Fluid supplying apparatus for endoscope

• US 6,425,535 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Akiba, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/629,875
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 239/369, 239/373, 239/398, 239/407, 239/414, 239/419.5, 239/270, 239/310, 239/346, 600/158, 600/159, 600/157, 600/156, 604/265, 604/266, 604/267, 134/104.1, 134/113, 134/100.1, 134/21
• US Class Current: 239/369
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/125 using fluid circuits

Abstract

A nozzle spraying a cleaning liquid to an observation window. A jet spray aperture for spraying fluid is provided to the distal end portion of an insertion portion. A first fluid supplying passage connected to a nozzle and a control-valve. A second fluid supplying passage connected to the jet spray aperture. A casing divides the first fluid supplying passage into a nozzle side passage and a valve side passage, connects to the second fluid supplying passage, and includes a pump connector detachably connected to the fluid pumping means and a supplying passage. A switching passage, formed in the pump connector, switches between positions wherein the nozzle side passage is connected to or cut off from the valve side passage, depending on the state of the supplying passage. A check valve is provided to the supplying passage for preventing flow from the switching passage side to the suppyling passage side.

Claims

1. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope, which comprises:

an observation window provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion;

a nozzle for spraying at least a cleaning liquid toward said observation window;

a first fluid supplying passage connected to said nozzle;

a jet spray aperture formed to said distal end portion for spraying fluid in forward direction of said insertion portion;

a second fluid supplying passage connected to said jet spray aperture;

a control valve provided within a operating unit provided connected to said insertion portion, to which said first fluid supplying passage is connected;

a casing for dividing said first fluid supplying passage into a nozzle side passage and a valve side passage, and to which said second fluid supplying passage is connected;

a pump connector, provided within said casing, for detachably mounting a fluid pumping means and being formed a supplying passage for flowing fluid from said fluid pumping means;

a switching passage provided to said pump connector, said switching passage being capable of switching between a first position wherein said nozzle side passage is connected to a valve side passage of said first fluid supplying passage and said supplying passage is cut off from said second fluid supplying passage, and a second position wherein said nozzle side passage is cut off from said valve side passage of said first fluid supplying passage and said supplying passage is connected to said second fluid supplying passage; and

a check valve provided to said supplying passage for preventing flow from said switching passage side to said supplying passage side.

2. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said control valve is connected to an air conduit for supplying pressurized air from an air pump, and a water supply conduit from a washing water tank being pressurized by said air pump, and said first fluid supplying passage is constructed to be connected to and cut off from said water supplying conduit by operation of said control valve.

3. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said casing is provided within a housing of said operating unit, said pump connector is detachably mounted to said casing, and said pump connector is protruded externally from said housing, at least at a portion where said fluid pumping means is connected to.

4. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein seal members are provided between said pump connector and said casing and housing, said seal member functioning being fixedly held to said pump connector to said casing.

5. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said pump connector is swichable between said two positions by rotational operation of both directions of a predetermined angle.

6. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said pump connector comprises click means for holding said first position and said second position.

7. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said pump connector is further allowed to move in the axial line direction at a predetermined length within said casing and also is provided a connecting passage, thereby giving a third position to be connected said valve side passage of said first fluid supplying passage with said second fluid supplying passage, and also cutting off said nozzle side passage.

8. A fluid supplying apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a syringe for pumping washing water at least and a syringe for pumping fluid drug are detachably connected to said pump connector.