Endoscope hanger and endoscope storage cabinet

Abstract

To provide a hanger for an endoscope capable of coping with requirements in a medical site which requires countermeasures for misuse of medical devices and infection measures.SOLUTION: There is provided a J-shaped hanger for an endoscope being formed from a plate-shaped body and comprising: a shaft part; a hook part; a fitting part; and a plate part. The hanger for an endoscope is a single folded plate. The fitting part is provided on the shaft part, the plate part is provided on a side part of the shaft part, and the hook part is provided on the lower part of the shaft part. The hook part is configured so that the plate-shaped body is formed into a curve shape, and there is provided an inclination bottom part which is inclined so that one side part of the shaft part is high and the opposite side is low.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage technique for an endoscope. [Background technology]

[0002] Endoscopes are devices that are used repeatedly. Since there is a risk of infection when they are reused, it is important to disinfect and store them properly. The Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society Safety Management Committee has issued a guideline for endoscope cleaning and disinfection (2nd edition, 2004). This guideline systematically describes the basic contents for preventing healthcare-associated infections through endoscopes, the principles of infection control, the structure of endoscopes, effective cleaning and disinfection methods and drugs used, and occupational safety. As disinfection methods after endoscope cleaning, disinfection with 2% glutaral for 10 minutes, 0.55% phthalaral for 5 minutes, and 0.3% peracetic acid for 5 minutes are introduced. The following is written about storage after disinfection: If moisture remains in the channel of an endoscope, bacteria will increase during storage, so it should be dried to prevent bacterial growth. For this reason, endoscopes should be stored hung on a hanger without air / water supply buttons, suction buttons, forceps plugs, etc.

[0003] The present applicant has made several proposals regarding techniques for hygienically storing endoscopes. For example, we proposed an endoscope storage cabinet that ventilates clean air in Patent Document 1 (Patent Publication No. 5476512). Furthermore, we are developing technology related to the storage of endoscopes that maintains their cleanliness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5476512 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to develop an endoscope hanger that can meet the needs of medical facilities, where measures against infection and misuse of medical instruments are required. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to the following items. 1. A J-shaped endoscope hanger made of a plate-like material and equipped with a shaft portion, a hook portion, a mounting portion, and a plate portion, It is made of a single folded plate, and has an attachment part on the top of the shaft part, a plate part on the side of the shaft part, and a hook part on the bottom of the shaft part. A hanger for an endoscope, characterized in that the hook portion is a curved plate-like body having an inclined bottom portion that is inclined so that one side of the shaft portion is higher and the opposite side is lower. 2. The hanger for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion and the plate portion have a bend angle ranging from a right angle to an obtuse angle. 3. A hanger for an endoscope as described in 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made of a single folded plate. 4. A hanger for an endoscope as described in any one of 1. to 3., wherein the plate-like body is made of metal and is entirely and integrally covered with resin. 5. A hanger for an endoscope as described in any one of 1. to 4., wherein the mounting portion is a horizontal mounting portion formed by bending the upper portion of the shaft portion. 6. A hanger for an endoscope as described in any one of 1. to 4., wherein the mounting portion is a hanging-type mounting portion extending upward from the side of the shaft portion. 7. A hanger for an endoscope as described in 1. or 2., characterized in that the mounting portion is on the side opposite to the side on which the plate portion is provided, and has an arm portion extending from the side of the upper part of the shaft portion and a joint portion at the tip of the arm portion. 8. An endoscope storage cabinet having an opening and closing part on the front and a hook part of an endoscope hanger installed at a height where the tip of the endoscope does not touch the bottom, 5. The endoscope hanger described in 5. is attached to the ceiling. Alternatively, the endoscope hanger described in 6. is attached by hanging it from a locking rod provided in the left and right directions. Or, the endoscope hanger described in 7. is attached to the back wall. An endoscope storage cabinet characterized by the above. 9. The endoscope hanger according to any one of 1. to 7. is an endoscope storage cabinet according to 8., characterized in that the hook portion is attached at an angle to the opening and closing portion of the endoscope storage cabinet. 10. An endoscope storage cabinet as described in 8. or 9., characterized in that an endoscope hanger as described in any one of 1. to 7. is removably attached. Effect of the Invention

