Endoscope for sterilizing built-in elongated channel with high-temperature and high-pressure vapor

Abstract

An endoscope according to the present invention includes an endoscope main body, in which a channel having at least one end communicated with the outside is inserted and which is covered with an exterior member, and a communicating hole which is arranged in the halfway of the channel and which introduces vapor in the channel so as to sterilize the channel with the vapor.

1 . An endoscope comprising: 
 an endoscope main body, having therein a channel having at least one end communicated with the outside, the endoscope being covered with an exterior member; and    a communicating hole which is arranged in the halfway of the channel and which introduces vapor in the channel so as to sterilize the channel with the vapor.    
     
     
         2 . An endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel is inserted in the endoscope main body and both ends of the channel are communicated with the outside of the endoscope.  
     
     
         3 . An endoscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a closing member which selectively closes the communicating hole;    
     
     
         4 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein the communicating hole is closed by the closing member upon using the endoscope.  
     
     
         5 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein the communicating hole releases the closing state using the closing member upon sterilization with high-temperature and high-pressure vapor.  
     
     
         6 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein the channel is for flowing a fluid.  
     
     
         7 . An endoscope according to  claim 6 , wherein the channel is a channel for feeding water in a frontward direction.  
     
     
         8 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein the communicating path is arranged to one part of an operating portion.  
     
     
         9 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a state notifying portion which notifies a user that the channel is not communicated with the outside of the endoscope by the communicating hole before operating a sterilizing device with the high-temperature and high-pressure vapor.    
     
     
         10 . An endoscope according to  claim 3 , wherein the channel has an inner diameter of 6 mm or less.  
     
     
         11 . A sterilizing method with high-temperature and high-pressure vapor of an endoscope, comprising 
 a sterilizing step of sterilizing a channel by supplying vapor with high temperature and the high pressure from a communicating hole for introducing the vapor in the channel to sterilize the channel with the vapor, the channel being inserted in an endoscope main body and having at least one end communicated with the outside, the communicating hole being arranged in the halfway of the channel.    
     
     
         12 . A sterilizing method with high-temperature and high-pressure vapor of an endoscope according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a cleaning step of cleaning by flowing a cleaning fluid from the communicating hole.