Endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus and leak detection method performed by the apparatus

• US 8,176,771 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Toshiaki, Suzuki, Eiri, Onishi, Hideto, Kobayashi, Kenichi, Nozaki, Keisuke, Suzuki, Shintaro, Taya, Naoya, Tomita, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, David
• Application Number:
  US12/266,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40, 73/455, 422/6, 422/14, 422/28, 422/31, 600/118
• US Class Current: 73/45.5
• 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 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2846 for tubes G01M3/30 takes precedence

Abstract

An endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus includes: a connecting portion connected to a bending transmitting portion of an endoscope to transmit driving force; a distal end driving portion for transmitting the driving force to the bending transmitting portion through the connecting portion; a fluid supplying unit for supplying gas into an inner space of the endoscope; and a control unit for controlling a pressure detecting portion for detecting pressure in the inner space and the distal end driving portion to provide the bending portion with bending motion, and for determining occurrence or nonoccurrence of water leak in the endoscope by comparing the pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion and a preset threshold.

Claims

1. An endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus comprising:

a connecting portion for transmitting driving force, the connecting portion being connected to a bending transmitting portion of an endoscope comprising a distal end portion, a bending portion, an insertion portion, a grasping portion, and the bending transmitting portion provided at the grasping portion to provide the bending portion with bending motion, wherein the connecting portion comprises, at least one gear and a motor, the motor controlled by a control unit and wherein the bending transmitting portion comprises one or more gears operatively connected to a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires configured to produce the bending motion of the bending portion;

a distal end driving portion for transmitting driving force to the bending transmitting portion through the connecting portion;

a fluid supplying unit for supplying gas into an inner space of the endoscope;

a pressure detecting portion for detecting pressure in the inner space; and

the control unit for controlling the distal end driving portion to provide the bending portion with bending motion, and for determining occurrence or nonoccurrence of water leak of the endoscope by comparing the pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion with a preset threshold.

2. The endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a washing and disinfecting sink for storing water; and

the control unit determines occurrence or nonoccurrence of the water leak in a state where the endoscope is immersed in the water stored in the washing sink.

3. The endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a results notifying portion for notifying a determination result from the control unit as to occurrence or nonoccurrence of the water leak in at least either a visual or audible manner; and

the control unit outputs a signal to the results notifying portion indicating that water leak has not occurred in the endoscope, if the pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion exceeds the threshold, and outputs a signal to the results notifying portion indicating that water leak has occurred in the endoscope, if the pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion is equal to or less than the threshold.

4. The endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the fluid supplying unit supplies the gas from an air cylinder.

5. A leak detection method performed by an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus comprising:

a connecting step for connecting a connection portion to an inner space base of an endoscope comprising a distal end portion, a bending portion, an insertion portion, a grasping portion, a bending transmitting portion provided at the grasping portion to provide the bending portion with bending motion, wherein the bending transmitting portion comprises one or more gears operatively connected to a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires configured to produce the bending motion of the bending portion, and the inner space base provided at the grasping portion and communicating with an inner space of the insertion portion, to a fluid supplying unit of the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus comprising a distal end driving portion for transmitting driving force to the bending transmitting portion through a connecting portion, the fluid supplying unit, and a pressure detecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises, at least one gear and a motor, the motor controlled by a control unit;

a pressurizing step for supplying gas to the inner space from the fluid supplying unit;

a bending portion driving step for bending the bending portion by driving the distal end driving portion;

a detecting step for detecting pressure in the inner space by the pressure detecting portion; and

a determining step for determining occurrence or nonoccurrence of water leak in the endoscope by comparing the pressure in the inner space and a preset threshold.

6. The leak detection method performed by the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus further comprises a washing and disinfecting sink for storing water; and

the determining step is performed in a state where the endoscope is immersed in the water stored in the washing sink.

7. The leak detection method performed by the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus further comprises a results notifying portion for notifying a determination result as to occurrence or nonoccurrence of the water leak in at least either a visual or audible manner; and

the determining step determines water leak as not having occurred if the pressure detected in the detecting step exceeds a preset threshold, and determines water leak as having occurred if the pressure detected in the detecting step is equal to or less than the preset threshold.