[0007] 1. The hanger is formed by bending a plate-like body, so that the entire hanger can be sterilized, and there is no gap where bacteria can grow, making it hygienic. For example, in a hanger assembled from multiple parts, bacteria can easily enter and grow and remain in the gaps between the parts, which can lead to insufficient sterilization. However, the endoscope hanger of the present invention is uniform throughout, so there is little risk of missing sterilization. In particular, a hanger formed by molding and bending a metal plate can eliminate narrow gaps between parts that would prevent sterilization. The rib function improves the bending strength of an endoscope hanger formed by bending a metal plate, so that the endoscope hanger of the present invention can adequately hold an endoscope even if it is a thin plate. In particular, the bending relationship of the plate portion, which is folded outward relative to the shaft portion, and the hook portion, which is folded inward relative to the shaft portion, improves the strength of this endoscope hanger. 2. The hanger, made of a bent plate with a certain width, can be attached securely and is strong. The J-shaped tip hook is a type that locks the branch part on the connector side of the endoscope, making it easy to hang and remove. If the angle at which the plate is bent relative to the shaft is set to a right angle or obtuse angle, the ease of attaching and detaching the endoscope and the visibility of the plate will be improved. 3. Furthermore, the inclined bottom of the hook portion, which is inclined in a planar shape, can stably support the branching portion on the connector side of the endoscope, so that the weight of the endoscope can be received in a natural position. 4. The plate section allows the type and identification code of the endoscope to be displayed, making endoscope management easier. If the hook section is attached so that it faces diagonally to the opening and closing section of the storage unit, bending the shaft section and plate section at an angle so that the plate section faces the opening and closing section makes the plate easier to see and makes management easier. 5. The entire product is covered with resin such as nylon, so it is highly resistant to disinfection using alcohol, etc., and the same disinfectants as endoscopes can be used. The resin fills in any narrow gaps that arise between the bent piece of the plate and the mounting part, which is made by bending the metal plate, and covers them together, so there are no gaps on the surface and it is possible to prevent the intrusion of bacteria. 6. The hook for the endoscope of the present invention can be hung and attached to the ceiling, wall or locking rod of the storage cabinet. If there are other facilities such as ventilation holes on the ceiling or wall, they can be installed selectively. 7. If hooks are installed at a height of 1,350 mm or more inside the storage unit, the insertion part of the endoscope and the connector cord can be locked in a free state, and the part inserted into the human body will not become bent. Since the connector cord will not become bent either, there will be less of an impact on the delicate operations required while using the endoscope. Furthermore, since the pipe is in a vertical position, no moisture or the like remains inside the pipe, making it hygienic. 8. An endoscope storage cabinet in which an endoscope hanger is attached so that the hook part of the endoscope hanger is at an angle to the opening and closing part of the storage cabinet (= the surface of the shaft part is at an angle) makes it easier to attach and remove the endoscope, and also makes it possible to narrow the attachment intervals of the endoscope hangers, improving storage efficiency. In addition, if the shaft part and the plate part are bent so that the plate part faces the opening and closing part, the plate becomes easier to see. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope hanger of the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are a development view and a side view of the endoscope hanger of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the endoscope hanger of the first embodiment is used. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are perspective views of an endoscope hanger according to a second embodiment and a view showing a wall-side joint portion. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a development view of the endoscope hanger of the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the endoscope hanger of the second embodiment is used. [Figure 7-1] FIG. 13 shows an endoscope hanger according to a third embodiment (endoscope hanger 13A). [Figure 7-2] FIG. 13 shows an endoscope hanger according to an embodiment 3-2 (endoscope hanger 13B). [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of a hanger for an endoscope. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of a hanger for an endoscope. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a hanger for an endoscope according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] 13 shows an exploded view and a processed view of a hanger for an endoscope according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an endoscope storage cabinet. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of an endoscope storage cabinet. [Figure 14] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing other examples of the hook portion of the endoscope hanger. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of an overhead hanging hook. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The present invention is a hanger for an endoscope (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an "endoscope hanger" or "endoscope hanger") that has a simple structure, is easy to disinfect, and is easy to handle. A J-shaped endoscope hanger is manufactured by bending a metal plate cut into an unfolded shape. The base of the branch on the connector side of the endoscope is hung on the hanger. Basically, an attachment part is provided on the upper side of the shaft, and the lower side of the shaft is bent to form a hook part. A plate part is provided on one side of the shaft. The bottom of the hook part is inclined. The inclination of the bottom is formed obliquely, for example, so that the side on which the plate part is formed is higher and the other side is lower. This inclination can also be formed in the opposite direction, and when reversed, the endoscope is engaged with the hanger with the connector part of the endoscope facing forward. After bending, the whole is covered with resin such as nylon. Thermoplastic resin that does not use solvents is suitable as the covering resin material. The hook part is curved to accommodate the base of the branch part on the operation part side of the connector, and the bottom of the hook part is inclined so that the plate side is higher and the other side is lower, so that it can be hung in a stable position. The hook part is formed into an angled bend or an arc shape. When mounting the mounting part to the ceiling of a storage unit, the upper part of the shaft is bent at a right angle to form a horizontal mounting part. The mounting means can be a screw, bolt, plug, or other means. Alternatively, an arm-shaped member is provided that extends laterally from the shaft to mount the product to a wall, etc. The mounting means can be a screw, bolt, plug, or other means. Also, a hanging member or an insertion member is formed on the upper part of the shaft of the endoscope hanger so that the endoscope hanger can be hung and locked to a locking rod attached to the left and right directions on the upper part of the storage cabinet. The plate is formed by bending the side of the shaft. A bending angle between a right angle and an obtuse angle is suitable. In particular, when the endoscope hanger is to be installed at an angle, the plate faces the operator directly by bending it at an obtuse angle obtained by adding the oblique angle to the right angle. The endoscope hanger of the present invention can be formed by folding or bending a single metal plate cut out (including punching) in an expanded state. The endoscope hanger is folded so that there is almost no gap between the components, or processed to provide a gap that allows disinfection. If the components are close to each other, they are entirely covered with resin and appear as one unit from the surface. The metal plate is wide, and a width of 3 to 10 cm from the shaft to the hook is suitable. In the endoscope hanger of the present invention, the plate and hook are bent at an angle to the shaft, improving the strength like rib processing, so that a relatively thin (= lightweight) metal plate can be used. After bending the metal plate to form it, the entire plate is resin-coated. The resin material used is preferably a thermoplastic resin that does not use solvents, such as nylon resin. Various coating methods can be used. For example, electrostatic painting, in which powder is electrostatically attached and heated to melt it to form a film, a method of welding a film, and a method of dipping the plate in a molten resin liquid are available.

[0010] Some examples of the hook portion are shown in FIG. Fig. 14(a) shows hook portion 3, which is bent to the right in the development view shown in Fig. 2(a), but which is extended from the shaft without bending it, and is formed into hook portion 35 by bending it at four fold lines 84 to form a sloping bottom surface. The side view is the same as hook 3 shown in Fig. 2, but in the front view, hook portion 35 is biased to the left and the tip is also sloping like sloping bottom surface 33. 14(b) shows an example of a hook portion 36 having two folding lines 84. By widening the opening at the tip of the hook portion 37, it is possible to provide a sufficient space to engage the branching portion of the endoscope. 14(c) shows an example of hook portion 37 that is curved below fold line 84. By starting the curved hook portion 37 from slanted fold line 84, the bottom can also be inclined. Incidentally, the hook portion 36 and the hook portion 37 can also be formed from a development view in which the shaft portion 2 is bent to the right as shown in FIG. 2(a).

