JPS644449B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a suction device for an endoscope that allows easy brushing of a suction channel.

Generally, some endoscopes are equipped with a suction line for suctioning and removing mucus, dirt, blood, and the like within a body cavity. This suction line normally consists of a first tube on the upstream side from the operating section of the endoscope to the distal end of the insertion section, and a second tube on the downstream side from the operating section to the connector connected to the end of the universal cord. The tube is divided into two tubes, and one end of each tube located inside the operating section is connected to a cylinder of a suction switching valve provided in the operating section. Suction can be performed by operating this suction switching valve.

By the way, in recent years, nosocomial infections caused by HB antigens have become a problem, and it is necessary not only to simply pass disinfectant through suction pipes that are contaminated with patient blood, but also to brush the inside of the pipes by inserting a brush through them. being sued. In order to brush the suction conduit, the other upstream end of the suction conduit opens at the distal end surface of the insertion section, and the other downstream end opens at the mouthpiece of the connector. The brush may be inserted from one end of the suction pipe along the entire length of the suction pipe. However, when brushing is performed in this manner, the brush must pass through the cylinder in the middle, which may cause the brush to get caught in this portion, resulting in poor brushing. In addition, the suction switching valve has a leak path for sucking in air when no suction operation is performed, so if the brush is inserted through the distal end of the insertion tube or the mouthpiece as described above, the suction pipe will Since the dirt inside the cylinder is pushed up into the cylinder of the suction switching valve, it leaks from there into the operating section via the leak path. Since this operation section is provided with an angle knob and an eyepiece section, if these become contaminated, a problem arises in that a great deal of effort is required to clean and disinfect them.

Therefore, it has been considered that a piston constituting the suction switching valve is detachably attached to the cylinder, and by removing the piston, brushes can be inserted from the cylinder into the upstream and downstream sides of the suction pipe, respectively. . However, if the above-mentioned piston were simply configured to be detachable from the cylinder, the inner diameter of the cylinder would be so small that the piston would be slidably inserted into it, and the suction pipe connected to the cylinder would be too small. There is a problem in that it is difficult to insert the brush from a small diameter cylinder into the tubes on the upstream and downstream sides of the passage. In addition, the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder is usually an uneven surface with grooves formed therein to allow communication between the upstream side and the downstream side of the suction pipe line or to cut off communication with each other by operating the piston. Another problem arises in that it takes a lot of time and effort to clean dirt and the like adhering to the inner peripheral surface.

This invention was made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to connect a suction switching valve to a first cylinder to which a suction pipe is connected, and a second cylinder that is detachable from the first cylinder. By comprising a cylinder and a piston that is slidably inserted into the second cylinder, the inner diameter of the first cylinder can be made sufficiently larger than the diameter of the piston. An object of the present invention is to provide a suction device for an endoscope whose inner peripheral surface can be made smooth without unevenness.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. 1 in FIG. 1 is an endoscope. This endoscope 1 consists of an insertion section 2 and an operating section 3, and a universal cord 5 having a connector 4 at its end is connected to the operating section 3. Further, the insertion section 2 is provided with an observation optical system 6, and this observation optical system 6 is optically connected to an eyepiece section 7 provided on the operation section 3.

On the other hand, a suction channel 8 is formed in the endoscope 1 . This suction conduit 8 includes a first tube 9 on the upstream side from the insertion section 2 to the operation section 3;
and a second tube 10 on the downstream side extending from the universal cord 5 to the connector 4. One end of the first tube 9 is connected to a suction switching valve 11 provided in the operating section 3,
The other end is open to the distal end surface 2a of the insertion section 2.
One end of the second tube 10 is connected to the suction switching valve 11, and the other end is a cap 4 connected to a suction pump (not shown) provided on the connector 4.
It is connected to a.

