JP5006745B2 - Endoscope leakage tester - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope leakage tester for detecting whether or not a pinhole or the like causing a water leakage accident is present on an outer wall portion of an endoscope.

  The outer skin of the insertion part of the endoscope is covered with a flexible or elastic tube-like member, and if it is used in a state where a pinhole or the like is formed, or is cleaned and disinfected, A so-called water leakage accident that leaks into the water occurs and heavy repairs are required. Therefore, an endoscope leakage tester for detecting a pinhole or the like of the exterior part that causes a water leakage accident is used.

The endoscope leakage tester detects the presence or absence of air leaks from the exterior of the endoscope, and prevents the air from flowing into the endoscope from entering the outer wall of the endoscope. With the check valve provided forcibly opened, pressurized air is sent into the endoscope, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of an air leak in the endoscope from the subsequent pressure change in the endoscope. (For example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-168540, paragraph [0041], FIG.

  When the conventional endoscope leakage tester as described above is used, any part of the exterior portion of the endoscope that has a pinhole or the like can be detected. However, if the check valve to which the endoscope leakage tester is connected is not fully watertight when closed, it cannot be detected and a water leak may occur. There was sex.

  The present invention can detect not only pinholes in the exterior part of the entire endoscope, but also in the case where the watertightness of the check valve provided on the outer wall part is incompletely closed. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope leakage tester that can more completely prevent a mirror water leakage accident.

  In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope leakage tester of the present invention is provided with a check valve provided on the outer wall portion of the endoscope so as to prevent gas from flowing into the endoscope from the outside. A leakage tester for endoscopes that is detachably attached from the outside, and has a substantially cylindrical check valve connection base that is attached to the check valve from the outside, and from the check valve connection base side to the check valve side. A pressurized air supply means for sending pressurized air toward the head, and a pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the check valve connection base, and the check valve connection base includes a check valve A valve rotation driving piece for forcibly opening the check valve by engaging with the valve body and rotating around the axis is provided, and engages with an engagement pin provided on the check valve side Straight line formed in the direction parallel to the axis from the opening end on the peripheral wall of the check valve connection base A groove, a valve-closing circumferential groove that keeps the check valve closed without engaging the valve rotation drive piece with the valve body when the engagement pin that has passed through the linear guide groove is engaged, and a linear guide A valve-opening circumferential groove is formed in which when the engaging pin that has passed through the groove is engaged, the valve rotation driving piece is engaged with the valve body and the check valve is forcedly opened.

  The valve-closing circumferential groove and the valve-opening circumferential groove may be formed in the circumferential direction of the check valve connection base in the opposite direction with the linear guide groove interposed therebetween, or the linear guide groove The valve-closing circumferential groove and the valve-opening circumferential groove may be formed in the check valve connection base in the order of the linear guide groove, the valve-closing circumferential groove, and the valve-opening circumferential groove.

  According to the present invention, the linear guide groove formed in the direction parallel to the axis from the opening end on the peripheral wall portion of the check valve connection base so as to be engaged with the engagement pin provided on the check valve side, and the linear guide groove When the engagement pin that has passed through is engaged, the valve rotation drive piece is not engaged with the valve body, and the check valve is kept closed, and the engagement is through the linear guide groove. When the pin is engaged, the valve rotation driving piece is engaged with the valve body and the check valve is forcibly opened. It can detect not only pinhole detection (valve open state) but also the watertightness of the check valve closed on the outer wall is incomplete (valve closed). A water leak accident can be prevented more completely. When the engagement pin is engaged with the valve-closing circumferential groove, the valve rotation driving piece and the valve body are not engaged, so that the valve rotation driving piece can be formed short, and as a result, the reverse of the check valve The engagement stroke of the stop valve connection base is short, the operability is good, and it is difficult to collect dirt, it is easy to clean, and it has excellent effects such as excellent hygiene.

