Endoscope Cleaning Apparatus with Universal Germicide Bottle Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatuses are limited in their ability to effectively handle germicides of various concentration types without significant modifications to the apparatus body, as they are typically designed for specific concentration ratios of bases and buffering agents.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus with a germicide bottle tray and control unit that allows for the mixing of a basis, buffering agent, and diluent to create a germicide solution, enabling the use of different concentration types by detecting bottle types and controlling the preparation process through a chemical solution tank and pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the apparatus is designed for specific concentration ratios of bases and buffering agents, then the cleaning and disinfecting function is reliable, but the adaptability to different germicide formulations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is designed to handle multiple types of germicide bottles (dedicated type with pre-mixed basis and buffering agent, and non-dedicated type with separate basis and buffering agent bottles) through a universal storage part structure. The detection portion automatically identifies the bottle type and adjusts the preparation process accordingly, enabling the same apparatus to reliably perform cleaning and disinfecting functions across different germicide formulations without requiring separate dedicated systems for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts preparation parameters based on detection results. When a non-dedicated bottle type is detected, the system modifies the mixing ratios and preparation steps to accommodate different concentration types of bases and buffering agents. This parameter adaptation allows the apparatus to maintain reliable cleaning and disinfecting performance while being compatible with various germicide formulations beyond the original dedicated design.
2Ease of operation
If the germicide bottle tray is freely drawn from the apparatus body, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The detection portion integrated into the storage part automatically performs bottle type identification when a bottle is placed or removed from the germicide storage area. This self-detecting mechanism eliminates the need for manual input or complex user interaction, allowing users to freely draw and replace bottles without triggering complicated procedures. The system autonomously adapts its preparation process based on the detected bottle type, maintaining ease of operation while incorporating necessary detection capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning tub, a chemical solution tank for storing a germicide, a chemical solution collection pipe, a chemical solution pipe, a feed pipe, a germicide bottle tray which can be drawn from the body of the cleaning/disinfecting apparatus, and a control unit for performing control to prepare the germicide by mixing a basis, a buffering agent, and a diluent. The germicide bottle tray includes a storage part which stores at least a first bottle body out of the first bottle body for storing the basis or a second bottle body for storing the buffering agent, and a detection portion for outputting a detection signal in a state in which the bottle body is stored in the storage part. The control unit performs control based on the detection signal outputted from the detection portion to prepare the germicide.