The suction switching valve 11 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, a mounting hole 12 is formed in the wall 3a of the operation section 3, and the mounting hole 12
A first cylinder 13 is inserted into the holder. This first cylinder 13 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open end that protrudes from the wall 3a to the outside of the operating section 3 and has a smooth inner circumferential surface.
A step portion 14 is formed to engage with the inner surface of the tube, and a screw 15 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of one end. The first cylinder 13 is fixed to the wall 3a by an annular stopper 16 screwed onto the screw 15. The stopper 16 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, including an upper flange 16a and a lower flange 16b having a larger diameter than the upper flange 16a, and the lower flange 16b is joined to the outer surface of the wall 3a. Further, at the bottom of the first cylinder 13, a first connecting pipe 17 is provided at a position offset from the center in the radial direction.
A second connecting pipe 18 is provided at the center in the radial direction. This second connecting pipe 18 consists of a large diameter part 18a and a small diameter part 18b, and an abutment step part 19 is formed at the boundary between these parts. One end of the first tube 9 is connected to the first connecting tube 17, and the second tube 9 is connected to the small diameter portion 18b of the second connecting tube 18.
One end of the tube 10 is connected. That is, one end portions of the first and second tubes 9 and 10 are connected to open at the bottom of the first cylinder 13. Further, a second cylinder 20 is fitted into the first cylinder 13. The second cylinder 20 has its outer circumferential surface hermetically joined to the inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder 13, and has the stopper 16 at its upper end protruding from the first cylinder 13.
A flange 21 having approximately the same diameter as the upper flange 16a of
is formed, and an insertion hole 22 penetrating in the axial direction is bored in the center. A piston 23 is fitted into the insertion hole 22 so as to be vertically movable. A leak passage 24 extending over the entire length in the axial direction is bored in the piston 23, and a communication hole 25 communicating with the leak passage 24 is provided in the middle of the peripheral wall. Furthermore, the piston 23 has a recess 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section at one end projecting outward from the second cylinder 20.
6 is formed. The piston 23 is a biasing member 2 made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin or rubber.
7, one end is elastically held in a state protruding from the second cylinder 20, as shown in FIG. That is, the biasing member 27 has a substantially skirt-like shape with open upper and lower surfaces, and has an annular flange 28 projecting radially inward at the upper end, and a first annular collar 28 at the inner peripheral surface of the lower end. A groove 29 and a second annular groove 30 are formed. The biasing member 27 connects the first and second annular grooves 29 and 30 between the upper flange 16a of the stopper body 16 and the second cylinder 20.
are removably fitted to the flanges 21 of the
The annular flange 28 is fitted into the recess 26 of the piston 23 to cover the outer circumferential surface of the piston 23. Therefore, the biasing member 2
By removing the first annular groove 29 of No. 7 from the upper flange 16a of the stopper 16, this biasing member 27
At the same time, the piston 23 and the second cylinder 20 can be removed from the first cylinder 13.

Note that when the piston 23 is held by the biasing member 27 as shown in FIG. Since the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 are fitted into the second connecting tube 18, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 are disconnected from each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the piston 23 is pushed against the restoring force of the biasing member 27 until its lower end surface abuts the abutment step 19 formed on the second connecting pipe 18, the above-mentioned Since the communication hole 25 is exposed from the insertion hole 22 of the second cylinder 20, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 communicate with each other through the communication hole 25.

In an endoscope with such a configuration, the connector 4
When a suction pump (not shown) connected to the base 4a of the valve is operated, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 are connected to each other when the suction switching valve 11 is not operated as shown in FIG. Since it is blocked by the piston 23, the second tube 10
Atmospheric air is sucked in through the leak passage 24 of the piston 23 by the suction force acting on the piston 23 . Therefore,
Dirt inside the body cavity will not be sucked out. To suction and remove dirt from the body cavity, as shown in FIG.
Push in 3. Then, the first tube 9 and the second tube
Since the second tube 10 communicates with the second tube 10 through the communication hole 25 of the piston 23, the suction force is transferred to the second tube 10.
0 to the first tube 9, dirt and the like in the body cavity are suctioned and removed.

In the endoscope 1 used in this manner, the suction line 8 becomes contaminated with dirt and the like, so the suction line 8 must be cleaned after use. In that case, a cleaning device 3 as shown in FIG.
1 is used. This cleaning device 31 includes a brush 32
and a cover 33 molded from a transparent elastic material such as flexible synthetic resin or rubber. That is, the brush 32 is formed by providing a predetermined length of brush bristles at the tips of twisted wires 34 to form a bristled portion 35 . The cover 33 has a cap shape with an open bottom, and has a mounting groove 36 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower end to removably fit into the upper flange 16a of the stopper 16, and a top portion that is open. A hole 37 is bored, and the wire 34 of the brush 32 is inserted through this through hole 37 in a substantially airtight state. The height of the cover 33 is such that when the cover 33 is attached to the stopper 16, the height of the space formed by the cover 33 and the first cylinder 13 is equal to the height of the bristles 35 of the brush 32. It is set to be longer than the length dimension of.

Cleaning of the suction pipe line 8 using such a cleaning device 31 is performed as follows. First, after a sufficient amount of disinfectant is suctioned into the suction line 8 by a normal suction operation, air is sucked to drain the suction line 8, and then the suction pump is stopped. Next, after removing the piston 23 and the second cylinder 20 together with the biasing member 27 from the first cylinder 13, the cover 33 through which the brush 32 is inserted is inserted into the opening of the first cylinder 13, that is, the stopper 1
The mounting groove 36 is fitted into the upper flange 16a of No. 6 to attach it. Once the cover 33 is attached, the cover 33 is transparent, so while looking inside, first insert the brush 32 from the first connecting tube 17 to the first tube 9 side, and insert the bristles 35 into the insertion section 2. Tip surface 2
After protruding from a, place the tip of the insertion section 2 into the disinfectant solution. Here, the suction pump is activated again, and the brush 32 is pulled while sucking the disinfectant,
Disinfect the first tube 9 by brushing it. At this time, the cover 3 is attached to the first cylinder 13.
3 is attached, and the wire 34 of the brush 32 and the through hole 37 of the cover 33 are in a substantially airtight state, so disinfectant, dirt, etc. will not be scattered outside. Then, the user brushes the inside of the first tube 9 while observing the color of the disinfectant flowing inside the first cylinder 13 through the transparent cover 33.

After brushing the inside of the first tube 9 in this way, pull out the bristles 35 of the brush 32 from the first tube 9 and move it to the second tube 1.
Put it in 0. At this time, since the length of the bristles 35 of the brush 32 is shorter than the height of the space formed between the first cylinder 13 and the cover 33, the bristles 35 of the brush 32 can be removed without removing the cover 33. can be transferred from the first tube 9 to the second tube 10, which is hygienic. In this way, the brush 32
is passed through the second tube 10, this second
The second tube 10 is brushed in the same manner as the first tube 9 while the disinfectant is flowing. When brushing the second tube 10, if the base 4a of the connector 4 and the suction pump are connected with a transparent hose, the brush 32 can be connected to the second tube 10.
It is possible to check whether the bristles 35 protrude from the cap 4a when the tube is passed through the tube, and the color of the disinfectant flowing through the second tube 10 can also be checked.

That is, according to the suction switching valve 11 configured as described above, the flow from the first cylinder 13 to the second cylinder 20 is
Since the piston 23 can be removed, the brush 32 can be inserted from the first cylinder 13 into the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 of the suction pipe 8, respectively, and the piston 23 can be removed from the second tube 9. Since the first cylinder 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 22 formed in the cylinder 20, the inner diameter of the first cylinder 13 can be made sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the piston 23. Therefore, it is easy to insert the brush 32 from the first cylinder 13 into the first and second tubes 9 and 10. Furthermore, by displacing the piston 23 with respect to the second cylinder 20, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 can be communicated or disconnected. Therefore, the inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder 13 can be made into a single-smooth surface without forming a groove or the like on the inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder 13. etc. can be easily cleaned.

Note that when brushing the suction conduit 8 without using the cover 33, it is sufficient to stop the suction pump and perform only brushing without flowing the disinfectant.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a piston 23 is inserted into a second cylinder 2.
0 insertion hole 22 was bored at an eccentric position of this second cylinder 20. An annular flange 28 for holding the piston 23 formed on the biasing member 27
is eccentrically aligned with the insertion hole 22, and
A second connecting pipe 18, to which one end of the second tube 10 is connected, was also connected to the bottom of the first cylinder 13 at an eccentric position corresponding to the piston 23. Further, a first tube to which one end of the first tube 9 is connected is provided.
A connecting pipe 17 was connected to the bottom of the first cylinder 13 at an angle with respect to the axis of the first cylinder 13.

