Air and water supply system for endoscopes

• US 20010039370A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kazuaki, Sugikawa, Etsuko, Akiba, Haruo
• Granted Patent: US 6,558,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for endoscopes which can supply air and water according to each application by regulating air and water flow rates independently. Although air and water may be supplied with one pump, the present invention controls air and water flow rates separately by using an air supply pump and water supply pump and by controlling a plurality of open-close valves installed, for example, on atmospheric escape pipes. The air channel and water channel are connected, for draining, by a first connecting pipe. If the air supply pump is used also for water supply and the water supply pump is used also for air supply, it is possible to supply air and water at a high flow rate fast enough even for high-speed water injection. If a fixed flow rate is used for a specified time at the start, specific operations can be simplified.

Claims

1. An air and water supply system for endoscopes comprising:

a pump for supplying air and water to the distal end of an endoscope through an air channel and water channel;

a plurality of open-close valves installed on the air channel, water channel, and atmospheric escape channel connected to said pump; and

a flow control section which sets the air flow rate in said air channel and water flow rate in said water channel per unit time individually by controlling said open-close valves.

2. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 1

, wherein said atmospheric escape channel connected to said pump is provided with a plurality of open-close valves for changing the rate of flow from said atmospheric escape channel and wherein said flow control section regulates flow rates by controlling said open-close valves.

3. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 1

, wherein said flow control section performs such control as to vary said air flow rate with said water flow rate kept constant.

4. An air and water supply system for endoscopes comprising:

an air channel for supplying air to the distal end of the endoscope;

a water channel for supplying water to said distal end of the endoscope;

an air supply pump for performing said air supply;

a water supply pump for performing said water supply independently from said air supply pump; and

a control section for controlling air flow and water flow rates individually by controlling said air supply pump and said water supply pump.

5. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 4

, comprising:

a first connecting pipe for connecting said air channel and said water channel; and

an open-close valve for opening and closing said first connecting pipe,

wherein said control section supplies air to said water channel.

6. The air and water supply system f or endoscopes according to

claim 4

, comprising:

a second connecting pipe f or connecting said water supply pump to a water channel to supply air; and

an open-close valve for opening and closing said second connecting pipe,

wherein said control section can supply air to said water channel by using two pumps.

7. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 4

, comprising:

a third connecting pipe for connecting said air supply pump to the water channel to supply water; and

an open-close valve for opening and closing said third connecting pipe,

wherein said control section supplies water to said water channel by using two pumps.

8. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 4

, comprising an injection channel, apart from said water channel, for injecting water to objects under observation, said injection channel being connected to said third connecting pipe to allow water to be supplied to said injection channel with two pumps.

9. An air and water supply system for endoscopes comprising:

a channel installed in the endoscope for supplying air and water to the distal end;

flow control means for variably controlling the flow rate of said air or water supply through said channel;

a control switch for selecting the flow rate to be controlled by said flow control means and for performing said air supply or water supply; and

a control section which controls said flow control means so as to supply air or water at a predetermined fixed flow rate for a specified time after said air supply or water supply operation is started by said control switch and then enable any flow rate specified by said control switch.

10. An air and water supply system for endoscopes comprising:

an endoscope-side air or water feed tube installed in the endoscope;

a control-unit-side air or water feed tube installed in the channel control unit; and

a flexible connecting pipe which connects said endoscope-side tube and said control-unit-side tube and which is equal or superior to the air or water feed tube inside the endoscope in terms of resistance to deformation caused by internal pressure.

11. The air and water supply system for endoscopes according to

claim 10

, wherein said connecting pipe is made by coating the outer surface of a soft tube with reinforcing material to protect the soft tube against deformation while maintaining its flexibility.