Cleaning and disinfecting device for medical equipment and instruments, heating tank for use in said device, and method for cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and instruments using said device

Abstract

To provide a washing and disinfecting device for medical instrument and apparatus which can warm tap water for washing and disinfecting in a short time and miniaturize the entire device while suppressing a running cost.SOLUTION: A washing and disinfecting device for medical instrument and apparatus comprises: a washing tank 2; a warming tank 3 which warms water W to be supplied to the washing tank 2; and a water supply path 5 which supplies water to the warming tank 3. The water supply path 5 is provided with a water supply electromagnetic valve 11 which controls a water amount flowing into the warming tank 3. The warming tank 3 is provided in a smaller capacity than that of the washing tank 2, warms water W0 stored in the warming tank to the first temperature when the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is in the close state, adds the water W0 flowing into the warming tank to water W1 at the first temperature when the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is in the open state, and generates water W2 at the second temperature lower than the first temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medical instrument / instrument cleaning device for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments / instruments, a heating bath for use in the device, and a method for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments / instruments using the device. [Background technology]

[0002] After use, medical devices and instruments become contaminated with organic matter such as human blood proteins and bodily fluids, and bacteria and other microorganisms live on them. For this reason, all organic matter and bacteria must be promptly removed by washing and disinfection.

[0003] Conventionally, medical devices and equipment are cleaned and disinfected using the following process. (Conventional process 1) Overflow pre-washing with tap water (Conventional step 2) Washing with tap water containing detergent containing proteolytic enzymes or alkaline detergent (Conventional process 3) Overflow cleaning with tap water (Conventional step 4) Disinfection by immersion in chemical solution (Conventional step 5) Overflow rinsing with tap water For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of a pre-cleaning device for an endoscope that pre-cleans an endoscope. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-14523 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Meanwhile, human blood proteins and body fluids have the highest fluidity at human body temperature, but at low temperatures their viscosity increases, making them difficult to remove and causing coagulation.

[0006] Conventional overflow cleaning methods use tap water at raw water temperature, which causes organic matter adhering to medical equipment and instruments to cool and become colder, making them more likely to solidify.

[0007] To prevent the temperature of organic matter from dropping, it is possible to use heated tap water. However, a large amount of tap water is required to achieve sufficient cleaning and removal effects, which poses the problem of time-consuming heating. Furthermore, if a high-power heater or hot water boiler is installed to shorten the heating time, the running costs increase and the size of the device also becomes a problem.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present disclosure is to provide a medical equipment and instrument cleaning and disinfecting device that can heat tap water used for cleaning and removal in a short time, and that can reduce the size of the entire device while keeping running costs down, a heating tank to be used in the medical equipment and instrument cleaning and disinfecting device, and a method for cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and instruments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the cleaning and disinfecting apparatus for medical devices and instruments disclosed herein comprises a cleaning tank, a heating tank that heats the water supplied to the cleaning tank, and a water supply channel that supplies water to the heating tank, the water supply channel including a water supply valve that controls the amount of water flowing into the heating tank, the heating tank having a smaller capacity than the cleaning tank, and is characterized in that when the water supply valve is closed, the water in the heating tank is heated to a first temperature, and when the water supply valve is open, the water that has flowed into the heating tank is added to the water at the first temperature to produce water at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

[0010] The heating tank may include a heater that heats the water in the heating tank and a sensor that measures the temperature of the water heated by the heater, and may be equipped with a control means that controls the heater based on the measurement value of the sensor.Furthermore, it is preferable that the capacity of the heating tank is 1 / 2 or less of the capacity of the cleaning tank.

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the disclosed method for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices and instruments is characterized by comprising the steps of opening a water supply valve and storing water in a heating tank, closing the water supply valve and using a heater to heat the water stored in the heating tank to a first temperature, opening the water supply valve and supplying water to the heating tank and adding the supplied water to the water at the first temperature to generate water at a second temperature, and supplying water at the second temperature to a cleaning tank. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The medical equipment and instrument washing and disinfecting device disclosed herein has a heating tank with a smaller capacity than the cleaning tank, heats a small amount of water in the heating tank, and adds room-temperature water to high-temperature water to produce water at the appropriate temperature. Because it is only necessary to heat a small amount of water to a high temperature, it has the effects of shortening the heating time, saving energy, and making the entire device more compact. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an outline of a cleaning and disinfecting apparatus for medical devices and instruments according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the medical equipment and instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of the method for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices and instruments disclosed herein. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of step 1. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram of steps 2, 4, 6, and 7. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of step 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of step 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment in which the presently disclosed medical equipment and instrument washing and disinfecting apparatus is embodied in an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus 1 for cleaning endoscopes will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, "raw water temperature" refers to the temperature of tap water discharged from a water faucet, i.e., 10°C to 15°C, "first temperature" refers to 50°C to 60°C, "second temperature" refers to a temperature close to human body temperature, i.e., 30°C to 40°C (most preferably 35°C ± 2°C), and "third temperature" refers to 15°C to 25°C, which is the appropriate temperature for use of disinfectant D.

[0015] 1 and 2, an endoscope washer-disinfector 1 of the present disclosure comprises a cleaning tank 2 in which medical devices and instruments such as an endoscope 51 are placed, a heating tank 3 for heating water W to be supplied to the cleaning tank 2, a detergent tank 41 for storing an undiluted detergent, a chemical tank 42 for storing a disinfectant D, a water supply path 5 for supplying water W to the heating tank 3, a circulation path 6 for circulating the disinfectant D and the like, a control unit 4 for controlling the endoscope washer-disinfector 1, and a water level sensor 21 for detecting the water level L of the liquid in the cleaning tank. The chemical tank 42 is connected to the circulation path 6 by a flow path 10.

[0016] Disinfectant D can be a diluted solution of chlorine dioxide. Chlorine dioxide has a strong oxidizing power that is sufficient for sterilization and is highly effective in breaking down all microorganisms and blood proteins. Chlorine dioxide is also generally considered a highly safe substance, allowing medical equipment and instruments to be used safely after disinfection. The disinfectant is chlorine dioxide diluted 20 times with tap water. Water W can be tap water containing a specified concentration of chlorine. When using tap water, the chlorine can be expected to have a bactericidal effect. For the detergent concentrate, a detergent containing proteolytic enzymes or an alkaline detergent can be used.

[0017] In addition, the endoscope washer-disinfector 1 is equipped with a power switch 8 for turning on power and a start switch 9. The housing of the endoscope washer-disinfector 1 is also provided with a holder (not shown) for holding the connecting portion of the endoscope 51 and the like.

[0018] The water supply path 5 is provided with a water supply electromagnetic valve 11 that controls the amount of water W flowing into the heating tank 3. The circulation path 6 is also provided with a jetting port 23 that sprays the disinfectant D and the like, a circulation pump 7 that circulates the disinfectant D and the like, and a drainage electromagnetic valve 12 that controls drainage to the outside of the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 1.

[0019] The heating tank 3 is provided with a smaller capacity than the cleaning tank 2. Specifically, the heating tank 3 is provided with a capacity equal to or less than half that of the cleaning tank 2.

[0020] The heating tank 3 is equipped with a water supply port 33 that supplies water W from the water supply passage 5 via the water supply electromagnetic valve 11, a water supply outlet 34 that supplies heated water W to the cleaning tank 2, an electric heater 31 that heats the water W in the heating tank, and a water temperature sensor 32 that measures the temperature of the water W heated by the electric heater 31. The control unit 4 controls the electric heater 31 based on the measurement value of the water temperature sensor 32. The electric heater 31 heats the water W in the heating tank to the first temperature within 60 seconds, which is the time required for step 1 (see FIG. 3).

[0021] The cleaning tank 2 is equipped with an injection nozzle 22, a drain outlet 24, and a water level sensor 21 that detects whether the cleaning tank 2 is full of water. The injection nozzle 22 is provided at the top of the cleaning tank 2 and is connected to an inlet 34 of the heating tank 3. When the water supply solenoid valve 11 is opened, water at a second temperature is supplied to the injection nozzle 22 from the inlet 34 by the water pressure of the water supply. The drain outlet 24 is connected to the circulation path 6. The cleaning tank 2 is also provided vertically so that the insertion portion of the endoscope 51 can be positioned vertically.

