Patent Publication Number: US-2007107152-A1

Title: Apparatus for washing and disinfecting medical instruments

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      The patent application related to and incorporates by reference Japanese Patent application No. 2005-327889 filed on Nov. 11, 2005.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. The Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus for washing and disinfecting used medical instruments, such as endoscopes.  
      2. Related Art  
      Medical endoscopes have now been used widely for examining and treating bodily ills. In order to cope with such applications, a medical endoscope has a thin and elongated tube (simply, referred to as an insertion tube) inserted into body cavities of an object being examined and treated. This insertion tube provides one or more ducts formed therethrough. The ducts include endoscopic ducts (channels), such as a suction channel (duct) serving as a channel for various biopsy forceps.  
      When such an insertion tube is inserted into body cavities, the outer surface of an insertion tube and the insides of endoscopic channels thereof are polluted with humor and filth. Hence it is required to sufficiently wash and disinfect the outer surface and inside of the endoscopic channels of an endoscope whenever this has been used.  
      By way of example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 11-76145 discloses a washing device for washing an endoscope. This endoscope has a brush inserting tube to guide a long washing brush into an endoscopic channel (duct) for washing.  
      However, in the case of this washing device, the long washing brush should be inserted through the brush inserting tube and the brush should be handled by hand so as to repeatedly advance and retreat through an endoscopic channel. This washing is very troublesome and time-consuming work to operators. In addition, for exchanging the washing brushes, the long washing brush to be disposed of, which has been used so far, is normally rolled up or folded to make it compact. However, this rolling or folding operation also imposes troublesome labor on operators.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing difficulties and has an object to provide an apparatus for washing and disinfecting ducts of a medical instrument that has been used, in particular, endoscopic channels (ducts) of an endoscope that has been used, with reliability and with effectiveness in the washing and disinfecting work.  
      As one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for washing and disinfecting a medical instrument with a duct. The apparatus comprises an accommodating (mounting) member on which the medical instrument is accommodated (mounted) and a bath member providing a washing bath in which the accommodating member is placed. The apparatus further comprises a washing unit washing at least the duct of the medical instrument accommodated on the accommodating member and placed in the washing bath and a brushing unit detachably mounted on the bath member and formed to have a brush brushing an inside of the duct when the endoscope is washed and disinfected by the washing unit.  
      As another aspect, the present invention provides a detachable type of brushing apparatus , which comprises a detachable member detachably mounted to a detachable portion of a washing and disinfecting apparatus for washing and disinfecting a medical instrument with a duct and formed to provide an approach path to the duct of the medical instrument; a flow path communicating with the approach path; and a brushing unit disposed in the flow path and formed to have a brush advancing an inside of the duct through the approach path and brushing the inside of the duct, when the duct is subjected to at least washing. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a tank containing at least one of washing fluid and disinfecting fluid necessary for washing and disinfection of the duct and a guiding path guiding the fluid contained in the tank to the flow path. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the accompanying drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view outlining the overall configuration of an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus serving as a medical instrument washing and disinfecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus whose washing bath is loaded with an endoscope and whose top cover is closed;  
      FIGS.  3  is a schematic view showing the piping configuration in the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus;  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view, partially sectioned, of a nozzle-mounted unit of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a washing brush unit detachably mounted on the nozzle-mounted unit;  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the washing brush unit;  
       FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the washing brush unit;  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a mounting surface of the nozzle-mounted unit, the mounting surface being subjected to detachable mounting of the wash brushing unit;  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing a positional relationship between the washing brush unit and the muzzle-mounted device embedded in the apparatus and exposed to the outside from the apparatus;  
       FIG. 10  is a plan view showing the washing brush unit mounted on the mounting surface, that is, the nozzle-mounted unit;  
       FIG. 11  is a plan view showing a state where a used endoscope is accommodated in the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus;  
       FIGS. 12 and 13  are illustrations each showing a motion of the nozzle-mounted unit mounted on the washing brush unit;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a washing brush unit adopted by a second embodiment of the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of the washing brush unit adopted in the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 16  is a longitudinal sectional view of the washing brush unit mounted on the nozzle-mounted unit in the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 17  is an illustration explaining an inside of the washing brush unit in the second embodiment;  
       FIGS. 18 and 19  explain how the fluid is supplied from tanks in the washing brush unit according to the second embodiment; and  
       FIGS. 20 and 21  show schematic views each showing the piping configuration applicable to the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus according to the second embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     First Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-13 , a first embodiment will now be described. In the present embodiment, the medical washing and disinfecting apparatus is reduced into practice as an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus.  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the overall configuration of an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , which serves as the medical instrument washing and disinfecting apparatus, according to the present invention.  
      This endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  is provided with a body housing  3  in which mechanically and electrically necessary components are incorporated, a top cover  4 , and a tray  10 . The body housing  3  provides a washing bath  5  of a predetermined depth at the top of the body housing  3 . The top cover  4  is disposed to cover the opening of the washing bath  5 .  
      A tray holder  6  is rotatably disposed at an edge of the washing bath  5 . A tray  10  for holding used endoscopes, which provides an endoscope loading plane, is detachably disposed at the tray holder  6 . The washing bath  5  has a bottom, on which there are disposed first and second protrusions  7   a  and  7   b.    
      A water supply port  16   c  is formed in the vicinity of the first protrusion  7   a,  while a drain port  17   c  is formed in the vicinity of the second protrusion  7   b.  Washing fluid and rinsing water is supplied from the water supply port  16   c  to both the washing bath  5  and the tray  10 . The fluid fed from the water supply port  16   c  is discharged outside the washing bath  5  via the drain port  17   c.    
      On the front of the body housing  3 , there is formed an operation panel  8  with which an operator is able to give various data to the apparatus  2  and receive various information from the apparatus  2  in an interactive manner.  
      The top cover  4 , made of hard and light-transmittance resin material, that is, transparent or semitransparent resin material, is formed into a predetermined shape and disposed at an edge of the washing bath  5  to allow the top cover  4  to be open and closed. Hence, even if the top cover  4  is closed to cover the opening of the washing bath  5 , an operator can visually observe the inside of the washing bath  5  through the top cover  5 .  
      Incidentally, the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment is able to cope with washing and disinfecting, besides the endoscopes, other medical tools, such as therapeutic instruments with ducts or tubular through-holes and over tubes. For washing and disinfecting those medical tools, trays dedicated to hold such tools are prepared.  
      In the present embodiment, an endoscope  20  is mounted on the tray  10  and accommodated or mounted in the washing bath  5 . This tray  10  is produced as a holding plate dedicated to this endoscope  20  itself. If the type of an endoscope being washed differs from that of this endoscope  20 , another tray produced dedicatededly to the endoscope is used.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  further comprises washing nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  on a side wall near a corner of the washing bath  5 . These washing nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  are members which can be connected with or disconnected from various channels (ducts) of an endoscope  20  for washing and disinfecting them and compose one of main parts of a nozzle-mounted unit  30  arranged in the body housing  3 , as will be described later.  
      The nozzle-mounted unit  30 , which is installed in the body housing  3 , has a later-described mounting surface exposed to the outside at a corner of the upper surface of the body housing  3  and a washing brush unit  85  is detachably mounted on the mounting surface, i.e., to the nozzle-mounted unit  30 . On this mounting surface, a cover  83  which covers the washing brush unit  95  is provided to be opened and closed (refer to  FIG. 2 ).  
      The tray  10  is used to mount a used endoscope  20  thereon. The tray holder  6  has a holding member  6   a  to hold the tray  10 , as shown by a chain double-dashed line in  FIG. 1 .  
      The endoscope  20  is provided with a base portion  21  and an elongated long insertion tube  22  extended from the base portion  21 . This insertion tube  22  is flexible. The base portion  21  comprises an air/water-supply channel connector  23  and a suction channel connector  24 , which are obliquely protruded from a side of the base portion  21  to form an acute angle to the base end of the base portion  21 . Both connectors  23  and  24  are parallel to each other.  
      Of these connectors  23  and  24 , the air/water-supply channel connector  23  has air/water-supply connecting ports  23   a,  which are connected to both an air-supply connecting member, to which one end of an air-supply duct is connected, and a water-supply connecting member, to which one end of a water-supply duct is connected, respectively. Meanwhile the suction channel connector  24  has a suction connecting port  24   a,  which is connected to a suction connecting member, to which one end of a suction channel (duct)  22   a  is connected. Thus, during an examination with the endoscope  20 , the air/water-supply connecting ports  23   a  are connected with air/water-supply tubes (not shown) to supply air and water to the endoscope  20 . Meanwhile, the suction connecting port  24   a  is connected with a suction tube  22   a  arranged through the insertion tube  22 .  
      The base portion  21  is used as a gripping portion which is gripped by a user who desires to operate the endoscope  20 . In the case of fixedly securing the endoscope  20  to fixing members such as arms, this base portion  21  is used as a fixing member. On the tray  10  is formed a accommodating groove  11  (a kind of recess) which serves as a guide groove to allow the endoscope  20  to be located and accommodated at predetermined positions on the tray  10 . The accommodating groove  11  has a predetermined contour formed in accordance with the outer shapes of both the base portion  21  and the insertion tube  22 . This means that the tray  10  is produced to be dedicated to each endoscope  20 , type by type, of which accommodating groove  11  is fit to the outer shape of each endoscope  20 . If there are plural types of endoscopes in a medical facility (i.e., such endoscopes have base portions and/or insertion tubes having different outer shapes and/or lengths), a plurality of types of trays  10  dedicated to those various type endoscopes may be prepared.  
      To be specific, the accommodating groove  11  consists of a base-accommodating recess (groove)  12  into which the base  12  of the endoscope  20  is placed for accommodation and an almost vortical tube-accommodating groove  13  into which the insertion tube  22  thereof is placed for accommodation. The tube-accommodating groove  13  is formed into a substantially vortical shape on the tray  10 . The recess  12  and the groove are formed as a continuous groove for guiding the placement of the endoscope  20  onto the tray  10 .  
      The base-accommodating recess  12  is provided with, as part of the side wall thereof, an air/water-supply channel accepting member  14  and a suction channel accepting member  15  at both of which the air/water-supply channel connector  23  and the suction channel connector  24  are disposed, respectively. Of these members  14  and  15 , the air/water-supply channel accepting member  14  has an opening  14   a  through which the air/water-supply connecting ports  23   a  is secured. On the other hand, the suction channel accepting member  15  has an opening  15   a  through which the suction connecting port  24   a  is secured.  
      At a predetermined position of the base of the base-accommodating recess  12 , a first water port  16  is formed to feed and discharge water such as washing water and disinfecting water. Similarly, at another predetermined position of the base of the tube-accommodating groove  13 , a second water port  17  is formed to feed and discharge water such as washing water and disinfecting water. The first water port  16  is positioned in proximity to the base side of the base portion  21 . The second water port  17  is positioned in proximity with a distal surface of the insertion tube  21 . Each of the first and second water ports  16  and  17  has a lid  16   a  ( 17   a ) which can be opened and closed. The lids  16   a  and  17   a  are held to always close the water ports  16  and  17  by not-shown forcing members combined with their weight. Only the weight of each lid  16   a  ( 17   a ) can be utilized as such forcing means.  
      With no tray placed in the washing bath  5 , the lids  16   a  and  17   a  are made to close. Thus, when an endoscope  20 , which has been used so far, is accommodated in the accommodating groove  11 , humor and/or filth on the endoscope  20  is prevented from leaking out through the first and second ports  16  and  17 . Therefore, with the endoscope  20  accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  of the tray  10 , the endoscope  20  can be carried sanitarily.  
      In the present embodiment, the first water port  16  is used to feed washing water, disinfecting water, and so on into the accommodating groove  11  therethrough. And, through the second water port  17 , the water such as washing water and disinfecting water, which has been fed in the accommodating groove  11 , is drained from the groove  11  to the washing base  5 . In order to allow the base portion  21  and insertion tube  22  of an endoscope  20  accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  to be immersed sufficiently in the washing of disinfecting water supplied through the first water port  16 , the accommodating groove  11  is formed so that there is no useless space left between the endoscope  20  and the wall of the accommodating groove  11 . It is therefore possible to minimize amounts of washing water and disinfecting water required.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tray  10  has an attachment portion  18  which is used to attach the tray  10  to the holding member  16   a  at the longitudinal edge of the washing bath  5 . The attachment portion  18  is shaped into for example a U-shaped form, which is adaptable to the holding member  6   a.  A reference  19  in  FIG. 1  shows one of gripping hands for carry. The gripping hands  19  are located on both lateral side edges of the tray  10 . To avoid interference with the top cover  4 , the gripping hands  19  are made to protrude downward from the tray  10 .  
      When an endoscope  20  is accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  on the tray  10 , both connecting ports  23   a  and  24   a  of the air/water-supply channel connector  23  and suction channel connector  24  of the endoscope  20  are fixedly placed through the opening  14   a  of the air/water-supply channel accepting member  14  and the opening  15   a  of the suction channel accepting member  15 , respectively. By this placement, the used endoscope  20  can easily be accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  with a predetermined attitude thereof.  
      After accommodating the endoscope  20  in the accommodating groove  11 , the tray  10  is made to be connected with the tray holder  6 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . A proper attachment of the attachment portion  18  of the tray  10  with the holding member  6   a  of the tray holder  6  makes it possible that the tray  10  is rotated in the downward by hand or with an automatic mechanism (not shown). Thus the tray  10  can be put into the washing bath  5 .  
      In response to the downward rotation of the tray  10 , the first and second protrusions  7   a  and  7   b  on the base of the washing bath  5  push up the lids  16   a  and  17   a  so as to make the first and second water ports  16  and  17  open, respectively. Concurrently with this open actions of the lids  16   a  and  17   a,  as shown in  FIG. 4 , both connecting ports  23   a  and  24   a  of the endoscope  20 , which are placed to protrude from the openings  14   a  and  15   b  of the side wall of the accommodating groove  11 , are located to face an air-supply channel washing nozzle  31 , a water-supply channel washing nozzle  32 , and a suction channel washing nozzle  33 , respectively, with a predetermined distance apart from the nozzles.  
      When the accommodation of the endoscope  20  is completed, the top cover  4  is moved by hand or with the use of an automatic mechanism (not shown), whereby the washing bath  5  is covered as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      A packing  5   a  is attached on the upper surface of the body housing  3  in such a manner that the packing  5   a  surrounds the edge of the washing bath  5 . Hence when the top cover  4  closes the washing bath  5 , the packing  5   a  is pressed down by the top cover  4  so as to sustain the watertight performance between the top cover  4  and the washing bath  5 . This watertight performance prevents the liquid within the washing bath  5  from scattering outside the body housing  3 . A hinge  4   a  is secured on an edge of the top cover  4  for opening and closing the top cover  4 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the piping structure of the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  will now be described.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the body housing  3  of this apparatus  2  introduces a duct  42  connected to a hydrant, so that the tap water comes into the unit  3  through the duct  42 . Along this duct  42 , a water filter  42 , a check valve  43 , and tow three-way switching valves  44  and  45  intervenes in this order from the hydrant side. In addition, this duct  42  is branched into two branch ducts  46   t  and  47  at the one three-way switching valve  45 .  
      Of these two branch ducts  46  and  47 , one duct  46  is linked with a washing agent bottle  48 , while the remaining duct  47  is linked with a chemical bottle  49 . A duct  50  connects the washing agent bottle  48  and a stirring bath  52  and another duct  51  connects the chemical bottle  49  and the stirring bath  52 , with the result that a washing agent or a chemical flows into the stirring bath  52  from the respective bottles  48  and  49 .  
      Thus the tap water from the hydrant first passes the water filter  41  for filtering. The filtered tap water then passes the ducts, and then is branched into both ducts  46  and  47  to flow into the washing agent bottle  48  or the chemical bottle  49 . The washing agent in the bottle  48  or the disinfectant in the bottle  49  is diluted with the tap water to become a solution of a predetermined concentration. This solution is therefore fed to the stirring bath  52  via the connecting duct  50  or  51 .  
      Each of the three-way switching valves  44  and  45  has an internal fluid path which is switched from one type to another depending on electrical command signals issued by a controller  26  which works on what the current process is, i.e., a washing process, a disinfecting process, or a rinsing process. By way of practical example, for the rinsing process, the internal path of the three-way switching valve  44  is switched so as to connect the duct  42  to another circulating duct  57 . Responsively to this switch, the tap water is guided to pass through the duct  57 , so that the water is used for washing the outer surface and the various endoscopic ducts.  
      To the stirring bath  52  is connected one end of a feeding duct  53  for transferring liquid. The other end of this feeding duct  53  is linked with the circulating duct  57  via the three-way switching valve  56 . Check valves  54  and  55  are inserted in the feeding duct  53 .  
      The circulating duct  57  connects both water supply ports  16   c  and  17   c  of the washing bath  57 . Between the three-way switching valve  56  and the water supply port  16   c  in this duct  57 , a circulating pump  58  and two three-way switching valves  59  and  60  are inserted, as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Connected to the three-way switching valve  60  is one end of a duct  62  to lead to the endoscopic channels. The other end of this duct  62  is branched into two paths and linked with the nozzle-mounted unit  30 .  
      When the circulating pump  58  is driven under the control of the controller  26 , the washing fluid or disinfecting fluid in the stirring bath  52  passes into the circulating duct  57  via the feeding duct  53  and the three-way switching valve  56 . The path of this fluid is selected into the path to the water-supply port  16   c  or the duct  62  for the endoscopic channels by the three-way switching valve  60  under the control of the controller  62 . Thus, the outer surface and the various channels of the endoscope  20  are subjected to washing and disinfection, and the fluid which has been used for the washing and disinfection is reserved in the washing bath  5 .  
      Another duct  61  is connected to an intermediate position of the circulating duct  57 , which is between the drain port  17   c  and the three-way switching valve  56 , and a three-way switching valve  76  and a check valve  77  are inserted in the duct  57  in this order from the drain port  17   c.  The three-way switching valve  76  is also linked with a drain duct  75  and subjected to control form the controller  26  for switching its internal valve paths. This switching allows the fluid in the washing bath  5  to flow out to an external outfall through the drain port  17   c , three-way switching valve  76 , and drain duct  75 .  
      The three-way switching valve  59  is also connected to one end of an air-supply duct  74  in which a compressor  72  and an air filter  73  are placed. The air supplied from the compressor  72  is fed, under the control of the controller  26 , to both the water-supply port  16   c  and the nozzle-mounted unit  30  for dehydrating water droplets and moisture on the outer surface of the washed and disinfected endoscope  20  and inside the various channels thereof.  
      The nozzle-mounted unit  30  is also linked with an end of a water-leakage sensing duct  63  in which there are placed a check valve  64  and a three-way switching valve  65 . The remaining end of this duct  63  is linked with another compressor  66  used for sensing water leakage.  
      The three-way switching valve  65  is connected to one end of a duct whose other end is connected to an alcohol tank  68 . Also connected to this tank  68  is one end of a duct  69 , of which other end is connected to the duct  62  via a check valve  70  inserted in the duct  69 .  
      The compressor  66  operates to supply air to the duct  63  in response to commands from the controller  26  in order to sense water leakage from the endoscope  20  or to supply the alcohol in the tank  68  to the ducts  69  and  62  in order to apply alcohol flushing to the various channels of the endoscope  20 .  
      Furthermore, the washing bath  5  is formed to communicate with the outside via a deodorant filter  71  to remove abnormal odor in the bath  5 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the nozzle-mounted unit  30  equipped with the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  for washing the endoscopic channels will now be detailed.  
      As shown in the figure, the nozzle-mounted unit  30  is a device which automatically connects or disconnects the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  to or from the opening of the channels formed through the insertion tube  22  of the endoscope  20 . When this connecting and disconnecting operation is carried out, the endoscope  20  is already accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  on the tray  20 .  
      More concretely, only one action makes it possible that the opening of the suction channel  22   a,  which opens at the suction connecting port  24   a,  is automatically connected with the nozzle  33  for washing the suction channel  22   a  mounted in the device  30  and both openings of the air-supply channel  22   b  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and water-supply duct  22   c  (refer to  FIG. 4 ), which open at air/water-supply connecting ports  23   a,  are automatically connected with both nozzles  31  and  32  for washing the air-supply and water-supply ducts, respectively. In addition, another only one action allows those connected three nozzles  31 - 33  to be disconnected from the openings of the channels. For realizing those connection and disconnection actions, the nozzle-mounted unit  30  is disposed to have a predetermined positional relationship to the base-accommodating recess  12  of the tray  10 .  
      The suction channel  22   a,  air-supply channel  22   b,  and water-supply channel  22   c  are endoscopic ducts which are formed to extend from the base portion  21  to the insertion tube  22  and open at the distal end surface of the insertion tube  22 . The nozzle-mounted unit  30  is equipped with, as its essential components, a suction-side connecting part  40   a,  an air/water supply-side connecting part  40   b,  a pair of rail members  81   a  and  81   b  composing guide means  81 , a latch type solenoid  80 , a nozzle-mounted block  82 , and a brush-unit mounting block  84 .  
      The nozzle-mounted block  82  is a void box-shaped member composed of a suction-side block  82   a  to which the suction-side connecting part  40   a  is connected and an air/water supply-side block  82   b  to which the air/water supply-side connecting part  40   b  is connected. Further, the brush-unit mounting block  84  is also a void box-shaped member integrally formed with an end of the nozzle-mounted block  82 , in which the end is opposite to the nozzles, as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      The rail members  81   a  and  81   b  are fixedly disposed to be parallel to each other and positioned to provide a predetermined guide structure to the body housing  3 . The nozzle-mounted block  82  is arranged slidably between the mutually parallel rail members  81   a  and  81   b,  so that this block  82  can be moved, together with the brush-unit mounting block  84 , in both directions, that is, a direction advancing toward a washing-bath frame  5   b  and the direction opposite to the advancing direction, i.e., a direction retreating from the frame  5   b.    
      The nozzle-mounted block  82  has sliding surfaces to be touched to the rail members  81   a  and  81   b,  a solenoid-fixing surface on which the solenoid  80  is fixed, and a nozzle-fixing surface with a step portion through which the duct-washing nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  are fixedly disposed. The latch type solenold  80  has a solenoid shaft  80   a  of which distal end is fixedly secured to the solenoid-fixing surface. On the back side of the nozzle-mounted block  82 , plural connecting springs (not shown) are placed to couple their one ends to the back. The other ends of those connecting springs are coupled to either the rail member  81   a  or  81   b.    
      The latch type solenoid  80  has a securing plate  81   b , which is secured at a predetermined position of the body housing  3 . In the present embodiment, the securing position of this solenoid  80  is decided such that, in cases where this endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  is in a standby for washing and disinfection, the solenoid shaft  80   a  is pulled in the solenoid by its magnetic force so that the nozzle-mounted block  82  is forcibly attracted to a predetermined position near to the solenoid  80 .  
      That is, for sustaining the nozzle-mounted block  82  at the predetermined position near the solenoid  80 , the magnetic force caused in the solenoid  80  is balanced with the pushing force of the elastically deformed connection springs (not shown). When the magnetic force is diminished in the solenoid, the pushing force of the connection springs moves the nozzle-mounted block  82  toward the washing-bath frame  5   b.    
      The suction-side connecting part  40   a  is provided with the foregoing washing nozzle  33  for the suction channel  22   a , a buffer spring  39 , and a connecting L-shaped pipe  38 . Meanwhile the air/water supply-side connecting part  40   b  is provided with the foregoing washing nozzle  31  for the air-supply channel  22   b , the forgoing washing nozzle  32  for the water-supply channel  22   c , an buffer spring  34 , a buffer spring  35 , and L-shaped pipes  36  and  37 .  
      All the channel washing nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  are fixedly secured to the nozzle-mounted block  82 , respectively, and have longitudinal axes which are parallel to each other along the same plane.  
      Of these nozzles  31  to  33 , the suction-channel washing nozzle  33  is located such that the nozzle  33  protrudes, by a predetermined length, from the front (nozzle fixing surface) of the washing bath frame  5   b  in front of the suction-side block  82   a . Further, the air/water-supply channel washing nozzles  31  and  32  are located such that both nozzles  31  and  32  protrude, by a predetermined length, from the front (nozzle fixing surface) of the washing bath frame  5   b  in front of the air/water-supply side block  82   b.    
      These nozzles  31  to  33  are placed to make their distal ends protrude in the washing bath  5  through through-holes (not shown) formed through the washing-bath frame  5   b . The suction-side connecting part  40   a  still has a watertight sustaining member  33   a , made of elastic maternal, having a cover portion and a folded portion both covering the nozzle  33 , while the air/water supply-side connecting part  40   b  still has a watertight sustaining member  34   a , made of elastic maternal, having a cover portion and a folded portion both covering both nozzles  31  and  32 .  
      The buffer springs  39 ,  34  and  35  are loaded to the washing nozzles  33 ,  31  and  32 , respectively, between the nozzle-mounted block  82  and the washing-bath frame  5   b . These buffer springs  39 ,  34  and  35  are employed to absorb shocks caused by inserting each nozzle into each opening of each connecting port(s)  24   a  ( 23   a ) of the base portion  21  of the endoscope  20 .  
      Meanwhile, with the base ends of the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33 , the L-shaped pipes  36 ,  37  and  38  are fixedly coupled. Of there nozzles, though not shown, the pipes  36  and  38  are connected with one ends of an air-supply tube and a water-supply tube on the back side of the device  30 , respectively. The other ends of these tubes are connected to the duct  62  for the endoscopic channels within the body housing  3 .  
      Further, the L-shaped pipe  38  is arranged to extend to the distal end of the brush-unit mounting block  84  and one end of the pipe  38  is exposed to the outside at a predetermined position of the mounting surface  84   a . In the brush-unit mounting block  84 , there are provided a motor  92  driven by the controller  26  in a controlled manner and a connecting L-shaped pipe  93 . The L-shaped pipe  93  has a lower end, which is coupled with a fluid-supply tube  62   a  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) connected with the duct  62  (refer to  FIG. 3 ).  
      Referring to FIGS.  5  to  13 , the washing brush unit  85 , which is detachably mounted on the brush-unit mounting unit  84 , will now be described.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the washing brush unit  85  is equipped with an outlet-side connecting pipe  86 , a roller containing member  87 , a base member  88 , a brush containing member  89 , and an inlet-side connecting pipe  90 , in which all those members are fixed together as a one unit.  
      Of these, the outlet-side connecting pipe  86  has an approximate L-shaped form having both ends and one end thereof is attached at an approximately central position of the front of the roller containing member  87 . The other end of the pipe  86  is directed downward. And this pipe  86  is equipped with an O-ring  86   a  therearound at a position near the lower end.  
