JP3566645B2 - Endoscope cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent No. 2576033 discloses an endoscope cleaning method and an apparatus therefor. According to this method, the alkaline water and the acidic water obtained by electrolyzing the saline solution are alternately supplied to the cleaning tank of the apparatus, and the endoscope is cleaned with the alkaline water and then washed with the acidic water. . In washing with alkaline water, protein stains adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the endoscope are dissolved or peeled off, and other stains are also washed away. In washing with acidic water, the inner and outer surfaces of the endoscope are sterilized.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When many people are going to be examined by an endoscope at once, it is necessary to wash and sterilize an endoscope once used so that it can be used again. For this purpose, as in the above-mentioned known example, alkaline water and acidic water obtained by electrolyzing a saline solution can be used. However, while alkaline water for removing dirt is relatively large, acidic water for sterilization does not require much. In the electrolysis, alkaline water and acidic water are generated in equal amounts, so if the amounts of water used are different in this way, even if the remaining amounts of the alkaline water and the acidic water are known, it is possible to wash continuously. The number of endoscopes cannot be easily grasped, and it is difficult to make a schedule for smooth endoscopic examination.
[0004]
It is an object of the present invention to improve a conventional endoscope cleaning device so that when many people undergo an inspection using an endoscope, the inspection can proceed smoothly. In the present invention, the term “cleaning” broadly means both removal of stains with alkaline water and sterilization with acidic water, and the narrow sense means only removal of stains with alkaline water.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a washing tank for accommodating a dirty endoscope and an operation panel for setting washing conditions, by using water electricity. A decomposition tank and a storage tank for each of alkaline water and acidic water generated in the electrolysis tank are attached, and the endoscope can be cleaned by sequentially supplying the alkaline water and the acidic water to the cleaning tank. Device.
[0006]
In such devices, where the present invention is characterized, has a detecting means of each of said water tank is water, said operation panel be selectable and sterilizing time by the acidic water and cleaning time by the alkaline water The panel is provided with means for displaying the number of the endoscopes that can be continuously washed based on the selected washing time, the sterilization time, and the detected amount of water , respectively. is there.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The details of the endoscope cleaning device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0008]
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a piping system diagram showing an example of a cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention, a partial view of FIG. 1 showing a part of piping and wiring, and a cleaning shown as a part of FIG. It is a perspective view of the machine 3. 1 and 2, an apparatus 1 includes a washing machine 3 having a washing tank 3a capable of accommodating a dirty endoscope 2 to be washed and capable of closing a lid, and an alkaline water reservoir serving as a supply source of alkaline water. It has a tank 6, an acidic water storage tank 7 serving as a supply source of acidic water, and an electrolysis tank 26 for producing the alkaline water and the acidic water. The electrolysis tank 26 is connected to the water storage tank 6 by a water supply pipe 6a, and is connected to the water storage tank 7 by a water supply pipe 7a. A first motor valve MV1 is interposed in the water pipe 6a, and a second motor valve MV2 and a third motor valve MV3 are interposed in the water pipe 7a. The first motor valve MV1 has a first branch pipe 81 connected to the water pipe 7a at the outlet side, and the second motor valve MV2 has a second branch pipe 82 connected to the water pipe 6a at the outlet side. A drain pipe 7c extends from the third motor valve MV3. The water tanks 6 and 7 are connected to the washing machine 3 by a water pipe 9 and a magnet pump 10. However, the water pipe 9 is divided into first and second branch pipes 11 and 12 from each of the supply sources 6 and 7 to the pump 10. One water pipe 9 extends to the washing machine 3. First and second solenoid valves 16 and 17 are attached to the first and second branch pipes 11 and 12, respectively. The apparatus 1 is connected to a tap water faucet 8 so that tap water can be mixed with alkaline water and supplied to the cleaning tank 3a in addition to the alkaline water and the acidic water. The tap water that has exited the faucet 8 passes through the water supply pipe 13 via the pressure reducing valve and the filter, and further reaches the pump 10 via the electromagnetic valve 18, and from the water supply pipe 13 through the branch pipe 19, and passes through the electromagnetic valve 21 and the valve 22 And then mixed with the alkaline water.
[0009]
The electrolysis tank 26 is provided with a saline solution whose concentration has been adjusted in advance through a water supply pipe 27 and supplied via an electromagnetic valve 30. The electrolysis tank 26 is divided into two parts by a water-permeable diaphragm 26a. A first electrode 25a used as a negative electrode is provided, and a second electrode 25b used as a positive electrode is provided on the right side of the diaphragm 26a. In the electrolysis tank 26 in this state, the alkaline water generated on the first electrode 25a side is supplied to the alkaline water storage tank 6 via the water supply pipe 6a and the first motor valve MV1, and is generated on the second electrode 25b side. The generated acidic water is supplied to the acidic water storage tank 7 via the water supply pipe 7a and the second and third motor valves MV2, MV3.
