Supply device and control method

Abstract

The present invention provides a supply device and supply method for more reliably cleaning the observation window portion of a rigid endoscope. [Solution] The control unit 72 controls the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and the gas supply unit 16 to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation in which a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas is supplied to the cover 22 as a cleaning fluid by supplying cleaning fluid to the supply pipe 64 via the cleaning fluid supply unit 14, allowing the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the supply pipe 64, and then supplying gas to the supply pipe 64 via the gas supply unit 16. When the control unit 72 receives a switch-on command, it performs the cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, and then performs the gas supply operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supply device for supplying a cleaning fluid to an observation window portion at the tip of a rigid endoscope, and a control method for controlling the supply device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in the medical field, endoscopes (flexible endoscopes) typified by gastric cameras have come to be used in gastric examinations and surgeries. Also, thoracoscopes are used in surgeries performed through an opening in the chest, and laparoscopes are often used in surgeries performed through an opening in the abdomen (hereinafter referred to as laparoscopic surgery). Laparoscopic surgery has rapidly spread due to its minimally invasive nature and good cosmetic results, and the proportion of laparoscopic surgery in the overall surgical procedures, mainly targeting gastric cancer and colorectal cancer surgeries, has been increasing year by year. By the way, the above-mentioned thoracoscopes and laparoscopes are called rigid endoscopes, and at the tip of such a rigid endoscope, an objective lens for imaging a diseased part is provided, and an observation window portion for protecting the objective lens is provided.

[0003] During surgeries performed using rigid endoscopes such as the above-mentioned thoracoscopes and laparoscopes, the observation window portion provided at the tip of the rigid endoscope is frequently soiled with blood, fat, etc., and also becomes cloudy. For this reason, there is a problem that the surgery has to be temporarily interrupted for cleaning or purifying the observation window portion, and the surgical efficiency is significantly reduced. More specifically, the information necessary for surgeries using rigid endoscopes is only the image (visual) information obtained by the rigid endoscope, and the cloudiness, blood, fat, etc. on the observation window portion during surgery hinder the performance of safe surgeries. Therefore, during surgery, it is necessary to temporarily take out the rigid endoscope outside the body for cleaning, but the time required for this leads to an extension of the surgical time, which may impose a great burden on the patient or cause unexpected complications.

[0004] In order to solve such problems, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, a technique for supplying a cleaning liquid such as physiological saline or a gas for blowing off the cleaning liquid to the observation window portion of a rigid endoscope inside the patient's body is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6242560 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] There is a need for technology to more reliably clean the observation window of a rigid endoscope.

[0007] This disclosure has been made with these points in mind, and aims to provide a supply device and a control method for the supply device that more reliably cleans the observation window portion of a rigid endoscope. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The supply device of this disclosure is A supply device for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window at the tip of a rigid endoscope, A supply pipe for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window, A cleaning liquid supply unit for supplying cleaning liquid to the supply pipe, A gas supply unit for supplying gas to the supply pipe, A control unit that controls the cleaning liquid supply unit and the gas supply unit, The control unit controls the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation, in which the cleaning fluid is supplied to the supply pipe by the cleaning fluid supply unit, causing the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the supply pipe, and then the gas supply unit is supplied to the supply pipe to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the supply pipe, and a gas supply operation, in which the gas supply unit is supplied to the supply pipe to supply gas to the observation window, respectively. The control unit, upon receiving a switch-on command, performs the cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, and then performs the gas supply operation.

[0009] The control method for this disclosure is: A supply device for supplying cleaning fluid to an observation window at the tip of a rigid endoscope, the supply device comprising a supply pipe for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window, a cleaning fluid supply unit for supplying cleaning fluid to the supply pipe, a gas supply unit for supplying gas to the supply pipe, and a control unit for controlling the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit, and a control method for controlling the supply device. When the control unit receives a switch-on command, it performs a cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, in which the cleaning fluid supply unit supplies cleaning fluid to the supply pipe to cause the cleaning fluid to accumulate at an intermediate point in the supply pipe, and then the gas supply unit supplies gas to the supply pipe to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the supply pipe, and thereafter the gas supply unit supplies gas to the supply pipe to supply gas to the observation window. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the supply device and control method of this disclosure, the observation window portion of a rigid endoscope can be cleaned more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the system according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the base of the cleaning fluid supply unit in the system shown. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the base portion taken along the line AA. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the configuration of the closing mechanism provided in the base portion shown in Figure 2, etc. [Figure 5] Figure 2 shows a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the base section. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the cartridge of the cleaning fluid supply unit in the system shown. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a rear view of the cartridge. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state when the flow of the cleaning fluid in the path is not stopped by the closing mechanism in the system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state when the flow of the cleaning fluid in the path is stopped by the closing mechanism in the system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing an operation when supplying a cleaning liquid to an observation window portion of a rigid endoscope in the system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing an operation when supplying a gas to an observation window portion of a rigid endoscope in the system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 12] It is a chart showing the on / off of a switch and the opening / closing operations of the first to third closing mechanisms in a supply device of the system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a rigid endoscope and a cover according to a modified example. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a rigid endoscope and a cover according to another modified example. <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The system 10 according to this embodiment includes a rigid endoscope 20, a cover 22 that covers the rigid endoscope 20, a cleaning fluid supply unit 30 for supplying cleaning fluid to the cover 22, a cleaning fluid supply source 60 for supplying cleaning solution such as physiological saline to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30, and a gas supply source 62 such as a gas cylinder for supplying gas such as air to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30.

