PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure the flow rate of a refrigerant and to perform appropriate feedback to a pump so as to cool an endoscope distal end part.SOLUTION: The endoscope cooling device has an operation part, a shaft part, a distal end part, and an external device. The endoscope cooling device includes: a heat exchange mechanism for performing heat exchange at the distal end part a pump for feeding the refrigerant a first flow path for making the refrigerant flow toward the heat exchange mechanism from the pump a second flow path for making the refrigerant flow toward the pump from the heat exchange mechanism a flow rate measuring mechanism which is provided at any position in the second flow path between the heat exchange mechanism and the pump and a control means for controlling the pump in accordance with the output of the flow rate measuring mechanism. A refrigerant circulation type cooling mechanism is configured such that the refrigerant circulates and flows in the first flow path and the second flow path, and thus the distal end part is cooled.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】冷媒の流量を測定し、内視鏡先端部の冷却のために、ポンプに的確なフィードバックをかける。【解決手段】操作部と、シャフト部と、先端部と、外部装置とを有する内視鏡冷却装置であって、先端部において熱交換を行う熱交換機構と、冷媒を送り出すポンプと、ポンプから熱交換機構へ向かって冷媒を流すための第1の流路と、熱交換機構からポンプへ向かって冷媒を流すための第2の流路と、熱交換機構とポンプとの間の第2の流路のいずれかの位置に設けられ、冷媒の流量を測定する流量測定機構と、流量測定機構の出力に応じて、ポンプを制御する制御手段と、を有し、冷媒が第1の流路と第2の流路とを循環して流れることにより、先端部を冷却する冷媒循環型冷却機構を構成することを特徴とする。【選択図】図2