[0011] The endoscope hanger of the present invention is attached to the ceiling, wall, or locking bar of a storage cabinet etc. An endoscope can be hung from the attached endoscope hanger. The endoscope hanger of the present invention is preferably attached at a height where the insertion part and connector of the endoscope can be hung and held in a free state. Many current endoscopes have an insertion length of up to 1330 mm, so the hook part 3 is installed at a height higher than that so that the tip of the insertion part and connector part does not come into contact with the bottom of the storage cabinet. It is preferable to set the height so that the staff can easily handle it and do not touch the bottom surface. This prevents the endoscope from bending during storage. In addition, since the insertion part of the endoscope is suspended, no moisture remains in the tube, and it can be kept dry and hygienic. The endoscope storage cabinet can be applied to the storage cabinet disclosed in Patent No. 5476512 proposed by the present applicant. EXAMPLES

[0012] 1 to 3 show an example of an endoscope hanger according to a first embodiment. The first embodiment of the endoscope hanger 1 of the present invention is an endoscope hanger 11 for ceiling mounting, which has a mounting portion 4 on the upper part. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope hanger 11, FIG. 2 is a development view (a) and a side view (b) of the endoscope hanger 11, and FIG. 3 is a view of the endoscope hanger 11 in use. An endoscope hanger 11 has a hook portion 3 provided at the bottom of a wide, plate-like shaft portion 2, a horizontal mounting portion 4 provided at the top of the shaft portion 2, and a plate portion 5 provided on the side of the shaft portion 2. The entire surface of this endoscope hanger 11 is provided with a resin coating 6.

[0013] The endoscope hanger 11 is manufactured by cutting (or punching) a large metal plate into a basic shape based on the development shown in Fig. 2(a) by bending the plate, and then forming a resin film 6 on the surface by painting or other means. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the metal plate 8 has a shaft portion 2 at the center, a portion that will become the mounting portion 4 at the top, a portion that will become the hook portion 3 at the bottom, and a long side portion that will become the plate portion 5 on the right side. The mounting portion 4 is formed with a hole 41b for a screw. This unfolded metal plate 81 is folded along the fold lines. A right side view of the folded endoscope hanger 11 is shown in Fig. 2(b). When the hook portion 3 side is folded inward, the attachment portion fold line 85a and the plate portion fold line 85b are folded outward. The shaft portion 2 is the main body of the endoscope hanger 11, with the upper part being horizontal, and is a modified quadrilateral with a horizontal side at the top and an inclined lower side with the side length L2 on the opposite side being longer than the side length L1 on the plate portion 5 side. The metal plate can be a zinc-plated steel plate with a thickness of about 1.6 mm. The edges are smoothed by removing burrs.

[0014] The bottom of the hook portion 3 is formed into an inclined bottom portion 33. In this example, in order to provide the inclination, a hook portion fold line 84a formed at the boundary between the hook portion fold line 84 and the shank portion 2 is provided at an angle, and the side length L2 on the opposite side is set longer by ΔL than the side length L2 on the plate side 5 side of the shank portion 2. Hook portion fold lines 84b, 84c, and 84d are provided at the same width from this inclined hook portion fold line 84a. The hook portion 3 is formed by folding in order along these hook portion fold lines 84. The inclination of the inclined bottom portion 33 can be determined by the length of ΔL. This inclination is provided so that the endoscope hung thereon is stable. As will be described later, it is suitable to form the inclined bottom portion 33 so that it matches the inclination angle of the base portion of the cord of the connector branching off from the operating portion.

[0015] The external shape of the unfolded hook portion 3 is formed so that the hook tip edge 34 is horizontal to match the inclined bottom portion 33, and the width from the shaft portion 2 to the hook portion 3 is the same, so it is inclined toward the plate portion 5 with respect to the shaft portion 2. It is not necessary to make the hook tip edge 34 horizontal, and it is also possible to make the hook portion 3 straight from the shaft portion 2 and bend it at an angle. In this figure, four folding lines are shown as an example, but the number is not limited to four. Also, the folding lines may be arcs. The shape of the hook part is preferably larger than the branch part on which the endoscope is hung. If the branch part and the hook part are in close contact with each other, moisture will remain in the gap where they are in contact, which may lead to the growth of bacteria, so it is preferable to reduce contact and increase the gap where drying can occur. By folding the hook part, a gap is created between the corner and the branch part of the endoscope, ensuring ventilation and allowing the endoscope to be stored in a hygienic manner. The hook portion 3 needs to have a certain width in order to stabilize the endoscope to be hung thereon, but it is also possible to thin the shaft portion 2. The widths between the folding lines 84 of the multiple hooks do not need to be the same.

[0016] The plate portion 5 displays the control code of the endoscope. The plate portion 5 can be provided on one or both sides of the shaft portion 2. Normally, the endoscope is stored in a position that does not take up a large width relative to the door of the storage cabinet or other opening and closing portion. Since it is desirable for the plate portion to face the door (opening and closing portion) of the storage cabinet, when the shaft portion (hook portion) is attached at an angle to the door, the plate portion faces the door by making the angle of the plate portion attached to the shaft portion larger than 90 degrees by the angle of the oblique attachment. In the illustrated example, the plate portion 5 is bent at a right angle to the shaft portion 2 at one side at a plate portion folding line 85b. The length of the plate portion 5 can be as long as it is shorter than the side length L2 of the shaft portion 2. However, it can be longer than the side length L2. The width is shorter than the length of the mounting portion 4, but it is not limited to this. The plate portion 5 can also be provided with its upper end lowered, and in that case, it is appropriate to leave a space of several centimeters between the plate portion 5 and the mounting portion 4 so that the gap can be disinfected. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of the middle part of the hanger, and shows the bent angle θ between the shaft part 2 and the plate part 5. As described above, this bent angle (θ) is set to a right angle to an obtuse angle.

[0017] The mounting portion 4 is assumed to be attached to the ceiling of a storage unit, and is bent at a right angle at a mounting portion fold line 85a to form a horizontal mounting portion 41. The mounting portion 4 is formed with holes 41b for screws while in a flat plate state. In this example, the mounting side 41a and the plate upper side 51 are provided so that their base ends coincide, and both are bent at right angles so that both sides are in contact. The resin film 6 is formed across both sides, and both sides are integrated, making it easy to disinfect and eliminating gaps where bacteria can grow. Alternatively, by lowering the plate upper edge 51 and forming a large gap between it and the mounting portion side edge 41a, it is possible to facilitate disinfection without forming a narrow gap in which bacteria may grow.

