Continuously rinsing double-sheath endoscope
First Claim
1. A continuously rinsing, double-sheath endoscope (10b, 10c), comprising an inner sheath (11b, 11c) with a circular cross-section that includes a feed duct (18b, 18c) and receives an optics (12b, 12c) and an instrument (14b, 15b;
- 14c, 15c), further comprising an outer sheath (16b, 16c) enclosing the inner sheath (11b, 11c) so as to cooperate with the inner shaft to subtend a return flow duct (17b, 17c), a distal end zone of said outer sheath (16b, 16c) defining at least one aperture (19b, 19c) to set up fluid communication between the return duct (17b, 17c) and the outside of the outer sheath (16, 16c), wherein the inner sheath (11b, 11c) and the outer sheath (16b, 16c) are configured such that their particular cross-sectional, geometric centers of gravity are mutually shifted along at least most of the length of the return-flow duct (17b, 17c) subtended between them, and wherein the inner sheath and the outer sheath do not contact each other along their lengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously rinsing double-sheath endoscope, which includes an inner sheath and an outer sheath. The inner sheath includes a feed duct and receives an optics. The outer sheath surrounds the inner sheath and cooperates with the inner sheath to subtend a return flow duct. The outer sheath is fitted at its distal end zone with at least one aperture to establish fluid communication between the return duct and the ambience of the outer sheath. Cross-sectional geometric centers of gravity of the inner and outer sheaths are mutually shifted along most of the length of the return-flow duct subtended between them.
40 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A continuously rinsing, double-sheath endoscope (10b, 10c), comprising an inner sheath (11b, 11c) with a circular cross-section that includes a feed duct (18b, 18c) and receives an optics (12b, 12c) and an instrument (14b, 15b;
- 14c, 15c), further comprising an outer sheath (16b, 16c) enclosing the inner sheath (11b, 11c) so as to cooperate with the inner shaft to subtend a return flow duct (17b, 17c), a distal end zone of said outer sheath (16b, 16c) defining at least one aperture (19b, 19c) to set up fluid communication between the return duct (17b, 17c) and the outside of the outer sheath (16, 16c), wherein the inner sheath (11b, 11c) and the outer sheath (16b, 16c) are configured such that their particular cross-sectional, geometric centers of gravity are mutually shifted along at least most of the length of the return-flow duct (17b, 17c) subtended between them, and wherein the inner sheath and the outer sheath do not contact each other along their lengths.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
Specification