosed in Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0063772 under the name Endoscope.

On the other hand, the price of the endoscope is at least 10 to 50 million won, so in general, hospitals are equipped with only one or two endoscopes for cleaning, sterilization, and reuse. At this time, the disinfection of the endoscope is proceeded by manually cleaning the nurse with chemicals on the brush.

However, since the endoscope has a complicated structure, it takes a lot of time to clean and sterilize, and accordingly, there is a lot of time constraints to use it once after use.

In addition, due to the structure of the endoscope, it was not completely cleaned and sterilized, and accordingly, a secondary infection caused by the endoscope occurred. For reference, secondary infections caused by endoscopy account for 18% of the total medical cases.

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and provides an endoscope auto-cleaning and sterilizing device capable of perfectly cleaning and sterilizing the endoscope inside and outside of a complicated structure, thereby minimizing the possibility of secondary bacterial infection. It aims to do.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilizing apparatus capable of automatically performing cleaning and sterilization in a short time, thereby minimizing time constraints for reuse.

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus according to the present invention,
The insertion section 1 provided at the tip of the photographing section, and the operation section 2 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion section 1 to perform various operations held by an observer, and the insertion section 1 and the operation section 2 As formed, for cleaning and sterilizing the endoscope 6 including the channel 3 through which the treatment tool for treatment is inserted through the manipulation unit 2 to the tip of the insertion unit 1, the endoscope 6 The mounting groove 11 in which a plurality of mounting grooves 11a are mounted is built in, and the storage groove 12 opened upward and the storage groove 12 are opened and closed by being separated or combined from the storage groove 12. A case (10) including a cover (13), a drain pipe (16) through which washing water sprayed into the storage groove (12) is drained, and a water supply pipe (17) to which a hose for supplying water is connected; Washing water to the endoscope (6) mounted on the holder (11), installed on both sides in the longitudinal direction inside the storage groove (12), a plurality of spray nozzles (21) facing each other installed bar-type washing Water spray unit 20; A plurality of connecting pipes 35 which are selectively detachably attached to the channel 3 of the endoscope 6 in the sub groove 14 formed to be immersed in the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of one side of the receiving groove 12 of the case 10 Branch tube unit 30; A washing water supply unit 40 for supplying washing water for washing the endoscope 6; An air supply unit 50 supplying air for drying the endoscope 6; As installed in the line (L) connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40 and the air supply unit 50, the washing water or the air supply unit supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 to the tube unit 30 A flow path conversion valve 60 for converting a flow path such that only one of the air supplied from 50 is supplied; And an exhaust fan 100 for forcibly exhausting the steam generated inside the storage groove 12; The tube unit 30 is a distribution tank 31 installed in the sub-groove 14, and is installed in the distribution tank 31 and formed as an upper side of the sub-groove 14, and the channel 3 and A plurality of connectors 32 to which the connected connector 35 is attached and detached, and a packing end 33 for selectively closing the unused connector because the connector 35 is not connected; The washing water supply unit 40 is an electrolytic water generating device in which an electrode plate for generating electrolytic water such as alkaline water and acidic water is embedded; The exhaust fan 100 is installed on the cover 13 that opens and closes the receiving groove 12 of the case 10 opened to the upper side.

In the present invention, the air supply unit 50 for supplying air for drying the endoscope (6); And installed in the line (L) connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40 and the air supply unit 50, the washing water or the air supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 to the tube unit 30 It further includes a flow path conversion valve 60 to convert the flow path so that only one of the air supplied from the supply unit 50 is supplied.

In the present invention, as formed on the inside of the case 10, the air injection port 70 is connected to the air supply unit 50 for injecting air to the outside of the endoscope (6); An ozone supply unit (80) that supplies ozone with air supplied from the air supply unit (50); And it is installed on the side wall of the case 10, the ultraviolet generator for irradiating ultraviolet rays for sterilization with the mounted endoscope (6); further includes a.

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According to the present invention, the connecting pipe connected to the tube unit is connected to the channel of the endoscope, so that washing water or air for drying can be passed through the channel, and accordingly, the inside of the endoscope can be washed or dried.

In addition, it is possible to wash the outside of the endoscope having a complicated structure by three-dimensionally spraying the washing water through a plurality of spray nozzles formed in the washing water injection unit, and drying the outside of the endoscope by air injected through the air injection port. In particular, by drying and ozone sterilization at the same time by containing ozone in the air through the ozone supply unit 80 during the drying process, and further sterilization with ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet light generation unit, perfect sterilization is possible. Thus, it is possible to solve the problem of secondary infection by the endoscope.

In addition, since the washing water supply or air supply is automatically performed by the operation of the flow path conversion valve, the washing, sterilization, and drying operations can be performed automatically in a short time, thereby solving the time constraint problem for reuse. It works.