[0018] The resin film 6 is preferably made of a resin material that is resistant to disinfectants such as alcohol used in medical settings, for example, nylon resin. Also, without using a solvent or the like, the bent metal endoscope hanger 11 can be heated to a high temperature, coated with nylon powder, and melted on the metal surface to form a coating. By coloring the resin, endoscope hangers can be identified and managed by color as well.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the endoscope hanger 11 in use, attached to the ceiling 74 of a storage cabinet or the like. The attachment part of the endoscope hanger 11 is fixed to the ceiling 74 with screws or the like. Since most endoscopes have an insertion length of up to 1330 mm, the hanger is installed so that the hook part 3 is at a height such that the tip of the insertion part and the connector part do not come into contact with the bottom of the storage cabinet. An endoscope 9 is hung on the hook part 3 of the fixed endoscope hanger 11. A commonly used soft endoscope 9 has an operation part 91 from which an insertion part 92 into the body and a connector cord 94 on the connector 93 side branch off. This branch part 95 is hung on the hook part 3 for storage. The insertion part 92 and connector 93 of the endoscope are hung in a free state. Since the endoscope comes into contact with the endoscope hanger only at the branch part, the transfer of bacteria from other parts can be prevented. As described above, the cord of the insertion section (including the internal fiber, etc.) and the connector cord do not become kinked, and the operability of the endoscope is prevented from being impaired by storage of the endoscope. Inside the insertion section 92, there is a biopsy forceps channel (pipe) through which tissue pieces collected by various treatment tools (biopsy forceps, etc.) pass, and suction, air supply, and water supply channels (pipe) reach from the connector section 93 to the tip of the insertion section 92. Inside the connector cord section 94, a suction tube, air supply and water supply tubes, and a light guide (glass fiber) are built in. After use, the endoscope is washed and disinfected, and moisture is removed before storage. By storing the insertion section and connector cord hanging down, moisture remaining in the tubes is completely removed, suppressing bacterial growth and preventing infection.

[0020] The endoscope hanger of the present invention is integrally formed from a metal plate and has no narrow grooves or other gaps, so the hanger itself can be kept hygienic. It is important to prevent infection through medical instruments, and with the present invention, the instrument is stored in a nearly isolated state with only the branching section in contact with the instrument, and is suspended so that moisture and foreign matter are less likely to remain inside the insertion section, allowing it to be stored hygienically. In addition, the endoscope hanger is easy to hang and remove, making it easy to work with, and since the plate can be labeled for management purposes, there is no risk of misidentification. By covering the endoscope hanger with a resin such as nylon, it is possible to clean (disinfect) the endoscope hanger and the endoscope body with the same chemicals. Being able to use the same chemicals makes the work easier, and in the midst of a labor shortage, it also makes it easier to utilize personnel who are not fluent in Japanese. By using hangers with different colors, it is possible to manage endoscopes by color, reducing the risk of selecting the wrong endoscope. This will enable us to meet the needs of medical facilities where infection control and measures to prevent misuse of medical equipment are required. EXAMPLES

[0021] 4 to 6 show an example of an endoscope hanger according to embodiment 2. In this example, a long arm portion is provided on the side as an attachment portion. The second embodiment is an endoscope hanger 12 for wall mounting in which the mounting portion 4 provided on the upper portion is an arm portion 43 that extends laterally on the opposite side of the plate portion 5 . FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of the endoscope hanger 12, FIG. 4(b) shows the wall-side joint, FIG. 5 is a development view of the endoscope hanger 12, and FIG. 6 shows the endoscope hanger 12 in use. The endoscope hanger 12 has a hook portion 3 at the bottom of a wide, plate-like shaft portion 2, an arm portion 43 extending laterally from the top of the shaft portion 2, and a plate portion 5 provided on the side of the shaft portion 2. The arm portion 43 serves as the attachment portion 4, and an arm tip 43p serves as a joint portion. The entire surface of this endoscope hanger 12 is provided with a resin coating 6. An example of a wall-side joint is shown in Fig. 4(b). The example shown is an example in which a box-shaped joint 45 having an insertion hole 46d is provided on a rear wall surface 76 on the rear side of an opening and closing part of a storage cabinet or the like. The arm tip 43p is inserted into the insertion hole 46d of the joint 45, and the positions of the insertion holes 44b and 46c provided on both are aligned, and an L-shaped fixing pin 46a is inserted to fix it in place and prevent it from coming loose. By lengthening the connecting portion 45, the arm portion 43 can be shortened, and the distance multiplied by the distance between the hook portion 3 and the rear wall surface 76 is set to a distance that does not interfere with the endoscope. In this figure, the arm is a square pipe, so the joint is also an insertion hole on the square side, but this combination will vary depending on the shape of the arm. Also, the mounting structure can be fixed with screws, so various mounting structures can be set.

[0022] The endoscope hanger 12 is manufactured by cutting (or punching) a large metal plate into a basic shape based on the development shown in Fig. 5, and bending the plate. After that, a resin film 6 is formed on the surface by painting or other means. As shown in Figure 5, this is an exploded view of metal plate 82, with shaft portion 2 at the center, arm portion 43 which becomes mounting portion 4 at the top, a portion which becomes hook portion 3 at the bottom, and a long side portion which becomes plate portion 5 on the right side. The shaping of the plate portion 5 and the hook portion 3 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0023] The mounting portion 4 extends above the shaft portion 2 to the left, opposite the plate portion 5 . In this example, the mounting portion 4 is a wide horizontally elongated member 44. This horizontally elongated member 44 is bent at right angles along folding lines 87a, 87b, and 87c to form a square pipe having four arm surfaces 43a, 43b, 43c, and 43d. By folding outward from the fold line 87a, the top of the plate 5 can be made into a lid. Furthermore, by providing an extension piece 43e on the arm surface 43a (any surface is possible) and folding it in, the opening can be covered. Lids can be provided on the left and right openings of the square pipe forming the arm 43, and by forming a resin coating on them, a resin film is also formed on the mating part between the lid and the opening surface, so the square pipe is sealed and the proliferation of bacteria can be prevented. By forming arm portion 43 in a pipe shape, strength is obtained, and the extension piece 43e side, which is supported by a cantilever, can be fixed to the wall surface.