According to such a configuration, since the second connecting pipe 18 is eccentrically connected to the bottom of the first cylinder 13, the first connecting pipe 17 is connected to the bottom of the first cylinder 13 compared to the first embodiment. The brush 32 from this first connecting tube 17 to the first tube 9 can be connected by being shifted in the central axis direction of the bottom of the tube 13.
It is easier to insert the first connecting pipe 17.
The fact that the brush 23 is inclined also makes it easier to insert the brush 23.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, which is substantially similar to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except for the configuration of the second cylinder 20. That is, the second cylinder 20 has a horizontal hole 38, one end is communicated with the horizontal hole 38, and the other end is connected to the second cylinder 20.
A vertical hole 39 is formed in the lower end surface of the piston 23, and when the piston 23 is pushed in, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 are connected to the vertical hole 39, the horizontal hole 38, and the communication hole 25 of the piston 23. and communicated via the leak hole 24. Even in such a configuration, the same effects as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment differs from the second and third embodiments in the suction mechanism. That is, the piston 23 is provided with a flange 40 at a location protruding from the second cylinder 20, and a communication passage 41 that is open only to the lower end surface of the flange 40.
is provided. That is, the piston 23 is not provided with the leak hole 24 that penetrates the entire length in the axial direction as in the above embodiments. The piston 23
A first connecting pipe 1 to which a first tube 9 is connected is located at an eccentric position at the bottom of the first cylinder 13 corresponding to
7 is provided, and a second connecting pipe 18 to which the second tube 10 is connected is provided inclined to the axis of the first cylinder 13. Further, the piston 23 is provided with a communication hole 25 that communicates with the communication passage 41 .

On the other hand, a first ventilation hole 42 penetrating in the axial direction of the second cylinder 20 is bored parallel to the insertion hole 22 at a position where it is closed by the collar 40 when the piston 23 is pushed in. ing. Also,
A second ventilation hole 43 is bored in the peripheral wall of the biasing member 27 .

According to such a configuration, when the piston 23 is not operated, outside air is sucked through the first vent hole 42 and the second vent hole 43 by the suction force generated in the second tube 10. Further, when the piston 23 is pushed in until the collar 40 contacts the upper surface of the second cylinder 20, the first ventilation hole 42 is closed by the collar 40 and the communication hole 25 bored in the piston 23 is closed. Since it is exposed from the lower end surface of the second cylinder 20, the first tube 9 and the second tube 10 communicate with each other through the communication hole 25, and dirt and the like in the body cavity are suctioned and removed. That is, even in such a configuration, the suction switching valve 11
Not only can the same effects as those of the above embodiments be obtained without impairing the function of the leak channel 24, but also the leak channel 24 can be removed without blocking the leak channel 24 with fingers as in the above embodiments during the suction operation. Your hands and fingers will not be contaminated by filth etc.

As described above, this invention provides a suction switching valve that
A second cylinder is removably fitted into a first cylinder having a bottomed cylindrical shape, which has a connecting pipe at the bottom that connects the upstream and downstream tubes of the suction line so as to extend approximately in the axial direction. A piston is slidably inserted into the second cylinder, and the piston is elastically held by a biasing member that is detachably attached to the first cylinder. Therefore, the diameter of the first cylinder can be made sufficiently large regardless of the diameter of the piston, making it easier to insert the brush from the first cylinder into the suction pipe connected to it, thereby making the brushing work easier. can be carried out efficiently and reliably. Furthermore, by displacing the piston with respect to the second cylinder, the suction pipe can be communicated or cut off, so the first
Unlike conventional cylinders, there is no need to provide grooves on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. Therefore, since the inner circumferential surface of the first cylinder becomes a smooth surface, the inside of the first cylinder can be easily cleaned.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a suction switching valve, and FIG. 3 is also in a suction state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when cleaning the suction pipe line, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are cross sections of the suction switching valve showing second to fourth embodiments of the present invention, respectively. It is a diagram. 8...Suction pipe line, 11...Suction switching valve, 13...
...First cylinder, 20...Second cylinder, 2
3...Piston, 27...Biasing member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first cylinder with a bottom and a cylindrical shape having a connecting pipe at the bottom that connects the upstream and downstream tubes of the suction pipe so as to extend substantially in the axial direction; a second cylinder airtightly and removably fitted into the inner circumferential surface; a piston having a communication passage that is removably fitted into the first cylinder and the second cylinder and communicates the upstream and downstream tubes; and a biasing member that is detachably attached to the first cylinder and biases the piston outward, and has a suction switching valve that switches suction by operating the piston. Endoscope suction device. 2. The endoscope suction device according to claim 1, wherein the piston is provided eccentrically with respect to the first cylinder. 3. The endoscope suction device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cylinder is attached to the urging member. 4. The endoscope suction device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member elastically holds the piston.