1 is a view for explaining an embodiment of the endoscope,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization device according to the present invention,
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization device of Figure 2,
4 is a view for explaining the configuration of the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus of FIG. 2,
5 is a view for explaining the arrangement position of the washing water spray unit, the tube unit and the UV generating unit installed in the storage groove of FIG. 2,
6 is a view for explaining the configuration of the tube unit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining that the washing water is supplied to the tube unit by the flow path conversion operation of the flow path conversion valve in FIG. 4;
8 is a view for explaining that, in FIG. 4, air is supplied to the tube unit by a flow path conversion operation of the flow path conversion valve.

Hereinafter, an endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, the camera module or an optical fiber or an insertion portion 1 is installed at the tip of the light source, and the proximal end of the insertion portion (1) A treatment tool for processing is inserted into the tip of the insertion section 1 through the manipulation section 2, which is formed in the manipulation section 2 and the insertion section 1 and the manipulation section 2, which are connected to the viewer and hold various operations. The channel 3 and the endoscope 6 wash the endoscope 6 including the universal cord 4 extended from the operation unit 2, the connector 5 installed at the end of the universal cord 4, and the like. And to sterilize. The endoscope has a variety of structures and types of channels depending on the purpose of use, and it is described in this embodiment that one channel 3 is formed for easy description.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization device according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization device of Figure 2 from the rear. 4 is a view for explaining the configuration of the automatic cleaning and sterilization device of the endoscope of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the arrangement position of the washing water spray unit, the tube unit, and the UV generator installed in the storage groove of FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the configuration of the tube unit of FIG. 5f.

As shown, the endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, the case 10 is formed with a storage groove 12 so that the holder 11 on which the endoscope 6 is mounted can be accommodated; A washing water spray unit 20 having a plurality of spray nozzles 21 for spraying washing water with an endoscope 6 mounted on a cradle 11; A tube unit 30 having a connection pipe 35 formed with a nozzle N detachable to the channel 3 of the endoscope 6; A washing water supply unit 40 for supplying washing water for washing the endoscope 6; An air supply unit 50 for supplying air for drying the endoscope 6; Installed in the line connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40 and the air supply unit 50, supplied from the washing water or the air supply unit 50 supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 to the tube unit 30 A flow path conversion valve (60) for converting a flow path so that only one of the air is supplied; It is formed inside the case 10, the air injection port 70 is connected to the air supply unit 50 for injecting air to the outside of the endoscope (6); An ozone supply unit 80 for supplying ozone with air supplied from the air supply unit 50; As installed on the side wall of the case 10, a UV generating unit 90 for irradiating ultraviolet rays for sterilization with the mounted endoscope 6; It includes; exhaust fan 100 for forcibly exhausting the steam generated inside the storage groove (12).

Case 10, as shown in Figure 2, the endoscope (6) a plurality of mounting grooves (11a) is mounted, the mounting groove (11) in which the built-in 11 and the storage groove (12) is built With the cover 13 to open and close, the sub-groove 14 formed on the inner upper side of the storage groove 12, the operation panel 15 having a plurality of switches for cleaning and sterilization, and the storage groove 12 It includes a drain pipe 16 through which the sprayed washing water is drained, and a water supply pipe 17 for supplying water to the washing water supply unit 40.

A plurality of mounting grooves (11a) having a variety of forms is formed on the cradle (11), the insertion portion (1) or the operation portion (2) of the endoscope (6) is mounted, or a tubular treatment tool sandwiched in the channel (3) (Not shown) is mounted.

The storage groove 12 has a flat shape as a whole, and as shown in FIG. 5, a washing water jet unit 20 to be described later on both sides in the long direction is installed, and an ultraviolet ray generating unit 90 to be described later on both sides in a single direction. Is installed.

The cover 13 is to open and close the storage groove 12, so that the washing water does not escape to the outside when the upper end of the storage groove 12 is covered. At this time, the cover 13 is provided with an exhaust fan 100, which will be described later, to promote the drying time of the endoscope 6. At this time, if the exhaust pipe 100 is not employed, a plurality of exhaust holes 13a may be formed in the cover 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sub-groove 14 has a shape roll immersed in the inner circumferential surface of the storage groove 12 on the inner upper side of the storage groove 12, and the tube groove (described later) in the sub-groove 14 ( 30) is installed.

The drain pipe 16 is drained with the washing water washing the endoscope 6 inside the storage groove 12.

