Endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance
First Claim
1. A sheath assembly adapted for use with an endoscopic insertion tube, the sheath assembly comprising:
- a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate the insertion tube; and
a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a cut disposed therein, the cut being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the working channel being separable along at least a portion of the cut when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endoscope assembly includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate an endoscopic insertion tube, and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion. The working channel includes a component for reducing the resistance of the assembly to bending and stretching. In alternate aspects, the working channel may include a cut, a gap, a sliding portion, or an expansion section. Endoscope assemblies having a working channel in accordance with the invention advantageously reduce the articulation and stretching resistance of the assembly during articulation of the endoscope assembly. Also, because the axial forces (tension and compression) within the working channel are reduced, the working channel can be fabricated out of a relatively hard, inelastic material, thereby reducing the friction within the working channel and improving the physician'"'"'s ability to perform a medical procedure.
-
Citations
94 Claims
-
1. A sheath assembly adapted for use with an endoscopic insertion tube, the sheath assembly comprising:
-
a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate the insertion tube; and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a cut disposed therein, the cut being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the working channel being separable along at least a portion of the cut when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An endoscopic assembly, comprising:
-
an elongated insertion tube; a sheath assembly including a body portion at least partially encapsulating the insertion tube; and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a cut disposed therein, the cut being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the working channel being separable along at least a portion of the cut when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A sheath assembly adapted for use with an endoscopic insertion tube, the sheath assembly comprising:
-
a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate the insertion tube; and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a gap disposed therein, the gap being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the gap being adapted to widen along at least a portion thereof when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. An endoscopic assembly, comprising:
-
an elongated insertion tube; a sheath assembly including a body portion at least partially encapsulating the insertion tube; and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a gap disposed therein, the gap being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the gap being adapted to widen along at least a portion thereof when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
-
-
68. A method of performing a procedure using an endoscopic insertion tube, comprising:
-
providing a sheath assembly having a body portion that at least partially encapsulates the endoscopic insertion tube; providing a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a cut disposed therein, the cut being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the working channel being separable along at least a portion of the cut when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force; and exerting an axial tension force on the working channel to separate the working channel along at least a portion of the cut. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
-
-
83. A method of performing a procedure using an endoscopic insertion tube, comprising:
-
providing a sheath assembly having a body portion that at least partially encapsulates the endoscopic insertion tube; providing a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion, the working channel having a gap disposed therein, the gap being at least partially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the working channel, the working channel being separable along at least a portion of the gap when the working channel is subjected to an axial tension force; and exerting an axial tension force on the working channel to separate the working channel along at least a portion of the gap. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
-
Specification