Endoscope with potential channels and method of using the same
First Claim
1. An endoscope comprising:
- an insertion tube having a distal end for inserting into a patient'"'"'s body and a proximal end remaining outside said body;
a sheath covering said insertion tube, said sheath extending from said distal end of said insertion tube to said proximal end of said insertion tube; and
a resilient tubing within said sheath having a channel that is collapsed in its relaxed state and expandable to provide a lumen through said tubing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing an endoscope with a plurality of potential channels is disclosed. A tubing having a radially flexible wall is positioned adjacent the endoscope insertion tube. The tubing is collapsed prior to inserting the insertion tube into the patient'"'"'s body. After the insertion tube is within the patient'"'"'s body, the tubing is expanded to create a channel. A medical apparatus may pass through the channel for performing a medical procedure. The tubing is expanded by placing a tapered rod therethrough, by placing a fluid under pressure within the tubing, or by elevating a flat coiled wire into a cylindrical coil. A radially rigid tubing is placed within the expanded flexible tubing to permit medical devices to extend from a position outside of the patient'"'"'s body to the distal end of the insertion tube. A plurality of tubings are provided circumferentially spaced from each other around the insertion tube to permit a combination of medical devices to be used in cooperation with each other to perform a medical procedure. A stiffening member, such as a rod or fluid under pressure may extend partially along the length of the insertion tube to vary the flexibility characteristics of the insertion tube while it is within the patient'"'"'s body.
774 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end for inserting into a patient'"'"'s body and a proximal end remaining outside said body; a sheath covering said insertion tube, said sheath extending from said distal end of said insertion tube to said proximal end of said insertion tube; and a resilient tubing within said sheath having a channel that is collapsed in its relaxed state and expandable to provide a lumen through said tubing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 5. The endoscope according to claim further including a second resilient tubing disposed between an outer wall of said sheath and said insertion tube, said second resilient tubing having a channel that is collapsed in its relaxed state against said insertion tube and expandable to provide a lumen through said tubing, said second resilient tubing being circumferentially offset from said first resilient tubing around said insertion tube.
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22. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end for inserting into a patient'"'"'s body and a proximal end remaining outside said body; a sheath covering said insertion tube, said sheath extending from said distal end of said insertion tube to said proximal end of said insertion tube; and a tubing coupled to said sheath and having a channel and a flexible wall surrounding said channel, said wall being sufficiently flexible to permit varying of the cross-sectional area of said tubing from having generally the cross-sectional area of said wall to having generally the cross-sectional area of said channel. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. The method of providing a channel in an insertion tube of an endoscope, comprising:
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placing a thin-walled, flexible sheath over said insertion tube; positioning a tubing having a radially flexible wall adjacent said sheath; positioning said insertion tube within a patient'"'"'s body; and expanding a channel in said tubing to a lumen through which material may pass. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification