An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus includes: a medicinal solution storage portion; a cleaning/disinfecting tank; a medicinal solution supplying conduit having one end communicating with the medicinal solution storage portion and the other end opening toward the cleaning/disinfecting tank; a medicinal solution supplying member; a medicinal solution receiving member provided inside the medicinal solution supplying member; and a medicinal solution collecting port which is openable/closable by a lid body, and formed at a position between the medicinal solution receiving member and the opening of the other end in the medicinal solution supplying conduit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus which supplies a medicinal solution to a cleaning/disinfecting tank from a medicinal solution storage portion through a medicinal solution supplying conduit by driving of a medicinal solution supplying member.

2. Description of the Related Art

Medicinal solution processing of an endoscope using an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus is performed by supplying a medicinal solution from a medicinal solution storage portion to a cleaning/disinfecting tank in which the endoscope is housed, through a medicinal solution supplying conduit.

In addition, since a concentration control of the medicinal solution is important in order to unfailingly perform the medicinal solution processing of the endoscope, it is common that concentration check of the medicinal solution is performed for each process in the medicinal solution processing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-51574 discloses an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus including a medicinal solution storage portion provided at a lower position than a cleaning/disinfecting tank, wherein concentration check of medicinal solution is performed by extracting a specified amount of medicinal solution from a medicinal solution extraction hole of a medicinal solution storage portion, to dip a test paper in the extracted medicinal solution and observe a change in color of the test paper, or to quantify the concentration of the extracted medicinal solution using a concentration measuring apparatus.

In addition, the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus can be configured such that the medicinal solution storage portion is provided at an upper side of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus.

Furthermore, it is possible to conceive a method of removing an odor filter provided to a top cover which seals the cleaning/disinfecting tank of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus, to extract the medicinal solution through the opening for the odor filter, or directly insert the test paper in the cleaning/disinfecting tank, during the cleaning/disinfecting processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a medicinal solution storage portion configured to store a medicinal solution; a cleaning/disinfecting tank in which an endoscope is cleaned and disinfected, the cleaning/disinfecting tank being arranged at a higher position than the medicinal solution storage portion; a medicinal solution supplying conduit configured to allow the medicinal solution to pass from the medicinal solution storage portion to the cleaning/disinfecting tank, the medicinal solution supplying conduit having one end communicating with the medicinal solution storage portion and the other end opening toward the cleaning/disinfecting tank; a medicinal solution supplying member configured to be driven so as to feed the medicinal solution in a gravity-defying flow direction from the medicinal solution storage portion to the cleaning/disinfecting tank through the medicinal solution supplying conduit; a medicinal solution receiving member provided inside the medicinal solution supplying conduit; and a medicinal solution collecting port configured to be openable/closable by a lid body, and provided at a position between the medicinal solution receiving member and the opening of the other end in the medicinal solution supplying conduit, wherein the medicinal solution receiving member is a check valve configured to allow the medicinal solution flowing from the medicinal solution storage portion to the cleaning/disinfecting tank to pass and configured to receive a part of the medicinal solution fed from the medicinal solution storage portion to the cleaning/disinfecting tank, the part of the medicinal solution being fallen down by gravity without being supplied from the opening of the other end to the cleaning/disinfecting tank due to a stop of driving of the medicinal solution supplying member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to drawings. Note that each of the drawings is a pattern diagram, and care should be taken to the fact that the relationship between the thicknesses and widths of the respective members, a ratio of the thickness of a certain member to that of another member, and the like are different from the actual sizes. It is needless to say that each of the drawings includes a different relationship and ratio among the dimensions.

FIG. 1illustrates a simple overview of a configuration of a main part of an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus according to the present embodiment.FIG. 2is a front view of a medicinal solution supplying nozzle in the part enclosed by the line II inFIG. 1.FIG. 3illustrates an internal configuration of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle inFIG. 2.

Furthermore,FIG. 4schematically illustrates a state in which a test paper is inserted from a medicinal solution collecting port of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle inFIG. 1.FIG. 5illustrates the medicinal solution supplying nozzle configured such that lid bodies are attachable to and detachable from an opening at the other end of a medicinal solution supplying conduit and the medicinal solution collecting port inFIG. 1, respectively.FIG. 6illustrates a state where a top cover of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus contacts the lid body when the lid body is placed on the medicinal solution collecting port inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 1, an endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1includes a medicinal solution storage portion15in which medicinal solution S is stored, and also includes, at a higher position than the medicinal solution storage portion15, a cleaning/disinfecting tank4in which an endoscope100is cleaned and disinfected. Note that a disinfectant solution can be named as the medicinal solution S, for example, however, the medicinal solution is not limited to the disinfectant solution.

In addition, the medicinal solution storage portion15and the cleaning/disinfecting tank4are connected with each other by a medicinal solution supplying conduit5. Specifically, one end5iof the medicinal solution supplying conduit5is communicated with the medicinal solution storage portion15in the medicinal solution storage portion15and the other end5tis open toward the cleaning/disinfecting tank4, for example, thereby causing the medicinal solution S stored in the medicinal solution storage portion15to flow into the medicinal solution supplying conduit5from the one end5i, pass through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5, to be supplied to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4from the other end5t.

As shown inFIG. 5, a lid body17, which prevents odor of the medicinal solution S in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5from leaking outside the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1, is attachable to and detachable from the opening of the other end5t.

In addition, the lid body17is detached when the medicinal solution S is supplied from the medicinal solution storage portion15to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5. Furthermore, the lid body17is connected to the other end side of the medicinal solution supplying conduit5through a string17hand the like so as not to be lost after the lid body is detached.

Furthermore, the lid body17is configured so as to be detached with lower pressure of the medicinal solution S, compared with the lid body16to be described later. This is because, even in a case where a worker forgets to detach the lid body17, if the lid body can be detached with lower pressure, the lid body17can be automatically detached by supplying the medicinal solution S from the medicinal solution storage portion15.

A medicinal solution supplying member7which is driven such that the medicinal solution S is fed from the medicinal solution storage portion15to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5is arranged in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5, for example. Note that a fluid supplying pump and the like can be named as the medicinal solution supplying member7. However, the medicinal solution supplying member is not limited to a pump, but may be a member configured to push out the medicinal solution S by contracting the medicinal solution storage portion15or may be a member configured to pressurize the inside of the medicinal solution storage portion15. In such a case, the arranging position of the medicinal solution supplying member7is adjacent to the position of the medicinal solution storage portion15.

At least a part of the other end side including the opening of the other end5tof the medicinal solution supplying conduit5is arranged at a position higher than the cleaning/disinfecting tank4, and is formed to be partly bent such that the other end5topens toward the cleaning/disinfecting tank4. The bent part of the other end side of the medicinal solution supplying conduit5configures a medicinal solution supplying nozzle23. That is, the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23configures a part of the medicinal solution supplying conduit5.

A medicinal solution receiving member27is provided in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5. When a pump is used as the medicinal solution supplying member7, the medicinal solution supplying member7is provided in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5at a position closer to the side of the opening of the other end5tthan the medicinal solution supplying member7, more specifically, the medicinal solution receiving portion27is provided in a medicinal solution supplying nozzle23as shown inFIG. 3.

The medicinal solution receiving member27is configured to receive a part of the medicinal solution S which is fed from the medicinal solution storage portion15to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4with the driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7, that is, the part of the medicinal solution S falling toward the medicinal solution storage position15by gravity, without being supplied from the opening of the other end St to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4due to a stop of driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7, and configured to store a predetermined amount of medicinal solution S in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23.

Note that, in the present embodiment, as the medicinal solution receiving member27, a valve portion which prevents the medicinal solution from flowing backward by gravity to one end5ifrom the other end5tin the medicinal solution supplying conduit5, more specifically, a check valve or an electromagnetic valve can be named. However, since the electromagnetic valve requires open/close control, the check valve is more preferable.

In addition, when the medicinal solution receiving member27is configured by the electromagnetic valve, closing of the electromagnetic valve has to be performed after a certain time period has passed after the stop of driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7. This is because, when the medicinal solution supplying member7is configured by a pump, the pump does not stop immediately even if the stop switch of the pump is depressed, and if the electromagnetic valve is closed immediately after the depression of the stop switch of the pump, there is a possibility that the pump is broken.

In addition, a medicinal solution collecting port5k, which allows inside of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23to communicate with outside, is provided in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5at a position between the medicinal solution receiving member27and the opening of the other end5tas shown inFIGS. 3 to 5, more specifically, provided in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23so as to be located at a top portion5ppositioned higher than the opening of the other end5t, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 6.

Note that the medicinal solution collecting port5kis openable/closable by the lid body16which prevents the odor of the medicinal solution S in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5from leaking outside the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1. In addition, the lid body16is connected to the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23with a string16hand the like so as not to be lost after the lid body is detached, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

Furthermore, if the lid body16, after having been detached from the medicinal solution collecting port5k, is placed on the medicinal solution collecting port5kas shown inFIG. 6, when a top cover3, to be described later, which seals the cleaning/disinfecting tank4of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1contacts the lid body16, the top cover3cannot be closed, thereby capable of reminding the worker of failure of attachment of the lid body16.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 2, at the top portion5pof the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, the medicinal solution collecting port5kis arranged such that a center C2of the medicinal solution collecting port5kis positioned eccentrically toward a side further away from the other end5tin a diameter direction K of the medicinal solution supplying conduit5than a conduit center C1in a region from the medicinal solution collecting port5kto the medicinal solution receiving member27of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23.

This is because, if the center C2of the medicinal solution collecting port5kcoincides with the conduit center C1, when the worker forgets to attach the lid body16to the medicinal solution collecting port5k, there is a possibility that the medicinal solution S will be spouted out from the medicinal solution collecting port5kwhile the medicinal solution S is supplied from the medicinal solution storage portion15to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5, or even if the lid body16is attached to the medicinal solution collecting port5k, the lid body16will be detached due to water pressure.

The medicinal solution collecting port5kis an opening through which a test paper70is passed, when the test paper70such as a test strip is introduced into the inside of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23to dip the distal end side of the test paper70in the medicinal solution S stored in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23by the medicinal solution receiving member27.

Note that the medicinal solution collecting port5kis not limited to the opening for the test paper70, but may be an opening through which a pipette or the like for collecting the medicinal solution S directly from inside of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23passes.

In addition, inside the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, it is preferable that the region from the medicinal solution collecting port5kto the medicinal solution receiving member27has a linear shape.

This is because, if the region from the medicinal solution collecting port5kto the medicinal solution receiving member27has a linear shape, when the medicinal solution S stored in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23by the medicinal solution receiving member27is directly collected using the pipette or the like through the medicinal solution collecting port5k, the pipette or the like is inserted into the medicinal solution collecting port5kand thereafter only has to be advanced straight, which enables the distal end of the pipette to easily reach the medicinal solution S. That is, it is possible to collect the medicinal solution S using an existing collecting instrument without using a special collecting instrument.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 3 to 5, inside the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, in the region from the medicinal solution collecting port5kto the medicinal solution receiving member27, a first flow passage23fwhich configures a part of a flow passage through which the medicinal solution S passes from the one end5ito the other end5tof the medicinal solution supplying conduit5and a second flow passage23swhich communicates with the first flow passage23fand linearly connects the medicinal solution collecting port5kand the medicinal solution receiving member27are formed.

Note that the second flow passage23sis a flow passage through which the test paper70or a collecting instrument such as a pipette inserted from the medicinal solution collecting port5kpasses. Accordingly, the medicinal solution S stored inside the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23by the medicinal solution receiving member27is enough to be stored at least in the second flow passage23s.

Furthermore, since the second flow passage23scommunicates with the first flow passage23f, when the medicinal solution S is supplied from the one end5ito the other end5tof the medicinal solution supplying conduit5, the medicinal solution S constantly circulates between the first flow passage23fand the second flow passage23s, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, thereby preventing old medicinal solution S from remaining in the second flow passage23s. That is, new medicinal solution S is always stored in the second flow passage23s.

In addition, similarly as the medicinal solution collecting port5k, the second flow passage23sis arranged such that the center thereof is positioned eccentrically toward the side further away from the other end5tthan the conduit center C1in the diameter direction K.

