Patent Publication Number: US-2007107755-A1

Title: Apparatus for washing and disinfecting endoscope

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      The patent application related to and incorporates by reference Japanese Patent application No. 2005-327890 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 endoscopes, and in particular, to a washing and disinfecting apparatus with a brush for washing ducts formed in an endoscope.  
      2. Related Art  
      An endoscope used for inspecting and treating an object being examined has a tubular portion (called “insertion tube”) inserted into body cavities of an object being examined. The insertion tube is provided with various inner ducts formed inside therethrough, in which such ducts (hereinafter referred to as endoscopic channels) include a channel for suction which serves as a forceps channel as well. Once being used, the insertion tube is polluted by humor, such as mucosa and blood, and filth attached to the outer surface as well as the endoscope channel (ducts). Thus, it is necessary to sufficiently wash and disinfect the insertion tube, that is, the outer surface and the endoscopic channel of the insertion tube, every time the endoscope is used.  
      Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-10118 proposes one technique to the foregoing demand by disclosing an endoscope washing apparatus with a brush for washing endoscopic channels. This endoscope washing apparatus has means for washing an endoscopic channel for forceps, in which the washing means is composed of a washing wire brush which automatically goes back and forth along the channel and a brush driver for driving the wire brush to enable such reciprocating motions.  
      Another technique is provided by Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-16617, which proposes an improved technique which uses a washing brush similar to that disclosed in the foregoing known publication (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-10118). In this improved technique, to avoid humor and filth, which are dropped from the wall, from being left in the endoscopic channels, a washing fluid is fed through the endoscopic channels at a speed faster than the reciprocating speed of a washing brush.  
      However, the washing technique is still confronted with a difficulty in that it is difficult to completely get rid of dirty matters, such as humor and filth, stuck to the brush itself. Thus, to realize a more steadier removal of such pollutants from the brush, the washing brush should be subjected again to a manual kneading and washing process after the washing of the endoscope.  
      Accordingly, in the conventional endoscope washing apparatuses, the washing process of endoscopes always involves the manual kneading and washing process of brushes used for brushing. Such manual treatment needs a long work time and imposes a troublesome work on workers. In addition, how the brushes are washed and how long the washing work is done depends on the workers who are engaged in such jobs. There is still a concern about the sufficient removal of the pollutants from the brushes.  
      The kneading and washing process of the brushes gives rise to a loss in time in washing a succeeding endoscope, affecting the operating rate of each endoscope.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing conventional situations, and has an object to provide an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus which is capable of washing and disinfecting used endoscopes including their endoscopic channels (ducts) in a sanitary and effective manner with no manual work imposed on the workers.  
      The present invention provides an apparatus for washing and disinfecting an endoscope equipped with an insertion tube through which a duct is formed and a base portion integrated with the insertion tube. The apparatus comprises a bath member providing a washing bath; and an accommodating member on which the endoscope is accommodated. The accommodating member is installed in the washing bath. The apparatus further comprises a duct washing unit and a brush washing unit. The duct washing unit is equipped with a washing brush and formed to wash the duct by advancing and retreating the brush through the duct, with the endoscope accommodated on the accommodating member. The brush washing unit is configured to wash the brush by spraying fluid toward the brush when the brush is made to advance and retreat through the duct.  
      According to the present invention, when an operator accommodates an endoscope on the accommodating member, the brush is subjected to the spray of the fluid performed by the brush washing unit. That is, the brush, which is for washing the duct of the endoscope, is mechanically washed as well. Thus, the duct of a used endoscope can be washed and disinfected in a steady, sanitary, and labor-efficient manner. The operator can be released from troublesome manual work for washing the brush. 
    
    
     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 (with a top cover open) according to an example of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus, in which an endoscope is accommodated and the top cover is closed;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing an outlined duct structure of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view showing a nozzle-mounted device of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a tray on which an endoscope is accommodated;  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a washing bath;  
       FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view showing a connection between a washing nozzle mounted to the tray and a nozzle connector mounted to a base of the washing bath;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a condition where a brush advances so as to protrude from a suction channel and positioned just above the nozzle;  
       FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view showing a connection between a washing nozzle mounted to the base of the washing bath, which is according to a modification;  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a condition where a brush advances so as to protrude from a suction channel and positioned just above the nozzle, which is according to the modification shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing a control system for selectively driving a nozzle among a plurality of nozzles;  
       FIG. 12  is a plan view showing a state where an endoscope having the longest insertion tube is accommodated on the tray;  
      FIGS.  13  to  15  are plan view each showing a state where another endoscope having a different-length insertion tube is accommodated;  
       FIG. 16  shows another modification concerning another location of the nozzle;  
       FIG. 17  is a side view explaining the positional relationship between the brush and the nozzle in the location shown in  FIG. 16 ; and  
       FIG. 18  exemplifies the processing carried out by a controller to selectively drive a nozzle depending on the length of the insertion tube of an endoscope being washed.  
    
    
     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  to  15  and  18 , a first embodiment of an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus of the present invention will now be described.  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the overall configuration of an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment.  
      This endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  is provided with a main body unit  3 , a top cover  4 , and a tray  10 . The main body unit  3  has a washing bath  5  of a predetermined depth at the top of the main body unit  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 a used endoscope (which is simply a tray  10 ), which provide an endoscope loading plane, is detachably disposed at the tray holder  6 . The washing bath has a bottom, on which there are disposed first and second protrusion  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  are 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 main body unit  3 , there is a 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 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 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 device  30  arranged in the main body unit  3 , as will be described later.  
      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 from 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 (not shown) 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. 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 in 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 a predetermined position in 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 to be 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 main body unit  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 main body unit  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 main body unit  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 , one duct  46  is linked with a washing agent bottle  38 , while the remaining duct  47  is linked with a chemical bottle  49 . A duct  50  connects the washing agent bottle  38  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 , which allows the water to be 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 device  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 .  
      In addition, one end of a duct  57  for washing a brush  27  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) is connected to the circulating duct  57  between the two three-way switching valves  59  and  60 . The brush  27  is used for washing endoscopic channels, such as a suction channel, formed through the insertion tube  22  of the endoscope  20 . In the course of this duct  79 , there is provided a pump  78  for washing the brush  27 , and the remaining end of this duct  79  is lined with nozzle connectors  85  disposed at the base of the washing bath  5 . In response to drive of the pump  78  which is carried out under the control of the controller  26 , the washing fluid, disinfecting fluid, or tap water in the circulating duct  57  is controlled to flow to the nozzle connectors  85  depending on a commanded process.  
      The drain port  17   c  is connected to the circulating duct  57  between the three-way switching valves  56  and  44  through a duct  57 A in which there are inserted a three-way switching valve  76  and a check valve  77  in this order from the drain port  17   c.  The three-way switching valve  76  is also connected with a drain duct  75  and the internal path of this valve  76  is switched in a controlled manner under the controller  26 . Hence it is possible that the fluid that remains in the washing bath  5  is drained to an outside drain port via the drain port  17   c,  the three-way switching valve  76  in the duct  57 A, and the 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 device  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 device  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 flush 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 device  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 device  30  is a device which automatically connects or disconnect the nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  to or from the opening of the channels formed through the insertion through the endoscope  20 . When this connecting and disconnecting operation is carried out, the endoscope  20  is mounted 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 duct and water-supply duct, respectively. In addition, another only one action allows those connected three nozzles  31 - 33  to be released from the openings of the channels. For realizing those connection and disconnection actions, the nozzle-mounted device  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 device  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 , and a nozzle-mounted block  82 . 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.  
      The rail members  81   a  and  81   b  are fixed disposed to be parallel to each other and to position to provide a predetermined guide structure to the main body unit  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 in both directions consisting of a direction advancing toward a washing-bath frame  5   b  and a direction opposite to the advancing direction, that is, a direction retreating 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 solenoid  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 of the rail members  81   a  and  81   b.    
      The latch type solenoid  80  has a securing plate  81   b,  which is secured at a predetermined position of the main body unit  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 forced to be 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 an 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 material, 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 material, 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. Though not shown, these pipes  36  to  38  are connected with one ends of an air-supply tube, a water-supply tube, and a sucking 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 main body unit  3 .  
      The suction-side block  82   a  still accommodates therein a brush device  27  essentially consisting of a brush  27   a  and a brush wire  27   b  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). The brush device  27  is exchangeable. The brush wire  27   b  is accommodated in a wound form. The brush wire  27   b  is pressed between two rollers  28   a  and  28   b,  which compose a pair of rollers placed in the suction-side block  82   a,  and extend through the L-shaped pipe  38  and the connecting part  40   a  in an airtight manner.  