[0010]
The washing machine 3 is a known or well-known one. As shown in FIG. 3, a support member 3d for winding the endoscope 2 to be washed is provided at a central portion of the washing tank 3a, and a peripheral portion of the washing tank 3a is provided. Are provided with first to fourth nozzles 41 to 44. The water pipe 9 that has entered the washing machine 3 branches into fourth to seventh water pipes 34 to 37 and extends to the first to fourth nozzles 41 to 44 via the fourth to seventh solenoid valves 34 a to 37 a ( (See FIG. 1). The first to third nozzles 41 to 43 are used for pouring alkaline water, acidic water, or tap water into the cleaning tank 3a and / or jetting the water to the endoscope 2. The endoscope 2 is cleaned and sterilized by being sprayed with or immersed in these waters. The fourth nozzle 44 supplies alkaline water, acidic water, tap water to each channel of the endoscope 2 connected thereto, that is, an air supply / water supply tube, a suction tube, and a forceps insertion tube (all not shown). Can be injected and used to remove and sterilize these internal stains. The used alkaline water or the like flows out of the washing machine 3 through the drain port 39. The switching of the supply of the alkaline water, the acidic water and the tap water to the washing machine 3 is performed by the first and second solenoid valves 16 and 17 and the tap water solenoid valves 18 and 17 by the programmable controller 40 (see FIG. 2) provided in the apparatus 1. 21 is opened and closed in order.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, an alkaline water storage tank 6 and an acidic water storage tank 7 are connected to a saline electrolysis tank 26 shown above them. In the electrolysis tank 26, a saline solution whose concentration has been adjusted is supplied from a water supply pipe 27 via an electromagnetic valve 30 that operates according to given conditions for operating the cleaning device 1. In the electrolysis tank 26, the electrolysis of the saline solution proceeds, and alkaline water having a pH of 11 or more and ORP (redox potential) of −800 mV or more and acidic water having a pH of 2.7 or less and ORP + 1100 mV or more are generated in equal amounts. These alkaline water and acidic water are supplied to respective water storage tanks 6 and 7. In the cleaning process of the endoscope 2 in a broad sense, alkaline water is used to wash away dirt, so that a relatively large amount is used, and acidic water is used for immersing the endoscope 2 for a relatively short period of time. Since it is used in such a manner as to be sprayed on the water 2, the amount of use is considerably reduced, for example, about 程度 as compared with the alkaline water. Since there is such a difference in the amount of use between the alkaline water and the acidic water, depending on the type of the cleaning device, one endoscope 2 accommodated in the cleaning tank 3a may be washed with the alkaline water and the acidic water. Even if the water is sufficient, there is a case where the alkaline water is insufficient, and vice versa. As a result of this, a problem arises in that it is difficult to make an estimate of when the dirty endoscope 2 can be cleaned and when the endoscope 2 can be used.
[0012]
In order to solve such a problem, the apparatus 1 has an operation panel 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4) having a function of displaying the number of endoscopes 2 that can be continuously cleaned under the cleaning conditions when the cleaning conditions are set. ), And a programmable controller 40 (see FIG. 2) that operates according to the setting conditions on the panel 50. Further, the alkaline water storage tank 6 and the acidic water storage tank 7 are provided with first, second, third, and fourth level sensors 51a to 54a and 51b to 54b for detecting the amount of water as a water level. The water storage tank 6 has a capacity approximately twice as large as that of the acidic water storage tank 7.
[0013]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation panel 50. The panel 50 is preferably attached to the washing machine 3 and has a first operation unit 50a for the electrolysis tank 26 and a second operation unit 50b for the washing tank 3a.
[0014]
In the first operation unit 50a, when a main switch (not shown) of the cleaning device 1 is turned on, the power lamp 52 is turned on. When the wash water / sterilized water preparation button 56 is pressed, the electrolysis starts, and the lamp 54 indicating that the electrolysis tank 26 is in the electrolysis process is turned on. The pH value of the acidic water poured into the water storage tank 7 is displayed on the window 51. When the pH value of the acidic water obtained by the electrolysis is out of a predetermined range, the pH adjusting step lamp 53 discharges the acidic water from the electrolysis tank 26 to the second and third motor valves MV2 and MV3 and drains the water. It is discharged out of the apparatus 1 via the pipe 7c to inform that the production of acidic water by electrolysis is in progress. The electrode cleaning step lamp 55 switches the positive and negative of the first and second electrodes 25a and 25b in the electrolysis tank 26 so that the calcium carbonate adhering to the surface of the first electrode 25a in the alkaline water generation step up to that point. Notify that work to remove dirt such as is in progress. The acidic water generated on the first electrode 25a side in this step is supplied to the acidic water storage tank 7 via the first motor valve MV1, the first branch pipe 81, and the third motor valve MV3, or Is discharged out of Further, the alkaline water generated on the second electrode 25b side is supplied to the alkaline water storage tank 6 via the second motor valve MV2 and the second branch pipe 82, or is discharged out of the apparatus 1.
