Endoscope connection instrument and endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus

1. An endoscope connection instrument to be connected to an endoscope fitting, the endoscope connection instrument comprising:

a first opening having a predetermined outer diameter in order to open inside the endoscope fitting when the endoscope connection instrument is connected to the endoscope fitting;

a second opening that is communicably connected to the first opening, is arranged on a fluid supply source side relative to the first opening, and allows a fluid from the fluid supply source to flow thereinto via a cleaning tube;

a hollow portion that is an internal space communicably connected to the first opening and the second opening;

a cylindrical portion to be inserted into the endoscope fitting, the cylindrical portion covering a part from the first opening to a predetermined position of the hollow portion;

a narrowing portion to be inserted into the endoscope fitting, the narrowing portion including a side face whose outer diameter increases over a predetermined distance from the predetermined position toward the second opening, and covering the hollow portion; and

a plurality of grooves formed over a predetermined area from the predetermined position in an outer surface of the narrowing portion.

2. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the side face of the narrowing portion is a tapered shape or a bowl shape.

3. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other with reference to a center axis of the narrowing portion.

4. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of grooves has a fixed depth.

5. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of grooves is formed along an axis direction of the narrowing portion.

6. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the shape of the side face is the tapered shape, and a surface of the narrowing portion having the tapered shape is a partial face of a surface shape of a conical shape.

7. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the shape of the side face is the bowl shape, and a surface of the narrowing portion having the bowl shape is a spherical zone-shaped face.

8. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a fitting pressing member including the first opening, the second opening, the hollow portion, the cylindrical portion, the narrowing portion and the plurality of grooves; and

an elastic member connected to the fitting pressing member.

9. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 8 , further comprising a tube connection portion to which the cleaning tube is to be connected.

10. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 8 , further comprising a cover member covering the fitting pressing member,

wherein the elastic member is arranged between the fitting pressing member and the cover member, and

the cover member includes a securing mechanism that secures the endoscope connection instrument to the endoscope fitting when the endoscope connection instrument is attached to the endoscope fitting.

11. The endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a securing member that secures the endoscope connection instrument to the endoscope fitting in a state in which a distal end of the narrowing portion is inserted in the endoscope fitting.

12. An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus comprising the endoscope connection instrument according to claim 1 , the endoscope connection instrument being connected to the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus via the cleaning tube.