APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND DISINFECTING ENDOSCOPE BY USING DILUTED CHEMICALS

• US 20080267812A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: SUZUKI, Shintaro, SUZUKI, Eiri, KAWACHI, Shinichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,943,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/123 using washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation

Abstract

An apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope is provided. First and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the chemicals to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged into a tank. The tank includes a first portion, a second portion having an area of base smaller than that of the first portion, a first sensor detecting that the dilution water is charged into the first portion up to a first level, a second sensor detecting that the first chemical is charged into the second portion up to a second level, and a third sensor detecting that the second chemical is charged into the second portion up to a third level. A unit measures a first volume of the first chemical based on a result of the second sensor and measures a second volume of the second chemical based on results of the third sensor and the second sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope comprising:

a dilution tank into which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged, the dilution tank including;

a first storage portion;

a second storage portion which has an area of base smaller than an area of base of the first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion;

a first electrode sensor which detects a state in which the dilution water is charged into the second storage portion up to a first level;

a second electrode sensor which detects a state in which the first chemical is charged into the second storage portion up to a second level; and

a third electrode sensor which detects a state in which the second chemical is charged into the second storage portion up to a third level; and

a measurement unit which measures, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on a detection result of the second electrode sensor and measures, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on a detection result of the third electrode sensor and the detection result of the second electrode sensor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage portion is formed on a top of the first storage portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage portion is formed on an underside of the first storage portion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage portion includes a heating member which heats either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dilution water is heated up to a predetermined temperature before diluting the first and second chemicals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dilution water charged into the dilution tank is heated in advance.

7. An apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope comprising:

a dilution tank into which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged, the dilution tank including;

a first storage portion;

a second storage portion which is formed on a top of the first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion;

a first electrode sensor which detects a state in which the dilution water is charged into the second storage portion up to a first level;

a metering cup member provided in the second storage portion;

a fourth electrode sensor which is disposed in the metering cup member and detects a state in which the first chemical is charged into the metering cup member up to a fourth level; and

a fifth electrode sensor which is disposed in the metering cup member and detects a state in which the second chemical is charged into the metering cup member up to a fifth level; and

a measurement unit which measures, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on a detection result of the fourth electrode sensor and measures, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on a detection result of the fifth electrode sensor and the detection result of the fourth electrode sensor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a top of the metering cup member is opened in the second storage portion and a bottom portion of the metering cup member is provided with an outlet discharging the first and second chemicals, the outlet being provided with a detachable stopper member.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outlet of the metering cup member has a retaining member along an outer circumference thereof, the retaining member preventing the stopper member from being pulled out from the outlet to the outside of the metering cup.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a bottom portion of the stopper member is connected to a float member whose specific gravity is less than specific gravity of either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water, and a bottom portion of the float member is connected to a load member which brings the stopper member into contact with the retaining member by a load thereof to close the outlet.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the outlet of the metering cup member has a first restricting guide along an outer circumference thereof, and the float member floating in either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water comes into contact with the first restricting guide to prevent the float member from closing an opening of the retaining member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a sixth electrode sensor which detects a state in which the dilution water is charged into the second storage portion up to a sixth level; and

a seventh electrode sensor which detects a state in which the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water are charged into the second storage portion up to a seventh level.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water are stored up to the sixth level, the float member floats in either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water to make the stopper member float, thereby opening the outlet.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the outlet of the metering cup member has a second restricting guide along an outer circumference thereof, the second restricting guide standing on an upper surface of the bottom portion of the metering cup member and defining the position of the stopper member with respect to the outlet.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the height of the second restricting guide is greater than height of the stopper member when the stopper member is raised from the outlet by the float member coming into contact with the first restricting guide.

16. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first storage portion includes a heating member which heats either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water.

17. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the dilution water is heated up to a predetermined temperature before diluting the first and second chemicals.

18. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the dilution water charged into the dilution tank is heated in advance.

19. An apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope comprising:

a dilution tank into which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged, the dilution tank including;

a first storage portion;

a second storage portion which has an area of base smaller than an area of base of the first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion; and

a first electrode sensor which detects a state in which the dilution water is charged into the second storage portion up to a first level;

a reserve tank into which the first and second chemicals are charged, the reserve tank including;

a second electrode sensor which detects a state in which the first chemical is charged into the reserve tank up to a second level; and

a third electrode sensor which detects a state in which the second chemical is charged into the reserve tank up to a third level; and

a measurement unit which measures, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on a detection result of the second electrode sensor, measures, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on a detection result of the third electrode sensor and the detection result of the second electrode sensor, and charges the first and second chemicals stored in the reserve tank into the second storage portion.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second storage portion is formed on a top of the first storage portion.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first storage portion includes a heating member which heats either the dilution water or the first and second chemicals diluted with the dilution water.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the dilution water is heated up to a predetermined temperature before diluting the first and second chemicals.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the dilution water charged into the dilution tank is heated in advance.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reserve tank has an area of base smaller than an area of base of the dilution tank.

25. A method for washing and disinfecting an endoscope, in which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged into a dilution tank, comprising:

detecting a state in which the dilution water, which is previously heated up to a predetermined temperature, is charged into a second storage portion of the dilution tank, which has an area of base smaller than an area of base of a first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion, up to a first level to is obtain a first detection result;

detecting a state in which the first chemical is charged into the second storage portion of the dilution tank up to a second level to obtain a second detection result;

detecting a state in which the second chemical is charged into the second storage portion of the dilution tank up to a third level to obtain a third detection result;

measuring, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on the second detection result; and

measuring, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on the third detection result and the second detection result.

26. A method for washing and disinfecting an endoscope, in which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged into a dilution tank, comprising:

detecting a state in which the dilution water, which is previously heated up to a predetermined temperature, is charged into a second storage portion of the dilution tank, which has an area of base smaller than an area of base of a first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion, up to a first level to obtain a first detection result;

detecting a state in which the first chemical is charged into a metering cup member provided in the second storage portion of the dilution tank up to a fourth level to obtain a fourth detection result;

detecting a state in which the second chemical is charged into the metering cup member of the dilution tank up to a fifth level to obtain a fifth detection result;

measuring, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on the fourth detection result, and

measuring, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on the fifth detection result and the fourth detection result.

27. A method for washing and disinfecting an endoscope, in which first and second chemicals and dilution water, which dilutes the first and second chemicals to a predetermined concentration to be used for disinfecting the endoscope, are charged into a dilution, tank, comprising:

detecting a state in which the dilution water, which is previously heated up to a predetermined temperature, is charged into a second storage portion of the dilution tank, which has an area of base smaller than an area of base of a first storage portion and communicates with the first storage portion, up to a first level to obtain a first detection result;

detecting a state in which the first chemical is charged into a reserve tank up to a second level to obtain a second detection result;

detecting a state in which the second chemical is charged into the reserve tank up to a third level to obtain a third detection result;

measuring, as a first volume, a volume of the first chemical based on the second detection result;

measuring, as a second volume, a volume of the second chemical based on the third detection result and the second detection result; and

charging the first and second chemicals stored in the reserve tank into the second storage portion of the dilution tank.