Working channels for a disposable sheath for an endoscope
First Claim
1. An endoscopic sheath assembly having axial side walls and proximal and distal ends, the sheath assembly being adapted for use with an elongated, flexible endoscope having a neutral bending plane, the assembly comprising:
- a thin walled flexible endoscope tube adapted to fit over and tightly surround the endoscope to isolate at least a portion of the endoscope from an external environment, said endoscope tube having an opening at said proximal end for receiving the distal end of the endoscope and closed distal end; and
a kink-resistant biopsy channel substantially parallel to said endoscope tube and positioned radially outward from the neutral bending plane, said biopsy channel having open proximal and distal ends and being adapted to allow endoscopic accessories to pass therethrough, said biopsy channel comprising a proximal section, an axially flexible distal section, and a transition area extending between and interconnecting said proximal section and said axially flexible distal section, said axially flexible distal section comprising an axially wound wire member forming a lumen adapted to allow an endoscopic instrument to pass therethrough, and an elastomeric sleeve that fits over and tightly surrounds said wire member;
said axially flexible distal section being substantially more flexible than said proximal section.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic sheath assembly having an endoscope tube and a plurality of working channels, wherein the endoscope tube is adapted to receive and tightly surround a flexible, elongated endoscope that has a neutral bending plane. Working channels, including a biopsy channel, an air channel, and a water channel, are disposed within and substantially parallel to the endoscope tube along its length radially outward of the neutral bending plane of the endoscope. The biopsy, air, and water channels each have proximal sections and expansion sections. The suction channel has a proximal section comprising a lubricious inner tube forming a lubricious inner lumen, and a kink resistant outer tube bonded to the inner tube. The expansion section of the biopsy channel has a close pitch, axially wound, flat wire spring tightly surrounded by an extruded elastomeric material that is adapted to maintain radial compression force on the spring member. The fiat wire spring forms a durable, lubricious inner lumen of the expansion section of the suction/biopsy channel. The air and water channels have a proximal section formed by a flexible, kink-resistant polyvinyl chloride tube, and an expansion section constructed of a thick-walled elastomeric extrusion that is adapted to axially expand and contract as the channels bend during endoscope articulation. A spirally wound wrap secures the biopsy, air, and water channels together along their distal sections.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An endoscopic sheath assembly having axial side walls and proximal and distal ends, the sheath assembly being adapted for use with an elongated, flexible endoscope having a neutral bending plane, the assembly comprising:
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a thin walled flexible endoscope tube adapted to fit over and tightly surround the endoscope to isolate at least a portion of the endoscope from an external environment, said endoscope tube having an opening at said proximal end for receiving the distal end of the endoscope and closed distal end; and a kink-resistant biopsy channel substantially parallel to said endoscope tube and positioned radially outward from the neutral bending plane, said biopsy channel having open proximal and distal ends and being adapted to allow endoscopic accessories to pass therethrough, said biopsy channel comprising a proximal section, an axially flexible distal section, and a transition area extending between and interconnecting said proximal section and said axially flexible distal section, said axially flexible distal section comprising an axially wound wire member forming a lumen adapted to allow an endoscopic instrument to pass therethrough, and an elastomeric sleeve that fits over and tightly surrounds said wire member;
said axially flexible distal section being substantially more flexible than said proximal section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An endoscopic sheath assembly having axial side walls and proximal and distal ends, the sheath assembly being adapted for use with an elongated, flexible endoscope having a neutral bending plane, during a therapeutic or diagnostic endoscopic procedure, the assembly comprising:
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a thin walled flexible endoscope tube adapted to fit over and tightly surround the endoscope to isolate at least a portion of the endoscope from an external environment, said endoscope tube having an opening at said proximal end for receiving the distal end of the endoscope and closed distal end; a kink-resistant biopsy channel substantially parallel to said endoscope tube and positioned radially outward from the neutral bending plane, said biopsy channel having open proximal and distal ends and being adapted to allow endoscopic accessories to pass therethrough, said biopsy channel comprising a proximal section and an axially flexible distal section, said proximal section extending along the proximal portion of the sheath and terminating at a transition area, and said axially flexible distal section extending from said transition area to said open distal end, said axially flexible distal section comprising an axially wound wire member forming a lumen adapted to allow an endoscopic instrument to pass therethrough, and an elastomeric sleeve that fits over and tightly surrounds said wire member; and an air channel and a water channel extending along the length of the sheath substantially parallel to said biopsy channel, each of said air and water channel having a proximal section formed by a first material and an axially flexible distal section connected to said proximal section, said distal section being formed by a second material different from said first material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Endoscopic sheath channels disposed within an endoscopic sheath having axial side walls and proximal and distal ends, the sheath being adapted for use with an elongated, flexible endoscope, the channels comprising:
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a kink-resistant suction and biopsy channel having open proximal and distal ends, a proximal section, an axially flexible distal section, and a transition area extending between and interconnecting said proximal section and said axially flexible distal section, said distal section comprising an axially wound wire member and an elastomeric sleeve that fits over and tightly surrounds said wire member, said axially wound wire member forming an tubular area that allows material and endoscopic accessories to pass therethrough, said axially flexible distal section being substantially more flexible than said proximal section; an air channel adjacent to said suction and biopsy channel, said air channel having open proximal and distal ends, a proximal section, a distal section, and a second transition area extending between and interconnecting said proximal section and said distal section of said air channel, said distal section of said air channel being a flexible, thick-walled elastomeric extrusion; and a water channel adjacent to said suction and biopsy channel, said water channel having open proximal and distal ends, a proximal section, a distal section, and a third transition area extending between and interconnecting said proximal section and said distal section of said water channel, said distal section of said water channel being a flexible, thick-walled elastomeric extrusion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification