Pump tube unit and endoscope system

Abstract

A pump tube unit according to the present application, in an examination or surgery using an endoscope, reliably supplies water to the endoscope, and also improves the water cutoff condition when the water supply device is stopped; the pump tube unit is provided with: a pump tube provided to a pump having a rotating body with a plurality of pressing portions arranged at an outer peripheral edge portion, and repeatedly performing the operation of sending out liquid to the downstream side and introducing new liquid from the upstream side by being sequentially pressed by any one of the plurality of pressing portions when the rotating body rotates; an upstream-side water supply tube connected to an upstream end portion of the pump tube; a downstream-side water supply tube connected to a downstream end portion of the pump tube; and a bypass water supply tube connected across the upstream-side water supply tube and the downstream-side water supply tube to cause part of the liquid flowing in the downstream-side water supply tube to flow back to the upstream-side water supply tube; the bypass water supply tube is provided with a small-diameter portion in a prescribed range other than the both end portions of the bypass water supply tube, and the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion is smaller than the inner diameters of the other ranges.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a pump tube unit and an endoscope system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the medical field, an endoscope is commonly used for examination or surgery. The endoscope has, in addition to a light guide that irradiates illumination light to an object site in a body cavity, or an objective lens of an imaging device that is used for observation or imaging of the object site in the body cavity, a gas / water supply nozzle that supplies air or a liquid such as physiological saline into the body cavity, or a forceps hole that protrudes a treatment tool such as a forceps into the body cavity at the tip of an insertion section. The forceps hole also functions as a suction hole that suctions a liquid used for washing of the object site in the body cavity or blood that flows from the object site, or an injection hole that injects a liquid into the body cavity. In recent years, an endoscope that has a sub-water supply hole that ejects a liquid into the body cavity at the tip of the insertion section has also been provided (see Patent Literature 1). In the endoscope that has the sub-water supply hole at the tip of the insertion section, washing of the object site in the body cavity is performed while the treatment tool is used through the forceps channel, and thus, examination or surgery using the endoscope can be performed efficiently.

[0003] A liquid used in examination or surgery using an endoscope is, for example, stored in a water supply tank, and is supplied to a forceps channel or a sub-water supply channel provided in the endoscope by driving a water supply device. The water supply device is, for example, a device that sucks the liquid stored in the water supply tank into a water supply tube and supplies the liquid to the endoscope by driving a pump built in the device by stepping on a foot switch.

[0004]

Prior Art Literature

[0005]

Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-167049 SUMMARY

[0007] (Problems to be Solved by the Invention)

[0008] Here, the inner diameter of the forceps hole is 2 mm to 3.2 mm, and the inner diameter of the sub-water supply hole is small, about 1 mm, and thus, when the water supply device is driven, the inner pressure of the water supply tube is higher than the atmospheric pressure. For example, it takes time for the inner pressure of the water supply tube to return to the atmospheric pressure after the water supply device is stopped. As a result, even when the water supply device is stopped, liquid continues to flow out from the sub-water supply hole during the period in which the inner pressure of the sub-water supply tube returns to the atmospheric pressure, and thus, a so-called poor water stop problem occurs. The poor water stop problem causes a problem in that the efficiency of examination or surgery using the endoscope deteriorates.

[0009] Further, the water supply device repeats the operation of sucking the liquid accumulated in the water tank and sending the sucked liquid to the endoscope by rotating a rotating body having a plurality of rollers supported on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body and pressing the water supply tube provided inside the rotating body with the plurality of rollers. Therefore, when the internal pressure of the water supply tube becomes high, the water supply tube pressed by the plurality of rollers can be cracked in the extension direction of the water supply tube, or the tube can be damaged to leak water. If such a phenomenon occurs, not only the examination or surgery using the endoscope cannot be efficiently performed, but also the patient can be in danger. Therefore, in the examination or surgery using the endoscope, a technical solution for reliably supplying water to the endoscope is urgently needed.

[0010] An object of the present application is to provide a technical solution for reliably supplying water to an endoscope in an examination or surgery using the endoscope, and improving the water cut-off situation when the water supply device is stopped.

[0011] (Solutions for solving the problems)

[0012] According to one aspect of the present application, the pump tube unit of the present application has the following features.

[0013] The pump tube unit of the present application has the following features.

[0014] Further, the pump tube unit of the present application has the following features.

