Endoscope sheath and related method
First Claim
1. A device utilizable with an endoscope to promote sterility, comprising:
- a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material, said sheath having a use configuration with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an insertion member of the endoscope, whereby said sheath may be removably disposed about such insertion member to substantially surround same prior to insertion of the insertion member into a patient;
a transparent element attached in a fluid tight seal to a distal end of said sheath so that said transparent element covers a distal end of the insertion member of the endoscope; and
securing means on said sheath for facilitating attachment thereof in a fluid tight seal to the insertion member of the endoscope and for concomitantly facilitating subsequent removal of said sheath from the insertion member of the endoscope, said securing means including at least one pair of cooperating zip-lock elements extending longitudinally along said sheath.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device utilizable with an endoscope to promote sterility comprises a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material such as rubber, the sheath having a use configuration with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an insertion member of the endoscope, whereby the sheath may be removably disposed about such insertion member to substantially surround same prior to insertion of the insertion member into a patient. The device further comprises a transparent cap member and an element or elements for attaching the cap member in a fluid tight seal to a distal end of the sheath so that the cap member covers a distal end of the insertion member of the endoscope. Biopsy channels, some of which are expandable from collapsed configurations to receive endoscopic surgical instruments during an operation, are provided on or in the sheath.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device utilizable with an endoscope to promote sterility, comprising:
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a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material, said sheath having a use configuration with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an insertion member of the endoscope, whereby said sheath may be removably disposed about such insertion member to substantially surround same prior to insertion of the insertion member into a patient; a transparent element attached in a fluid tight seal to a distal end of said sheath so that said transparent element covers a distal end of the insertion member of the endoscope; and securing means on said sheath for facilitating attachment thereof in a fluid tight seal to the insertion member of the endoscope and for concomitantly facilitating subsequent removal of said sheath from the insertion member of the endoscope, said securing means including at least one pair of cooperating zip-lock elements extending longitudinally along said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for performing an endoscopic surgical operation, comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscope having an insertion member with means for transmitting visual information from a distal end of said insertion member to a proximal end thereof; providing a tubular sheath defining a main chamber, said sheath having a transparent element attached to a distal end of said sheath in a fluid tight seal; disposing said sheath about said insertion member to enclose at least a distal end portion of said sheath in a fluid tight seal inside said chamber, said step of disposing including the step of closing a zip-lock seal on said sheath; inserting said insertion member with said sheath into a patient; using visual information obtained from said insertion member via said transparent element to locate a site within the patient; upon the locating of said site, withdrawing said insertion member from the patient; and removing said sheath from said insertion member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device utilizable with an endoscope, comprising:
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a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material and defining a main channel; securing means for attaching said tubular sheath to a distal end of an insertion member of the endoscope, said securing means including at least one pair of cooperating zip-lock elements extending longitudinally along said sheath; and means on said sheath separate from said securing means for defining a biopsy channel in or on said sheath said biopsy channel being different from said main channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification