Endoscope and endoscope washing apparatus

• US 4,862,872 A
• Filed: 04/06/1988
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiromasa, Nakamura, Takeaki, Yokoi, Takeshi, Yabe, Hisao, Nishigaki, Shinichi, Kanno, Masahide, Tojo, Yoshikazu, Yoshinaga, Jun, Ozeki, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/178,683
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 600/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/123 using washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

This endoscope system comprises an endoscope and a washing apparatus. The endoscope is provided with an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part, an observing system receiving the returning light from an object entering through the observing window, an illuminating light output system emitting an illuminating light from the illuminating window and a memorizing device capable of memorizing information relating to washing. The washing apparatus is provided with a read-out device reading out information memorized in the memorizing device of the endoscope and a control device controlling the conditions of washing the endoscope by the information read out by the read-out device.

Claims

1. An endoscope, comprising:

an elongated insertable member having an observing window and illuminating window in a tip portion of said elongated member;

an observing means for receiving returning light from an object to thereby observe said object, wherein said returning light enters through said observing window;

an illuminating light output means for emitting an illuminating light from said illuminating window; and

a memorizing means for memorizing information relating to physical characteristics of said endoscope which are relevant to the washing of said endoscope, including said elongated insertable member, wherein said memorized information is capable of being transferred to a washing apparatus separate from said endoscope.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said information relating to said washing means relates to at least one condition for washing with water and a condition for washing with washing liquid, sterilizing, rinsing and drying.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means memorizes proofness information of endoscopes relating to said washing means.

4. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means memorizes information of using patients relating to washing.

5. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means has a latch.

6. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means has a read-only memory (ROM).

7. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means memorizes encoded information relating to washing.

8. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means has a time measuring means measuring the elepsed time from a predetermine time.

9. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said memorizing means is provided within a connector connectable to a light source apparatus.

10. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said observing means has an image forming optical system provided in the tip portion of said insertable member, an eyepiece portion provided on the rear end portion of said insertable member and an image for transmitting optical system transmitting an object image formed by said image forming optical system to said eyepiece portion.

11. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said observing means has an image forming optical system provided in the tip part of said insertable part and an imaging means imaging an object image formed by said image forming optical system.

12. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having an elongated insertable member having an observing window and illuminating window in a tip portion of said elongated member, an observing means for receiving returning light from an object and for observing said object, said returning light entering through said observing window, an illuminating light output means for emitting an illuminating light from said illuminating window, and a memorizing means for memorizing information relating to washing; and

an endoscope washing apparatus which is separate from said endoscope having a washing means for washing said endoscope, a read-out means for reading out information memorized in said memorizing means of said endoscope, and a control means for controlling the conditions for washing the endoscope by said washing means resulting from the information read by said read-out means.

13. An endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein said washing means is at least one for washing with water and for washing with liquid, sterilizing, rinsing and drying.

14. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means memorizes the proofness information of endoscope.

15. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means memorizes the using patient information relating to washing.

16. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means has a latch.

17. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means has a read-only memory (ROM).

18. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means memorizes encoded information relating to washing.

19. An endoscope system according to claim 18 wherein said read-out means has a discriminating means discriminating the code memorized in said memorizing means, a memorizing part in which the information relating to washing corresponding to said code is memorized and a means reading out of said memorizing part the information corresponding to the code discriminated by said discriminating means and transmitting it to said control means.

20. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said memorizing means is provided within a connector connectable to said light source apparatus.

21. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said observing means has an image forming optical system provided in the tip portion of said insertable member, an eyepiece portion provided on the rear end side of said insertable member and an image transmitting optical system for transmitting to said eyepiece portion the object iamge formed by said image forming optical system.

22. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said observing means of said endoscope has an image forming optical system provided in the tip part of said insertable part and an imaging means imaging an object image formed by said image forming optical system.

23. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said washing means has a means radiating ultraviolet rays onto the endoscope.

24. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said washing means has a gas feeding means feeding into the endoscope a gas for dehydrating or drying the endoscope, an ozone generating means and a means mixing ozone generated from said ozone generating means into the gas fed by said gas feeding means.

25. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said control means has a ROM into which a program for washing is written, a RAM in which information relating to washing transmitted from said read-out means is memorized and a CPU controlling said washing means so that, in case said ROM is read out, said RAM is written in and read out and washing is made by the program written in said ROM, the required data may be read out of said RAM and washing adapted to the endoscope may be made.

26. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said washing apparatus has a means erasing the information memorized in said memorizing means further after the washing ends.