The water supply pipe 17 is connected to a hose for supplying water to the washing water supply unit 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, the washing water spray unit 20 is installed on both sides in the longitudinal direction inside the storage groove 12, and is in the form of a bar in which the spray nozzles 21 facing each other are installed. The washing water injection unit 20 washes the outside of the endoscope 6 by spraying the washing water with the endoscope 6 mounted on the cradle 11, wherein a plurality of spray nozzles 21 installed in the washing water injection unit 20 By spraying the washing water in various directions, the washing water is sprayed from the endoscope 6 to the protruding or immersed portion, thereby effectively cleaning the endoscope 6 having a complicated structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tube unit 30 is selectively connected with a connecting pipe 35 having a nozzle N detachably attached to the channel 3 of the endoscope 6. To this end, the tube unit 30 is installed in the distribution tank 31 installed in the sub-groove 14 and the distribution nozzle formed in the distribution tank 31, and the connection pipe 35 is selectively detachable. The connector 32, in this embodiment, includes four connectors 32 and a packing end 33 for closing unused connectors. Accordingly, after connecting a plurality of required connecting pipes 35 to the connector 32, the nozzle N can be fitted into the channel 3 of the endoscope or a channel formed in the treatment instrument (not shown) of the endoscope. . And, as shown in Figure 6, the connector is not connected to the connector 35 is closed by fitting the packing end 33, the connector is connected to the connector 35 is connected to remove the packing end. That is, the packing end 33 is selectively fitted to the connector 32.

The washing water supply unit 40 is for generating and supplying washing water for washing the endoscope 6, and is an electrolytic water generating device having an electrode plate for generating electrolytic water such as alkaline water and acidic water. In the electrolytic water generated in the washing water supply unit 40, washing water may remove proteins and the like buried in the endoscope 6.

The air supply unit 50 supplies air for drying the endoscope 6 mounted on the cradle 11 or a treatment tool (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 4, the flow path conversion valve 60 is installed in a line L connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40, and the air supply unit 50 to the tube unit 30. As a flow path conversion so that only one of the washing water supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 or the air supplied from the air supply unit 50 is supplied, this embodiment will be described as employing a known three-way valve.

4 and 5, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is formed inside the storage groove 12 of the case and is connected to the air supply unit 50, after washing the air for drying the endoscope 6 Spray.

Meanwhile, a shutter 75 for opening and closing the air injection port 70 is installed in the air injection port 70. The shutter 75 prevents the air from being introduced into the cleaning air injection port 70 sprayed in the process of cleaning the endoscope 6 by closing the air injection port 70 when no air is supplied.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ozone supply unit 80 is connected to a line L connecting the air supply unit 50 and the flow path conversion valve 60, and ozone for sterilization of air supplied to the connected line L Supplies. Accordingly, air that is injected through the tube unit 30. By allowing ozone to be contained in the air injected into the air ejection opening 70, ozone sterilization is performed in the process of drying the outside of the channel 3 or the endoscope 6 of a complicated structure.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ultraviolet ray generating unit 90 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for sterilization, for example, 250 nm wavelength, with an endoscope 6 mounted on the side wall of the case 10 and mounted on the cradle 11. do. The UV generating unit 90 includes an ultraviolet transmitting glass 91 installed on a unidirectional side wall of the case 10, and an ultraviolet ray lamp 92 installed on the rear side of the ultraviolet transmitting glass 91, and UV transmitting glass (91) prevents the washing water that proceeds to wash the endoscope (6) inside the receiving groove (12) is in contact with the UV lamp (92).

The exhaust fan 100 is forcibly exhausting the steam generated inside the storage groove 12, and is installed in the cover 13 as shown in FIG. 2 in this embodiment. The exhaust fan 100 is operated when the drying air is injected from the air injection port 70, so that the air containing the washing water vapor is quickly exhausted to the outside, thereby shortening the drying time.

7 is a view for explaining that the washing water is supplied to the tube unit by the flow path conversion operation of the flow path conversion valve in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8, in FIG. 4, air is flowed by the flow path conversion operation of the flow path conversion valve. It is a drawing for explaining what is supplied as a tube unit.

When the tube unit 30 and the washing water supply unit 40 are connected by the above-described flow path conversion valve 60, as shown in FIG. 7, the washing water supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 is connected to the tube unit 30. The inside of the channel 3 is washed while passing through the inside of the channel 3 of the endoscope through the connected connector 35. At this time, the washing water is supplied to the washing water spray unit 20 to wash the outside of the endoscope 6 mounted on the cradle 11 through the spray nozzle 21.

And, as shown in Figure 8, when the flow path conversion valve 60 connects the tube unit 30 and the air supply unit 50, the air supplied from the air supply unit 50 through the connection pipe 35 through the channel ( 3) Dry the washing water on the inner circumferential surface of the channel 3 while passing through the inside. At this time, the air is supplied to the air injection port 70 to dry the washing water on the outside of the endoscope 6 mounted on the cradle 11.

That is, the channel 3 of the endoscope 6 can be washed or dried by the channel conversion operation of the channel conversion valve 60.

