Endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit

• US 6,379,632 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Toshiharu, Nakagawa, Mikihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US09/497,994
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 422/300, 422/37, 422/28, 422/292, 222/65
• US Class Current: 422/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/123 using washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/125 using fluid circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/133 with discontinuous action

Abstract

An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit has an inlet arranged on its disinfectant solution tank through which a concentrated disinfectant solution is injected into the disinfectant solution tank. A diluting solution supply supplies a diluting solution for diluting the concentrated solution to the disinfectant solution tank and a plurality of level sensors detect the quantity of the disinfectant solution held in the disinfectant solution tank in stages. A control section controls the diluting solution supply based on the information detected by the level sensors to dilute the concentrated solution injected into the disinfectant solution tank through the inlet to a predetermined concentration.

Claims

1. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit including a cleaning tank in which an endoscope to be cleaned is placed, a disinfectant solution tank in which a disinfectant solution to be supplied is held, and a disinfectant solution duct, connecting said disinfectant solution tank to said cleaning tank, through which a disinfectant solution flows between said cleaning tank and said disinfectant solution tank, said endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit comprising:

an inlet arranged on said disinfectant solution tank through which a concentrated disinfectant solution is injected into said disinfectant solution tank;

a diluting solution supply for supplying a diluting solution for diluting said concentrated solution to said disinfectant solution tank;

a plurality of level sensors which detect the quantity of the disinfectant solution held in said disinfectant solution tank in stages; and

a control section for controlling said diluting solution supply based on the information detected by said level sensors to dilute said concentrated solution injected into said disinfectant solution tank through said inlet to a predetermined concentration.

2. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 1, and further including a bottle detector to detect a bottle being connected to said inlet.

3. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 2, wherein said control section controls said diluting solution supply based on information detected by said bottle detector and said level sensors.

4. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 1, and further comprising a lock for preventing a bottle connected to a bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

5. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 2, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to a bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

6. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 3, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to a bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

10. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 5, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to said bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

18. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of level sensors including a first and second level sensors, in which said first level sensor is arranged to detect a first predetermined amount of said concentrated disinfectant solution supplied in said disinfectant solution tank and said second level sensor is arranged to detect a second predetermined amount of said dilution liquid supplied in said disinfectant solution;

and wherein said control section is adapted to control said dilution liquid supply in such a manner that said dilution liquid supply starts to supply said dilution liquid in said disinfectant solution tank after said first level sensor detects said first predetermined amount of said concentrated disinfectant solution supplied in said disinfectant solution tank, and stops to supply said dilution liquid in said disinfectant solution tank after said second level sensor detects said second predetermined amount of said dilution liquid supplied in said disinfectant solution.

7. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit including a cleaning tank in which an endoscope to be cleaned is placed, a disinfectant solution tank in which a disinfectant solution to be supplied is held, and a disinfectant solution duct connecting said disinfectant solution tank to said cleaning tank through which the disinfectant solution flows between said cleaning tank and said disinfectant solution tank, said disinfectant solution tank comprising:

an inlet for guiding a concentrated disinfectant solution into said disinfectant solution tank;

a bottle attaching section having a bottle receiving section for detachably receiving a closed mouth section of a bottle holding said concentrated disinfectant solution, and—

communicating said mouth section to said inlet in a watertight and airtight manner when said bottle is received by said receiving section,

a sealing section adapted to seal between said inlet and said mouth section of said bottle in a watertight and airtight manner when said bottle is received by said receiving section; and

an opening device adapted to open said bottle by breaking said closed mouth section thereof when said bottle is received by said bottle receiving section such that said sealing section connects said mouth section to said inlet in a watertight and airtight manner.

8. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 7, and further including a bottle detector to detect said bottle being connected to said bottle attaching section.

9. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 8, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to said bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

11. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit including a cleaning tank in which an endoscope to be cleaned is placed, a disinfectant solution tank in which a disinfectant solution to be supplied is held, and a disinfectant solution duct connecting said disinfectant solution tank to said cleaning tank through which the disinfectant solution flows between said cleaning tank and said disinfectant solution tank, said endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit comprising:

a bottle attaching section having a bottle receiving section which receives a closed mouth section of a bottle holding a concentrated disinfectant solution in a watertight and airtight manner;

an inlet for guiding the concentrated disinfectant solution into said disinfectant solution tank; and

a passage that allow the inside of said bottle to communicate with the inside of said disinfectant solution tank via said inlet by opening said mouth section of said bottle which is received by said bottle receiving section in a watertight and airtight manner,

a diluting solution supply for supplying a diluting solution for diluting said concentrated solution to said disinfectant solution tank,

a plurality of level sensors which detect the quantity of the disinfectant solution held in said disinfectant solution tank in stages; and

a control section for controlling said diluting solution supply based on the information detected by said level sensors to dilute said concentrated solution injected into said disinfectant solution tank through said inlet to a predetermined concentration.

12. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 11, and further including a bottle detector to detect said bottle being connected to said bottle attaching section.

13. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 11, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to said bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

14. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 12, wherein said control section controls said diluting solution supply based on information detected by said bottle detector and said level sensors.

15. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 12, and further comprising a lock for preventing said bottle connected to said bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

16. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 14, further comprises a lock for preventing said bottle connected to said bottle attaching section from coming off from said bottle attaching section.

19. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of level sensors including a first and second level sensors, in which said first level sensor is arranged to detect a first predetermined amount of said concentrated disinfectant solution supplied in said disinfectant solution tank and said second level sensor is arranged to detect a second predetermined amount of said dilution liquid supplied in said disinfectant solution;

and

wherein said control section is adapted to control said dilution liquid supply in such a manner that said dilution liquid supply starts to supply said dilution liquid in said disinfectant solution tank after said first level sensor detects said first predetermined amount of said concentrated disinfectant solution supplied in said disinfectant solution tank, and stops to supply said dilution liquid in said disinfectant solution tank after said second level sensor detects said second predetermined amount of said dilution liquid supplied in said disinfectant solution.

17. An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting unit including a cleaning tank in which an endoscope to be cleaned is placed, a disinfectant solution tank in which a disinfectant solution to be supplied is held, and a disinfectant solution duct connecting said disinfectant solution tank to said cleaning tank through which a disinfectant solution flows between said cleaning tank and said disinfectant solution tank, said disinfectant solution tank comprising:

an inlet for guiding the concentrated disinfectant solution into said disinfectant solution tank;

a bottle attaching section having a bottle receiving section for detachably receiving a closed mouth section of a bottle holding said concentrated disinfectant solution, and communicating said mouth section to said inlet in a watertight and airtight manner when said bottle is received by said receiving section;

a sealing section adapted to seal between said inlet and said mouth section of said bottle in a watertight and airtight manner when said bottle is received by said receiving section; and

an opening device adapted to open said bottle by breaking said closed mouth section thereof when said bottle is received by said bottle receiving section such that said sealing section connects said mouth section to said inlet in a watertight and airtight manner;

a diluting solution supply for supplying a diluting solution for diluting said concentrated solution to said disinfectant solution tank;

a bottle detector for detecting said bottle being connected to said bottle attaching section;

a control section for controlling said diluting solution supply based on the information detected by said bottle detector to dilute said concentrated solution injected into said disinfectant solution tank through said inlet to a predetermined concentration.