  An endoscope leakage tester which is detachably attached from the outside to a check valve provided on an outer wall portion of an endoscope so as to prevent gas from flowing into the endoscope from the outside. A substantially cylindrical check valve connection base attached to the check valve from the outside, a pressurized air supply means for sending pressurized air from the check valve connection base side toward the check valve side, and a check valve Pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the connection base, and the check valve connection base is engaged with the valve body of the check valve and rotated about the axis to rotate the check valve. A valve rotation drive piece for forcibly opening is provided, and the peripheral wall portion of the check valve connection base is engaged with the engagement pin provided on the check valve side in the direction parallel to the axis from the opening end. When the formed linear guide groove and the engaging pin that has passed through the linear guide groove are engaged, the valve rotation drive piece The valve rotation drive piece is engaged with the valve body when the valve closing circumferential groove that keeps the check valve closed without engaging with the valve body and the engagement pin that has passed through the linear guide groove are engaged. And a valve-opening circumferential groove that allows the check valve to be forcedly opened.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. A bending portion 4 that can be bent by rotating a bending operation knob 3 provided in the operation portion 1 is provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 connected to the operation portion 1. The curved portion 4 is covered with a flexible rubber tube.

  Connected to the distal end of the bending portion 4 is a distal end portion main body 5 in which an observation window or the like is arranged. A light guide connector 7 that is detachably connected to a light source device (also a video processor) (not shown) is attached to the distal end of the flexible connecting tube 6 that extends from the operation unit 1.

  In this endoscope, the partition walls that are partitioned from the outside are all made watertight by packing, O-rings, and the like, and the respective parts communicate with each other inside. A check valve 10 is provided on the outer wall of the light guide connector 7 so as to adjust the pressure inside the endoscope during sterilization with ethylene oxide gas or autoclave.

  The check valve 10 of this embodiment is forcibly closed when not operated, and when a valve opening adapter (not shown) is attached during sterilization, the pressure inside the endoscope is higher than the outside. It is open and allows gas to pass from the inside to the outside, and is closed whenever the pressure inside the endoscope is lower than the outside, and does not allow gas to pass from the outside to the inside.

  However, the endoscope leakage tester of the present invention can also be applied to the check valve 10 having a structure that always opens and allows gas to pass from the inside to the outside when the pressure inside the endoscope is higher than the outside. The “valve opening adapter” is attached to the check valve 10 in advance before sterilization in order to reliably return the pressure inside the endoscope to atmospheric pressure after sterilization with ethylene oxide gas or autoclave. It is a known one that is removed after sterilization.

  FIG. 6 shows a check valve 10, which is formed on the outside of a substantially cylindrical valve seat forming member 14 that protrudes outward from the outer wall of the light guide connector 7 that partitions the exterior and interior of the endoscope. In the vicinity of the end, a valve seat 14a having a shape that tapers outward is formed. 13 is an O-ring for sealing.

  On the outer wall surface of the connecting tube 11 fitted on the outer periphery of the valve seat forming member 14 and fixed by screws, engaging pins for engaging with guide grooves 41 to 43 of a check valve connecting base 37 to be described later 12 protrudes toward the side.

  The valve body 15 is disposed in the valve seat forming member 14 so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable around the axis, and is provided in an O-ring 16 in a circular groove formed in a tapered surface portion facing the valve seat 14a. Is installed.

  Therefore, when the O-ring 16 is pressed against the valve seat 14a, the check valve 10 is closed and the space between the inside and the outside of the endoscope is completely closed. When the O-ring 16 moves away from the valve seat 14a, the inside and the outside of the endoscope communicate with each other through the gap.

  A valve rotation drive piece 39 provided in a valve opening adapter or the like is provided at the outer end portion of the valve body 15 located outside the valve seat 14a as shown in FIG. A drive groove 15a for rotating the valve body 15 around the axis by engaging is formed also as a vent opening opened to the outer surface.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the valve body 15 is urged by the compression coil spring 17 in the direction in which the O-ring 16 is pressed against the valve seat 14 a and the check valve 10 is closed. A drive pin 19 for pushing the valve body 15 up against it and forcibly opening the check valve 10 from the outside is provided on the side surface near the inner end of the valve body 15.

  A spring receiving cylinder 18 that receives one end of the compression coil spring 17 is connected and fixed to the inner end portion of the valve body 15 by a drive pin 19. The spring receiving cylinder 18 is loosely fitted in the valve seat forming member 14, but can be moved forward and backward in the axial direction integrally with the valve body 15, and a plurality of ventilation grooves are formed in the outer peripheral portion in the direction parallel to the axial line. 18a is formed.