[0014] The rigid endoscope 20 consists of a thoracoscope used in surgery performed by opening the chest, or a laparoscope used in surgery performed by opening the abdomen. The tip of the rigid endoscope 20 is equipped with an objective lens for imaging the affected area, as well as an observation window to protect the objective lens.

[0015] During surgeries using rigid endoscopes 20, such as thoracoscopies and laparoscopes, the observation window at the tip of the rigid endoscope 20 frequently becomes contaminated with blood, fat, etc., and also fogs up. This necessitates temporarily interrupting the surgery to clean or purify the observation window, resulting in a significant decrease in surgical efficiency. More specifically, the only information necessary for surgery using a rigid endoscope 20 is the image (visual) information obtained from the rigid endoscope 20. Fogging or contamination of the observation window with blood, fat, etc., during surgery hinders the safe execution of the surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to temporarily remove the rigid endoscope 20 from the body during surgery for cleaning, but the time required for this leads to an extension of the surgery time, which can be a significant burden on the patient and may result in unexpected complications.

[0016] Therefore, in this embodiment, a cover 22 is attached to the outer surface of the rigid endoscope 20 to supply a cleaning solution such as physiological saline or gas to blow away the cleaning solution to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 inside the patient's body.

[0017] A cleaning fluid supply unit 30, which supplies cleaning fluids such as cleaning solution or gas to the cover 22 of such a rigid endoscope 20, will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 9.

[0018] The cleaning fluid supply unit 30 comprises a base portion 30a, a cartridge 30b detachably attached to the base portion 30a, and a control unit 70. A first supply pipe 64 and a second supply pipe 66 are provided between the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 and the cover 22. Cleaning fluid is supplied to the cover 22 from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the first supply pipe 64, and gas is supplied to the cover 22 from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the second supply pipe 66. The cover 22 is provided with a cleaning fluid path that sends the cleaning fluid supplied to the cover 22 from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the first supply pipe 64 to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20, and a gas path that sends the gas supplied to the cover 22 from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the second supply pipe 66 to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20. The cleaning fluid path and the gas path may be integrally provided in the cover 22.

[0019] Cartridge 30b is provided with pathways 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 for supplying cleaning fluid, which has been sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30, to the first supply pipe 64 and the second supply pipe 66. Details of these pathways will be described later. In addition, the base section 30a is provided with a first shut-off mechanism 46, a second shut-off mechanism 48, and a third shut-off mechanism 50, respectively, which selectively stop the flow of cleaning fluid in the first pathway 32, the fourth pathway 38, and the fifth pathway 40. Details of each of these shut-off mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 will also be described later.

[0020] A cleaning solution such as physiological saline is supplied from a cleaning solution supply source 60 to a cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via a cleaning solution supply pipe 61. In addition, a gas such as air is supplied from a gas supply source 62 to a cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via a gas supply pipe 63.

[0021] Next, the configuration of the base portion 30a will be explained using Figures 2 to 5. Figure 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the base portion 30a of the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 in the system 10 shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the base portion 30a shown in Figure 2, taken along the line AA. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the configuration of the closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 provided on the base portion 30a shown in Figure 2, etc., and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the base portion 30a shown in Figure 2, etc.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the base portion 30a is composed of a substantially flat plate-shaped member, and three through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b are formed to extend along the thickness direction of the flat plate-shaped member. Each of the through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b is positioned opposite the first path 32, fourth path 38, and fifth path 40 of the cartridge 30b when the cartridge 30b is attached to the base portion 30a. The base portion 30a is also provided with three closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50. Each of the closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 includes a pusher 46a, 48a, and 50a, and a reciprocating mechanism 46c, 48c, and 50c, such as an air cylinder, for moving the pusher 46a, 48a, and 50a back and forth. The pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a pass through the respective through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b, and move in the thickness direction (vertical direction in Figure 3) of the base portion 30a. More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the tips of the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a are isosceles triangular in shape, and the rods 46d, 48d, and 50d of the reciprocating mechanism 46c, 48c, and 50c are attached to the base ends of the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a. The reciprocating mechanism 46c, 48c, and 50c causes the rods 46d, 48d, and 50d to reciprocate in the vertical direction in Figure 4, thereby causing the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a to reciprocate in the vertical direction in Figure 4. When rods 46d, 48d, and 50d are in their most retracted state, pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a are completely housed inside their respective through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b, and do not protrude upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. On the other hand, when rods 46d, 48d, and 50d are in their most extended state, pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a protrude outward from their respective through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b, and protrude upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0023] Furthermore, between the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a and the reciprocating mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c, springs 46e, 48e, and 50e are positioned around the rod 46d in a contracted state. The force of the springs 46e, 48e, and 50e repulsing the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a from their contracted state biases them upward in Figure 4 (i.e., in the direction of flying outwards from each through-hole 46b, 48b, and 50b).

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the base portion 30a is provided with a hook portion 30m, on which the cartridge 30b, described later, can be hooked. Specifically, the hook portion 30m has two roughly semicircular notches 30p and 30q formed therein. The protrusions 30r and 30s of the cartridge 30b fit into these notches 30p and 30q, respectively.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the base portion 30a is provided with a fastener 31 for fixing the cartridge 30b to the base portion 30a. The fastener 31 has a rotating portion 31c that rotates around an axis 31a (see Figure 3) provided on the base portion 30a, and a hooking portion 31b provided at the tip of the rotating portion 31c. The base end of the fastener 31 is attached to the base portion 30a by a spring (not shown). As a result, the fastener 31 is constantly biased in a counterclockwise direction around the axis 31a in Figure 3 by the repulsive force from the contracted state of the spring.

