Cleaning tube apparatus for endoscope

• US 5,630,795 A
• Filed: 02/27/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Masubuchi, Ryoji, Nakada, Akio, Kuramoto, Seiji, Omagari, Yasuhiko, Nakamura, Ichiro, Oaki, Yoshinao, Washizuka, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/395,524
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 604/35, 604/40, 604/30, 604/120, 604/275, 604/268, 604/267, 604/280, 600/157, 600/153, 600/156
• US Class Current: 604/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00073 with externally grooved shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use

Abstract

A cleaning tube apparatus for an endoscope, comprises the endoscope having an observation optical system for observing a subject part at a forward-end portion, a cleaning tube detachable with respect to said endoscope, said cleaning tube being provided with a plurality of fluid jetting openings in a peripheral direction at one end of said cleaning tube, said fluid jetting openings being provided for leading cleaning fluid at least to said observation optical system, and a fluid supply unit connected to said cleaning tube, for supplying the cleaning fluid to said cleaning tube.

Claims

1. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope comprising:

an observation optical system for observing a subject part, said observation optical system including a plurality of objective lenses at a forward-end portion;

a cleaning tube detachable with respect to said endoscope, said cleaning tube being provided at one end with a plurality of fluid jetting openings each oriented in a rearward peripheral direction of said cleaning tube toward one of said plurality of objective lenses; and

fluid supply means connected to said cleaning tube, for supplying the cleaning fluid to said cleaning tube.

3. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid supply means includes liquid feeding means for feeding the cleaning liquid to said cleaning tube.

4. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said fluid supply means further includes gas feeding means connected to said cleaning tube for feeding gas to said cleaning tube.

5. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid supply means includes liquid feeding means connected to said cleaning tube for feeding the cleaning liquid to said cleaning tube, and suction means connected to said cleaning tube for sucking the cleaning liquid from said fluid jetting openings in said cleaning tube.

6. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 5, wherein said liquid feeding means and said suction means are contained in a single liquid-feeding suction unit.

7. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 5, wherein said liquid feeding means and said suction means are provided by respective units separate from each other.

8. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 5, wherein said fluid supply means is provided with a reversible pump having a shaft which rotates in one direction to supply the cleaning liquid to said cleaning tube, and which rotates in an opposite direction to suck the cleaning liquid from said cleaning tube.

9. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 5, wherein said fluid supply means is provided with liquid-feeding suction control means for feeding the cleaning liquid for a predetermined period of time, and for sucking the cleaning liquid for a predetermined period of time after completion of liquid feeding.

10. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope, according to claim 5, wherein said fluid supply means is provided with a cleaning indicating switch for indicating cleaning operation;

and

liquid-feeding suction control means for feeding the cleaning liquid for a period of time said cleaning indicating switch is operated, and for stopping liquid feeding when operation of said switch is completed, to suck the clearing liquid for a predetermined period of time.

2. A cleaning tube apparatus in combination with an endoscope comprising:

an observation optical system for observing a subject part, said observation optical system including a plurality of objective lenses at a forward-end portion;

a cleaning tube insertable in a channel in said endoscope, said cleaning tube being provided at one end with a plurality of fluid jetting openings each oriented in a rearward peripheral direction at one end of said cleaning tube toward one of said plurality of objective lenses; and

fluid supply means connected to said cleaning tube, for supplying the cleaning fluid to said cleaning tube.