      The roller containing member  87  has an outer appearance shaped into an almost elliptic cylinder (refer to  FIG. 6 ) and an inner mid-air space SP 1  which communicates with the outlet-side connecting pipe  86  (refer to  FIG. 7 ). Inside the mid-air space SP 1 , a pair of rollers consisting of a driving roller  87   a  and a not-shown driven roller is fixedly arranged. The driving roller  87   a  has a shaft  87   b  driven to rotate beneath a base portion of the roller containing member  87 . This shaft  87   b  passes through the base portion in an airtight manner and drives the driving roller  87   a . A notch  87 B is formed at a lower end of the shaft  87 .  
      Further, on the inlet side in the mid-air space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 , stick-like two brush guides  87   c  are disposed to extend in a width direction of the roller containing member  87 . The guides  87   c  are formed to pinch the brush wire  27   b  to hold it in the upper and lower direction.  
      The base member  88  has a plate-like base portion and a plate-like triangular fin portion integrally formed on the base portion. Beneath the base portion, two protrusions  88   a  (only one is seen in  FIG. 7 ) are formed, while inside the fin portion, a communication flow path  88   b  communicating with the mid-air space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87  is formed, as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      The brush containing member  89  is an approximate cylindrical member with a mid-air space SP 2  therein and half-embedded in the fin portion of the base member  88  in an oblique attitude, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Inside the mid-air space SP 2 , the brush wire  27   b , which is wound a not-shown bobbin and connected to the washing brush  27   a , is contained. The mid-air space SP 2  is connected with the communication flow path  88   b  extending from the mid-air space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 .  
      The inlet-side connecting pipe  90  is bent at a mid portion thereof and one end of this pipe  90  is connected to an approximately central portion of the oblique rear side of the brush containing member  89 . The other end of this pipe  90  is extended downward as shown in  FIG. 7  and an O-ring  90   a  is provided at a position near the lower end of this pipe  90 . This pipe  90  also communicates with the inner mid-air space SP 2  of the brush containing member  89 .  
      Accordingly, in this washing brush unit  85 , both connecting pipes  90  and  86  serves as members providing input and output ports, so that the inlet-side connecting pile  89 , the inner mid-air space SP 2  of the brush containing member  89 , the communication flow path  88   b  of the base member  88 , the inner mid-air space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 , and the outlet-side connecting pipe  86  are communicated with each other.  
      The brush device  27  is thus installed in those mutually communicated spaces of the washing brush unit  85  such that the wound brush wire  27   b , which resides in the space SP 2 , extends through the communication flow path  88   b , pressed between the rollers (one of which is the driving roller  87   c ) in the space SP 1 , and the outlet-side connecting pipe  86 . And the brush  27   a  can be pushed forward from the lower end of the pipe  86  and pulled back into the pipe  86 .  
      It is possible that that washing brush unit  85  is detachably mounted on the brush-unit mounting block  84 , which is disposed to the outside.  
      This mounting structure will now be detailed. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is formed an approximately rectangular sliding groove  91  on the nozzle-mounted unit  30 . In both longitudinal portions of this sliding groove  91 , there are formed semicircular engaging recesses  91   a  and  91   b . In addition, this sliding groove  91  allows a mounting surface  84   a  of the brush-unit mounting block  84  to be disposed to the outside.  
      This mounting surface  84   a  is disposed to the outside in a state where this surface has the same level as the edge surface of the body housing  3 . In the brush-unit mourning block  84 , an L-shaped pipe  38  is embedded so that its one end reaches a front-side predetermined position in the mounting surface  84   a  and the connecting L-shaped pipe  93  is embedded so that its one end reaches a rear-side predetermined position in the mounting surface  84   a . The openings of those pipes  38  and  93  in the mounting surface  84   a  are surrounded by semicircular engaging protrusions  38   a  and  93   a , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the brush-unit mourning block  84  contains a motor  92  having a shaft  92   b  coupled with one end of a connector  92   a . The other end of this connector  92   a  is also exposed to the outside in the mounting surface  84   a , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . This connector  92   a  is mounted through the upper plate providing the mounting surface  84   a  and is freely rotatable there in an airtight manner, thanks to a not-shown sealing member. In the mounting surface  84   a , there are also formed two engaging recesses  84   b , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  
      Further, the unit mounting surface  84   a  is shorter in longitudinal length than the sliding groove  91 , so that the nozzle-mounted unit  30  can be slide-moved freely with no interruption when this device  30  is attached to and released from the body housing  3  to connect or disconnect the nozzles  31 - 33  to and from the connecting ports  23   a  and  24   a  of the endoscope  20 .  
      The washing brush unit  85  is mounted onto the unit mounting space  84   a  such that, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the connecting pipes  86  and  90  are inserted into the openings of the pipes  38  and  93  in the surface  84   a , respectively, the shaft  87   b  of the driving roller  87   a  is engaged with the connector  92  of the motor  92  in the surface  84   a , and the two protrusions  88   a  are engaged with the two engaging recesses  84   b , respectively. The connections between the pipes  86  and  38  and between the pipes  90  and  93  are realized air-tightly by the O-rings  86   a  and  90   a , respectively.  
      Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , an operator can mount the washing brush unit  85  on the unit mounting surface  84   a , that is, the nozzle-mounted unit  30  which is located at the upper corner of the body housing  3  of the apparatus  2 .  
      When the above mounting action is done, the shaft  87   b  of the driving roller  87   a  is inserted in a recess  92   c  of the connector  92   a . This recess  92   c  is formed to be coupled with a notch formed on the end of the shaft  87   b , so that the rotational force of the motor  92  is transmitted to the driving roller  87   a  via such a coupling.  
      In the present endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , a used endoscope  20  is accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  (i.e., recess  12  and groove  13 ) on the tray  10 , this tray  10  is installed in the washing bath  5  of the body housing  3 , and the top cover  4  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
      In addition, the washing brush unit  85  is mounted at the predetermined upper corner position, i.e., at the mounting region  84   a  on the upper surface of the body housing  3 , and then the cover  83  is closed. In response to an operator&#39;s push action at a start switch on the operation panel  8 , predetermined processing for washing, rinsing, disinfecting, re-rinsing, and dehydrating processes for the endoscope  20  is activated under the control of the controller  26  working on not-shown software programs preset in the controller  26  in advance. Therefore, such processes are executed in sequence.  
      To be specific, when the start switch is pushed, the nozzle-mounted unit  30  is moved forward by a drive force generated by the solenoid  80 , resulting in that the nozzles  31  and  32  are coupled with the openings of the air/water-supply connecting ports  23   a  and, concurrently with this, the nozzle  33  is coupled the opening of the suction connecting port  24   a.    
      This forward movement of the nozzle-mounted unit  30  accompanies the washing brush unit  85  mounted on the mounting surface  84   a  of the unit  30 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , on completion of the movements of both units  30  and  85 , the engaging protrusion  38   a  of the mounting surface  84   a  is engaged with the engaging recess  91   a  of the sliding groove  91 .  
      After this, the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  performs a washing press with the endoscope  20 . In the washing process, the circulating pump  48  is driven to circulate the washing fluid to the water supply port  16   c  through the circulating duct  57  and then flow through the mounting groove  11  on the tray  10 . Hence the outer surface of the endoscope  20  is washed. In parallel with this washing, the generated washing fluid also flows from the circulating duct  57  to the branched duct  62 , and is fed to the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  of the nozzle-mounted unit  30 . Hence each of the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  feeds the washing fluid to each of their assigned ducts  22   b ,  22   c  and  22   a  for washing the inside thereof.  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , how the washing fluid flows in the nozzle-mounted unit  30  will now be detailed. The washing fluid that flows through the duct  62  is shunted to the connecting L-shaped pipe  93  via the fluid-supply tube  62   a , and then fed to the washing brush unit  95 . The washing fluid passes in sequence the inlet-side connecting pipe  90 , inner-mid space SP 2  in the brush containing member  89 , communication flow path  88   b  of the base member, inner-mid space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 , and outlet-side connecting pipe  86 . Then the washing fluid is supplied into the suction duct  22   a  of the endoscope  2  via the connecting L-shaped pipe  38 .  
      In parallel with this flow, under the control of the controller  26 , the electric motor  92  is driven to provide the driving roller  87   a  so that the roller  87   a  revolves in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in a controlled manner. Hence the brush wire  27   b , which is pressed between the two rollers  87   a , is obliged to advance and retreat repeated. The brush  27   a  is therefore extended from the nozzle  33  to be inserted in the suction channel  22   a  and is made to repeatedly advanced and retreat (i.e., inserted and pulled back) therealong.  
      With the help of the washing fluid that passes through the suction channel  22   a , those repeated advancing and retreating actions of the brush  27   a  results in brushed washing to the inside wall of the suction channel  22   a . In this washing process, the circulating pump  58  is in operation without rest to constantly supply the washing fluid to the suction channel  22   a.    
      On completion of the washing process, the controller  26  commands to the motor  90  to stop when the brush  27   a  returns to its initial position determined in the path of the outlet-side connecting pipe  86  which is part of the washing brush unit  85 . This washing process is then followed by a rinsing process.  
      In this way, both the outer surface and the suction channel (duct)  22   a  of the endoscope  20  are washed. The rinsing process and succeeding disinfecting and a second rinsing process are carried out similarly to the foregoing, whereby the endoscope  20  is washed and disinfected.  
      When the series of processes for washing/disinfecting the endoscope  20  is finished, the operator picks up the tray  10  with the endoscope still accommodated thereon, before ending the washing and disinfecting processes. Meanwhile, when the washing brush unit  85  is desired to be replaced by another new one, the used washing brush unit  85  can easily be detached from the mounting surface  84   a  of the body housing  3  by picking it up. The detached unit  85  can be re-used or disposed of.  
      As described, in the present endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , the device  27  having the long wire  27   b  and the brush  27   a , which can be used effectively for brush-washing the suction channel  22   a  of the endoscope  2 , is accommodated in the washing brush unit  85 . This unit  85  is also detachable to the apparatus  2  in an easy and reliable manner. For washing the suction channel  22   a , the brush  27   a  is driven to advance and retreat through the suction channel  22   a  in an automatic fashion, without manual washing work. In addition, when the brush device  27  is used up, it is sufficient to dispose of the whole washing brush unit  85  as medical waste. The long brush device  27  is already wound in the unit  85  when being detached from the housing  3 , so that there is no need to fold back the long brush device  27 , whereby the waste disposal can be done easily.  
      As a result, the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  can be used to wash and disinfect used endoscopes, in particular, to the suction channel of each endoscope to recover the sanitary conditions of the endoscopes with reliability and effectiveness in washing work. Thus, the manual troublesome washing/disinfecting work can be lessened.  
     Second Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIGS. 14-21 , a second embodiment of the medical instrument washing and disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention will now be described. In the present embodiment, the identical or similar components to those in the first embodiment will be is given the same reference numerals for the sake of a simplified of omitted explanation.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , on both sides of the brush containing member  89 , a washing brush unit  85  according to the present embodiment is equipped with two tank  94   a  and  94   b  for containing the washing fluid and the disinfecting fluid which are liquid concentrate. Both tanks  94   a  and  94   b  are located on the rear side of the roller containing member  87 .  
      Of both tanks  94   a  and  94   b , the tank  94   a , located on the left when viewed along a direction from the inlet side to the outlet side, contains the washing fluid, while the tank  94   b  on the opposite side contains the disinfecting fluid.  
      The washing fluid tank  94   a  comprises a housing equipped with a reservoir  95   a  in which the washing fluid is contained. The remaining disinfecting fluid tank  94   b  comprises a housing equipped with a reservoir  95   b  in which the disinfecting fluid is contained. As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , each of the reservoirs  95   a  and  95   b  has a base formed by a resin membrane  99   a  ( 99   b ) made of polyester.  
      The base of each tank  94   a  ( 94   b ) directly faces each elastic-made plate  97  formed on the base of the washing brush unit  85 . On each plate  97 , plural prong members  98  are disposed so as to directly stand up. Between the base of the washing brush unit  85  and the reservoirs  95   a  and  95   b , there is formed a flow-out path  95   c  communicating with the inner mid-air space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 . Hence the prong members  98  are present in the flow-out path  95   c.    
      Like the first embodiment, the washing brush unit  85  is mounted on the mounting surface  84   a  of the brush-unit mounting block  84  (refer to  FIG. 16 ). The upper plate of the unit  84 , which provides the mounting surface  84   a , has two through-holes  84   c  each facing each of the plates  97  without a gap when the unit  85  is mounted.  
      In the through-holes  84   c , cylinders  96   a  are placed respectively. Each cylinder  96   a  is linked with a shaft  96   b  extended from a solenoid  96 , which is installed in the brush-unit mounting block  84 . The two solenoids  96  are individually driven by control signals from the controller  26 .  
      Hence, in the present endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , when the washing or disinfecting process is started, either one of the solenoids  96 , which corresponds to a specified one of the reservoirs  95   a  and  95   b , is selectively driven in response to a control signal from the controller  26 . This drive forces the corresponding cylinder  96   a  to raise upward the plate  97  of the base of the mounted unit  95 . The plate  97  is obliged to elastically be deformed so that the prong members  98  are also raised. The raised prong members  98  forcibly picks and breaks the thin membrane  99  (base) of the reservoir  95   a  for the washing fluid or the reservoir  95   b  for the disinfecting fluid (refer to  FIGS. 16 and 18 ).  
      That is, when the washing process is started, the controller  26  operates to control the drive of each solenoid  96  assigned to the washing side, with the result that the prong members  98  picks and breaks the thin membrane  99  of the washing-fluid reservoir  95   a . The same is true of the disinfecting process which requires the disinfecting-fluid reservoir  95   b . After such a drive, the controller  26  operates to return the solenoid  96  to its initial state.  
      Thus, as shown in  FIG. 19 , the washing fluid or the disinfecting fluid contained each reservoir  95   a  ( 95   b ) is flowed out from the picked and broken portions of each reservoir  95   a  ( 95   b ). In parallel with this picking/breaking operation, the controller  26  operates to drive the circulating pump  58  to supply the tap water to the washing brush unit  85 , whereby the washing fluid or the disinfecting fluid is diluted with the water in the inner space SP 1  of the roller containing member  87 . The diluted washing or disinfecting fluid, which can be used for the actual washing or disinfection, is fed to the suction channel  22   a  via the pipes  86  and  38  and nozzle  33 , and then flowed into the washing bath  5 .  
      Then the diluted washing or disinfecting fluid is then circulated though various ducts in the housing  3  so the fluid is stirred to a predetermined concentration. As stated in the first embodiment, during the washing process, the brush device  27  is driven to apply brushed washing to the suction channel  22   a  of the endoscope  20 . Incidentally, the brush device  27  may be driven in the other processes, such as disinfecting process, other then the washing process.  
      In this way, the washing brush unit  85  can be formed to have the tanks  94  containing the washing and disinfecting fluid, respectively, thereby eliminating the labor to load the housing  3  with the washing agent bottle  85  and the chemical bottle  49 , unlike the first embodiment.  
      Of course the washing brush unit  85  may have only the washing fluid tank  94   a . If the apparatus  2  is designed so, it is no longer necessary to install the washing agent bottle  48 , duct  46 , and three-way switching valve  45  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) in the apparatus  2 , as shown in  FIG. 20 .  
      Alternatively, the washing brush unit  85  is provided with both tanks  94   a  and  94   b  for the washing and disinfecting fluid, respectively, whereby as shown in  21 , the piping structure of the apparatus  2  can be simplified. Specifically, the three three-way switching valves  44 ,  45  and  56 , two check valves  54  and  55 , five ducts  46 ,  47 ,  50 ,  51  and  53 , two bottles  48  and  49 , and stirring bath  52  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) are not required.  
      As a result, the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  is able to enjoy, in addition to the similar advantages to those gained in the first embodiment, a simplified piping structure and less-space housing structure, which make the apparatus  2  more compact.  
      Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention. Thus the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.