[0026] Next, the details of the configuration of cartridge 30b will be explained using Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a front view showing the configuration of cartridge 30b of the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 in the system 10 shown in Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a rear view of cartridge 30b shown in Figure 6. In other words, Figure 7 is a view of cartridge 30b shown in Figure 6 from the back.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, the cartridge 30b is provided with multiple paths 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. Specifically, each path 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 is made of, for example, a flexible tube. Here, the first path 32 and the second path 34 are in communication with each other, and the third path 36 and the fourth path 38 are also in communication with each other. Furthermore, the tubes constituting each path 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 are in contact with the cartridge 30b.

[0028] The first path 32 is connected to the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61, and the cleaning fluid, such as physiological saline, supplied from the cleaning fluid supply source 60 to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61 enters the first path 32. A first check valve 42 is provided near the connection point between the first path 32 and the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61, and this first check valve 42 prevents the cleaning fluid from being sent from the first path 32 to the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61. The first supply pipe 64 is connected to the second path 34, and the cleaning fluid, such as cleaning solution, is sent from the second path 34 to the first supply pipe 64.

[0029] Furthermore, the third path 36 is connected to the gas supply pipe 63, and gases such as air supplied from the gas supply source 62 to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the gas supply pipe 63 enter the third path 36. A second check valve 44 is provided near the connection point between the third path 36 and the gas supply pipe 63, and this second check valve 44 prevents cleaning fluid from being sent from the third path 36 to the gas supply pipe 63. The second supply pipe 66 is also connected to the fourth path 38, and gases such as air are sent from the fourth path 38 to the second supply pipe 66.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, a fifth path 40 is provided between the connection point 35 between the first path 32 and the second path 34, and between the connection point 39 between the third path 36 and the fourth path 38. That is, one end of the fifth path 40 communicates with the first path 32 and the second path 34, respectively, and the other end of the fifth path 40 communicates with the third path 36 and the fourth path 38, respectively.

[0031] As described above, the through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b of the base portion 30a are positioned opposite the first path 32, fourth path 38, and fifth path 40 of the cartridge 30b when the cartridge 30b is attached to the base portion 30a. Furthermore, the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a are designed to pop out from the through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b of the base portion 30a by the retraction mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c. This allows the flow of cleaning fluid in the first path 32, fourth path 38, and fifth path 40 to be selectively stopped by the closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50, respectively. These functions will be explained using Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state when the flow of cleaning fluid in each path 32, 38, and 40 in the system 10 shown in Figure 1 is not stopped by the shut-off mechanisms 46, 48, and 50, and Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state when the flow of cleaning fluid in each path 32, 38, and 40 in the system 10 shown in Figure 1 is stopped by the shut-off mechanisms 46, 48, and 50.

[0032] When the rods 46d, 48d, and 50d are in their most retracted state due to the retraction mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c, the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a are completely housed inside the respective through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b, and the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a do not protrude upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. In this case, as shown in Figure 8, the paths 32, 38, and 40 (specifically, the flexible tubes) are not pushed by the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a, and the cleaning fluid can pass through the hollow portions 32a, 38a, and 40a of the tubes constituting each path 32, 38, and 40.

[0033] On the other hand, when the rods 46d, 48d, and 50d are fully extended by the reciprocating mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c, the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a protrude outward from their respective through holes 46b, 48b, and 50b, and the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a protrude upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. Here, the tubes constituting each path 32, 38, and 40 are in contact with the cartridge 30b. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the tubes constituting each path 32, 38, and 40 (specifically, the flexible tubes) are pushed by the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a, causing them to deform, and the hollow portions 32a, 38a, and 40a of the tubes are blocked by the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a, preventing the cleaning fluid from passing through the inside of the tubes. As a result, the flow of cleaning fluid in each of the paths 32, 38, and 40 is stopped by the shut-off mechanisms 46, 48, and 50.

[0034] One edge of the cartridge 30b is provided with two protrusions 30r and 30s, and a notch 30c is formed therein. On the other edge of the cartridge 30b opposite to the one edge, a hooked portion 31e is formed where the hooked portion 31b of the fastener 31 is secured. An inclined surface 31d is formed on the back side of the hooked portion 31e. When attaching the cartridge 30b to the base portion 30a, the protrusions 30r and 30s of the cartridge 30b are fitted into the notches 30p and 30q of the base portion 30a, and then the cartridge 30b is pushed toward the base portion 30a, causing the hooked portion 31b of the fastener 31 to contact the inclined surface 31d of the cartridge 30b. In this state, when the cartridge 30b is pushed toward the base portion 30a, the fastener 31 rotates clockwise around the axis 31a in Figure 3 against the force of the spring provided in the fastener 31, and when the cartridge 30b comes into contact with the surface 30e of the base portion 30a, the hook portion 31b of the fastener 31 catches on the hooked portion 31e of the cartridge 30b, thereby fixing the cartridge 30b to the base portion 30a by the fastener 31. On the other hand, when removing the cartridge 30b from the base portion 30a, the fastener 31 is rotated clockwise around the axis 31a in Figure 3 against the force of the spring provided in the fastener 31, so that the hook portion 31b of the fastener 31 disengages from the hooked portion 31e of the cartridge 30b, and the cartridge 30b can be removed from the base portion 30a.

[0035] In this embodiment, the fastener 31 allows the cartridge 30b to be easily attached to and detached from the base portion 30a.

[0036] Next, the configuration of the control unit 70 of the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 will be described. The control unit 70 has a control unit 72, which controls each of the forward and backward mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c. Specifically, when supplying cleaning fluid to the cover 22, the control unit 72 controls each of the forward and backward mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation in which cleaning fluid sent from the cleaning fluid supply source 60 to the first path 32 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61 is supplied to the first supply pipe 64 for a certain period of time to allow the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the first supply pipe 64, and then gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the third path 36 via the gas supply pipe 63 is supplied to the first supply pipe 64 from the fifth path 40 and the second path 34 to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the first supply pipe 64. Furthermore, the control unit 72 controls each of the retractable mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c to perform a gas supply operation in which gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the third path 36 via the gas supply pipe 63 is supplied to the cover 22 by supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66 via the fourth path 38. In this operation, the control unit 72 controls each of the retractable mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c to alternately and repeatedly supply gas to the second supply pipe 66 and stop supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66. The control method of each of the retractable mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c by the control unit 72 will be described later.

[0037] In this embodiment, a cleaning fluid supply unit 14 for supplying cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64 is configured by combining the first path 32, the second path 34, the third path 36, the fifth path 40, the first closing mechanism 46, the second closing mechanism 48, and the third closing mechanism 50. A gas supply unit 16 for supplying gas to the first supply pipe 64 or the second supply pipe 66 is configured by combining the first path 32, the second path 34, the third path 36, the fourth path 38, the fifth path 40, the first closing mechanism 46, the second closing mechanism 48, and the third closing mechanism 50. A supply device 12 for supplying cleaning fluid to a cover 22 that covers a rigid endoscope 20, which has an observation window at its tip, is configured by combining the cleaning fluid supply unit 14, the gas supply unit 16, the first supply pipe 64, the second supply pipe 66, and the control unit 72.

[0038] Next, the method of using the system 10, which has the above configuration, will be explained. First, when performing surgery that involves inserting a rigid endoscope 20 into the patient's body, the cover 22 is attached to the outer surface of the rigid endoscope 20. Then, the surgery is performed by inserting the rigid endoscope 20 with the cover 22 attached into the patient's body.

[0039] If the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 becomes soiled or cloudy with blood, fat, etc., during surgery, the observation window is cleaned while the rigid endoscope 20 is still inserted into the patient's body. More specifically, a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas is supplied from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to the cover 22 via the first supply pipe 64, and the cleaning fluid is sent to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 through the cleaning fluid path provided in the cover 22. This operation will be explained in more detail using the flowchart shown in Figure 10. Note that the following operations are performed by the control unit 72 controlling the advancement and retraction mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c.

[0040] Under normal conditions, the flow of cleaning fluid in each of the paths 32, 38, and 40 is stopped by the advancement and retraction mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c. When a command is given to the control unit 70 to clean the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with cleaning fluid, the control unit 72 controls the first advancement and retraction mechanism 46c to open the first closing mechanism 46 for a first predetermined period (step ST1 in Figure 10). Specifically, the first advancement and retraction mechanism 46c causes the rod 46d to retract. When the rod 46d is in its most retracted state, the pusher 46a is completely housed inside the through hole 46b, and the pusher 46a no longer protrudes upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. As a result, the first path 32 (specifically, the flexible tube) is not pushed by the pusher 46a, and the cleaning fluid can pass through the inside of the tube constituting the first path 32. The first predetermined period is the time during which the cleaning fluid sent from the cleaning fluid supply source 60 to the first path 32 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 61 is sent to the first supply pipe 64 via the second path 34 and remains at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64, for example, within the range of 0.01 seconds to 1.0 second. In this way, a predetermined amount of cleaning fluid is accumulated at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64.

[0041] Next, after the control unit 72 closes the first closing mechanism 46, the control unit 72 controls the third retraction mechanism 50c to open the third closing mechanism 50 for a second predetermined period (step ST2 in Figure 10). Specifically, the third retraction mechanism 50c causes the rod 50d to retract. When the rod 50d is in its most retracted state, the pusher 50a is completely housed inside the through hole 50b, and the pusher 50a no longer protrudes upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. As a result, the fifth path 40 (specifically, the flexible tube) is not pushed by the pusher 50a, and gas can pass through the inside of the tube constituting the fifth path 40. The second predetermined period is the time required to sufficiently deliver the gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the third path 36 via the gas supply pipe 63 to the cover 22 via the first supply pipe 64, and is a sufficiently longer time than the first predetermined period. The second predetermined period is, for example, a time within the range of 1.0 second to 10 seconds. In this way, when the gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the third path 36 via the gas supply pipe 63 is sent to the first supply pipe 64 via the fifth path 40 and the second path 34, the gas collides with and mixes with the cleaning liquid stagnating in the middle of the first supply pipe 64, and a mixture of cleaning liquid and gas is produced. This operation is called the cleaning fluid supply operation.

[0042] In this embodiment, by performing the cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, a mixture of cleaning liquid and gas is discharged from the first supply pipe 64 to the observation window. More specifically, as shown in Figure 16, if the cleaning fluid supply operation is performed only once, the mixture of cleaning liquid and gas (indicated by reference numeral 90 in Figure 16) will only remain in the middle of the first supply pipe 64, and the mixture will not reach the first supply pipe 64, so the mixture of cleaning liquid and gas will not be discharged to the outside from this first supply pipe 64. By repeatedly performing the cleaning fluid supply operation, the mixture of cleaning liquid and gas is gradually pushed toward the tip of the first supply pipe 64 (see arrow in Figure 16), and when the number of cleaning fluid supply operations reaches a certain number, the mixture of cleaning liquid and gas located closest to the tip of the first supply pipe 64 is discharged to the outside from this tip of the first supply pipe 64 (indicated by reference numeral 90a in Figure 16). In this way, the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is cleaned with a mixture of cleaning solution and gas.