[0024] On the other hand, it can also be folded inward from the folding line 87a to form a square pipe shape. When folded inward, an extension piece 43f can be provided on the left end of arm surface 43d (or 43b or 43c) to provide lids on both ends. Alternatively, a square pipe with an opening can be used without providing extension pieces 43e and 43f. If a square pipe with an opening is used, the inside can also be disinfected. The shape of the arm portion 43 is not limited to a rectangular pipe, but may be a triangular pipe or a cylindrical pipe that has been curved. The length of the arm is set so that the endoscope does not come into contact with the wall even when it is hung on the hook. The length of arm 43 can also be changed by changing the shape of the member that attaches arm 43 to the wall surface. As described above, for example, by lengthening the wall surface side attachment member (such as coupling portion 45 in FIG. 4(b)), the length of arm 43 can be shortened accordingly.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows an example of the endoscope hanger 12 stored in the back wall surface 76 of the storage cabinet. The connecting part 45 is attached to a high position on the back wall surface 76, the tip of the arm of the endoscope hanger 12 is inserted into the insertion hole of the connecting part 45, and the L-shaped fixing pin is inserted into the insertion holes provided in the connecting part 45 and the tip of the arm, thereby attaching the endoscope hanger 12 to the back wall surface 76. In this state, the plate part 5 faces the opening and closing part of the storage cabinet, and the hook part 3 faces to the side. In this state, the branch part 95 of the endoscope 9 is hung on the hook part 3. The mounting height of the connection part 45 is set at a height at which the tip of the insertion part 92 of the endoscope 9 and the tip of the connector 93 do not come into contact with the bottom of the storage cabinet, so that the endoscope 9 is stored in a hanging state and stored hygienically. As described above, the arm 43 of the endoscope hanger 12 can be shortened by lengthening the connecting portion 45. The lengths of the connecting portion 45 and the arm 43 are adjusted so that the hook portion 3 is positioned at a location where the endoscope 9 does not contact the rear wall surface 76. EXAMPLES

[0026] 7-1 and 7-2 show an endoscope hanger 13 according to embodiment 3. This embodiment is an example equipped with a hanging type suspending part such as a suspension part. The endoscope hanger 13 is of a suspension type in which an attachment part provided at the top is hung from a horizontal bar. The shaft part 2, the hook part 3, the plate part 5, and the resin coating 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The hanging portion 49 extends continuously upward from the plate portion 5 and is formed on a hook. Figures 7-1 (a), (b), (c), and (d) show examples of an endoscope hanger 13A equipped with an upper hook-shaped hook 49A formed by bending, and Figures 7-2 (e) and (f) show examples of an endoscope hanger 13B equipped with an upper curved hook 49B formed by bending.

[0027] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of an endoscope hanger 13A, which is provided with a hook portion 3 below the shaft portion 2, a plate portion 5 on the side of the shaft portion 2, and an upper hook-shaped hook 49A above the plate portion 5. FIG. FIG. (b) is a development cut out to form the endoscope hanger 13A. The shaft portion 2, hook portion 3, and plate portion 5 are the same as those in the embodiment. The upper hook-shaped hook 49A, which corresponds to the mounting portion, is in the form of a long side at the top of the plate portion 5. From the plate portion 5 upward, there are a base piece 49Aa, an upper piece 49Ab, and a tip piece 49Ac, which are bent at folding lines 86a and 86b to form a hook shape. In the illustrated example, it is bent at a right angle to engage with a square mounting rod. Although a screw hole 41b for fixing is illustrated, the fixing method is not limited to a screw, and adhesive, welding, an insertion pin, or other suitable method can be used. In addition, in the illustrated example, the upper hook 49A extends to the same width as the plate portion 5, but it does not necessarily have to be the same as long as it satisfies the hanging weight and the like. Figure (c) shows the folding angle θ at which the shaft portion 2 and the plate portion 5 are folded at the folding line 85b, which is basically a right angle to an obtuse angle, as in Example 1. The folding angle is determined so that when the plate portion is placed directly opposite the opening and closing part of the endoscope storage cabinet, the hook portion is at an angle suitable for attaching and detaching the endoscope. Fig. 1(d) shows an example in which the endoscope hanger 13A is attached to a square locking bar 78a. The figure shows the state in which the upper hook-shaped hook 49A of the endoscope hanger 13A is hung on the square locking bar 78a attached between the left and right side walls 75 in front of the back wall surface 76 of the endoscope storage cabinet and fastened with a screw. The outer shape of the square locking bar 78a fits into the inner shape of the upper hook-shaped hook 49A, and the endoscope hanger 13A is fixed. In this state, the plate portion 5 of the endoscope hanger 13A faces the opening and closing portion of the endoscope storage cabinet, and the plate portion 5 and the hook portion 3 are at an angle, making it easy to attach and detach the endoscope. In addition, since the storage posture of the endoscope is also at an angle, it is possible to increase the number of endoscopes that can be stored, and it is also easy to observe the storage state of the endoscopes. The square locking bar can be made by joining two U-shaped folded plates together to form a square bar, which improves bending strength. Prefabricated square bars can also be used. Materials that can be used include metal and wood.