Since the second flow passage23sis eccentric and the two flow passages23fand23sare provided inside the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, even if the worker forgets to attach the lid body16to the medicinal solution collecting port5k, the medicinal solution S is prevented from spouting out from the medicinal solution collecting port5kduring the supply of the medicinal solution S from the medicinal solution storage portion15to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5. Furthermore, even if the lid body16is attached to the medicinal solution collecting port5k, the lid body16is prevented from being detached due to water pressure.

This is because the flow amount and water pressure of the medicinal solution S supplied from the one end5iare dispersed in the two flow passages23fand23sin the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23.

Note that, when the second flow passage23sis positioned so as to be greatly eccentric from the first flow passage23fin the diameter direction K, even if the second flow passage23scommunicates with the first flow passage23f, it is difficult to replace the medicinal solution S with new medicinal solution, and as a result, old medicinal solution S is more likely to remain. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount of eccentricity of the second flow passage23sis set to an extent capable of preventing the old medicinal solution S from remaining and preventing the medicinal solution S from spouting out from the medicinal solution collecting port5k.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 2, an indicator60for notifying the liquid surface level of the medicinal solution S stored in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23by the medicinal solution receiving member27may be formed on the exterior portion of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23so as to be located in the region from the medicinal solution collecting port5kto the medicinal solution receiving member27.

If the indicator60is formed on the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, when the test paper70or the collecting instrument such as a pipette are inserted into the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23from the medicinal solution collecting port5k, even if the exterior portion of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23is formed by a colored member and inside of the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23cannot be seen, the indicator enables the worker to easily recognize how far the test paper or the like should be inserted to reach the medicinal solution S.

Note that, instead of providing the indicator60, also in a case where the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23is made of a transparent member, the same effect as that of the indicator60can be achieved. Note that, since other configurations of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1are the same as those in conventional apparatuses, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, description will be made on the working of the present embodiment, more specifically, on a method of checking the concentration of the medicinal solution S.

As shown inFIG. 1, the worker first drives the medicinal solution supplying member7to cause the medicinal solution S to be supplied from the medicinal solution storage portion15through the medicinal solution supplying conduit5to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4from the opening of the other end5t.

Then, after supplying a predetermined amount of the medicinal solution S to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4, the worker stops driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7. As a result, with the stop of driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7, the medicinal solution S in the medicinal solution supplying conduit5which was not supplied to the cleaning/disinfecting tank4from the opening of the other end St falls down by gravity toward the one end5iof the medicinal solution supplying conduit5. However, the fallen medicinal solution S is received by the medicinal solution receiving member27in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23to be stored in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23.

Next, the worker removes the lid body16from the medicinal solution collecting port5k, inserts the test paper70in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23through the medicinal solution collecting port5k, and dip the distal end side of the test paper70in the medicinal solution S stored by the medicinal solution receiving member27, as shown inFIG. 4.

Finally, the worker extracts the test paper70through the medicinal solution collecting port5kand attaches the lid body16to the medicinal solution collecting port5k, to determine the concentration of the medicinal solution S based on the color of the part dipped in the medicinal solution S of the extracted test paper70.

Note that, needless to say, without using the test paper70, a collecting instrument such as a pipette may be inserted into the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23through the medicinal solution collecting port5kto collect the medicinal solution S stored by the medicinal solution receiving member27, and the collecting instrument may be extracted through the medicinal solution collecting port5kto measure the concentration of the collected medicinal solution S using a measuring apparatus.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23includes inside thereof the medicinal solution receiving member27for receiving the medicinal solution S fallen by gravity toward the one end5iafter the driving of the medicinal solution supplying member7is stopped, and the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23includes, at the top portion5p, the medicinal solution collecting port5kthrough which the test paper70or the collecting instrument is inserted into the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23.

According to such a configuration, the test paper70or the collecting instrument is inserted into the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23through the medicinal solution collecting port5k, and it is possible to easily check the concentration of the medicinal solution S only by dipping the test paper70into the medicinal solution S received by the medicinal solution receiving member27or by collecting the medicinal solution S using the collecting instrument.

Therefore, the medicinal solution S can be collected and the concentration of the medicinal solution S can be measured with a simple configuration in which only the medicinal solution receiving member27is provided in the existing medicinal solution supplying nozzle23and the medicinal solution collecting port5kis provided at the top portion5p.