[0043] In this case, when the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is cleaned with a mixture of cleaning solution and gas, compared to when the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is cleaned with cleaning solution supplied from the cleaning solution supply source 60 through the cleaning solution supply pipe 61, the presence of gas in the cleaning solution allows for more reliable removal of dirt such as blood and fat adhering to the observation window. This is because the fine bubbles mixed in the cleaning solution adsorb the dirt and can be washed away together with the cleaning solution. In this way, the operation of cleaning the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with the cleaning solution is completed.

[0044] Furthermore, if the cleaning fluid and gas mixture is to be supplied all at once to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 via the first supply pipe 64, the pressure inside the patient's chest and abdomen will increase rapidly, placing a significant burden on the patient. In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 16, multiple cleaning fluid and gas mixtures are retained at intermediate points in the first supply pipe 64, and the cleaning fluid supply operation is repeated. By gradually pushing the cleaning fluid and gas mixture toward the tip of the first supply pipe 64, the pressure inside the patient's chest and abdomen does not increase rapidly, thus reducing the burden on the patient.

[0045] Subsequently, gas is supplied from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to the cover 22 via the second supply pipe 66, causing the gas to be discharged into the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 through a gas path provided in the cover 22. This allows the gas discharged from the observation window to blow away any cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20, thereby ensuring a clear view from the observation window. This operation will be explained in more detail using the flowchart shown in Figure 11.

[0046] Once the cleaning operation of the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with cleaning fluid is complete, the flow of cleaning fluid in each path 32, 38, and 40 is stopped by the respective advancement and retraction mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c. After a predetermined period has elapsed since the cleaning operation of the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with cleaning fluid was completed, or when a command is given to the control unit 70 to blow away the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with gas, the control unit 72 controls the second advancement and retraction mechanism 48c to open the second closing mechanism 48 for a third predetermined period (step ST11 in Figure 11). Specifically, the second advancement and retraction mechanism 48c causes the rod 48d to retract. When the rod 48d is in its most retracted state, the pusher 48a is completely housed inside the through hole 48b, and the pusher 48a no longer protrudes upward from the surface 30e of the base portion 30a. As a result, the third path 36 (specifically, the flexible tube) is not pushed by the pusher 48a, and gas can pass through the inside of the tube constituting the third path 36. The third predetermined period is the time required to sufficiently deliver the gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the third path 36 via the gas supply pipe 63 to the cover 22 via the fourth path 38 and the second supply pipe 66, for example, a time in the range of 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds. Next, the control unit 72 controls the second retraction mechanism 48c to close the second closing mechanism 48 for a fourth predetermined period (step ST12 in Figure 11). The fourth predetermined period is longer than the third predetermined period, for example, a time in the range of 0.2 seconds to 2.0 seconds. This opening and closing operation of the second closing mechanism 48 is repeated until the second closing mechanism 48 opens a predetermined number of times ("NO" in step ST13 of Figure 11). The predetermined number of times is, for example, within the range of 2 to 100 times. After the opening and closing operation of the second closing mechanism 48 has been performed until the second closing mechanism 48 opens a predetermined number of times ("NO" in step ST13 of Figure 11), the control unit 72 controls the second retraction mechanism 48c to close the second closing mechanism 48. In this way, the operation of blowing away the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with gas is completed.

[0047] Furthermore, when performing the operation to blow away the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with gas, if the gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the gas supply pipe 63 is continuously supplied to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 via the second supply pipe 66, gas will be continuously sent into the patient's chest and abdomen, which would place a significant burden on the patient. In contrast, by intermittently supplying the gas sent from the gas supply source 62 to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 via the gas supply pipe 63 to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 via the second supply pipe 66, the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 can be sufficiently blown away with gas, while the total amount of gas sent into the patient's chest and abdomen is also reduced, thereby alleviating the burden on the patient. Furthermore, if the same amount of gas as is used to intermittently blow away the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 and ensure a clear view from the observation window is continuously supplied to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20, the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window cannot be sufficiently blown away, and a clear view from the observation window cannot be ensured.

[0048] Furthermore, the supply device 12 is equipped with a switch (not shown), allowing the operator to clean the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 by turning the switch on and off. Specifically, when the control unit 72 receives a switch-on command from the switch, it performs a predetermined number of cleaning fluid supply operations, and then performs a gas supply operation. These operations will be explained using the chart shown in Figure 12.

[0049] When the control unit 72 receives a switch-on command, it first opens the first shut-off mechanism 46 for a first predetermined period, and then closes the first shut-off mechanism 46. This causes a predetermined amount of cleaning fluid to accumulate at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64. Next, the control unit 72 opens the third shut-off mechanism 50 for a second predetermined period, and then closes the third shut-off mechanism 50. This causes gas to collide with and mix with the cleaning fluid accumulated at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64, and this mixture of cleaning fluid and gas is generated at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64. By performing this cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, multiple mixtures of cleaning fluid and gas accumulate at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64, as shown in Figure 16, and the mixtures of cleaning fluid and gas are gradually pushed toward the tip of the first supply pipe 64. In this way, a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas is discharged from the tip of the first supply pipe 64 each time the cleaning fluid supply operation is performed, so that the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is cleaned by the mixture of cleaning fluid and gas. After a predetermined period has elapsed since the cleaning operation of the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with the cleaning fluid was completed, the control unit 72 repeatedly opens the second closing mechanism 48 for a predetermined third period and then closes it for a predetermined fourth period until the second closing mechanism 48 has opened a predetermined number of times. As a result, the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is blown away by the gas. This allows the operator to perform the gas supply operation after the cleaning fluid supply operation has been performed a predetermined number of times simply by turning on a switch provided on the supply device 12, thereby more reliably cleaning the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after the operation to blow away the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with gas is completed, the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 can supply cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64, allowing the cleaning fluid to be pre-retained in the middle of the first supply pipe 64. In this case, in the cleaning process of the following window, even without performing the operation shown in step ST1 of Figure 10, when a command is given to the control unit 70 to clean the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid and gas mixture can be sent to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 simply by performing the operation shown in step ST2 of Figure 10, thus allowing the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 to be removed more quickly.

[0051] Next, the operation of replacing the cartridge 30b in the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 will be described. For example, after a single operation is completed, the cartridge 30b is replaced using the following procedure. Specifically, the fastener 31 is rotated clockwise around the axis 31a in Figure 3, against the force of the spring provided on the fastener 31. This causes the hook portion 31b of the fastener 31 to disengage from the hooked portion 31e of the cartridge 30b, allowing the cartridge 30b to be removed from the base portion 30a. After removing the old cartridge 30b from the base portion 30a, the new cartridge 30b is attached to the base portion 30a. Specifically, the protrusions 30r and 30s of the new cartridge 30b are fitted into the notches 30p and 30q of the base portion 30a, and then the cartridge 30b is pushed toward the base portion 30a. This causes the hook portion 31b of the fastener 31 to contact the inclined surface 31d of the cartridge 30b. In this state, when the cartridge 30b is pushed toward the base portion 30a, the fastener 31 rotates clockwise around the axis 31a in Figure 3, against the force of the spring provided in the fastener 31. When the cartridge 30b comes into contact with the surface 30e of the base portion 30a, the hook portion 31b of the fastener 31 catches on the hooked portion 31e of the cartridge 30b, thereby fixing the cartridge 30b to the base portion 30a by the fastener 31.

[0052] According to the supply device 12 of this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, the supply device 12 for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 comprises supply pipes 64 and 66 for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window, a cleaning fluid supply unit 14 for supplying cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64, a gas supply unit 16 for supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66, and a control unit 72 for controlling the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and the gas supply unit 16. The control unit 72 controls the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and the gas supply unit 16 to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation in which a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas is generated in the first supply pipe 64 by supplying cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64 by the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and allowing the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the first supply pipe 64, and then supplying gas to the first supply pipe 64 by the gas supply unit 16, and a gas supply operation in which gas is supplied to the observation window by supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66 by the gas supply unit 16. Furthermore, when the control unit 72 receives a switch-on command, it performs a cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, and then performs a gas supply operation.

[0053] With this type of supply device 12, by supplying a mixture of cleaning solution and gas to the observation window as a cleaning fluid, dirt such as blood and fat adhering to the observation window can be removed more reliably. This is because the fine bubbles mixed in the cleaning solution adsorb the dirt and can be washed away together with the cleaning solution. Furthermore, by accumulating multiple mixtures of cleaning solution and gas at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64 and repeatedly performing the cleaning fluid supply operation, the mixture of cleaning solution and gas is gradually pushed toward the tip of the first supply pipe 64, preventing a sudden increase in internal pressure in the patient's chest and abdomen, thereby reducing the burden on the patient. Furthermore, with this supply device 12, by supplying cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64 via the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and pre-retaining the cleaning fluid at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64, when the control unit 70 is given a command to clean the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 with cleaning fluid during the cleaning process of the rear view window, the third closing mechanism 50 can be opened for a second predetermined period of time, and the mixture of cleaning fluid and gas can be sent to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20, thus enabling faster cleaning of the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20. In this embodiment, however, it is not always necessary to supply cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe 64 via the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 and pre-retain the cleaning fluid at an intermediate point in the first supply pipe 64 in preparation for cleaning the rear view window.

[0054] Furthermore, in the supply device 12 of this embodiment, as described above, the control unit 72 controls the gas supply unit 16 to perform a gas supply operation in which gas is supplied to the cover 22 by supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66 via the gas supply unit 16. This makes it possible to blow away the cleaning liquid adhering to the observation window with the gas supplied to the second supply pipe 66 by the gas supply unit 16, thereby ensuring a clear view from the observation window.

[0055] Furthermore, when the control unit 72 performs a gas supply operation to supply gas to the cover 22, it controls the gas supply unit 16 to alternately repeat the operation of supplying gas to the second supply pipe 66 and the operation of stopping the supply of gas to the second supply pipe 66. In this case, the cleaning fluid adhering to the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20 is sufficiently blown away with gas, and the total amount of gas sent into the patient's chest and abdomen is also reduced, thereby reducing the burden on the patient.

[0056] Furthermore, in the supply device 12 of this embodiment, as described above, a first supply pipe 64 for supplying cleaning solution to the observation window and a second supply pipe 66 for supplying gas to the observation window are provided, and the cleaning solution supply unit 14 is capable of supplying cleaning solution to the first supply pipe 64, and the gas supply unit 16 is capable of supplying gas to the first supply pipe 64 and the second supply pipe 66, respectively. However, this embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, the supply device 12 may have one supply pipe instead of two supply pipes (first supply pipe 64 and second supply pipe 66), and the cleaning solution and gas may be sent to the observation window through this supply pipe.