[0022] 3 to 7, a method for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope 51 will be described. In the following description, water W at the original water temperature will be referred to as W0, water W at the first temperature as W1, and water W at the second temperature as W2.

[0023] 3, the cleaning and disinfecting method of the present disclosure comprises a preparation process, a heating process, a water / liquid supply process, a circulation process, and a drainage process. Step 1 includes the preparation process, and steps 2 to 7 include a heating process, a water / liquid supply process, a circulation process, and a drainage process, respectively. The control unit 4 automatically performs step 1 when the user turns on the power switch 8, and automatically performs steps 2 to 7 when the user places the endoscope 51 in the cleaning tank 2 and turns on the start switch 9. (Step 1) Fill the heating tank with water W0 at the original water temperature and heat it to the first temperature. (Step 2) Pre-wash with water at the second temperature W2 (Step 3) Removal of organic matter by immersion in flowing detergent solution S (Step 4) Rinse with water at the second temperature W2 (Step 5) Disinfect with disinfectant D heated by residual heat (Step 6) Rinse with water W2 (first time) (Step 7) Rinse with water W2 (second time)

[0024] 4(a), in step 1, first, the control unit 4 opens the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 and stores water W0 at the raw water temperature in the heating tank 3. When the storage is complete, the control unit 4 closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 11.

[0025] Next, as shown in Figure 4(b), the electric heater 31 heats the water W0 stored in the heating tank. Then, when the measurement value of the water temperature sensor 32 reaches the first temperature, the control unit 4 turns off the electric heater 31 (Figure 4(c)). The water W1 at the first temperature produced in the preparation process is used to produce water W2 at the second temperature in each of the subsequent steps 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5(a), in step 2, first, the control unit 4 opens the water supply solenoid valve 11 and supplies water W0 at the raw water temperature to the heating tank 3. At this time, water W1 at a first temperature stored in the heating tank and water W0 at the raw water temperature mix together to become water W2 at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. Water W2 is supplied from the supply outlet 34 and supplied to the cleaning tank 2 from the injection nozzle 22. When the water level sensor 21 of the cleaning tank 2 detects that the tank is full, the control unit 4 closes the water supply solenoid valve 11 and stops the supply of water W2.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 5(b), the control unit 4 drives the circulation pump 7 to circulate the water W2 to perform pre-cleaning of the endoscope 51. Specifically, the water W2 flows out from the drain outlet 24, moves up the circulation path 6, is sprayed from the spray outlet 23 toward the cleaning tank 2, and circulates by descending from above the cleaning tank 2 downward. After circulating the water W2 for a predetermined time, the control unit 4 opens the drain solenoid valve 12 and discharges the water W2 outside the endoscope washer-disinfector 1 (Figure 5(c)).

[0028] As shown in Figure 6(a), in step 3, first, the control unit 4 sucks up a predetermined amount of undiluted detergent from the detergent tank 41 and injects it into the washing tank 2. Then, as in step 2, the control unit 4 supplies water W2 to the washing tank 2 until the water level sensor 21 detects that the tank is full. Then, the undiluted detergent is diluted with the water W2, and the washing tank is filled with detergent solution S of a predetermined concentration at the second temperature.

[0029] Next, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the control unit 4 drives the circulation pump 7 to circulate the detergent solution S and remove organic matter from the endoscope 51 to perform cleaning. The method of circulating the detergent solution S and the method of discharging it to the outside (Fig. 6(c)) are the same as those in step 2 (see Figs. 5(b) and (c)).

[0030] Step 4 is the same as step 2 (see FIG. 5). Between steps 2 and 4, the inside of the pipe of the circulation path 6 is heated by the water W2 at the second temperature and the detergent solution S at the second temperature.

[0031] 7(a), in step 5, first, the control unit 4 draws up a predetermined amount of disinfectant solution D from the chemical solution tank 42 and sends it to the circulation path 6 via the flow path 10. The disinfectant solution D that has entered the circulation path 6 is heated to a third temperature that is lower than the second temperature and higher than room temperature by the residual heat of the water W2 and the detergent solution S, and is then sprayed from the spray nozzle 23 toward the cleaning tank 2.