Therefore, there is no need for separately providing a conduit for collecting the medicinal solution S, and in addition, there is no need for waiting until the medicinal solution S is fully stored in the cleaning/disinfecting tank4. Accordingly, after cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope100, the worker can check the concentration of the medicinal solution S through the medicinal solution collecting port5kat any time, which provides an excellent workability.

Furthermore, the medicinal solution collecting port5kis formed at the top portion5pof the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23. Accordingly, when checking the concentration of the medicinal solution S, the worker can perform the operation from the upper part of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1, and it is not necessary for the worker to crouch down.

As described above, it is possible to provide easily and at low cost the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1having a configuration which enables the concentration of the medicinal solution S to be checked with excellent workability.

Note that modified examples are described below with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8.FIG. 7illustrates a modified example in which the medicinal solution receiving member is configured by a container, andFIG. 8illustrates a modified example of the container serving as the medicinal solution receiving member which is insertable into and extractable from the medicinal solution collecting port.

In the above-described present embodiment, the medicinal solution receiving member is configured by a valve portion such as a check valve, or an electromagnetic valve, however, not limited thereto. The medicinal solution receiving member may be a container28which is provided in the second flow passage23sand which has an opening28kopening toward the medicinal solution collecting port5k, as shown inFIG. 7.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 8, the container may be a container80which is insertable/extractable through the medicinal solution collecting port5kand which includes at a lower portion thereof a storage portion80ccapable of storing a predetermined amount of medicinal solution S, and includes a plurality of hole portions80hat the region other than the region where the storage portion80cis provided.

If such a container80as shown inFIG. 8is used, the medicinal solution S can be easily collected only by extracting the container80out through the medicinal solution collecting port5k, without using the collecting instrument. In addition, even if the worker drops the test paper70in the medicinal solution supplying nozzle23, the dropped test paper70is stored in the container80, thereby enabling the worker to easily take out the test paper70only by extracting the container80out from the medicinal solution collecting port5k.

Next, one example of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a perspective view of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus, which shows an example of the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus in a state where the top cover is open and the endoscope can be housed in the cleaning/disinfecting tank.

As shown inFIG. 9, the endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus1is an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting the used endoscope100, and a main part of the apparatus is configured by an apparatus main body2and a top cover3connected to the upper portion of the apparatus main body so as to be openable/closable through a hinge, not shown, for example.

In a state where the top cover3is closed on the apparatus main body2, the apparatus main body2and the top cover3are fixed to each other with latches8, for example, which are respectively disposed at opposing positions of the apparatus main body2and the top cover3.

A cleaning solution/alcohol tray11is disposed at an upper part of a left half portion, for example, on the front face, in the drawing, of the apparatus main body2so as to be drawable forward of the apparatus main body2, the front face being a side toward which the operator of the apparatus approaches.

The cleaning solution/alcohol tray11houses a cleaning solution tank11awhich is configured to store a cleaning solution as a liquid used for cleaning the endoscope100and an alcohol tank11bconfigured to store alcohol as a liquid used for drying the endoscope100after cleaning and disinfecting. The cleaning solution/alcohol tray11is drawable, which enables the respective tanks11a,11bto be filled with the liquids appropriately.

Note that the cleaning solution/alcohol tray11is provided with two window portions11m, and the operator can check the remaining amounts of the cleaning solution and alcohol injected in the tanks11a,11bfrom the window portions11m.

In addition, a cassette tray12is disposed at an upper part of a right half portion, for example, on the front face of the apparatus main body2so as to be drawable forward of the apparatus main body2. The cassette tray12houses a medicinal solution bottle12ainto which a disinfectant solution such as peracetic acid used for disinfecting the endoscope100is injected. The cassette tray12is drawable, which enables the medicinal solution bottle12ato be appropriately set.

Furthermore, a sub operation panel13including instruction buttons for displaying cleaning/disinfecting time and warming the disinfectant solution is disposed at the upper part of the cassette tray12on the front face of the apparatus main body2.

Furthermore, at the lower part on the front face, in the drawing, of the apparatus main body2, a pedal switch14for opening upward the top cover3closed on the top portion of the apparatus main body2by stepping-on operation by the operator is disposed.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 9, main operation panels25including setting switches such as a switch for starting cleaning and disinfecting operation of the apparatus main body2and a cleaning/disinfecting mode selection switch are disposed on the top face of the apparatus main body2at positions near to both ends on the side closer to the front face toward which the operator approaches, for example.

In addition, a water supply hose connecting port31is disposed on the top face of the apparatus main body2so as to be located closer to a rear face opposing to the front face toward which the operator approaches, the water supply hose connecting port being connected with a water supply hose, not shown, which is connected to a faucet for supplying tap water to the apparatus main body2. Note that the water supply hose connecting port31may be provided with a mesh filter for filtering the tap water.

Furthermore, the cleaning/disinfecting tank4which can house the endoscope100and has an endoscope housing opening configured to be opened and closed by the top cover3is disposed at a substantially center portion on the top face of the apparatus main body2. The cleaning/disinfecting tank4includes a tank main body50and a terrace portion51provided peripherally so as to be continuous with an outer periphery of the endoscope housing opening of the tank main body50.

When the endoscope100after use is cleaned and disinfected, the tank main body50can house the endoscope100. The tank main body50includes, on a bottom surface50twhich is a surface in the tank, a first discharge port55for discharging from the tank main body50the cleaning solution, the water, the alcohol, the disinfectant solution, or the like which are supplied to the tank main body50.

Furthermore, at an arbitrary position on the circumferential side surface50swhich is a surface in the tank of the tank main body50, a circulation port56for supplying the cleaning solution, the water, the disinfectant solution or the like supplied to the tank main body50to each conduit included inside the endoscope100, or for resupplying the above-described liquids from a water supply circulation nozzle24to be described later to the tank main body50through a mesh filter or the like. Note that the circulation port may be provided with a mesh filter for filtering the cleaning solution and the like.

Note that the above-described circulation port56may be provided on the bottom surface50tof the tank main body50. If the circulation port56is provided on the bottom surface50tof the tank main body50, it is possible to hasten the timing of supplying the cleaning solution, the water, the disinfectant solution, or the like to each conduit of the endoscope100or the timing of resupplying the liquids to the tank main body50. Furthermore, if the circulation port56is provided on the bottom surface, such a configuration provides an advantage for the operator to approach the circulation port, when the user exchanges the mesh filter or the like provided to the circulation port56.

A cleaning case6is disposed at substantially the center portion of the bottom surface50tof the tank main body50of the cleaning/disinfecting tank4. In the cleaning case6, buttons such as scope switches of the endoscope100and detachable components attached to the endoscope100are housed. As a result, the buttons and the detached components are cleaned and disinfected together with the endoscope100.

At an arbitrary position on the side surface50sof the tank main body50, a water level sensor32with a cover for detecting a water level of the cleaning solution, the water, the disinfectant solution, or the like supplied to the tank main body50.

A cleaning solution nozzle22for supplying the cleaning solution diluted to a predetermined concentration with tap water from the cleaning solution tank11a to the tank main body50and a medicinal solution supply nozzle (disinfectant solution nozzle)23for supplying the disinfectant solution as one example of the medicinal solution S from the medicinal solution storage portion15(seeFIG. 1) by the medicinal solution supplying member7(seeFIG. 1) are disposed on a surface of the terrace portion51other than a terrace surface51t, that is, a surface parallel to the bottom surface50tof the tank main body50.

In addition, the water supply circulation nozzle24for supplying water to the tank main body50or resupplying the cleaning solution, the water, the disinfectant solution or the like sucked from the circulation portion56of the tank main body50to the tank main body50is disposed on the surface of the terrace portion51which is parallel to the bottom surface50tof the tank main body50.

Note that the cleaning solution nozzle22, the disinfectant solution nozzle23, and the water supply circulation nozzle24may be disposed on the terrace surface51t.

A plurality of, for example, two air/water supply and forceps ports33, for supplying cleaning solution, water, alcohol, disinfectant solution, air or the like to the conduits inside the endoscope100, a forceps raising port34and a water leakage detection port35are provided on a surface51fof the terrace surface51tof the terrace portion51, the surface51fbeing on a side opposed to an operator approaching position4k.