      Of the two rollers, one is a driving roller  28   a  and the other is a driven roller  28   b.  The driving roller  28   a  has a shaft (not shown) driven by a rotating drive force coming from a motor via a reduction gear train (not shown). Thus the brush wire  27   b  is forced by the rotation of the driving roller  28   a  so as to advance or retreat so that the brush  27   a  is inserted from the suction-side block  82   a  into the suction channel  22   a  via the connecting part  40   a  or pulled back from the suction channel  22   a  of the endoscope  20  to the suction-side block  82   a  via the connecting part  40   a.    
      As explained above, in the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , the washing nozzles  31 ,  32  and  33  are used to supply washing fluid, disinfecting fluid rinsing water, and/or deodorizing air to the suction channel  22   a,  air-supply channel  22   b,  and water-supply channel  22   c  in a controlled manner depending on each of the washing, disinfecting, rinsing, and/or deodorizing steps. By this supply, the endoscope  20  is subjected to washing and disinfection of the outer surface and inner channels of the endoscope  20 .  
      Further, in the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , the suction channel  22   a  of the endoscope  20  is subjected to brushing by the brush  27   a  which is made to go back and forth, in addition to supply of the washing fluid, disinfecting fluid, or rinsing water. Hence this apparatus  2  is able to wash and disinfect the suction channel  22   a  by removing, in particular, various kinds of humor, such as mucosa and blood, and filth attached thereon in a reliable and consistent manner.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , another configuration provided by the present endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  will now be described. This configuration relates to washing the brush  27   a  while the brush  27   a  is made to repeat the advancing and retreating actions along the suction channel  22   a.    
      Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the tray  10  is provided with a plurality of brush washing nozzles  84  (four nozzles  84   a,    84   b,    84   c  and  84   d  in the present embodiment) which function as fluid spraying members. These nozzles  84  are positioned at four different positions along the tube-accommodating groove  13 , which is part of the accommodating groove  11  for the used endoscope  20 . The four washing nozzles  84   a,    84   b,    84   c  and  84   d  are dependent on the types of endoscopes to be washed, specifically, on the lengths of insertion tubes of those four different endoscopes. The length is defined as a longitudinal (length-wise) length of each insertion tube. The positions of the four nozzles  84   a,    84   b,    84   c  and  84   d  are consistent with those of the distal ends of insertion tubes being accommodated.  
      To be more specific, the bush washing nozzle  84   a  located an innermost position on the tray  10  is prepared for an endoscope  20  having a longest insertion tube  22  and is formed at a longitudinal position in proximity to the distal end thereof mounted on the base of the tube-accommodating groove  13 . In contrast, the bush washing nozzle  84   a  located an outermost position on the tray  10  is prepared for an endoscope  20  having a shortest insertion tube  22  and is formed at a longitudinal position in proximity to the distal end thereof mounted on the base of the tube-accommodating groove  13 .  
      The remaining two brush washing nozzles  84   b  and  84   c  located intermediate positions on the tray  10  are prepared for endoscopes  20  having intermediate insertion tubes  22 . And each of these nozzles  84   b  and  84   c  is also formed at a longitudinal position in proximity to the distal end thereof mounted on the base of the tube-accommodating groove  13 .  
      In terms of the lengths of the insertion tubes  22  (provided that the sizes of the endoscopes  20  are the same), the four exemplified nozzles  84   a,    84   b,    84   c  and  84   d  are set realize the relationship of  84   a &gt; 84   d &gt; 84   c &gt; 84   d  which are longer in this order.  
      In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in the base of the washing bath  5 , there are disposed four nozzle connectors  85  consisting of members  85   a,    85   b,    85   c  and  85   d,  of which positions are decided to be in agreement of the horizontal positions of the four brush washing nozzles  84   a,    84   b,    84   c  and  84   d  on the tray  10 . Thus, when the tray  10  is installed in the washing bath  5 , a mechanical connection is realized between the nozzle connector  85   a  and the washing nozzle  84   a,  between the nozzle connector  85   b  and the washing nozzle  84   b,  between the nozzle connector  85   c  and the washing nozzle  84   c,  and between the nozzle connector  85   d  and the washing nozzle  84   d,  respectively.  
      As a modification, the number of brush washing nozzles  84  may not be limited to four, but may be one, two, three, or five or more. The number of nozzle connectors  85  may be set corresponding to the number of nozzles  84  to be set.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , each brush washing nozzle  84  is shaped into a substantial tube with a tapered outer surface on the top side thereof. This nozzle  84  has a through-hole formed inside through a longitudinal direction thereof, the through-hole providing a spray opening  87   a  which opens at the top side and a fitting hole  87   b  into which the nozzle connector  85  is fit. The base of each nozzle  84  is widened in diameter to form a flange  87   c.  Each flange  87   c  is made to touch the back surface of the tube-accommodating groove  13  when the connectors  85  are fit into the nozzles  84 .  
      Each nozzle connector  85  is also shaped into a substantial tubular member, but it has, at an upper side thereof, a fit portion  88   a  being fit into the fitting hole  87   b  of each nozzle  84 . A O-ring  88   c  is placed on the outer surface of the fit portion  88   a  so as to keep the airtight performance with the fitting hole  87   b.  The connector  85  still has a flange  88   b  formed to extend at a longitudinal intermediate position thereof. The nozzle connector  85  is secured to the base of the washing bath  5  so that the flange  88   b  is water-tightly mounted on the upper surface of that base. The lower end portion of each connector  85  is coupled with the foregoing duct  79 .  
      As stated, a used endoscope  20  is accommodated in the accommodating groove  11  on the tray  10 , and then the tray  10  is installed in the washing bath  5 . In this installed state, the work processes necessary for washing and disinfecting the accommodated endoscope  20  are carried out. By way of example, in each of these work processes, the brush wire  27   b,  that is, the brush  27   a,  is mechanically driven to repeatedly advance and retreat along the suction channel  22   a  in response to commands from the controller  26 . During such repeated actions, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the brush  27   a  appears form the frontal surface of the insertion tube  22 . Namely the actions of the brush  27  are controlled such that the brush  27  protrudes from the front by a predetermined length. Setting is made such that, when protruding to the fullest extent, the brush  27   b  is located at a position just above a specific nozzle  84 . At this moment and in this fullest protruded stage, the fluid for washing, disinfecting and rinsing is forcibly sprayed from the spray opening  87   a  of the nozzle  84  upward to the brush  27   a.    
      The washing process for the brush  27   a  may be carried out only during or after the washing process for the suction channel  22   a.    
      Thanks to this spray action, the various kinds of humor, such as mucosa and blood, and filth attached to the brush  27   a  are removed. In addition, in parallel to washing the brush  27   a,  the washing, disinfesting, or rinsing fluid is controlled to flow through the suction channel  22   a  without rest, so that a flow of the fluid from the distal opening of the suction channel  22   a  is also kept during washing the brush  27   a.  As a consequence, such flow surely prevents the contaminated articles, once removed from the brush  27   a,  from penetrating the suction channel  22   a  from its distal opening.  
      A modification is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in which the brush washing nozzle  87  is disposed at a predetermined position on the base in the washing base  5 , so that its spray opening  87   a  is directly protruded from the base of the tray  10 . To accomplish this modification, a through-hole that allows the insertion of the nozzle  87  is formed through the tube-accommodating tube  13 . The lower end portion of the nozzle  87  is linked with the duct  79  in the same way as explained before. Thus the nozzle  87  can be made in a simpler manner.  
      It is preferred that the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  is of a universal type. That is, the apparatus  2  is adaptive by itself to washing various kinds of endoscopes  20  with various-length insertion tubes  22 . In order to attain such an object, the brush washing nozzles  84   a  to  84   d  is should be driven selectively depending on the lengths of the insertion tubes  22 , that is, the kinds of the endoscopes  20 . Referring to  FIGS. 11-15  and  18 , the configurations and operations for such an object will now be described.  
      As pictorially shown in  FIG. 11 , depending on the number of nozzle connectors  85 , the duct  79  coming from the pump  78  is divided into first to fourth ducts  79   a  to  79   b  connecting to electromagnetic valves  91   a  to  91   d,  respectively.  
      The respective electromagnetic valves  91   a  to  91   d  are responsive to control signals from the controller  26  and their internal valve members can be opened and closed by such control signals. The controller  26  is communicably connected to a receiver  90 , which receives endoscopic information about the endoscope  20  by wireless from an endoscope ID (identification) medium  20   a  attached to the endoscope  20 . The endoscopic information includes data showing the types of various optical systems, the length of an insertion tube, and the diameters of various endoscopic channels (ducts), which are inherently given to the endoscope accommodated in the accommodating groove  11 . The receiver  90  is formed to magnetically or optically read the information from the ID medium  20   a,  which is for example an IC chip or a bar code.  
      The controller  26  first receives operation information from the operation panel  8  to determine whether or not an endoscope  20  being washed and disinfected is accommodated in the groove  11  on the tray  10  (step S 1  in  FIG. 18 ). And the controller  26  reads out, by wireless, the endoscopic information from the endoscope ID medium on the endoscope  20  (step S 2 ).  
      The controller then shifts the next processing to interpret the length of the insertion tube  22  from the read-out endoscopic information, to use the interpreted length information to select an appropriate brush washing nozzle  84  adaptive to the length of the insertion tube  22  of the endoscope  20  currently accommodated, and to specify a nozzle connector  85  connected to the selected nozzle  84  (step S 3 ).  
       FIG. 12  exemplifies this situation in more detail. As shown, an endoscope  20  which uses the longest insertion tube  20  is accommodated in the base-accommodating recess  12  and tube-accommodating groove  13 , the controller  26  specifies the nozzle connector  85   a  connected to the brash washing nozzle  84   a  of which position in the groove  13  matches with the length of the insertion tube  12 , on the basis of the read-out length information from the endoscope ID medium  20   a.    
      Hence the controller  26  controls only the electrometric valve  91   a  in the first branched duct  97   a  connected to the nozzle connector  85   a  in such a manner that the valve  91   a  is opened (step S 4 ). During this control, the remaining electromagnetic valves  91   b  to  91   d,  which are in the second to fourth branched ducts  79   b  to  79   d  connected to the other nozzle connectors  85   b  to  85   d,  are kept at their valve-closed states (i.e., initial states).  
      From the read-out length information about the insertion tube  20 , the controller  26  decides a feeding amount to insert and pull back the brush  27   a  through the suction channel  22   a  (that is, an mount on which the brush wire  27   b  is fed and pulled back by the rollers  28  in the nozzle-mounted device  30 ) (step S 5 ). In this decision, the controller  26  sets the feeding amount (in the advancing direction along the duct  22   a ) at its maximum value which allows the brush  27   a  to just be located above the spray opening  87   a  of the nozzle  84   a.  Then in reply to the decided feeding amount for the insertion tube  22 , the controller  26  drives a motor M to rotate the roller  28  (step S 6 ).  
      In addition, the controller  26  commands the motor M to stop for a predetermined period of time (for example, several seconds) to stop the rotation of the roller  28 , when the brush  27   a  which has advanced, to the fullest extent, to protrude from the frontal surface of the insertion tube  22  is just above the nozzle  84   a  (steps S 7  and S 8 ).  
      During this stop period, the controller  26  orders the rotational drive of the pump  78  and the open of the electromagnetic valve  85   a,  so that the washing, disinfecting, or rinsing fluid is forcibly sprayed up toward the brush  27   a  from the spray opening  87   a  of the nozzle  84   a  (steps S 9  and S 10 ).  
      On completion of elapse of the predetermined stop period, the controller  26  perform the control such that the rotational drive of the pump  78  is stopped, the electromagnetic valve  85   a  is made close, and the motor M is driven to rotate the roller  28  so that the brush  27   a,  that is, the brush wire  27   b  is pulled back through the suction channel  22   a  (steps S 11  and S 12 ). Hence the brush  27   a  is returned to its initial position.  
      The foregoing washing operation is performed repeatedly predetermined times (step S 13 ). After this, based on the information that was already acquired from the operation panel  8 , the controller  26  automatically determines whether or not the next process is required (for example, the disinfecting process after the washing process) (step S 14 ). If this determination shows that the next process is required, the three-way switching valves  44  and  45  are switched to internal paths adaptive to the next process (step S 15 ), before the processing returns to step S 6 . In the next processing, with using another type of fluid, the processing similar to the foregoing is carried out as long as there are endoscopes being washed on the tray  10  (step S 16 ).  
      Thus, the brush  27   a  is able to fully wash the suction channel  22   a  by brushing the channel wall to remove the various kinds of humor, such as mucosa and blood, and filth attached thereon. The humor and filth attached to the brush  27   a  are also washed away by the washing fluid sprayed from the nozzle  84   a.    
      In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 13  to  15 , when an endoscope  20  which has a insertion tube  22  shorter than the foregoing insertion tube  22  adapted to the nozzle  84   a  is accommodated on the tray  10 , information indicative of the length of the insertion tube  22  is interpreted from the information read from an endoscope ID medium  20   a  attached to the endoscope  20  is used. And the read-out length information, an appropriately located nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ), which is in proximity to the distal end of the insertion tube, is specified. That is, a nozzle connector  85   b  ( 85   c,    85   d ) corresponding to the specified nozzle is also decided. Then the controller  26  calculates a feeding amount of the brush  27   a  to make it advance and retreat through the suction tube  22   a,  and drives the motor M depending on the calculated feeding amount.  
      Like the case for the nozzle  84   a,  the feeding amount is set such that the brush  27   a  which advances to the fullest is located just above the nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ).  
      And when the brush  27   a  is protruded from the distal opening of the suction channel  22   a  and located just above the nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ), that is, the spray opening  87   b  ( 87   c,    87   d ), the motor M is stopped from being driven for a predetermined period of time, so that the roller  28  which make the brush wire  27   b  advance or retreat is also prohibited from rotating.  
      During stopping the motions of the brush  27   a,  the pump  78  is driven and an electromagnetic valve  85   b  ( 85   c,    85   d ) corresponding to the specified nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ) is made open, without operating the remaining valves. Hence, from the spray opening  87   b  ( 87   c,    87   d ) of the nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ), the fluid for washing, disinfecting and rinsing is sprayed out toward the brush  27   a.    
      In this way, the brush  27   a  that applies the brushing operations to each suction channel  22   a  of the shorter insertion tubes  22  can also be washed well by the fluid sprayed from the nozzle  84   b  ( 84   c,    84   d ). As a whole, using the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment, the endoscope  20  can be accommodated and positioned on the tray  10 , and the outer surface and the endoscopic channels, in particular, to the suction channel  22   a,  of the endoscope  20  can be washed and/or brushing-washed. Moreover, even if various types of endoscopes  20  with insertion tubes  22  of different lengths are to be washed, the distal ends of those insertion tubes can be located just in proximity to any of the nozzles  84   a  to  84   d.  And the brush  27   a  moved through the suction channel  22   a  can be located just above any nozzle  84   a  ( 84   b,    84   c,    84   d ) for washing, when the brush  27   a  is made to advance to the fullest.  
      Accordingly, operators (users) are released from the manual kneading and washing work with the brush  27   a.  Thus, the operators&#39; washing work can be relieved, without performing the conventional manual washing work which is troublesome and time-consuming. Frequently, how to wash brushes by hand (including the time for washing each brush) varies person by person, and such variations sometimes lead to the remaining of humor and filth on the brushes. However, in the apparatus  2  of the present embodiment, the brush  27   a  is washed in the same automatic manner, so that the remaining humor and filth can be removed.  
      Moreover, the operating rate of each endoscope can be raised, because many endoscopes that have been used can be washed in succession without manually washing the brush  27   a.    
      The foregoing embodiment can be developed into some other modifications. For example, in the endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus  2 , the nozzles  84  on the tray  10  and the nozzle connectors  85  coupled with the nozzles  84  in the washing bath  5  can be disposed at any positions. In performing such a free-positional design, information about the length of the insertion tube  22  of an endoscope  20  is acquired from an endoscope ID medium  20   a  adhered to the endoscope. Based on the acquired information, the controller  26  specifies a nozzle  84  disposed at the nearest position the in front of the distal end of the insertion tube  22 , and stops at the position above the specified nozzle  84  for washing the brush  27   a.    
      That is, irrespective of the lengths of insertion tubes, a nozzle which is positionally best matched to an insertion tube can be designated as one being actually driven. Thus, this modification provides the similar advantages to those gained in the foregoing embodiment.  
      Another modification is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . As shown therein, there is a brush washing nozzle  84   e  is disposed at a position between the washing nozzle  33  and the suction channel port  24   a  of the suction channel connector  24  in the washing bath  5 .  
      Though not shown, the nozzle  84   e  is directly connected to the duct  79  in which an electromagnetic valve intervenes inside the main body unit  3 . This electromagnetic valve (not shown) is driven by the controller  26  so that the brush  27   a  is washed by fluid sprayed from the nozzle  27   a  at timing when the nozzle  33  is connected with or separated from the suction channel connector  24 .  
      Accordingly, this brush washing nozzle  84   e  can be operated for washing the brush  27   a  before and/or after each of the washing, disinfecting, and rinsing processes and/or during each of the washing, disinfecting, and rinsing processes. In addition, in each process, this washing may be done, provided that the nozzle  33  is separate from the suction channel connector  24 .  
      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.