[0032] Next, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the control unit 4 drives the circulation pump 7 to circulate the disinfectant D and disinfect the endoscope 51. The method of circulating the disinfectant D and the method of discharging it to the outside (Fig. 7(c)) are the same as those in step 2 (see Figs. 5(b) and (c)).

[0033] Steps 6 and 7 are the same as step 2 (see FIG. 5). In particular, in step 7, the same operations as steps 2 and 6 are performed to minimize the amount of residual material adhering to the inside of the endoscope 51 and the circulation path 6.

[0034] According to the endoscope washer 1 configured as described above, the capacity of the heating tank 3 is set to less than half the capacity of the cleaning tank 2, and water W1 heated to a first temperature in the heating tank 3 is added to newly introduced water W0 to generate water W2 at a second temperature. In this way, because a small amount of water W is heated using the heating tank 3, the required water temperature can be obtained in a short time while achieving feasible energy savings. When the endoscope washer 1 disclosed herein is used, the organic matter removal effect is improved, and the entire process from steps 2 to 7 can be completed in approximately 5 minutes, which is less than half the time required by conventional devices.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the cleaning method for endoscope 51 configured as described above, the liquid in the cleaning tank is circulated through circulation path 6 and the liquid in the cleaning tank is renewed (drained) for each process, so that the cleaning tank 2 can be made smaller than the conventional overflow type, and less tap water can be used, while still achieving sufficient cleaning and disinfection effects equal to or greater than those of conventional methods.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the endoscope washer-disinfector 1, water W2 and detergent solution S at the second temperature are circulated through the circulation path 6 for the disinfectant D, so residual heat from the water W2, etc. can be used to heat the disinfectant D to an appropriate third temperature. Also, by circulating the disinfectant D heated to the third temperature through the circulation path 6, the circulation path 6 is constantly disinfected, and the endoscope washer-disinfector 1 can be kept clean. In addition, the preliminary cleaning, which was previously performed manually, has been automated, reducing the effort and cost involved.

[0037] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the shape and configuration of each part may be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the method of connecting the circulation path 6 and the flow path 10, the method of connecting the cleaning tank 2 and the detergent tank 41, the arrangement of the chemical tank 42, the arrangement of the detergent tank 41, etc. may be changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Endoscope washer-disinfector 2 Cleaning tank 3 Warming tank 4. Control section 5 Water supply channel 6 Circulation route 7 Circulation Pump 8 Power switch 9 Start switch 10 Flow path 11 Water supply solenoid valve 12 Drain solenoid valve 21 Water level sensor 22 nozzles 23 spout 24 Drain 31 Heater 32 Water temperature sensor 33 Water inlet 34 Outlet 41 Detergent tank 42 Chemical tank 51 Endoscopy W water S detergent solution D Disinfectant

Claims

1. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning tank, a heating tank for heating water to be supplied to the cleaning tank, a water supply channel for supplying water to the heating tank, and a control means for controlling the supply of water to the heating tank and the heating of the water, The heating tank includes a heater that heats the water in the heating tank and a sensor that measures the temperature of the water in the heating tank, the water supply passage includes a water supply valve that controls the amount of water flowing into the heating tank; The heating tank has a smaller capacity than the cleaning tank, the control means controls the heater to heat the water in the heating tank, and when the temperature of the water in the heating tank measured by the sensor rises to a first temperature, controls the water supply valve from a closed state to an open state; A medical equipment and instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus characterized in that water supplied from the water supply valve and water at the first temperature are mixed in the heating tank to produce water at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

2. 2. The medical equipment and instrument washing and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacity of the heating tank is equal to or less than half the capacity of the cleaning tank.

3. A method for cleaning medical instruments and devices using the medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: opening the water supply valve and storing water in the heating tank; a step of closing the water supply valve and heating the water stored in the heating tank to the first temperature by the heater; opening the water supply valve, supplying water to the heating tank, and adding the supplied water to the water at the first temperature to generate water at a second temperature; and supplying water at the second temperature to the cleaning tank.

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