As described above, according to the present invention, the connecting pipe 35 connected to the tube unit 30 is connected to the channel 3 of the endoscope, so that air for washing water or drying can be passed through the channel 3, thereby Accordingly, the inside of the endoscope can be washed or dried.

In addition, it is possible to wash the outside of the endoscope 6 of a complicated structure by three-dimensionally spraying the washing water through a plurality of injection nozzles 21 formed in the washing water injection unit 20, by the air injected through the air injection port 70 The outside of the endoscope 6 can be dried. In particular, during the drying process, ozone is supplied to the air through the ozone supply unit 80 to simultaneously perform drying and ozone sterilization, and further, sterilization with ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet ray generation unit 90 is performed to complete sterilization. This makes it possible to solve the problem of secondary infection caused by the endoscope.

In addition, since the above-mentioned washing water supply or air supply is automatically performed by the operation of the flow path conversion valve 60, washing, sterilization, and drying operations can be automatically performed in a short time, thereby solving a time constraint problem for reuse. Can be.

The present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, but this is only exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible therefrom.

1 ... endoscope 10 ... case
11 ... cradle 11a ... cradle
12 ... Storage groove 13 ... Cover
13a ... vent hole 14 ... sub groove
15 ... Control panel 16 ... Drain pipe
17 ... water supply pipe 20 ... washing water spray
21 ... spray nozzle 30 ... tube unit
31 ... distribution tank 32 ... connector
33 ... packing stage 40 ... washing water supply
50 ... air supply unit 60 ... flow path conversion valve
70 ... Air jet port 80 ... Ozone supply
90 ... UV generating unit 91 ... UV transmitting glass
92 ... UV lamp 100 ... Exhaust fan

Claims (5)

The insertion section 1 provided at the tip of the photographing section, and the operation section 2 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion section 1 to perform various operations held by an observer, and the insertion section 1 and the operation section 2 As formed, for cleaning and sterilizing the endoscope 6 including the channel 3 through which the treatment tool for treatment is inserted through the manipulation unit 2 to the tip of the insertion unit 1,
The storage groove 12, which is opened upwards as the mounting bracket 11 having a plurality of mounting grooves 11a on which the endoscope 6 is mounted, is built-in, and the storage groove by being separated from or coupled to the storage groove 12 (12) A case including a cover 13 for opening and closing, a drain pipe 16 through which washing water sprayed into the storage groove 12 is drained, and a water supply pipe 17 to which a hose for supplying water is connected ( 10);
Washing water to the endoscope (6) mounted on the holder (11), installed on both sides in the longitudinal direction inside the storage groove (12), a plurality of spray nozzles (21) facing each other installed bar-type washing Water spray unit 20;
A plurality of connecting pipes 35 which are selectively detachably attached to the channel 3 of the endoscope 6 in the sub groove 14 formed to be immersed in the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of one side of the receiving groove 12 of the case 10 Branch tube unit 30;
A washing water supply unit 40 for supplying washing water for washing the endoscope 6;
An air supply unit 50 supplying air for drying the endoscope 6;
As installed in the line (L) connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40 and the air supply unit 50, the washing water or the air supply unit supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 to the tube unit 30 A flow path conversion valve 60 for converting a flow path so that only one of the air supplied from 50 is supplied; And
And an exhaust fan 100 for forcibly exhausting the steam generated inside the storage groove 12;
The tube unit 30 is a distribution tank 31 installed in the sub-groove 14, and is installed in the distribution tank 31 and formed as an upper side of the sub-groove 14, and the channel 3 and A plurality of connectors 32 to which the connected connector 35 is attached and detached, and a packing end 33 for selectively closing the unused connector because the connector 35 is not connected;
The washing water supply unit 40 is an electrolytic water generating device in which an electrode plate for generating electrolytic water such as alkaline water and acidic water is embedded;
The exhaust fan 100 is installed on the cover 13 for opening and closing the storage groove 12 of the case 10 opened to the upper side; endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus, characterized in that. According to claim 1,
An air supply unit 50 supplying air for drying the endoscope 6;
As installed in the line (L) connecting the tube unit 30, the washing water supply unit 40 and the air supply unit 50, the washing water or the air supply unit supplied from the washing water supply unit 40 to the tube unit 30 Endoscope automatic cleaning and sterilization apparatus further comprising; a flow path conversion valve (60) for converting the flow path to supply any one of the air supplied from (50). delete According to claim 1,
An air injection port 70 formed inside the case 10 and connected to the air supply unit 50 to inject air to the outside of the endoscope 6;
An ozone supply unit (80) that supplies ozone with air supplied from the air supply unit (50);
Automated endoscope cleaning and sterilization apparatus further comprising; installed on the sidewall of the case 10, the ultraviolet generator 90 for irradiating ultraviolet rays for sterilization with the mounted endoscope 6.
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