[0015] The bypass water supply tube includes a first water supply tube connected to the downstream water supply tube, a second water supply tube having the same diameter as the first water supply tube and connected to the upstream water supply tube, and a third water supply tube disposed between the first water supply tube and the second water supply tube and having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameters of the first water supply tube and the second water supply tube.

[0016] Further, the pump tube unit of the present application preferably includes a clamp provided on the first water supply tube, the clamp being capable of switching between a state in which the first water supply tube is closed and a state in which the first water supply tube is open, the clamp maintaining the first water supply tube in the open state when the downstream-side water supply tube is connected to the auxiliary water supply channel of the endoscope, and the clamp maintaining the first water supply tube in the closed state when the downstream-side water supply tube is connected to the forceps channel of the endoscope.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present application, the endoscope system of the present application has the following features.

[0018] The endoscope system of the present application includes an endoscope having a forceps channel through which a treatment tool such as a forceps is inserted and a water supply channel through which a liquid flows, a water supply tank that stores the liquid, a pump having a rotating body and a plurality of pressing portions provided at a regular angular interval on an outer peripheral edge portion of the rotating body, and a pump tube unit having one end portion connected to the water supply tank and the other end portion connected to at least one of the forceps channel and the water supply channel of the endoscope, the pump tube unit being the pump tube unit described above. When the downstream-side end portion of the pump tube unit is connected to the water supply channel of the endoscope, the pump is driven in a state in which the bypass water supply tube is maintained in the open state, and a part of the liquid sent out by the pump is refluxed inside the pump tube unit while the liquid is supplied to the water supply channel of the endoscope. When the downstream-side end portion of the pump tube unit is connected to the forceps channel of the endoscope, the pump is driven in a state in which the bypass water supply tube is maintained in the closed state, and the liquid sent out by the pump is supplied to the forceps channel of the endoscope without being refluxed inside the pump tube unit.

[0019] (EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION)

[0020] According to the present application, water can be reliably supplied to an endoscope during an examination or a surgery using the endoscope, and the water supply device is improved in terms of water supply when the water supply device is stopped. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of an endoscope system according to the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a nozzle tip provided to an insertion portion of an endoscope.

[0023] Figure 3 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a structure of a roller pump included in a water supply device.

[0024] Figure 4 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of a pump tube unit.

[0025] Figure 5is a graph showing verification results of (a) an amount of spouting from the forceps hole when the bypass water supply tube is opened, and (b) an amount of spouting from the forceps hole when the bypass water supply tube is closed, in a case where the pump tube unit is used in connection with the forceps insertion portion of the endoscope.

[0026] Figure 6 is a graph showing verification results of (a) an amount of spouting from the sub water supply hole when the bypass water supply tube is opened, and (b) an amount of spouting from the sub water supply hole when the bypass water supply tube is closed, in a case where the pump tube unit is used in connection with the tube connection portion of the connector of the endoscope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 10 includes an endoscope 15, a water supply device 16, a water supply tank 17, a pump tube unit 18, and the like. The endoscope 15 includes an operation handle 21, an endoscope insertion portion 22, a general-purpose tube 23, and a connector 24. Figure 1

[0028] The operation handle 21 is provided with a plurality of operation portions 25, a forceps insertion portion 26, and the like. The plurality of operation portions 25 include various buttons such as a gas / water supply button 29, a suction button 30, a shutter button 31, in addition to, for example, a bending knob 28. By causing the bending knob 28 to perform a turning action, a bending portion 22a provided on a distal end side of the endoscope insertion portion 22 performs a bending action. By operating the gas / water supply button 29, an observation hole 40 or an illumination hole 41, 42 provided on a distal end of a nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion portion 22 is cleaned. By operating the suction button 30, dirt (including liquid after flushing an object site in a body cavity) in the body cavity is sucked using a forceps hole 44 provided on a distal end of the nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion portion 22. By operating the shutter button 31, an object site in the body cavity or the like is imaged using an imaging device (not shown) provided inside a distal end of the endoscope insertion portion 22.

[0029] A treatment tool such as a forceps or the like is inserted into the forceps insertion portion 26. When the endoscope 15 is not used, a forceps plug 32 is attached to the forceps insertion portion 26. In addition, a lock adapter 79 of the pump tube unit 18 described later can be connected to the forceps plug 32 via a connector (not shown).

[0030] ​In addition to the air supply channel and water supply channel not shown in the figure, the endoscope insertion section 22 also has a light guide 35, a forceps channel 36, and a secondary water supply channel 37 inside. The light guide 35 guides the light emitted from the light source device (not shown) connected to the connector 24 to the illumination holes 41 and 42 provided on the front end of the nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion section 22.

[0031] The forceps channel 36 guides a treatment tool, such as forceps, inserted from the forceps insertion portion 26 provided on the operating handle 21, to the forceps hole 44 provided at the front end of the nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion portion 22. Additionally, when the pump tube unit 18 is connected to the forceps insertion portion 26, the forceps channel 36 supplies liquid delivered by the water supply device 16 to the forceps hole 44.

[0032] The auxiliary water supply channel 37 supplies liquid from the pump tube unit 18 connected to the tube connection 24b to the auxiliary water supply hole 45 located at the front end of the nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion part 22.

[0033] The universal tube 23 connects the operating handle 21 and the connector 24. The universal tube 23 has a light guide tube 35 or a secondary water supply channel 37 inside.

[0034] The connector 24 has multiple connection parts, such as a light source connection part 24a that can be connected to a light source device and a pipe connection part 24b that can be connected to a pump pipe unit.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the nozzle 22b of the endoscope insertion section 22 includes an observation hole 40, illumination holes 41 and 42, an air / water supply nozzle 43, a forceps hole 44, and a secondary water supply hole 45. It should be noted that the structure of the nozzle 22b is only shown as an example, and the type or position of the openings provided on the nozzle 22b can be appropriately set.

[0036] The observation port 40 exposes the objective lens 46 of the imaging device, which is located inside the front end of the endoscope insertion section 22. The objective lens 46 inputs the observation image of the object within the body cavity into the imaging device. The illumination ports 41 and 42 use the light guided by the light guide tube 35 as illumination light to project the illumination light onto the object within the body cavity and the vicinity of the object.

[0037] Air / water supply nozzle 43 sprays air or liquid into observation hole 40 or lighting hole 41, 42, thereby cleaning observation hole 40 or lighting hole 41, 42 and its vicinity.

[0038] The forceps hole 44 serves as an inlet and outlet for the tip of a treatment tool inserted from the forceps insertion portion 26. Note that when the suction device is attached to the endoscope 15, the forceps hole 44 also functions as a suction hole for sucking out dirt such as blood flowing into the body cavity. Here, the inner diameter of the forceps hole 44 is 2 mm to 3.2 mm. The sub-water supply hole 45 ejects liquid supplied to the sub-water supply channel 37 of the endoscope 15 via the water supply device 16. Here, the inner diameter of the sub-water supply hole 45 is 1 mm.

[0039] The water supply device 16 is a device that supplies liquid accumulated in the water supply tank 17 to the endoscope 15 by driving of a pump included in the device. Note that the water supply device 16 is driven by, for example, pressing operation of a foot switch not shown. In the present embodiment, a case where the water supply device 16 includes a roller pump 51 as shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Figure 3

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the roller pump 51 is provided with a pump tube 62 along the inner side of a circular-arc-shaped guide wall 53 provided on the front surface. The pump tube 62 provided to the roller pump 51 is held along the outer periphery of a rotation body 55 described later. Figure 3

[0041] The roller pump 51 includes the rotation body 55, rollers 56, and a motor 57. As one example, the rotation body 55 is a substantially triangular plate member. Note that the shape of the rotation body 55 can be a polygonal plate member according to the number of rollers to be shaft-supported, or can be a circular plate member. The rotation body 55 is fixed to a drive shaft 57a of the motor 57, and rotates in the counterclockwise direction (A direction) in FIG. 6 when the motor 57 is driven. Figure 3

[0042] The rollers 56 are respectively shaft-supported at positions at the same distance from the rotation center of the rotation body 55 on the side opposite to the fixed surface of the rotation body 55 to the motor 57. In the present embodiment, a case where the rollers 56 are respectively shaft-supported near each vertex of the rotation body 55 which is a triangular plate member is exemplified. That is, the rollers 56 are arranged at intervals of 120°. Here, the clearance between the rotation tracks of the plurality of rollers 56 and the circular-arc-shaped guide wall 53 is, for example, 3.1 mm. Figure 3