[0015]
In the second operation unit 50b, by pressing the start / stop button 64, cleaning of the endoscope 2 in a broad sense can be started or stopped. By pressing the cleaning push button 57, the time of an alkaline water cleaning timer (not shown) built in the cleaning machine 3 can be selected in three stages. By pressing the sterilization push button 58, the time of the acid water sterilization timer (not shown) built in the cleaning machine 3 can be selected in two stages. The water level display lamp 61 has three stages 61a, the total water amount of the alkaline water and the acidic water corresponding to the number of endoscopes 2 that can be continuously cleaned according to the selected cleaning time with the alkaline water and the sterilization time with the acidic water. 61b and 61c (see also FIG. 2). The washing number display lamp 65 can indicate the number of endoscopes 2 that can be continuously washed in a schematic diagram of the endoscope. Thus, the user of the apparatus 1 can know the operation state of the electrolysis tank 26 and the number of endoscopes 2 that can be continuously cleaned by looking at the display on the operation panel 50.
[0016]
First to fourth level sensors 51a to 54a and 51b to 54b are provided in the water storage tanks 6 and 7, respectively. The positions of the first to third level sensors 51a to 53a of the water reservoir 6 correspond to the amount of water that can wash one endoscope 2 in the standard alkaline water washing time of the apparatus 1. The fourth level sensor 54a detects that the water tank 6 is full. The position of each of the first to third level sensors 51b to 53b of the water reservoir 7 corresponds to the amount of water that can sterilize one endoscope 2 in a standard acidic water sterilization time. The fourth level sensor 54b detects that the water tank 7 is full. The fourth level sensors 54a and 54b of the water storage tanks 6 and 7 cooperate with each other, and when the water level of both the water storage tanks 6 and 7 rises to the point where they contact the two level sensors 54a and 54b, the electrolysis is performed. When the operation of the tank 26 is automatically stopped and the water level has not risen to a point where it contacts at least one of the fourth level sensors 54a or 54b, the electrolytic tank 26 is automatically operated. The electrolysis tank 26 can be operated intermittently as described above, and its operation and suspension are performed regardless of whether the endoscope 2 is being cleaned. When the water level of the water storage tank 6 or 7 is lower than the third level sensors 53a and 53b and the endoscope 2 is at a position where no endoscope 2 can be washed, washing is not started even if the start / stop button 64 is pressed.
[0017]
In the present invention, there is no particular regulation on the size of the water storage tanks 6,7. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the water storage tank 6 having about twice the capacity of the water storage tank 7, but both the water storage tanks 6 and 7 may have the same capacity. In the illustrated example, when the water tank 7 becomes full while the alkaline water is being supplied to the water tank 6, excess acidic water is discharged from the top outlet 7b of the water tank 7. Since there is no particular regulation on the washing time with alkaline water or the sterilization time with acidic water set on the panel 50, the designer of the apparatus 1 can set these times to appropriate lengths. In the panel 50, it is possible to set the condition of whether the supply of the tap water to the cleaning tank 3a is before or after the supply of the alkaline water or the acidic water, and to set the supply time of the tap water.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the endoscope cleaning device of the present invention having the electrolysis tank, the water tank for the alkaline water, the water tank for the acidic water, and the washing machine has a display on the operation panel provided in the washing machine. Since it is possible to know the number of endoscopes that can be continuously cleaned and to understand the operation status of the apparatus, it is easy to schedule an inspection using the endoscope.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of an endoscope cleaning device.
FIG. 2 is a partial view of piping and wiring of the endoscope cleaning device.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cleaning machine.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the panel.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope cleaning apparatus 2 Endoscope 3a Cleaning tank 26 Electrolysis tank 50 Operation panel

Claims (2)

A washing machine equipped with a washing tank for accommodating a dirty endoscope and an operation panel for setting washing conditions, a water electrolysis tank, and alkaline water and acidic water generated in the electrolysis tank, respectively. A water tank is attached, the apparatus can wash the endoscope by sequentially supplying the alkaline water and the acidic water to the washing tank,
Has a detecting means each water of the reservoir, and wherein in the operating panel be selectable and sterilizing time by the acidic water and cleaning time by the alkaline water, the washing time selected in the panel said apparatus characterized by means for displaying the number of successive washable the endoscope based on the respective said water amount the detected sterilizing time and are provided. The electrolysis tank is operable intermittently, and when any of the alkaline water and the acidic water becomes equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit water amount in each of the water storage tanks, the endoscope is being cleaned. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation is started irrespective of whether or not there is, and the alkaline water and the acidic water can be supplied until the water amount reaches a preset upper limit water amount in each of the water storage tanks.

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