ENDOSCOPE AND RELATED SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope-sheath system comprising:
- an endoscope having a distal end, the distal end having an outer diameter and housing optical elements and image transmission means;
a sheath having a distal end enclosing at least a portion of the endoscope distal end, the sheath having an inner diameter and a tip at the sheath distal end, the tip housing illumination elements, the endoscope removably insertable within the sheath; and
a separator disposed between the outer diameter and the inner diameter creating an eccentric alignment of the endoscope with respect to the sheath.
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Abstract
An endoscope is described in which the diameter of the image relay assembly is less than that of the objective lens assembly. An endoscope sheath is also described for sheathing the endoscope and housing or directing optical fibers for use in illuminating the endoscope view of view. An endoscope-sheath system is further described comprising the combination of the endoscope and the endoscope sheath in eccentric alignment to reduce fluid flow impedance between the two.
89 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An endoscope-sheath system comprising:
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an endoscope having a distal end, the distal end having an outer diameter and housing optical elements and image transmission means; a sheath having a distal end enclosing at least a portion of the endoscope distal end, the sheath having an inner diameter and a tip at the sheath distal end, the tip housing illumination elements, the endoscope removably insertable within the sheath; and a separator disposed between the outer diameter and the inner diameter creating an eccentric alignment of the endoscope with respect to the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An endoscope sheath comprising:
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a body portion; a tip portion having a distal end, a distal opening at the distal end, an intermediate sub-portion, and a proximal end, and affixed to or integral with the body portion at the proximal end, the tip portion comprising inner and outer cylinders aligned eccentrically by a separator and forming one or more angular gaps in between the inner and outer cylinders; a plurality of optical fibers extending lengthwise through the one or more angular gaps from the distal end of the tip portion to one or more illumination ports in the to intermediate sub-portion; and one or more fluid ingress ports in the intermediate sub-portion located distally in relation to the one or more illumination ports. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An endoscope-sheath system comprising:
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an endoscope comprising;
(1) an intermediate portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
(2) one or more optical elements forming an objective lens assembly having a first diameter, the objective lens assembly disposed at or within the distal end; and
(3) one or more optical elements forming an image relay assembly having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the image relay assembly disposed at or within the intermediate portion and situated along an optical path extending from the objective lens assembly;an endoscope sheath sheathing at least a portion of the endoscope comprising;
(1) a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a proximal end, (2) inner and outer cylinders aligned eccentrically by a separator to contact one another at one or more points of tangency, thus forming one or more angular gaps in between the inner and outer cylinders; and
(3) a plurality of optical fibers extending lengthwise through the one or more angular gaps from the distal end through at least a part of the intermediate portion; anda body affixed to or integral with the proximal ends of the endoscope and endoscope sheath. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification