Disposable endoscopic sheath support and positioning assembly
First Claim
1. A sheath support assembly for use with an endoscopic sheath, the sheath having first proximal and distal ends, the support assembly being releasably connectable to a vacuum source, comprising:
- a support tube having an interior area extending between second proximal and distal ends, the interior area being sized to contain a portion of the sheath therein, the support tube being connectable to the vacuum source to create a partial vacuum in the support tube, the partial vacuum being sufficient to expand the portion of the sheath in the interior area to an expanded position; and
a sheath engaging member attached to the support tube adjacent the distal end of the sheath when a sheath is inserted in the support tube, the sheath engaging member being movable by the partial vacuum between a released position and a retaining position, the sheath engaging member being moved from the released position to the retaining position when the partial vacuum is generated to retain the distal end of the sheath in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic sheath support assembly for supporting a sheath in a substantially fixed position for installation and removal of an endoscope insertion tube. The support assembly has an elongated rigid support tube with an interior area, and the sheath is in the interior area. The support tube is releasably connectable to a vacuum source to create a partial vacuum to expand the sheath. The distal end of the support tube has a pair of opposing openings that are adjacent to the distal end of the sheath when the sheath is positioned in the support tube. A resilient sheath retaining sleeve sealably covers the opposing openings. The resilient sheath retaining sleeve is movable by the partial vacuum to a retaining position wherein portions of the sleeve extend through the openings and engage the distal end of the sheath to retain the distal end of the sheath in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube. The sheath engaging sleeve is biased toward a released position when the partial vacuum in the interior area is terminated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sheath support assembly for use with an endoscopic sheath, the sheath having first proximal and distal ends, the support assembly being releasably connectable to a vacuum source, comprising:
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a support tube having an interior area extending between second proximal and distal ends, the interior area being sized to contain a portion of the sheath therein, the support tube being connectable to the vacuum source to create a partial vacuum in the support tube, the partial vacuum being sufficient to expand the portion of the sheath in the interior area to an expanded position; and a sheath engaging member attached to the support tube adjacent the distal end of the sheath when a sheath is inserted in the support tube, the sheath engaging member being movable by the partial vacuum between a released position and a retaining position, the sheath engaging member being moved from the released position to the retaining position when the partial vacuum is generated to retain the distal end of the sheath in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoscope sheath and sheath support assembly for use with an endoscope, the endoscope having an insertion tube, the sheath support assembly being connectable to a vacuum source, comprising:
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a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being expandable to an expanded position to receive the endoscope insertion tube so a distal end of the insertion tube is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the sheath; and a sheath support assembly removably containing a portion of the sheath, the sheath support assembly including; an elongated support tube with an interior area extending between proximal and distal ends of the support tube, the support tube being connectable to the vacuum source; a sheath engaging member attached to the support tube adjacent the distal end of the sheath when a sheath is inserted in the support tube, the sheath engaging member being movable by a partial vacuum between a released position and a retaining position, the sheath engaging member being moved from the released position to the retaining position when the partial vacuum is generated in the support tube to retain the distal end of the sheath in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of inserting an insertion tube of an endoscope into an endoscopic sheath, the sheath having proximal and distal ends, comprising the steps of:
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providing a sheath support member having a support tube with an open proximal end, a distal end, and an interior area extending between the proximal and distal ends; inserting the sheath into the interior area of the support tube, the support tube having a sheath engaging member positioned adjacent to the distal end of the sheath, the sheath engaging member being movable relative to the support tube between a radially outward released position and a radially inward retaining position; connecting a vacuum source to the support tube and creating a partial vacuum in the interior area; moving the sheath engaging member with the partial vacuum from the released position to the retaining position and engaging the distal end of the sheath; retaining the distal end of the sheath with the sheath engaging member in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube; and inserting the insertion tube into the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification