Endoscope sheath and valve system
First Claim
1. A protective covering adapted for use on a conventional endoscope which includes an elongated substantially cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end has substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the endoscope further including an optical element and a light source, the covering comprising:
- (a) an elongated hollow sheath having a wall of flexible material, the material being substantially gas and water impervious, the sheath including a main channel adapted to contain the elongated portion of the endoscope in a loose fitting manner, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the sheath comprises an end-fitting cap having a first end, second end, a substantially cylindrical sidewall, forming an internal endoscope receiving chamber, wherein the chamber has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the distal end of the conventional endoscope such that the end-fitting cap is adapted to receive the distal end of the endoscope in a snug-fit relationship, and at least one access channel, the first end including an optically clear element having an external surface and internal surface, and wherein the second end of the cap is in sealing engagement with the distal end of the sheath; and
(b) at least one axially-directed access tube, the access tube being adapted to extend alongside and exterior to the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the access tube having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the access tube is separate from the sheath and adapted to be tangentially located on the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, wherein the access tube is adapted to extend axially between the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope and the wall of the sheath, and wherein the main channel of the sheath has a sufficiently greater diameter, when unstretched, than the sidewall of the end-fitting cap to allow the access tube to move freely over the substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A protective covering for a medical instrument, such as an endoscope, is described. The covering includes an elongated hollow sheath having a wall of flexible material. The sheath is substantially gas and water impervious. The sheath further includes auxiliary access tubes associated with the sheath for providing a variety of functions, such as instrument manipulation, and fluid removal. The distal end of the sheath is provided with a cap having an optically clear window to allow the lens portion of the medical instrument to operate.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A protective covering adapted for use on a conventional endoscope which includes an elongated substantially cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end has substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the endoscope further including an optical element and a light source, the covering comprising:
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(a) an elongated hollow sheath having a wall of flexible material, the material being substantially gas and water impervious, the sheath including a main channel adapted to contain the elongated portion of the endoscope in a loose fitting manner, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the sheath comprises an end-fitting cap having a first end, second end, a substantially cylindrical sidewall, forming an internal endoscope receiving chamber, wherein the chamber has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the distal end of the conventional endoscope such that the end-fitting cap is adapted to receive the distal end of the endoscope in a snug-fit relationship, and at least one access channel, the first end including an optically clear element having an external surface and internal surface, and wherein the second end of the cap is in sealing engagement with the distal end of the sheath; and (b) at least one axially-directed access tube, the access tube being adapted to extend alongside and exterior to the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the access tube having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the access tube is separate from the sheath and adapted to be tangentially located on the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, wherein the access tube is adapted to extend axially between the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope and the wall of the sheath, and wherein the main channel of the sheath has a sufficiently greater diameter, when unstretched, than the sidewall of the end-fitting cap to allow the access tube to move freely over the substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A combination protective covering and valve system adapted for use on a conventional endoscope which includes an elongated substantially cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end, an optical element and a light source, comprising:
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(a) an elongated hollow sheath having a wall of flexible material, the material being substantially gas and water impervious, the sheath including a main channel adapted to contain the elongated portion of the endoscope in a loose fitting manner, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the sheath comprises an end-fitting cap having a first end, second end, a substantially cylindrical sidewall, forming an internal endoscope receiving chamber, wherein the chamber has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the distal end of the conventional endoscope such that the end-fitting cap is adapted to receive the distal end of the endoscope in a snug-fit relationship, and at least one access channel, the first end including an optically clear element having an external surface and internal surface, and wherein the second end of the cap is in sealing engagement with the distal end of the sheath; (b) at least one axially-directed access tube, the access tube being adapted to extend alongside and exterior to the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the access tube having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the access tube is separate from the sheath and adapted to be tangentially located on the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, wherein the access tube is adapted to extend axially between the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope and the wall of the sheath, and wherein the main channel of the sheath has a sufficiently greater diameter, when unstretched, than the sidewall of the end-fitting cap to allow the access tube to move freely over the substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope; and (c) means to communicate a functional activity to the at least one access tube. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. In combination with a conventional endoscope, which includes an elongated substantially cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end has substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the endoscope further including an optical element and a light source, a protective covering comprising:
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(a) an elongated hollow sheath having a wall of flexible material, the material being substantially gas and water impervious, the sheath including a main channel covering the elongated portion of the endoscope in a loose fitting manner, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the sheath comprises an end-fitting cap having a first end, a second end, a substantially cylindrical side wall forming an endoscope receiving chamber, wherein the chamber has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the proximal end of the endoscope such that the end-fitting cap receives the distal end of the endoscope in a snug-fit relationship, and at least on access channel, wherein the first end of the end-fitting cap includes an optically clear element having an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein the second end of the cap is in sealing engagement with the distal end of the sheath; and (b) at least one axially directed access tube, the access tube extending alongside and exterior to the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, the access tube having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the access tube is separate from the sheath and tangentially located on the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope, wherein the access tube extends axially between the elongated substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope and the wall of the sheath, and wherein the main channel of the sheath has a sufficiently greater diameter, when unstretched, than the side wall of the end-fitting cap to allow the access tube to move freely over the substantially cylindrical portion of the endoscope.
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Specification