[0028] FIG. 1(e) is a perspective view of an endoscope hanger 13B, which is provided with a hook portion 3 below the shaft portion 2, a plate portion 5 on the side of the shaft portion 2, and an upper curved hook 49B above the plate portion 5. FIG. The upper curved hook 49B has an upper right curved hook 49B-1 formed in a curved shape provided on the right side of the shaft portion 2 and an upper left curved hook 49B-2 provided on the left side of the shaft portion 2. 1(f) shows an exploded view of the upper part of the endoscope hanger 13. The shape of the hook portion 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so it is omitted. This development shows the shape of the cut metal plate. A plate portion 5 is provided on the right side of the shaft portion 2, and an upper right curved hook 49B-1 is provided extending continuously from the plate portion 5 above the right side of the shaft portion 2. After the plate portion 5 is folded outward at the plate portion fold line 85b between the shaft portion 2 and the plate portion 5, the upper right curved hook 49B-1 is curved. The upper left curved hook 49B-2 has a base 49B-2a on the left side of the shaft 2 and continues to extend upward on the left side of the shaft 2. After the base 49B-2a is folded outward at a base fold line 85c between the shaft 2 and the base 49B-2a, the upper left curved hook 49B-2 is curved. The endoscope hanger 13B is formed with a curved upper hook 49B. The endoscope hanger 13B is attached to a storage unit or the like by passing the upper curved hook 49B through the horizontally extending round locking rod 78b.

[0029] In the endoscope hanger 13B shown in the drawings, the hanging pieces are provided on the left and right sides, but it is also possible to provide only one. Also, a plate part can be provided on the left side by extending the base part 49B-2a of the left upper curved hook 49B-2 downward. When plate parts are provided on the left and right sides, the endoscope hanger can be used by changing its orientation. Alternatively, the plate part can be provided on only one side. Furthermore, the base portion 49B-2a can be folded inward to provide the left upper curved hook 49B-2 on the front surface side of the shaft portion, and the left and right upper curved hooks can be formed separately on the front and back sides of the shaft portion. EXAMPLES

[0030] Fig. 8 shows an endoscope hanger 14 according to the fourth embodiment, and Fig. 9 shows other types of endoscope hangers 15 and 16 according to the fourth embodiment. This example is an example equipped with a mounting part that allows for suspension. The endoscope hanger 14 is configured as a suspension type in which the attachment part provided at the top is engaged with a locking rod. Triangular suspension pieces are provided on the left and right sides of the top of the shaft part 2. The shaft part 2, hook part 3, plate part 5, and resin coating 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Fig. 8(a) shows a perspective view of the endoscope hanger 14, and Fig. 8(b) shows an exploded view of the endoscope hanger 14. A metal plate 89 having a shape as shown in the exploded view is prepared. Hanging members 48A serving as hanging pieces are provided by extending from the left and right sides of the upper part of the shaft portion 2. The suspension member 48A is connected to the upper part of the shaft portion 2, separated from the plate portion 5, and separated into left and right parts at the center. The suspension member 48A has four fold lines 89b, 89c, 89e, and 89f. The parts partitioned by the fold lines are the base sides 48a and 48d, the oblique sides 48b and 48e, and the tip sides 48c and 48f, which are the partial sides of the suspension piece. The fold lines 89b and 89e are on the extension lines of the sides of the shaft portion 2. In this example, the tip sides 48c and 48f of the suspension piece are short, so the fold lines 89c and 89f are provided on the tip side. The positions of these fold lines are changed depending on the size of the tip side.

[0031] From the developed view, the left and right sides of the hanging member 48A are folded inward at four fold lines 89b, 89c, 89e, and 89f at a specified angle, and the right-side member is folded outward at the upper right fold line 89h of the shaft 2 to form the right hanging piece 48-1. The left-side member is folded inward at the upper left fold line 89i of the shaft 2 to form the left hanging piece 48-2. The left and right hanging pieces are formed into a roughly triangular shape with a short tip. This hanging piece is used by engaging it with a locking bar such as a square bar installed in a storage facility. The bar may be a round bar, but the posture is stabilized by installing a square bar that matches the angle of the tip of the hanging piece. In this example, the left and right hanging pieces are formed so that a locking rod can be locked to each of them, and the endoscope hanger 14 is stabilized by using two locking rods. By forming the tips of the left and right hanging pieces to overlap when viewed from the front, it becomes possible to hang both hanging pieces on a single engaging rod. This endoscope hanger 14 has a hanging portion 48 formed parallel to the surface of the plate 5, so when it is hooked to horizontal bars provided on the left and right sides of the opening and closing part of the storage cabinet, the plate portion faces the door side, making it easy to use. It can also be used in cases where there is equipment on the ceiling of the storage cabinet or the like and it is not possible to attach the endoscope hanger 11 of Example 1 to the ceiling.

[0032] FIG. 9(a) shows an endoscope hanger 15, and FIG. 9(b) shows an endoscope hanger 16. The endoscope hangers 15 and 16 are configured as a suspension type in which the attachment part provided at the top is engaged with a locking rod, and the upper part of the shaft part 2 is bent into a U-shape or an arc shape from the left and right, and suspension pieces are provided on the left and right sides into which the locking rod can be inserted. The shaft part 2, hook part 3, plate part 5, and resin coating 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Although an exploded view is omitted, in the exploded view shown in Fig. 8(b), the upper side of the shaft portion 2 is cut from the left and right sides to shorten the base sides 48a, 48d, and then folded at a right angle to form a U-shape. By forming a desired range from the tip side in a curve, it is possible to form an arc shape.

[0033] In the endoscope hanger 15, the upper right folding line 89h, which is formed by cutting off the upper end of the shaft 2 on the plate 5 side and shortening it, is folded outward to form a U-shaped right insert 52A-1. The upper left folding line 89i, which is formed by cutting off the upper left end of the shaft 2 and shortening it, is folded inward to form a U-shaped left insert 52A-2. The right insert 52A-1 and the left insert 52A-2 facing each other form the insert 52A having a square space, and the endoscope hanger 15 can be locked by passing the square locking rod 78 through this space.