[0057] Furthermore, as described above, the supply device 12 of this embodiment further comprises a cleaning fluid supply unit 30, and a cleaning liquid supply section 14 and a gas supply section 16 may be provided in the cleaning fluid supply unit 30, respectively. In this case, the cleaning liquid supply section 14 supplies cleaning liquid sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to the first supply pipe 64, and the gas supply section 16 supplies gas sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to the first supply pipe 64 and the second supply pipe 66. Furthermore, the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 is provided with paths 32 and 34 (cleaning fluid paths) that supply cleaning fluid sent to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 from the outside to the first supply pipe 64, paths 36 and 38 (gas paths) that supply gas sent to the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 from the outside to the second supply pipe 66, and a path 40 (bypass path) that connects paths 32 and 34 and paths 36 and 38 and sends gas from path 36, which is the gas path, to path 34, which is the cleaning fluid path. With this configuration, cleaning fluid and gas can be reliably supplied from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to each of the supply pipes 64 and 66, respectively.

[0058] In this case, the cleaning fluid supply unit 14 has a first shut-off mechanism 46 that selectively stops the flow of cleaning fluid in the first path 32 which serves as a cleaning fluid path, and the gas supply unit 16 has a second shut-off mechanism 48 that selectively stops the flow of gas in the fourth path 38 which serves as a gas path, and a third shut-off mechanism 50 that selectively stops the flow of cleaning fluid and gas in the fifth path 40 which serves as a bypass path. In this case, these shut-off mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 enable the selective delivery of cleaning fluid and gas from the cleaning fluid supply unit 30 to the respective supply pipes 64 and 66.

[0059] Furthermore, when the control unit 72 receives a switch-on command, it performs the following actions as a cleaning fluid supply operation: opening the first closing mechanism 46 for a first predetermined period and then closing it, then opening the third closing mechanism 50 for a second predetermined period and then closing it a predetermined number of times, and then opening the second closing mechanism 48 for a third predetermined period and then closing it for a fourth predetermined period. In this case, the operator can perform the cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times and then the gas supply operation simply by turning on the switch provided on the supply device 12, thereby more reliably cleaning the observation window of the rigid endoscope 20.

[0060] Furthermore, the supply device and cleaning fluid supply unit described herein are not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, the supply device and cleaning fluid supply unit supplied cleaning fluid such as cleaning solution or gas to the cover 22 attached to the rigid endoscope 20, but this embodiment is not limited to this embodiment. The supply device and cleaning fluid supply unit are not necessarily limited to supplying cleaning fluid such as cleaning solution or gas to the cover 22, as long as they can supply cleaning fluid such as cleaning solution or gas to the observation window portion of the rigid endoscope 20.

[0062] In other words, in another embodiment of this design, a supply device for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window at the tip of the rigid endoscope 20 may be used, comprising: a supply pipe for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window; a cleaning fluid supply unit for supplying cleaning fluid to the supply pipe; a gas supply unit for supplying gas to the supply pipe; and a control unit for controlling the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit. In this case, the control unit controls the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation in which cleaning fluid is supplied to the supply pipe by the cleaning fluid supply unit to allow the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the supply pipe, and then gas is supplied to the supply pipe by the gas supply unit to supply a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas to the observation window as cleaning fluid.

[0063] Furthermore, the paths 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 provided in the cartridge 30b are not limited to being made of flexible materials such as tubes. The paths 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 provided in the cartridge 30b may be made of materials other than tubes, as long as the flow of the cleaning fluid can be selectively stopped by the closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 provided in the base portion 30a. In another embodiment of this model, for example, an elastic plate-like member may be attached to the cartridge 30b, and through-holes may be provided in this plate-like member as paths 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. In this case, the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a move toward the plate-shaped member by the forward and backward mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c of each closing mechanism 46, 48, and 50, and the through holes that serve as paths 32, 38, and 40 located at positions corresponding to each pusher 46a, 48a, and 50a are deformed and blocked, thereby stopping the flow of cleaning fluid in each path 32, 38, and 40.

[0064] Furthermore, each of the closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 is not limited to having pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a that move forward and backward relative to the tube provided on the cartridge 30b attached to the base portion 30a, and forward and backward mechanisms 46c, 48c, and 50c that move the pushers 46a, 48a, and 50a forward and backward relative to the tube. Various configurations can be used as closing mechanisms 46, 48, and 50 as long as they can stop the flow of cleaning fluid in the paths 32, 38, and 40.

[0065] Furthermore, as a rigid endoscope and cover, as shown in Figures 13(a) and (b), a rigid endoscope 20a may be used in which a flexible cover is detachably attached to a rigid endoscope 20a having a groove 20p on its outer surface, into which part or all of the cover fits. In Figures 13(a) and (b), the part indicated by reference numeral 22a indicates part or all of the cover. In this way, by fitting part or all of the cover into the groove 20p having the shape shown in Figures 13(a) and (b), the cover can be attached to the rigid endoscope 20a. Also, when attaching or removing the cover from the rigid endoscope 20a, the shape of the part or all of the cover indicated by reference numeral 22a can be changed to attach to or remove from the groove 20p.

[0066] Furthermore, as a rigid endoscope and cover, as shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), a rigid endoscope 20b may be used in which a flexible cover is detachably attached to a rigid endoscope 20b having a groove 20q on its outer surface, into which part or all of the cover fits. In Figures 14(a) and (b), the part indicated by reference numeral 22b indicates part or all of the cover. In this way, by fitting part or all of the cover into the groove 20q having the shape shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), the cover can be attached to the rigid endoscope 20b. Also, when attaching or removing the cover from the rigid endoscope 20b, the shape of the part or all of the cover indicated by reference numeral 22b can be changed to attach to or remove from the groove 20q.

