Observation window cleaning device for endoscope

Abstract

A cleaning device for cleaning an observation window (25) installed to an insertion section (2) of a rigid endoscope (1) is equipped with a nozzle (21) to spray selectively cleaning liquid and a pressurized CO2 gas against the observation window (25), internal conduits (23, 24) through which the cleaning liquid and the CO2 gas are supplied to the nozzle (21) and external conduits (90,30; 40) detachably connected to the internal conduits (23, 24), respectively, so as to distribute the cleaning liquid and the CO2 gas into the internal conduits (23, 24), respectively, from a liquid container (60) and a gas container (89) respectively. The gas supply external conduit (40) has a flow path diameter smaller than the liquid supply external conduit (30).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description when reading with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a rigid endoscope system equipped with an observation window cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the a rigid endoscope;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pressure pumping type liquid container with a coupling unit attached thereto; and

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the coupling unit attached to the pressure pumping type liquid container.

Claims

1. An observation window cleaning system for an endoscope having an insertion section which is equipped, at a distal end of said insertion section, with an observation window through which an internal cavity is observed and a spray nozzle through which a cleaning liquid and a CO2 gas are selectively spouted toward said observation window for cleaning said observation window with said cleaning liquid or removing drops of said cleaning liquid from said observation window with said CO2 gas and has a liquid supply internal conduit for supplying said cleaning liquid to said spray nozzle and a gas supply internal conduit for supplying said CO2 gas to said spray nozzle both of which extend within said endoscope, said observation window cleaning device comprising: a pressure pumping type liquid container for containing said cleaning liquid therein;a gas container for containing said CO2 gas herein;a liquid supply external conduit detachably connected to said liquid supply internal conduit for supplying said cleaning liquid into said liquid supply internal conduit from said pressure pumping type liquid container;a gas supply external conduit detachably connected to said gas supply internal conduit for supplying said CO2 gas into said liquid supply internal conduit from a gas container; anda gas distributing conduit connected to said gas container for distributing said CO2 gas partly into said gas supply external conduit and partly into said pressure pumping type liquid container; anda three-way coupling unite equipped with a coupling duct which is detachably connected to said gas distributing conduit and branches off into two gas outlet portions, one of which introduces said CO2 gas into said pressure pumping type liquid container and the other of which distributes said CO2 gas into said into said gas supply external conduit, and a coupling duct which is detachably connected to said liquid supply external conduit and extending into said pressure pumping type liquid container and through which said cleaning liquid is introduced into said liquid supply external conduit;which wherein said gas supply external conduit has a cross-sectional area smaller than said liquid supply external conduit.

2. An observation window cleaning device for an endoscope as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas distributing conduit has a cross-sectional area larger than said gas supply external conduit.

3. An observation window cleaning device for an endoscope as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas supply external conduit and said liquid supply external conduit is formed as a single multi(two)-lumen conduit.

4. An observation window cleaning device for an endoscope as defined in claim 1, wherein said three-way coupling unite is detachably attached to said pressure pumping type liquid container.

5. An observation window cleaning device for an endoscope as defined in claim 4, wherein said gas distributing conduit has a cross-sectional area larger than said gas supply external conduit.

6. An observation window cleaning device for an endoscope as defined in claim 4, wherein said gas supply external conduit and said liquid supply external conduit is formed as a single multi-lumen conduit.