  A cam groove 22 for driving the drive pin 19 is formed on the side wall of the cylindrical portion of the valve seat forming member 14. As shown in the developed view of FIG. 8, the cam groove 22 is formed with a chevron cam surface on the lower surface against which the drive pin 19 is pressed by the urging force of the compression coil spring 17.

  The cam groove 22 restricts the movement of the drive pin 19 ″ accompanying the opening / closing operation of the valve body 15 when the valve opening adapter or the like is attached to the check valve 10 and the valve body 15 is rotated by the maximum rotation angle θ. In order to prevent this, it is formed in a shape opened upward from the bottom of the chevron-shaped cam surface, 22a being the open portion.

  The intermediate portion of the cam surface of the chevron of the cam groove 22 pushes up the drive pin 19 ′ that has come to that position against the urging force of the compression coil spring 17 so as to force the valve body 15 to open. To work.

  At the attachment / detachment position where the valve opening adapter or the like is removed from the check valve 10, a pin contact portion 22b that prevents the drive pin 19 from moving to the valve open state and forcibly maintains the closed state is a cam groove. 22 is formed on the upper surface.

  In the check valve 10 configured as described above, the O-ring 16 of the valve body 15 is pressed against the valve seat 14a by the urging force of the compression coil spring 17 when the valve opening adapter or the like is attached. When the pressure outside the endoscope falls below a certain level by the internal pressure, the valve body 15 is pushed outward by the differential pressure, resulting in a valve opening state in which a gap is formed between the valve seat 14a and the O-ring 16. Become.

  Then, at a position where the valve body 15 is rotated from the state to the attachment / detachment position in the direction of removing the valve opening adapter, the drive pin 19 ′ at that position is pushed up by the angled cam surface of the cam groove 22. The O-ring 16 is separated from the valve seat 14a, the check valve 10 is forcibly opened, and a forced open state is established in which the inside and outside of the endoscope communicate with each other.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the leakage tester 30 is connected to the check valve 10.
The leakage tester 30 of this embodiment includes a pressurizing pump 31 (pressurizing air supply means) that manually pressurizes and sends air from the check valve connection base 37 side toward the check valve 10 side, and the pressurizing pump The pressure release valve 32 is provided near the outlet of 31 and can manually open the flow path of the pressurized air, the air chamber 33 through which the pressurized air passes, and the atmospheric pressure in the air chamber 33 (that is, Pressure gauge 34 (pressure measuring means) that measures and displays the pressure in the check valve connection cap 37 when the pressure is stable, and expansion / contraction provided in the middle of the connection tube 35 extending from the outlet of the air chamber 33 A free balloon 36 and a check valve connection cap 37 attached to the tip of the connection tube 35 so as to be detachably connectable to the check valve 10 from the outside. Instead of the manual pressurization pump 31, an electric air supply pump provided in a light source device, an air supply device or the like may be used.

  FIG. 2 shows a state where the check valve connection cap 37 is connected to the check valve 10 in order to detect whether or not the check valve 10 has a watertight defect. On the peripheral wall portion of the check valve connection base 37 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that completely covers the connection cylinder 11 of the check valve 10, a guide groove (a linear guide groove 41, which will be described later, closed) is engaged with the engagement pin 12. The valve circumferential groove 42 and the valve opening circumferential groove 43), the valve rotation drive piece 39 for engaging with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 to forcibly open the check valve, and the outer circumference of the connecting cylinder 11 An O-ring 40 or the like for sealing a gap between the surface and the like is provided.

  The valve rotation driving piece 39 is formed in the check valve connection cap 37 so as to protrude toward the check valve 10 in the direction parallel to the axis, and as shown in FIG. When the fitting state of the base 37 is shallow, it does not engage with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 (because the valve rotation drive piece 39 does not reach the drive groove 15a), and the check valve connection base 37 is connected to the check valve 10. When it is deeply fitted, it is formed to a length that engages with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15. The valve rotation drive piece 39 is formed as a separate part from the check valve connection base 37 and is fixed to the check valve connection base 37 with a screw for ease of manufacturing parts.

