Washing/sterilizing apparatus for an endoscope and method for washing/sterilizing its water supplying system

• US 5,558,841 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Toshihara, Ogawa, Akio, Nakagawa, Mikihiko, Yajima, Manabu, Nakanishi, Nobuyuki, Negoro, Daisaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dawson, E. Leigh
• Application Number:
  US08/396,576
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 422/292, 422/297, 422/300, 422/116, 422/28, 422/105, 422/62, 422/82.05, 68/12.02, 134/56 R, 134/58 R, 134/113, 134/104.1
• US Class Current: 422/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/123 using washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/125 using fluid circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a washing water supply tank for supplying washing water to an endoscope placed on a washing and sterilizing bath and a sensor for determining whether or not the water supply tank needs washing or sterilizing. Further, in addition, the water supply tank is also washed and sterilized. A lamp and buzzer inform the user of a result of whether or not the water supply system needs washing and sterilizing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for washing an endoscope with washing water and sterilizing the endoscope with sterilizing solution, comprising:

a bath for placing an endoscope therein;

a washing nozzle assembly for applying a jet of washing water to the endoscope placed in the bath;

a water tank;

a washing water passage for allowing only the washing water to flow when the endoscope placed in the bath is washed, a part of the washing water passage being connected between the water tank and the washing nozzle assembly;

a sterilizing solution passage for allowing only a sterilizing solution to flow when the endoscope placed in the bath is sterilized;

means for determining whether or not said part of the washing water passage needs sterilizing;

means for sterilizing said part of the washing water passage when the determining means determines that said part of the washing water passage needs sterilizing;

a tank for holding the sterilizing solution for sterilizing said part of the washing water passage;

a pouring inlet for pouring the Sterilizing solution into said part of the washing water passage so that the sterilizing solution is used for the means for sterilizing said part of the washing water passage;

means for detecting the pouring the sterilizing solution into said part of the washing water passage via the pouring inlet; and

control means for, when the sterilizing solution pouring detecting means detects the pouring of the sterilizing solution by a selection of a user sterilizing said part of the washing water massage with the poured sterilizing solution and for, when the sterilizing solution pouring detecting means does not detect the pouring of the sterilizing solution by a selection of a user, sterilizing said part of the washing water massage with the sterilizing solution held in the tank.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means indirectly determines, under time control of a timer, whether or not said part of the washing water passage needs sterilizing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the timer contains a calendar, counts a time interval starting from a predetermined time in accordance with the calendar and determines whether or not said part of the washing water passage needs washing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the timer determines that said part of the washing water passage needs sterilizing by the calendar at a given start time of a day.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines, through detection, an extent to which the washing water in said part of the washing water passage is contaminated.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determining means has a transparent pipe through which the washing water in said part of the washing water passage passes and detects a contamination level on an inner wall of the transparent pipe.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines, through detection, a turbidity level of the washing water in said part of the washing water passage.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means has a timer for counting a time interval starting from the sterilizing of said part of the washing water passage.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for restricting a start of an operation for sterilizing the endoscope when the determining means determines that said part of the washing water passage needs sterilizing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising informing means for, when said part of the washing water passage is in a state of needing sterilizing, informing said state to a user.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the informing means comprises a buzzer.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the informing means comprises a display lamp.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the informing means comprises a character display unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for sterilizing said part of the washing water passage includes removing means for, before flowing the sterilizing solution into said part of the washing water passage, removing residual washing water in said part of the washing water passage, wherein said part of the washing water passage is sterilized with the sterilizing solution after the washing water in said part of the washing water passage is removed by the removing means.