[0034] In the endoscope hanger 16, the upper edge of the shaft portion 2 on the plate 5 side is slightly cut off, and the short upper right folding line 89h is folded outward to form the arc-shaped right insert 52B-1. The upper left end portion of the shaft portion 2 is slightly cut off, and the short upper left folding line 89i is folded inward to form the arc-shaped left insert 52B-2. The opposing right insert 52B-1 and left insert 52B-2 form the insert portion 52B having a curved space, and the endoscope hanger 16 can be locked by passing a round locking rod 78 through this space. EXAMPLES

[0035] Fig. 10 shows an endoscope hanger 17 according to the fifth embodiment, and its development and folding diagrams are shown in Fig. 11. This example also has a hanging type mounting part and a ring-shaped insertion part. An endoscope hanger 17 according to a fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 10 is configured as a through-type attachment part provided at the top, through which a locking rod passes. The attachment part is provided with a cylindrical through-hole part 55 at the top of the shaft part 2. The shaft part 2, the hook part 3, the plate part 5, and the resin coating 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment. FIG. 10(a) is a perspective view of the endoscope hanger 17, FIG. 10(b) is a side view of the endoscope hanger 17, and FIG. 11 is a development view and a folding view.

[0036] A metal plate 83 having a shape shown in the development view of Fig. 11(a) is prepared. An insertion hole member 42 which becomes the insertion hole portion 55 is provided extending from the center of the shaft portion 2 to the right side. The through-hole member 42 is connected by an upper fold line 83g of the shaft portion 2, which is slightly separated on the left and right sides, and is separated from the upper side of the plate portion 5 and extends in a narrow width from the center to the right. The through-hole member 42 is provided with four fold lines 83a, 83b, 83c, and 83f. The portions partitioned by the fold lines become the bottom piece 42a, the right piece 42b, the top piece 42c, the left piece 42d, and the claw piece 42e, which are partial pieces of the through-hole portion 55. The fold line 83g is on the upper edge of the shaft portion 2. In Fig. 11(b), three fold lines 83a, 83b, and 83c are folded inward and fold line 83f is folded outward, so that bottom side 42a is connected to shaft portion 2 at fold line 83g, and insertion hole portion 55 is formed with the hole facing up and down. In Fig. 11(b), left side 42d is on the inside of claw side 42e, but it may be on the outside, and the two sides may not overlap and there may be a space between tip line 83d and tip line 83e. In FIG. 11(c), an upper fold line 83g, which is the connection between the shaft portion 2 and the insertion hole portion 55, is folded inward to form the insertion hole portion 55 with the insertion hole penetrating from front to back with respect to the front surface of the shaft portion. The endoscope hanger 17 formed by bending the metal plate 83 in this manner is used by inserting the locking rod into the insertion hole 55 in the same manner as the endoscope hanger 15 shown in FIG. 9(a). EXAMPLES

[0037] 15 shows an endoscope hanger 18 according to Example 6. This example also has a hanging type attachment part, and is configured by combining an engagement hole provided at the top of the shaft part 2 with an upper L-shaped hook. The endoscope hanger 18 of Example 6 has an attachment portion consisting of an engagement hole 21a provided in the upper piece 21 of the shaft portion 2 which is an upward extension of the shaft portion 2, and an upper L-shaped hook 47 having an L-shaped hook 47a that engages with this engagement hole 21a. In order to stabilize the position of the endoscope hanger, the locking hole 21a is suitably a horizontally elongated hole, and the direction can be kept constant when the upper L-shaped hook 47 formed by bending a plate is inserted. The upper L-shaped hook 47 has an L-shaped hook 47a on the underside of the shaft side support piece 47b, an upper piece 47c that is horizontal on the upper side, and a tip side 47d with the tip of the upper side bent downward. The shaft side support piece 47b, the upper piece 47c, and the tip side 47d form an L shape that can be hung from the locking rod 78. The upper L-shaped hook 47 is formed by bending a single plate. By using the square locking bar, the position of the hanging endoscope hanger is stabilized. The shaft portion 2, the hook portion 3, and the plate portion 5 can be formed in the same manner as in Example 1. In the illustrated example, the shaft upper piece 21 is located above the plate portion 5, but it may be at the same height as the plate portion 5. EXAMPLES

[0038] Examples of endoscope storage cabinets are shown in Figures 12 and 13. 12(a) shows the external appearance of an endoscope storage cabinet 7. This endoscope storage cabinet 7 is an example equipped with a clean unit 71 on the upper part of an endoscope storage unit 72. A door 73 that can be opened and closed is also provided on the front. 12(b) shows an endoscope storage unit 72a in which an endoscope hanger 11 is attached to a ceiling portion 74. The endoscope hanger 11 is attached at a height such that the connector 93 and the tip of the insertion portion 92 of the endoscope 9 do not come into contact with the bottom surface 77. The endoscope 9 has an insertion portion 92 extending from an operation portion 91, and a connector cord 94 connecting to the connector 93 extends from the operation portion. The portion where the connector cord 94 branches off from the operation portion 91 is a branch portion 95 formed with high strength. The branch portion 95 is used to engage with the hook portion of the endoscope hanger 11. 12(c) shows an enlarged view of the attached state of the endoscope hanger 11. A mounting base 79 is provided on the ceiling portion 74, and the endoscope hanger 11 is attached to this mounting base 79 at an angle. Fig. 12(d) is a bottom view of the endoscope hanger 11 in an attached state. The tip edge of the attachment part 4 is tilted to the right by θ2 (attachment angle) so that the hook part 3 faces diagonally toward the front side (the opening and closing side of the storage cabinet). By setting "attachment angle θ2 + 90 degrees = folding angle θ", the plate 5 faces directly toward the opening and closing side of the storage cabinet. In this example, the attachment angle θ2 is set to 20 degrees, so the folding angle θ is 110 degrees. 12(e) shows an example of a mounting base 79 for mounting an endoscope hanger 11 to a ceiling portion 74. Although it is possible to mount the endoscope hanger 11 directly to the ceiling portion 74 of the endoscope storage cabinet, since a clean air outlet and other equipment are also attached to the ceiling, the task of mounting multiple endoscope hangers 11 is cumbersome. Therefore, the endoscope hanger 11 is first mounted to the mounting base 79, and then the mounting base 79 is attached to the ceiling portion 74. The shape of the mounting base 79 is not particularly specified, but in this example, it is bent into a box shape with the edges protruding outward to form the mounting edges. The front surface of the mounting base 79 in this example is inclined so that the corners do not get in the way when inserting and removing the endoscope. A plurality of endoscope hangers 11 are screwed to this mounting base 79 at an angle of θ2 to the front. The edge of the mounting base 79 to which the plurality of endoscope hangers 11 are attached is screwed to the ceiling 74 of the endoscope storage cabinet.

