Sheath for endoscope
First Claim
1. A disposable sheath for an endoscope having an elongated barrel comprising,a) a preformed elongated disposable sleeve of generally circular cross-section having a predetermined length and diameter for detachably fitting onto and accompanying an endoscope barrel, said sleeve including means for preventing slippage of said sleeve relative to said barrel once said sleeve is disposed on said barrel comprising a reduced diameter section of said sleeve,b) a preformed transparent lens cover secured at one end of said disposable sleeve to permit a field of view from the endoscope through said lens cover, said lens cover being without any apertures, andc) said lens cover having a substantially planar section with a predetermined central portion through which said field of view is taken and a predetermined peripheral portion surrounding said predetermined central portion, said planar section being non-collapsible and of a predetermined thickness such that light reflected through the predetermined peripheral portion of the planar section from the endoscope does not reflect through the predetermined central portion so as to interfere with the field of view through said planar section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The sheath for endoscope includes a tubular sleeve portion and a lens cover portion at one end of the tubular sleeve portion. The lens cover portion is of a predetermined thickness that minimizes light reflection onto the field of view of the endoscope. The sheath thus provides optimum visual acuity when used with the endoscope. The lens cover portion can include an anti-fogging ingredient to minimize condensation or congregation of fluids during examination. In several embodiments of the invention the sheath is rigid and in other embodiments of the invention the sheath is flexible. In any of the embodiments the lens cover portion can be joined to the inside, outside or end of the tubular sleeve. The lens cover portion can be formed with a cap section that is oriented at a selected predetermined angle with respect to a central axis. The sheath can have one or more reduced diameter sections to prevent relative slippage between the sleeve and the barrel of the endoscope. The sheath can also be incorporated in a cover for covering the entire endoscope. The cover includes a drape portion that covers the main body portion of the endoscope and the sheath is detachably joinable to the drape portion or can be integrally joined thereto.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A disposable sheath for an endoscope having an elongated barrel comprising,
a) a preformed elongated disposable sleeve of generally circular cross-section having a predetermined length and diameter for detachably fitting onto and accompanying an endoscope barrel, said sleeve including means for preventing slippage of said sleeve relative to said barrel once said sleeve is disposed on said barrel comprising a reduced diameter section of said sleeve, b) a preformed transparent lens cover secured at one end of said disposable sleeve to permit a field of view from the endoscope through said lens cover, said lens cover being without any apertures, and c) said lens cover having a substantially planar section with a predetermined central portion through which said field of view is taken and a predetermined peripheral portion surrounding said predetermined central portion, said planar section being non-collapsible and of a predetermined thickness such that light reflected through the predetermined peripheral portion of the planar section from the endoscope does not reflect through the predetermined central portion so as to interfere with the field of view through said planar section.
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15. A method for providing optimum visual acuity in a disposable sheath for an endoscope having a field of view and comprising,
a) forming a non-collapsible lens cover from an optically clear transparent plastic material with a substantially planar section without apertures, said lens cover having a predetermined central portion through which said field of view is taken and a predetermined peripheral portion surrounding said predetermined central portion, said planar section being of a predetermined thickness such that light reflected through the predetermined peripheral portion of the planar section from the endoscope does not reflect through the predetermined central portion so as to interfere with the field of view through said planar section, b) limiting the thickness of the planar section of the formed lens cover to a range of about 0.002 inches to 0.010 inches, such that light reflected through the planar section from an endoscope does not interfere with the field of view through the planar section, and c) securing the lens cover with planar section at one end of a disposable tubular sleeve member that is sized to slidably fit onto a endoscope barrel such that the planar section is adjacent the field of view end of the endoscope and at least a portion of the sleeve member tightly engages said endoscope.
Specification