JPH0194822A - Disinfection apparatus for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To certainly disinfect an endoscope by making it possible to confirm whether an antiseptic solution is effective, by detecting the concn. of the antiseptic solution and monitoring the concn. of the antiseptic solution by the detection signal. CONSTITUTION:An endoscope (a) is washed and disinfected by the antiseptic solution injected in a washing tank 2 from an injection nozzle 19. The concn. of the antiseptic solution in the washing tank 2 is detected by an antiseptic solution concn. sensor 25. The detection signal of the antiseptic solution concn. sensor 25. is compared with the set value by a concn. setting means 27 in a comparator 26 and, when the concn. of the antiseptic solution becomes a preset value or less, an alarm 29 is operated by a controller 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope disinfection device for disinfecting an endoscope by immersing it in a disinfectant solution.

[Prior art] A device for cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1986-1990, for example.
This method is known from Japanese Patent No. 531, etc. This endoscope washer/disinfector cleans the outer surface of the endoscope installed in the cleaning tank with the cleaning liquid sprayed from the nozzle, and at the same time cleans the endoscope's internal air, water, and suction channels. Cleaning liquid is also sent inside to clean the internal and external surfaces of the endoscope. Furthermore, after performing this cleaning, the cleaning tank is injected and filled with a disinfectant solution, and the endoscope is immersed in this disinfectant solution, and the disinfectant solution is also sent into each channel to clean the inside and outside of the endoscope. We try to disinfect surfaces.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when the above-mentioned cleaning operation and the operation of immersing the endoscope in the disinfectant solution in the cleaning tank to disinfect it are repeated, the cleaning solution gradually gets mixed into the disinfectant solution or is replaced. It is thought that the disinfectant will be gradually diluted and the concentration of the disinfectant will decrease.

However, the concentration of the disinfectant used to disinfect endoscopes was unknown after the initial adjustment. Therefore, even during the effective period of the disinfectant, there was a risk that the concentration would fall below the appropriate level.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to sequentially detect whether a disinfectant solution used to disinfect an endoscope is ineffective or at a concentration close to ineffective, and to disinfect the endoscope. To provide a highly safe endoscope disinfection device that can be monitored to ensure disinfection.

C. Means for Solving Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a disinfectant tank,
In an endoscope disinfection device that disinfects the endoscope by immersing it in the disinfectant solution, there is provided a means for detecting the concentration of the disinfectant used in the disinfectant tank, and a detection signal from the concentration detecting means. A means for monitoring the concentration of the disinfectant is provided.

[Function] Therefore, it is possible to continuously monitor whether the disinfectant actually used has a concentration that is ineffective or close to ineffective, so it can be used with confidence. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent contamination of the endoscope, prevent infection to the patient, and ensure safety. Furthermore, when the concentration of the disinfectant drops, the disinfection time can be extended or more disinfectant can be added to ensure the disinfection effect.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In this FIG. 1, 1 is a device main body, and this device main body 1
A cleaning tank 2 is formed inside.

The upper opening of this cleaning tank 2 is closed by a cover 3. Furthermore, a shelf 4 on which an endoscope a is placed is installed in the cleaning tank 2. Furthermore, a nozzle 6 that is rotationally driven by a motor 5 is installed approximately in the center of the cleaning tank 2 . This nozzle 6 is connected to a water storage tank 8 via a water supply pipe 7. A water supply pump 9 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 7, and the water supply pump 9 supplies water in the water storage tank 8 to the nozzle 6. A tap water introduction pipe 10 is connected to the water storage tank 8.
is connected to a water faucet 11. A switching valve 12 is inserted in the middle of the tap water introduction pipe 10, and when a certain amount of water accumulates in the water storage tank 8, the introduction of any more tap water is cut off.

A discharge pipe 13 is connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank 2, and the discharge pipe 13 is connected to a waste liquid pipe 15 and a return pipe 16 via a three-position switching valve 14.

A discharge pump 17 is inserted in the middle of the waste liquid pipe 15, and the liquid in the cleaning tank 2 can be discharged by operating the discharge pump 17 and connecting the waste liquid pipe 15 with the switching valve 14. It looks like this.

Further, a disinfectant tank 18 is connected to the return pipe 16. A disinfectant injection pipe 20 communicating with an injection nozzle 19 facing the cleaning tank 2 is connected to the bottom of the disinfectant tank 18 . An injection pump 21 is inserted in the middle of this disinfectant injection pipe 20.

Further, a disinfectant concentration sensor 25 is provided on the inner wall of the cleaning tank 2 as a means for detecting the concentration of the disinfectant. The concentration of the disinfectant is processed by the disinfectant concentration monitoring means described below based on the detection signal of the disinfectant concentration sensor 25, and the concentration of the disinfectant is monitored. That is, the detection signal of the disinfectant concentration sensor 25 is compared in the comparator 26 with a value preset by the concentration setting means 27. If the detection signal from the disinfectant concentration sensor 25 is higher than the value preset by the concentration setting means 27, the disinfection process is continued, but if it is smaller, the controller 28 activates an alarm 29. Note that the density setting means 27 is provided so as to be operable on the operation panel 30 of the main body 1.

Next, the operation of the endoscope washer/disinfector will be explained. First, the endoscope a to be cleaned and disinfected is placed on the shelf 4 of the cleaning tank 2. The insertion portion of this endoscope a is installed in a circle around the nozzle 6. Furthermore, various channels of the endoscope a are connected to a tube joint block, also not shown, via tubes, not shown.

Therefore, by opening the switching valve 12, the water faucet 11
A certain amount of water previously stored in the water storage tank 8 is supplied through the tap water introduction pipe 10 to the nozzle 6 via the water supply pipe 7 by the action of the water supply pump 9, and is also supplied to the tube joint block. The cleaning water supplied to the nozzle 6 side is rotated by the motor 5.
The liquid is sprayed from the endoscope a and sprayed all over the outer surface of the endoscope a to clean it. Further, the cleaning water supplied to the tube joint block side is injected into various channels of the endoscope a through the tubes, and then discharged into the cleaning tank 2 from the other end of the opening of each channel.

In this way, the outer surface of the endoscope a and the inner surface of each channel can be cleaned. Note that this washing step is normally carried out by sequentially performing the following steps: preliminary washing with tap water as is, main washing with detergent mixed therein, and rinsing with tap water as is.

Further, the cleaning water discharged into the cleaning tank 2 in each of the cleaning steps is discharged from the discharge pipe 13 at the bottom of the cleaning tank 2 through the switching valve 14 and the waste liquid pump 17 to the outside.

After this cleaning step, a disinfection step is performed. That is, in the disinfection process, the switching valve 14 is switched to shut off the discharge pipe 13 at the bottom of the cleaning tank 2. Further, while the operation of the waste liquid pump 17 is stopped, the injection pump 21 is operated to inject the disinfectant from the disinfectant tank 18 into the cleaning tank 2 through the disinfectant injection pipe 20. At the same time, it is also supplied to the tube joint block (not shown). The disinfectant solution supplied to the tube joint block side is injected into various channels of the endoscope a through the tube,
Fill the inside with disinfectant.

In this way, the inner and outer surfaces of the endoscope a are brought into contact with the disinfectant, and this state is maintained for a while to be disinfected.

By the way, in this disinfection process, the concentration of the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 2 is detected by the disinfectant concentration sensor 25. The detection signal from the disinfectant concentration sensor 25 is compared in a comparator 26 with a value preset by a concentration setting means 27.

If the detection signal from the disinfectant concentration sensor 25 is higher than the value preset by the concentration setting means 27, the disinfection process is continued, but if it is smaller, the controller 28 activates the alarm 29 and the concentration of the disinfectant is increased. Notify the user that the value has dropped to a preset value.

Therefore, the user can know that the concentration will be below the appropriate range. In other words, it is possible to avoid the risk of continuing to use the product and ending up with incomplete sterilization.

Further, when the concentration of the disinfectant is low, the disinfection effect may be ensured by automatically extending the disinfection time or adding disinfectant.

Of course, if the concentration of the disinfectant solution is below the appropriate level and is therefore ineffective, the disinfection operation or the previous cleaning process may be stopped.

Then, after this disinfection process is completed, a disinfectant rinsing process is performed next. This rinsing step is the same as the rinsing with tap water in the above-mentioned washing step.

When this rinsing step is completed, a water removal step and a drying step are subsequently performed.

In the water removal step, room air is sucked and compressed by an air pump (not shown) and is sent to various channels of the endoscope a installed in the cleaning tank 2 through the gas supply means consisting of the tube joint block, tubes, and the like. Then, the rinsing water remaining in each channel of the endoscope a is removed by the supplied air pressure. Furthermore, by continuing this operation for a necessary period of time, a drying step is performed to dry the inside of each channel of the endoscope a.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a concentration display 31 for displaying the concentration of the detected disinfectant solution is added to the first embodiment. This concentration display 31 is connected to the controller 28 and is installed, for example, on the operation panel 30 of the main body 1.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is an example in which a disinfectant solution concentration sensor consisting of a color-changing reagent 32 and an optical sensor 33 is used. The color-changing reagent 32 is located at a portion communicating with the inside of the cleaning tank 2, such as a recess 34.
installed within. The color-changing reagent 32 is generally one that changes color depending on the concentration of dachtaldehyde used in the disinfectant solution for the endoscope a. The optical sensor 33 detects discoloration depending on the concentration of the disinfectant in the cleaning tank 2. This detection signal is sent to a comparator 26 and compared with a preset value by a concentration setting means 27, as in the above embodiment. If the detection signal is larger than the value preset by the concentration setting means 27, the disinfection process is continued, but if it is smaller, the controller 28 activates the alarm 29, etc.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the disinfectant concentration sensor is not limited to being provided in the cleaning tank, but may also be provided in, for example, the disinfectant tank or the disinfectant supply pipe.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention can be used in a disinfectant tank.
Since it is equipped with a means to detect the concentration of the '14 poisonous solution, it can be used with confidence as it can be continuously monitored to see if the concentration of the disinfectant actually used is ineffective or close to ineffective. In other words, it is possible to prevent the endoscope from being used on a patient under the assumption that it has been thoroughly sterilized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the endoscope from being contaminated, prevent infection to the patient, and ensure safety. Furthermore, when the concentration of the disinfectant drops, the disinfection time can be extended or more disinfectant can be added to ensure the disinfection effect. Furthermore, it is also possible to detect that there is no disinfectant solution in the disinfection tank for some reason, thereby ensuring safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of main parts in a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of main parts in a third embodiment. 2...Cleaning tank, 18...Disinfectant tank, 20...
Disinfectant injection pipe, 21... Injection pump, 25... Disinfectant concentration sensor, 26... Comparator, 27... Concentration setting means, 28-... Controller, 29... Alarm, a... ·Endoscope. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope disinfection device that is provided with a disinfectant tank and disinfects the endoscope by immersing the endoscope in the disinfectant tank, the concentration of the disinfectant used in the disinfectant tank is controlled. A disinfecting device for an endoscope, comprising: a means for detecting, and means for monitoring the concentration of the disinfectant based on a detection signal from the concentration detecting means.