[0043] When the rotation body 55 is rotated, the rollers 56 rotate while pressing (diameter-reducing extrusion) the pump tube 62 distributed along the inner side of the circular-arc-shaped guide wall 53 toward the circular-arc-shaped guide wall 53. By the extrusion of the pump tube 62 by the rollers 56, liquid inside the pump tube 62 is extruded toward the endoscope 15. In addition, when the pump tube 62 returns to the original state after being extruded by the rollers 56, liquid accumulated in the water supply tank 17 is introduced. ​​​​

[0044] As described above, the rollers 56 are arranged at intervals of 120°. Therefore, when the rotating body 52 rotates one revolution, the above-described operation is performed using all three rollers 56. Note that, as an example of the pressing portion, the rollers 56 are cited, but instead of the rollers, a pressing piece that protrudes outward of the rotating body 52 can be used.

[0045] Here, the amount of water supplied in the water supply device 16 is set to the amount of water supplied when a pump tube having an inner diameter of 6.6 mm and an outer diameter of 9.7 mm is used. Here, the amount of water supplied when a pump tube having an inner diameter of 6.6 mm and an outer diameter of 9.7 mm is used is set to, for example, 700 ml / min.

[0046] Return Figure 1 In the endoscope system 10, during the driving of the water supply device 16, the liquid accumulated in the water tank 17 is supplied to the endoscope 15 via the pump tube unit 18 provided in the water supply device 16.

[0047] As Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 6, the pump tube unit 18 includes, in addition to the filter-equipped water tube 61, the pump tube 62, and the joint-equipped water tube 63, a by-pass water tube 64.

[0048] The pump tube unit 18 is integrated by connecting the filter-equipped water tube 61 and the pump tube 62 with the joint 65, connecting the pump tube 62 and the joint-equipped water tube 63 with the joint 66, and further connecting the by-pass water tube 64 across the filter-equipped water tube 61 and the joint-equipped water tube 63.

[0049] The filter-equipped water tube 61 includes a filter device 68, water tubes 69, 70, 71, and a T-shaped joint 72. The filter device 68 includes a housing 68a and a filter body 70b housed in the housing 68a. The housing 68a is a cylindrical member with both ends open. The material of the housing 68a is a transparent or translucent synthetic resin material or glass or the like. In addition, the inner diameter of the housing 68a is 17.0 mm, and the outer diameter is 20.0 mm. The filter body 70b is a substantially conical member with an open bottom surface and a filter screen formed on a conical surface. The filter body 68b is fixed inside the housing 68a with the bottom surface arranged on the downstream side.

[0050] The water tubes 69, 70, 71 are tubes with, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC) as the material. The inner diameter of the water tubes 69, 70, 71 is 4 mm, and the outer diameter is 6.0 mm. The water tube 69 among the water tubes 69, 70, 71 is connected to the filter device 68 on the upstream side of the filter device 68 with the joint 73. In addition, the water tube 69 has a connector 74 on the end portion on the side opposite to the end connected to the filter device 68. The connector 74 is connected to the suction tube of the water tank 17.

[0051] Further, the water supply tube 70 is connected to the filter device 68 on the downstream side of the filter device 68 with a joint 75. At the same time, the water supply tube 70 is connected to a water supply tube 71 on the end portion on the opposite side to the end portion connected to the filter device 68 with a T-joint 72. Further, the water supply tube 71 is connected to the joint 65 on the end portion on the opposite side to the end portion connected to the T-joint 72.

[0052] The T-joint 72 is a member that, for example, divides a flow of liquid flowing from one direction or merges flows of liquid flowing from two directions. The T-joint 72 is connected to the water supply tube 70, 71 and the bypass water supply tube 64. The T-joint 72 merges liquid from the water supply tube 70 and liquid from the bypass water supply tube 64.

[0053] The pump tube 62 is a member that is distributed along the inner circumferential surface of the circular arc-shaped guide wall 53 provided to the roller pump 51. The pump tube 62 is made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). The inner diameter of the pump tube 62 is 6.6 mm and the outer diameter is 9.7 mm.

[0054] The water supply tube 63 with a joint has a water supply tube 76, 77 and a T-joint 78. The water supply tube 76, 77 is a tube made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). The inner diameter of the water supply tube 76, 77 is 4 mm and the outer diameter is 6.0 mm. One end of the water supply tube 76 is connected to the joint 65 and the other end is connected to the T-joint 78. One end of the water supply tube 77 is connected to the T-joint 78. The water supply tube 77 has a lock connector (lure connector) 79 fixed to the other end on the opposite side to the end connected to the T-joint 78. The lock connector 79 is connected to the forceps insertion portion 26 provided to the operation handle 21 of the endoscope 15 or the tube connection portion 24b provided to the connector 24 of the endoscope 15.

[0055] The T-joint 78 is a member that, for example, divides a flow of liquid flowing from one direction or merges flows of liquid flowing from two directions, similarly to the T-joint 72. The T-joint 78 is connected to the water supply tube 76, 77 and the bypass water supply tube 64. The T-joint 78 divides a flow of liquid from the water supply tube 76 into a flow of liquid flowing to the water supply tube 77 and a flow of liquid flowing to the bypass water supply tube 64.

[0056] The bypass water supply tube 64 has a water supply tube 80, 81 and a control tube 82. The water supply tube 80, 81 is a tube made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). The inner diameter of the water supply tube 80, 81 is 3.1 mm and the outer diameter is 5.1 mm. Further, the water supply tube 80 is connected to the T-joint 78 in a state in which the control tube 82 is fixed between the water supply tube 80 and the water supply tube 81. Further, the water supply tube 81 is connected to the T-joint 72.

[0057] The water supply tube 80 has a roller clamp 83. The roller clamp 83 changes the cross-sectional area inside the water supply tube 80 at a pressed position by pressing the water supply tube 80 with a roller, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the water supply tube 80. In detail, the roller clamp 83 moves between a position at which the water supply tube 80 is pressed with a roller and the pressed portion is occluded (hereinafter, referred to as an occluded position) and a position at which the water supply tube 80 is not pressed with the roller (hereinafter, referred to as an open position).

[0058] The control tube 82 is a tube made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). The control tube 82 has an inner diameter of 0.8 mm and an outer diameter of 3.2 mm. In addition, the control tube 82 is fixed to the water supply tubes 80 and 81 using a solvent such as cyclohexanone. Here, as the material of the control tube 82, instead of polyvinyl chloride resin, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin or polypropylene (PP) or the like can be used.

[0059] Next, a case in which the pump tube unit 18 is used to supply water to the endoscope 15 will be described.

[0060] First, a case in which the pump tube unit 18 is connected to the forceps insertion portion 26 of the endoscope 15 will be described. At this time, the roller of the roller clamp 83 of the bypass water supply tube 64 is held at the occluded position. When the water supply device 16 is driven, the roller pump 51 operates, and the rotating body 55 rotates. By the rotation of the rotating body 55, the pump tube 62 is pressed by any one of the plurality of rollers 56 supported by the rotating body 55. By the pump tube 62 being pressed by any one of the plurality of rollers 56, the liquid inside the pump tube 62 is pressed out, and at the same time, the liquid accumulated in the water tank 17 is sucked into (sucked to) the inside of the pump tube 62.

[0061] As described above, the roller of the roller clamp 83 of the bypass water supply tube 64 is held at the occluded position, and therefore, the bypass water supply tube 64 is in an occluded state in which the liquid does not flow. Therefore, the liquid pressed out from the pump tube 62, after reaching the T-junction 78 via the water supply tube 76, is not branched to the bypass water supply tube 64, but is directly supplied to the water supply tube 77. That is, the liquid pressed out from the pump tube is supplied to the endoscope 15 and is ejected from the forceps hole 44 via the forceps channel 36. In addition, since the bypass water supply tube 64 is in the occluded state, the liquid sucked by the pump tube 62 does not flow into the bypass water supply tube 64 from the T-junction 72, but directly flows in the pump tube 62.

[0062] Next, the case where the pump tube unit 18 is connected to the tube connecting portion 24b of the connector 24 of the endoscope 15 will be described. At this time, the roller of the roller clamp 83 of the bypass water supply tube 64 is held in the open position. By operating the roller pump 51 using the drive of the water supply device 16, the liquid in the pump tube 62 is sent out and liquid is sucked from the water supply tank 17.

[0063] The liquid sent out from the pump tube 62 flows to the water supply tube 77 or the water supply tube 80 after passing through the water supply tube 76. In addition, the bypass water supply tube 64 is provided with a control tube 82 having an inner diameter smaller than that of the water supply tubes 80 and 81 between the water supply tubes 80 and 81. By providing the control tube 82, when the water supply device 16 is driven, the state where the liquid sent out from the pump tube 62 is maintained to make the internal pressure of the water supply tube 80 higher than that of the water supply tube 81. Therefore, in the bypass water supply tube 64, liquid flows from the water supply tube 80 to the water supply tube 81, but does not flow from the water supply tube 81 to the water supply tube 80. In addition, the liquid flowing from the water supply tube 80 into the water supply tube 81 is merged with the liquid flowing from the water supply tube 70 in the T-junction 72.

[0064] Thus, by making a part of the liquid sent out from the pump tube 62 flow to the bypass water supply tube 64, there is a disadvantage that the water supply amount of the liquid sent into the endoscope 15 is reduced, but the particular effect of suppressing the rise in the internal pressure of the pump tube 62 can be achieved. By suppressing the rise in the internal pressure of the pump tube 62, when the water supply device 16 is stopped, the case where water drips from the sub water supply hole 45 of the endoscope 15 can be suppressed. At the same time, by suppressing the rise in the internal pressure of the pump tube unit 18, the case where the pump tube 62 is cracked or leaks due to breakage of the pump tube 62 can be prevented.

[0065] Next, the case where the pump tube unit 18 is connected to the endoscope 15 will be described.

[0066] First, the amount of liquid sprayed from the forceps hole when the pump tube unit 18 is connected to the forceps insertion portion 26 of the endoscope 15 was measured in two cases, one where the bypass water supply tube 64 was in the open state and the other where the bypass water supply tube 64 was in the closed state. Note that the water supply amount and the amount of liquid sprayed were measured at 30-second intervals. In addition, the water supply device 16 was stopped at 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the start of water supply, and it was confirmed whether or not water dripped from the sub water supply hole 45. Further, it was also confirmed whether or not the pump tube 62 had cracks or cracks. In this case, the average amount of liquid sprayed from the forceps hole was calculated from the amount of change at 30 seconds.

[0067] As Figure 5In case (a) shown in FIG. 6, the average of the discharge amount from the forceps hole 44 was 258.4 ml when the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the open state. Even if the water supply device was stopped at any one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the elapse of time, dripping of water from the forceps hole 44 did not occur in the case where the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the open state. In addition, no cracks or the like occurred in the pump pipe 62.

[0068] In addition, as Figure 5 In case (b) shown in FIG. 7, the average of the discharge amount from the forceps hole 44 was 343 ml when the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the closed state. Even if the water supply device was stopped at any one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the elapse of time, dripping of water from the forceps hole 44 did not occur in the case where the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the closed state.

[0069] According to the results of the above-described verification test, in the case where the pump pipe unit 18 is used while being connected to the forceps insertion portion 26 of the endoscope 15, if the bypass water supply pipe 64 is in the open state, cracks in the pump pipe 62 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0070] In addition, the discharge amount of liquid from the forceps hole 44 was 686 l / min when the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the closed state, and the discharge amount of liquid from the forceps hole 44 was 516.8 l / min when the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the open state. That is, it can be considered that 25% of the liquid is refluxed by the bypass water supply pipe 64 when the bypass water supply pipe 64 is in the open state. Here, if the water supply amount set in the water supply device 16 is considered to be 700 ml / min, the water supply performance of the water supply device 16 cannot be sufficiently utilized when the bypass water supply pipe 64 is in the open state. Therefore, if the water supply performance of the water supply device 16 is considered to be effectively utilized, it is more effective to have the bypass water supply pipe 64 in the closed state.

[0071] Next, the discharge amount of liquid discharged from the sub water supply hole 45 when the pump pipe unit 18 is connected to the connector 24 of the endoscope 15 was measured in two cases, that is, in the case where the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the open state and in the case where the bypass water supply pipe 64 was in the closed state. In addition, the water supply amount of liquid and the discharge amount of liquid were measured at 30-second intervals. In addition, the water supply device 16 was stopped at 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the elapse of time from the start of water supply, and it was confirmed whether or not water was dripping from the sub water supply hole 45. Further, it was also confirmed whether or not the pump pipe 62 had cracks or the like. In this case, the average discharge amount of liquid discharged from the sub water supply hole 45 was calculated based on the amount of change at 30 seconds.

[0072] As Figure 6In (a) shown in Fig. 6, the average of the discharge amount from the sub-water feed hole 45 was 104.4 ml when the bypass water feed pipe 64 was in the open state. In the case where the bypass water feed pipe 64 was in the open state, when the water feeding device was stopped at any one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the elapse of the elapsed time, a dripping of water from the sub-water feed hole 45 occurred, but the dripping of water was eliminated within 1 second. In addition, no crack or the like occurred in the pump pipe 62.

[0073] In addition, as Figure 6 In (b) shown in Fig. 6, the average of the discharge amount from the sub-water feed hole 45 was 134 ml when the bypass water feed pipe 64 was in the closed state. However, in the case where the water feeding device was stopped at any one of 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, and 150 seconds after the elapse of the elapsed time with the bypass water feed pipe 64 in the closed state, a dripping of water from the sub-water feed hole 45 occurred. In addition, the dripping of water continued for about 5 seconds.

[0074] According to the results of the above-described verification test, it was found that, when the pump pipe unit 18 was used by being connected to the pipe connecting portion 24b of the connector 24 of the endoscope 15, a dripping of water from the sub-water feed hole 45 occurred, but the dripping time could be suppressed to a short time, and thus it was found that it was effective to place the bypass water feed pipe in the open state. In addition, when the bypass water feed pipe was placed in the open state, it was possible to more effectively prevent a breakage of the pump pipe.

[0075] (Explanation of symbols)

[0076] 10... endoscope system

[0077] 15... endoscope

[0078] 16... water feeding device

[0079] 17... water feed tank

[0080] 18... pump pipe unit

[0081] 37... sub-water feed passage

[0082] 45... sub-water feed hole

[0083] 51... roller pump

[0084] 55... rotating body

[0085] 56... roller

[0086] 62... pump pipe

[0087] 64... bypass water feed pipe

[0088] 80, 81... water supply pipe

[0089] 82... control pipe

[0090] 83... roller clamp

Claims

1. A pump pipe unit, characterized in that, have: A pump tube is mounted on a pump having a rotating body and a plurality of pressing parts arranged at predetermined angular intervals on the outer periphery of the rotating body. When the rotating body rotates, the pump tube is pressed sequentially by any one of the pressing parts, repeatedly performing the action of sending the liquid held inside downstream and introducing new liquid from the upstream side. An upstream water supply pipe, connected to the upstream end of the pump pipe, supplies the flow of liquid introduced into the pump pipe. A downstream water supply pipe, connected to the downstream end of the pump pipe, supplies the flow of liquid delivered from the pump pipe, and A bypass water supply pipe is connected across the upstream water supply pipe and the downstream water supply pipe, causing a portion of the liquid flowing in the downstream water supply pipe to flow back to the upstream water supply pipe; The bypass water supply pipe includes: The first water supply pipe is connected to the downstream water supply pipe. The second water supply pipe has the same diameter as the first water supply pipe and is connected to the upstream water supply pipe. The third water supply pipe is disposed between the first water supply pipe and the second water supply pipe, and its inner diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the first water supply pipe and the inner diameter of the second water supply pipe. A clamp is installed on the first water supply pipe, which can switch between a closed state and an open state. When the downstream water supply pipe is connected to the secondary water supply channel of the endoscope, the clamp keeps the first water supply pipe in the open state; when the downstream water supply pipe is connected to the forceps channel of the endoscope, the clamp keeps the first water supply pipe in the closed state.

2. An endoscope system, characterized in that, have: An endoscope having at least a forceps channel for insertion of a treatment instrument, including forceps, and a secondary water supply channel for the flow of the fluid. The water tank contains the accumulated liquid. A pump having a rotating body and a plurality of pressing portions arranged at predetermined angular intervals on the outer periphery of the rotating body, and A pump tube unit, one end of which is connected to the water supply tank and the other end of which is connected to at least one of the forceps channel or the auxiliary water supply channel of the endoscope, and is the pump tube unit as described in claim 1. When the downstream water supply pipe of the pump tube unit is connected to the auxiliary water supply channel of the endoscope, the pump is driven with the bypass water supply pipe in the open state. This causes a portion of the fluid delivered by the pump tube to flow back inside the pump tube unit, while simultaneously supplying the fluid to the auxiliary water supply channel of the endoscope. When the downstream water supply pipe of the pump tube unit is connected to the forceps channel of the endoscope, the pump is driven with the bypass water supply pipe in a closed state to supply water to the forceps channel of the endoscope without causing the liquid delivered by the pump tube to flow back inside the pump tube unit.

Images