Disposable endoscope sheath

• US 6,110,103 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Donofrio, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/093,619
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 600/105, 600/114, 600/121-125, 600/128, 600/133, 600/153, 600/155, 600/156, 600/157, 600/158
• US Class Current: 600/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use

Abstract

The disposable endoscope sheath includes a low-profile sleeve member that can accommodate a variety of different endoscope lengths that are longer than the sleeve member. In several embodiments of the invention, the sleeve member includes irrigation channels that do not communicate with an endoscope receiving space. In other embodiments of the invention, irrigation fluid passes through the endoscope receiving space of the sleeve member. In all embodiments of the invention, irrigation fluid that is expelled from the sleeve member can flush surgical debris away from the viewing end of the endoscope. The sleeve member has a generally low profile and does not require continuous suction to halt the expulsion of irrigation fluid from the sheath when the irrigation function is not being used. A brief reverse suction can be used to remove a residual drop of cleaning solution from the viewing end of the sheath.

Claims

1. A disposable sheath for an endoscope having an endoscope shaft with a viewing end through which a field of view is taken and with a cross sectional size;

the disposable sheath comprising;

a) a disposable elongated sleeve having an elongated wall defining an endoscope receiving space having a cross sectional size larger than the cross sectional size of the endoscope shaft so as to accommodate the endoscope shaft therein and define an irrigation space of annular cross section area having a radial extent between said elongated wall and the endoscope shaft,

b) said sleeve having a distal end closed by a distal end cover and being of predetermined length to enable said distal end cover to engage the viewing end of the endoscope shaft when the endoscope shaft is in said endoscope receiving space, said distal end cover defining a plurality of irrigation outlet openings and having an optically clear portion to provide a clear field of view through said distal end cover from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft, said optically clear portion having an outside surface,

c) said sleeve being self supporting, non-inflatable, non-expandable and said annular cross section area being sized to ensure that irrigation solution passing into said irrigation space does not drip uncontrollably from said irrigation outlet openings defined by said distal end cover of said sleeve when the flow of irrigation solution is stopped,

d) said irrigation outlet openings being equally spaced around said optically clear portion and communicating with said irrigation space such that irrigation solution directed into said irrigation space can flow out of said irrigation outlet openings and onto said outside surface of said distal end cover to flush surgical debris from said outside surface of said distal end cover and away from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft to provide a clear field of view from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft.

2. The disposable sheath as claimed in claims 1 wherein said sleeve is generally circular in cross section.

3. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 1 wherein said irrigation outlet openings are formed in a circular arrangement.

4. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distal end cover is disk shaped.

5. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distal end cover is cup shaped.

6. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sleeve has an inside surface and said cup shaped distal end cover has an annular wall secured to said inside surface of said sleeve.

7. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sleeve has an outside surface and said cup shaped distal end cover has an annular wall secured to said outside surface of said sleeve.

8. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is sized to define a selected radial extent of approximately 0.001 to 0.003 inch between the endoscope shaft and said elongated wall of said sleeve.

9. A disposable sheath for an endoscope comprising

a) a sleeve having an elongated wall defining an endoscope receiving space sized to accommodate an endoscope shaft with a distal viewing end through which a field of view is taken from the endoscope,

b) said sleeve having a distal end and a distal end cover affixed to said distal end to enclose said endoscope receiving space, said sleeve being of predetermined length to enable said distal end cover to engage the viewing end of the endoscope shaft when the endoscope shaft is in said endoscope receiving space, said distal end cover of said sleeve having an optically clear distal portion to provide a clear field of view through said distal end cover from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft, said optically clear distal portion having an outside distal surface,

c) said elongated wall being formed with an irrigation channel, non-communicable with said endoscope receiving space, said irrigation channel having an inlet portion and a plurality of equally spaced irrigation outlet openings formed in a circular arrangement and positioned proximate said optically clear distal portion of said end cover, such that irrigation solution passing into said irrigation channel does not drip uncontrollably from said irrigation outlet openings when the flow of irrigation solution is stopped and irrigation solution directed into said inlet portion of said irrigation channel can flow out of said irrigation outlet openings and onto said outside distal surface of said optically clear distal portion to flush surgical debris away from said outside distal surface of said optically clear distal portion and away from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft to provide a clear field of view from the viewing end of the endoscope shaft.

10. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 9 wherein said distal end cover is disk shaped.

11. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 10 wherein said distal end cover has at least one irrigation outlet opening.

12. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 10 wherein said distal end cover has a plurality of irrigation outlet openings.

13. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 12 wherein said irrigation outlet openings are formed in a circular arrangement.

14. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 9 wherein said distal end cover is cup shaped.

15. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 14 wherein said distal end cover has at least one irrigation outlet opening.

16. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 15 wherein said distal end cover has a plurality of irrigation outlet openings.

17. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 16 wherein said irrigation outlet openings are equally spaced and formed in a circular arrangement.

18. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sleeve is generally circular in cross section.

19. The disposable sheath as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sleeve is non-circular in cross section.