IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,684,250
Granted Patent B2
US 11,684,250 · App. 16/564,035 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Endoscope system, and leak detection processing method and leak detection processing apparatus for endoscope

Inventor: Michihiro Sugaya (Hachioji, JP)
Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
A61B1/121A61B1/00057A61B1/00068A61B1/00121A61B90/70A61B2090/701A61L2202/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,684,250
App. No.
16/564,035
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope system includes a valve configured to keep an internal space of an endoscope airtight, an air pump configured to open and close the valve by applying a negative pressure and a positive pressure, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure at a time of the negative pressure and the positive pressure being applied, and a control section configured to receive a detection signal from the pressure sensor, and perform drive control of the air pump.

Claims (35)

1. A leak detection processing apparatus comprising:

one or more pumps configured to:

be removably connected, via a pipe sleeve, to an internal space of an endoscope;

apply negative pressure by air suction while connected to the internal space of the endoscope; and

apply positive pressure by air feeding to disconnect the pipe sleeve from the endoscope;

a pressure sensor configured to:

detect a pressure in the internal space of the endoscope while the one or more pumps are connected to the internal space of the endoscope; and

during or after application of the negative pressure by the one or more pumps, output a first detection signal indicating that a leak into the internal space of the endoscope has not occurred; and

a controller configured to:

control the one or more pumps to apply the negative pressure;

receive the first detection signal; and

control the one or more pumps to apply the positive pressure to disconnect the pipe sleeve from the endoscope.

2. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pressure sensor is configured to:

detect a pressure in the internal space of the endoscope while the one or more pumps apply the positive pressure, and

during application of the positive pressure, output a second detection signal indicating that a pressure change is detected, and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to receiving the second detection signal, control the one or more pumps to stop application of the positive pressure.

3. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus configured to clean and disinfect the endoscope after leak detection processing of detecting the leak into the internal space of the endoscope has not occurred.

4. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pressure sensor is configured to, during or after application of the negative pressure, output a third detection signal indicating that the pressure of the internal space of the endoscope is not fixed, and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the third detection signal, control a warning section to output a warning.

5. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pressure sensor is configured to, during or after application of the negative pressure, output a fourth detection signal indicating that the pressure of the internal space of the endoscope exceeds a predetermined threshold,

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the fourth detection signal, control a warning section to output a warning.

6. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more pumps comprise:

a suction pump configured to apply the negative pressure; and

a pressurizing pump configured to apply the positive pressure.

7. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the pipe sleeve configured to connect the endoscope to the one or more pumps, and to be disconnected from the endoscope in response to application of the positive pressure by the one or more pumps.

8. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a seal provided to an inner surface of the pipe sleeve.

9. The leak detection processing apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the seal is configured to contact the endoscope when the pipe sleeve connects the endoscope to the one or more pumps.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2019
From: SUGAYA, MICHIHIRO
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050307/0238 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-045066 · Mar 9, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2017033775 · Sep 19, 2017
Related Publication 20200000329A1 · Jan 2, 2020