[0067] Furthermore, as a rigid endoscope and cover, as shown in Figures 15(a) and (b), a rigid endoscope 20c may be used in which a flexible cover is detachably attached to a rigid endoscope 20c having a groove 20r on its outer surface, into which part or all of the cover fits. In Figures 15(a) and (b), the part indicated by reference numeral 22c indicates part or all of the cover. In this way, by fitting part or all of the cover into the groove 20r having the shape shown in Figures 15(a) and (b), the cover can be attached to the rigid endoscope 20c. Also, when attaching or removing the cover from the rigid endoscope 20c, the shape of the part or all of the cover indicated by reference numeral 22c can be changed to attach to or remove from the groove 20r. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 10 Systems 12 Feeding device 14. Cleaning fluid supply unit 16 Gas supply unit 20 Rigid endoscope 20p, 20q, 20r groove 22 Cover 22a, 22b, 22c, part or all of the cover 30 Fluid supply unit for cleaning 30a Base section 30b cartridge 30c notch 30e surface 30m hook section 30p, 30q Notch 30r, 30s convex part 31 Fasteners 31a axis 31b Hook part 31c Rotating part 31d sloped surface 31e Hooked part 31g clasp 32 First Route 32a Hollow part 34 Second Route 35 connection points 36 Third Route 38. Route 4 38a Hollow part 39 connection points 40 Route 5 40a hollow part 42 First check valve 44. Second check valve 46, 48, 50 1st closing mechanism 46a, 48a, 50a Pusher 46b, 48b, 50b through hole 46c, 48c, 50c 1st advancement / retraction mechanism 46d, 48d, 50d rods 46e, 48e, 50e springs 60 Cleaning fluid supply source 61 Cleaning fluid supply pipe 62 Gas supply sources 63 Gas supply pipe 64 1st supply pipe 66 2nd supply pipe 70 Control Unit 72 Control Unit

Claims

1. A supply device for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window at the tip of a rigid endoscope, A supply pipe for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window, A cleaning liquid supply unit for supplying cleaning liquid to the supply pipe, A gas supply unit for supplying gas to the supply pipe, A control unit that controls the cleaning liquid supply unit and the gas supply unit, The control unit controls the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation, in which the cleaning fluid is supplied to the supply pipe by the cleaning fluid supply unit, causing the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the supply pipe, and then the gas supply unit is supplied to the supply pipe to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the supply pipe, and a gas supply operation, in which the gas supply unit is supplied to the supply pipe to supply gas to the observation window, respectively. When the control unit receives a switch-on command, it performs the cleaning fluid supply operation a predetermined number of times, and then performs the gas supply operation. The control unit, upon receiving the switch-on command, controls the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation such that multiple mixtures of cleaning fluid and gas accumulate at intermediate points in the supply pipe, and each mixture is gradually pushed out toward the tip of the supply pipe.

2. The gas supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the gas supply unit to alternately and repeatedly perform the operation of supplying gas to the supply pipe and the operation of stopping the supply of gas to the supply pipe when performing the gas supply operation.

3. The supply pipe comprises a first supply pipe for supplying cleaning solution to the observation window and a second supply pipe for supplying gas to the observation window. The cleaning fluid supply unit is capable of supplying cleaning fluid to the first supply pipe. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply unit is capable of supplying gas to each of the first supply pipe and the second supply pipe.

4. It is further equipped with a cleaning fluid supply unit, The cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit are each provided in the cleaning fluid supply unit. The cleaning fluid supply unit is configured to supply the cleaning fluid sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit to the first supply pipe. The gas supply unit is configured to supply the gas sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit to the second supply pipe. The supply device according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning fluid supply unit is provided with a cleaning fluid path for supplying cleaning fluid sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit to the first supply pipe, a gas path for supplying gas sent from the outside to the cleaning fluid supply unit to the second supply pipe, and a bypass path that connects the cleaning fluid path and the gas path and sends gas from the gas path to the cleaning fluid path.

5. The cleaning fluid supply unit has a first closing mechanism that selectively stops the flow of cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid path. The supply device according to claim 4, wherein the gas supply unit has a second shut-off mechanism for selectively stopping the flow of gas in the gas path and a third shut-off mechanism for selectively stopping the flow of cleaning liquid and gas in the bypass path.

6. The supply device according to claim 5, wherein when the control unit receives the command to switch on, it performs the operation of opening the first closing mechanism for a first predetermined period and then closing it, then opening the third closing mechanism for a second predetermined period and then closing it a predetermined number of times as the cleaning fluid supply operation, and thereafter performs the operation of opening the second closing mechanism for a third predetermined period and then closing it for a fourth predetermined period as the gas supply operation.

7. A supply device for supplying cleaning fluid to an observation window at the tip of a rigid endoscope, the supply device comprising a supply pipe for supplying cleaning fluid to the observation window, a cleaning fluid supply unit for supplying cleaning fluid to the supply pipe, a gas supply unit for supplying gas to the supply pipe, and a control unit for controlling the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit, and a control method for controlling the supply device. When the control unit receives a switch-on command, it performs a predetermined number of cleaning fluid supply operations to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the supply pipe by supplying cleaning fluid to the supply pipe via the cleaning fluid supply unit and allowing the cleaning fluid to accumulate in the middle of the supply pipe, and then supplying gas to the supply pipe via the gas supply unit to generate a mixture of cleaning fluid and gas in the supply pipe, and thereafter performs a gas supply operation to supply gas to the observation window section by supplying gas to the supply pipe via the gas supply unit. A control method in which, upon receiving a switch-on command, the control unit controls the cleaning fluid supply unit and the gas supply unit to perform a cleaning fluid supply operation such that multiple mixtures of cleaning fluid and gas accumulate at intermediate points in the supply pipe, and each mixture is gradually pushed out toward the tip of the supply pipe.

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