  FIG. 3 is a development view of the guide grooves 41 to 43. A straight guide groove 41 is formed in a direction parallel to the axis from the opening end of the check valve connection base 37, which is the attachment / detachment position of the engagement pin 12. When the engagement pin 12 that has passed through the groove 41 is engaged, the valve rotation drive piece 39 is not engaged with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 and the check valve 10 is kept closed, thereby closing the valve circumferential groove. 42, when the engagement pin 12 that has passed through the linear guide groove 41 is engaged, the valve rotation drive piece 39 is engaged with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 so that the check valve 10 is forcedly opened. A circumferential groove 43 is formed in the circumferential direction of the check valve connection cap 37 in the opposite direction across the straight guide groove 41 and at right angles to the straight guide groove 41.

  Among them, the valve-opening circumferential groove 43 is positioned in the axial direction where the valve rotation drive piece 39 engages with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 when the engagement pin 12 is engaged therewith (of the check valve connection base 37). When the engagement pin 12 is inserted to the depth of the groove (that is, the maximum rotation angle δ) at a distance S from the opening end, the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 14a and the check valve 10 is forcibly opened. It is formed to be in a state. As shown in FIG. 8, the maximum rotation angle δ is smaller than the maximum rotation angle θ of the valve body 15 regulated by the cam groove 22, for example, in a range of about 1/3 to 2/3 of θ.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the valve-closing circumferential groove 42 has an axial position where the valve rotation drive piece 39 does not engage with the drive groove 15 a of the valve body 15 (check valve) when the engagement pin 12 is engaged therewith. It is formed at a distance V) from the opening end of the connection base 37, and its maximum rotation angle γ is smaller than the maximum rotation angle δ of the valve opening circumferential groove 43. That is, γ <δ. However, it is not limited to that.

  The check valve connection cap 37 is marked with “VALVE”, which means a check valve, at the back of the valve-closing circumferential groove 42, and at the back of the valve-opening circumferential groove 43. “SCOPE”, which means an endoscope, is displayed.

  In the endoscope leakage tester configured as described above, when the engagement pin 12 is engaged with the position “VALVE” at the back of the valve-closing circumferential groove 42, the valve rotation driving piece 39 is connected to the valve element 15. Since it does not engage with the drive groove 15a, the check valve 10 remains closed.

  On the other hand, when the engagement pin 12 is engaged with the position “SCOPE” at the back of the valve opening circumferential groove 43, the valve rotation drive piece 39 is connected to the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 as shown in FIG. The valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 14a and the check valve 10 is forcibly opened, and pressurized air is sent from the connection tube 35 into the endoscope through the check valve 10. .

  Thus, in the present invention, the valve rotation drive piece 39 does not engage with the drive groove 15 a of the valve body 15 in the state where the engagement pin 12 is engaged with the valve-close circumferential groove 42, and the valve-open circumferential groove 43 Since the valve rotation drive piece 39 engages with the drive groove 15a of the valve body 15 only after the engagement, the valve rotation drive piece 39 can be formed short, and as a result, the check valve connection cap for the check valve 10 can be formed. The engagement stroke of 37 is short, the operability is good, it is hard to become dirty and it is easy to clean, and it is hygienic.

Next, the use of the leakage tester 30 of the embodiment will be described.
When the check valve connection cap 37 of the leakage tester 30 is attached to the check valve 10 and the engagement pin 12 of the check valve 10 is engaged with the “SCOPE” position of the valve opening circumferential groove 43, FIG. As shown, the check valve 10 is forced open.

  Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the pressure pump 31 is operated in a state where the pressure release valve 32 is not open to the atmosphere, and pressurized air is sent into the endoscope via the check valve 10. The pressure change measured by the pressure gauge 34 is observed after increasing the pressure in the mirror.

  Then, if there is no air leak in the exterior part of the entire endoscope, there is no change in the pressure value measured and displayed by the pressure gauge 34, and when the pressure value displayed by the pressure gauge 34 gradually decreases, the exterior part of the endoscope There is an air leak. Therefore, the pressure release valve 32 is once opened to return the internal pressure of the leakage tester 30 to atmospheric pressure, and then the pressure release valve 32 is closed again.

  Next, in FIG. 3, when the engagement pin 12 is engaged with the “VALVE” position of the valve closing circumferential groove 42, the check valve 10 is closed as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, when the pressurization pump 31 is operated and the pressurization air is sent out from the pressurization pump 31 in the state shown in FIG. 1 again, the check valve 10 is in a closed state, and the pressurization air enters the endoscope. Since it is not sent (or hardly sent), the pressurized air is accumulated in the space (closed space) in the leakage tester 30 formed on the outer surface of the check valve 10 and the balloon 36 is inflated, and the pressure gauge 34 Is in a state of measuring and displaying the pressure in the space.

  Then, when a change in pressure measured by the pressure gauge 34 is observed, if there is no air leak in the check valve 10, there is no change in the pressure value measured and displayed by the pressure gauge 34, and the pressure gauge 34 displays. When the pressure value gradually decreases, it can be seen that there is an air leak in the check valve 10 and the pressurized air leaks into the endoscope. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a watertight failure in the closed state of the check valve 10 that could not be detected in the past, and more reliably prevent an endoscope water leakage accident. Note that the air leak detection operation of the check valve 10 may be performed prior to the air leak detection operation of the exterior part of the endoscope.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the valve-closing circumferential groove 42 and the valve-opening circumferential groove 43 have a check valve with respect to the linear guide groove 41. The straight guide groove 41, the valve-closing circumferential groove 42, and the valve-opening circumferential groove 43 are connected to the straight guide groove 41, the valve-closing circumferential groove 42, and the valve-opening so as to be positioned in the same direction in the circumferential direction of the connection base 37. The check valve connection cap 37 may be formed in the order of the circumferential groove 43.

1 is an external view of a state in which an endoscope leakage tester according to a first embodiment of the present invention is connected to an endoscope. FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the connection state with the non-return valve at the time of detecting the presence or absence of the air leak of a non-return valve by the endoscope leakage tester of 1st Example of this invention. It is an expanded view of the guide groove of the leakage tester for endoscopes of the 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the connection state with the non-return valve at the time of detecting the presence or absence of the air leak of the exterior part of the whole endoscope by the endoscope leakage tester of 1st Example of this invention. 1 is an external view of an endoscope in which the endoscope leakage tester of the present invention is used. It is side surface sectional drawing of the non-return valve in which the leakage tester for endoscopes of the 1st Example of this invention is used. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6 of the check valve in which the endoscope leakage tester according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used. It is an expanded view of the cam groove of the non-return valve in which the leakage tester for endoscopes of the 1st Example of this invention is used. It is an expanded view of the guide groove of the leakage tester for endoscopes of the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Check valve 12 Engagement pin 15 Valve body 22 Cam groove 30 Leakage tester 31 Pressurization pump (pressurization air supply means)
32 Pressure release valve 34 Pressure gauge (pressure measuring means)
37 Check valve connection base 39 Valve rotation drive piece 41 to 43 Guide groove 41 Linear guide groove 42 Valve closing circumferential groove 43 Valve opening circumferential groove

Claims (3)

An endoscope leakage tester that is detachably attached from the outside to a check valve provided on the outer wall of the endoscope so as to prevent gas from flowing into the endoscope from the outside,
A substantially cylindrical check valve connection base attached to the check valve from the outside, and pressurized air supply means for sending pressurized air from the check valve connection base side toward the check valve side; And a pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the check valve connection base,
The check valve connection base is provided with a valve rotation driving piece for forcibly opening the check valve by engaging the valve body of the check valve and rotating it around the axis, A straight guide groove formed in a direction parallel to the axis from the opening end on the peripheral wall portion of the check valve connection base so as to engage with an engagement pin provided on the check valve side, and passed through the straight guide groove When the engagement pin is engaged, the valve rotation drive piece is not engaged with the valve body, and the check valve is kept closed, and the valve circumferential groove is passed through the linear guide groove. An internal view characterized in that a valve opening circumferential groove is formed for engaging the valve rotation driving piece with the valve body when the coupling pin is engaged and forcibly opening the check valve. Mirror leakage tester.   The inner valve closing circumferential groove and the valve opening circumferential groove are formed in a circumferential direction of the check valve connection base in a reverse direction with the linear guide groove interposed therebetween. Endoscopic leakage tester.   The linear guide groove, the valve-closing circumferential groove, and the valve-opening circumferential groove are connected to the check valve connection base in the order of the linear guide groove, the valve-closing circumferential groove, and the valve-opening circumferential groove. The endoscope leakage tester according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope leakage tester is formed.

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