[0039] FIG. 13(a) shows an endoscope storage unit 72b in which an endoscope hanger 12 is attached to a joint 45 provided on a rear wall surface 76. 13(b) shows an endoscope storage unit 72c in which an endoscope hanger 13 is attached to a locking rod 78 provided on the upper part of both side walls 75. Endoscope hangers 14, 15, 16, and 17 can also be attached to the locking rods provided on the side walls. In the endoscope hanger of the present invention, the hook part has an inclined bottom surface that is inclined toward the back, so by hanging the branch part on the endoscope hanger, the connector part is at the back and the insertion part is at the front (door side), so there is no risk of it being tilted toward the insertion part and coming off. In addition, since the plate part faces the door side, by displaying a management table or the like on the plate part, it is possible to prevent the endoscope from being mixed up.

[0040] In addition, even when the endoscopes are stored, they can be disinfected with the same disinfectant, making maintenance easy. Furthermore, by painting the walls and other interior surfaces of the storage unit with a paint that allows the use of the same disinfectant, hygiene management of the entire storage unit can be easily performed, making it an effective infection control measure. It goes without saying that the endoscope hanger shown in this example can also be applied to an endoscope storage cabinet that does not have a clean unit on the top. Also, an existing endoscope storage cabinet can be retrofitted by attaching the endoscope hanger of the present invention.

[0041] In the endoscope storage of the present invention, the endoscope 9 is stored with the branching portion 95 hung on an endoscope hanger, and the insertion portion 92 and connector portion 93 hanging freely. The cord of the insertion portion of the endoscope and the cord of the connector are drooping, and are stored in a position that does not impede operability when in use, and do not become bent during storage. Since the insertion portion 92 is the outer surface of the endoscope, and inside it there are ducts through which treatment tools and collected tissue pieces pass, and ducts for supplying air and water, and for suctioning bodily fluids and blood, having the insertion portion hanging straight down means that no moisture remains in the ducts and they are kept dry, which is important as an infection prevention measure. In addition, by hanging the connector 93 and the connector cord 94, no moisture remains inside the duct inside the connector cord 94, and it is kept dry, which further inhibits the growth of bacteria and significantly increases the level of infection control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Endoscope hanger 2 Shaft section 21 Shaft upper piece 21a Engagement hole 3 Hook part 33 Slanted bottom 34 Hook tip 4 Mounting part 41 Horizontal mounting part 42A Insertion hole member 42a bottom piece 42b Right side piece 42c top piece 42d Left side piece 42e claw piece 43 Arm 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d Arm surface 43e, 43f extension piece 43p Arm tip 44 Horizontal member 45 Joint 46a L-shaped fixing pin 44b, 46c Insertion holes 46d Insertion hole 47 Upper L-hook 47a L-shaped hook 47b Shaft side support piece 47c top piece 47d Tip piece 48, 49 Suspension 48-1 Right suspension piece 48-2 Left suspension piece 48A Suspension member 48a, 48d bottom 48b, 48e hypotenuse 48c, 48f tip 49-1 Right suspension piece 49-2 Left suspension piece 49A Upper hook 49Aa base piece 49Ab top piece 49Ac tip piece 49B Upper curved hook 49B-1 Upper right curved hook 49B-2 Upper left curved hook 49B-2a base 5 Plate section 51 Upper edge of plate 52A, 52B insertion part 52A-1, 52B-1 Right insert 52A-2, 52B-2 Left fitting insert 55 Insertion hole 6 Resin-coated part 7 Endoscope Storage 71 Clean unit on top 72 Endoscope storage unit 72 73 Door 74 Ceiling 75 side wall 76 Back wall 77 Bottom 78 Locking rod 78a Square locking rod 78b Round locking rod 79 Mounting base 8, 81, 82, 83, 89 metal plate 83a, 83b, 83c, 83f broken line 83g upper fold line 83d, 83e tip line 84, 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d Hook section fold line 85a Mounting part fold line 85c base fold line 87a, 87b, 87c broken line 89b, 89c, 89e, 89f broken line 89h Upper right turn line 89i Upper left turn line 9 Endoscopy 91 Operation section 92 Insertion section 93 Connector 94 Connector Code 95 Branch

Claims

1. A J-shaped endoscope hanger made of a plate-like body and equipped with a shaft portion, a hook portion, a mounting portion, and a plate portion, It is made of a single folded plate, and has an attachment part on the top of the shaft part, a plate part on the side of the shaft part, and a hook part on the bottom of the shaft part. The hook portion is a curved plate-like body having an inclined bottom portion that is inclined so that one side of the shaft portion is higher and the opposite side is lower, The attachment portion is one of a horizontal attachment portion formed by bending the upper part of the shaft, a hanging attachment portion extending upward from the side of the shaft, and an attachment portion having an arm portion extending from the side of the upper part of the shaft and a joint portion at the tip of the arm portion, on the opposite side to the side where the plate portion is provided.

2. 2. The hanger for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion and the plate portion have a bend angle ranging from a right angle to an obtuse angle.

3. 3. The endoscope hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is made of a single folded plate.

4. 4. The endoscope hanger according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like body is made of metal and is entirely and integrally covered with resin.

5. An endoscope storage cabinet having an opening and closing part on the front side and a hook part of an endoscope hanger installed at a height where the tip of the endoscope does not contact the bottom, The endoscope hanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is attached to a ceiling, a locking bar provided in the left and right directions, or a wall surface on the far side. An endoscope storage cabinet characterized by the above.

6. 6. An endoscope storage cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the hook portion of the endoscope hanger is attached at an angle to the opening and closing portion of the endoscope storage cabinet.

7. 7. An endoscope storage cabinet according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the hanger for the endoscope is attached so as to be freely detachable.

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