US 2006/0135851 A1Published application

Adapter unit for connecting cleaning fluid supply device to endoscopes

AssigneeFujinon Corporation

InventorMasayuki Yamazaki

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Abstract

A cleaning adapter unit for connecting a cleaning fluid supply device to different type endoscopes comprises adapter valve assemblies which correspond to the different endoscopes, respectively. Each adapter valve assembly comprises a valve sleeve detachably connectable to the cleaning fluid supply device and a valve body received in the valve sleeve for slide movement and forming a valve chamber leading to the passage in the valve sleeve. The valve sleeve has a passage and is provided with a first fitting at one end thereof which is formed so as to be hermetically received in a valve casing of one of the different endoscopes, and the valve body is provided with first and second passages formed separately therein and opens at opposite ends, respectively, and with a second fitting at one ends thereof opposite to the one end of the valve sleeve at which the first fitting is formed so as to be hermetically received in the valve casing of the other different endoscope. The valve body brings the passage into communication with the first passage through the valve chamber when the cleaning adapter unit is attached to the one different endoscope by fitting the first fitting in the valve casing of the endoscope and with the second passage through the valve chamber when attached to the other endoscope by fitting the second fitting in the valve casing of the endoscope.

A cleaning adapter unit for connecting cleaning fluid supply means selectively to different type endoscopes so that cleaning fluid is supplied into at least one conduit extending within said endoscope from said cleaning fluid supply means through said cleaning adapter unit for cleaning an interior of said conduit, each said endoscope being equipped with fluid control valve means which comprises a valve casing fixedly installed in a control section of said endoscope and connected to said conduit and a valve body removably received in said valve casing, and said valve casings of said different type endoscopes being different in shape from each other, said cleaning adapter unit comprising:

an adapter valve sleeve having an inlet fluid passage detachably connectable to said cleaning fluid supply means and provided with first fitting means at one of opposite ends thereof, said first fitting means being formed so as to be hermetically received in said valve casing of one of said different type endoscopes;
and
an adapter valve body received in said adapter valve sleeve for slide movement and forming a valve chamber leading to said inlet fluid passage in said adapter valve sleeve, said adapter valve body being provided with first and second fluid passages formed separately from each other therein and opening at opposite ends thereof, respectively, and provided with second fitting means at one of opposite ends thereof opposite to said one end of said adapter valve sleeve at which said first fitting means is formed so as to be hermetically received in said valve casing of the other of said different type endoscope;
wherein said adapter valve body brings said inlet fluid passage into communication with said first fluid passage through said valve chamber when said cleaning adapter unit is attached to one of said different type endoscopes by fitting said first fitting means in said valve casing of said one of said different type endoscopes and, on the other hand, with said second fluid passage though said valve chamber when said cleaning adapter unit is attached to the other of said different type endoscopes by fitting said second fitting means in said valve casing of said other of said different type endoscopes.

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Abstract

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