EP0184778B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective endoscope sheath and method of installing same
Assignee: OPIELAB Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-05
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Granted: 1991-07-10
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Expires: 2005-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope sheath having a flexible tube surrounding the elongated core of an endoscope. The flexible tube has a transparent window near its distal end positioned in front of the viewing window of the endoscope. Channels for taking biopsies, injecting air or injecting water to wash the window of the sheath may extend along the endoscope, either inside or outside the sheath. Where the channels are positioned inside the sheath, they may be inserted in a longitudinal groove formed in the endoscope core. The protective sheath may be used with either end-viewing endoscopes or side-viewing endoscopes. In the latter case, the channel for taking biopsies extends through an elongated elastomeric membrane so that a catheter through the biopsy channel may be moved longitudinally by manipulation of an elevator. The protective sheath may be installed by rolling the elastomeric tube into an annular configuration and then unrolling the tube over the core of the endoscope. Alternatively, the tube may be inflated in its unrolled configuration to expand the tube and allow it to be easily slipped onto the endoscope core. A variety of specialized endoscopes may be created by using protective sheaths having a variety of special purpose medical instruments mounted at the end of a biopsy channel and operated through the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred E. Silverstein
- 👤 Eric A. Opie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/00073; A61B1/00142; A61B1/012; A61B1/015; A61B1/018; A61B1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A flexible, elongated, thin-walled, tubular endoscope sheath (10, 110) adapted to fit over and tightly surround an endoscope (8, 90), said sheath (10, 110) having an opening at its proximal end for receiving the distal end of an endoscope (8, 90) characterised in that said endoscope sheath (10, 110) isolates at least the portion of said endoscope (8, 90) which is inserted into a body cavity from an external environment, said sheath (10, 110) comprises a window (32, 118) near its distal end adapted to be positioned over the viewing window (96) of said endoscope (8, 90), said sheath (10, 110) further including a tube (36, 130) extending from a channel port (122) near the distal end of said sheath (10, 110) along the length of said sheath (10, 110), said tube allowing external access to a body cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 1, wherein said channel port (122) being positioned near the window (32, 118) of said sheath (10, 110).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 1 or 2 wherein the window (32) of said sheath (10) faces in an axial direction so that said sheath can be used with end-looking endoscopes (8) having an axially facing window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 1 or 2 wherein the window (118) of said sheath (110) faces in a radial direction so that said sheath can be used with side-looking endoscopes (90) having a radially facing window (96).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
The endoscope sheath of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the distal end of said sheath (110) terminates in a rigid end cap (112) having a sidewall extending toward the proximal end of said sheath (110), said sidewall having mounted therein the viewing window (118) of said sheath (110) and an elastomeric member (114) having an elongated configuration extending along the longitudinal axis of said sheath (110), said channel port (122) being formed in said elastomeric member (114) so that a biopsy catheter may be inserted through said tube (130) with the distal end of said catheter projecting from said channel port (122) and being moveable longitudinally in said end cap (112).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The endoscope sheath of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said tube (36) is positioned within the interior of said sheath (10) with the distal end of said tube (36) extending through the distal end of said sheath (10).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The endoscope sheath of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said sheath further including an inflation nozzle (64) near the proximal end of said sheath (10, 100), said nozzle communicating with the interior of said sheath to allow said sheath (10, 100) to be inflated to facilitate insertion of an endoscope (8) into said sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 7, further including a sealing collar (66) at the proximal end of said sheath, with said inflation nozzle (64) being positioned between said sealing collar and the distal end of said sheath, said sealing collar (66) being adapted to reduce the flow of gas from inside said sheath when an endoscope is being inserted into said sheath through said sealing collar (66) and the gas is being forced into said inflation nozzle (64).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The endoscope sheath of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said sheath further including a washing nozzle (42) mounted in the distal end of said channel (36), said nozzle being aimed at the outer surface of the window (32) at the distal end of said sheath (10).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 9, further including a second channel (38, 39) extending along the length of said sheath (10) within its interior, said second tube (38, 39) having open distal and proximal ends, with the distal end extending through the window (32) at the distal end of said sheath (10) so that the interior of said second tube is externally accessible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The endoscope sheath of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said sheath (10, 110) further including a rigid, cylindrical support body (30) in which said window (32, 118) is mounted, said support body (30) being mounted at the distal end of said sheath (10, 110) so that said window (32, 118) is connected to said sheath (10, 110) through said support body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The endoscope of claim 11 wherein the plane of said window (32) is perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical support body (30) and said cylindrical support body (30) is coaxial with such sheath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The endoscope sheath of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said channel (36, 130) having an open proximal end and a distal end communicating with a specialized medical instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope sheath of claim 13 wherein said instrument is hydraulically actuated so that it may be operated by fluid pressure applied through said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 13 wherein said instrument is mechanically actuated so that it may be operated by a mechanical actuating member extending through said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 13 wherein said instrument is electrically operated so that it may be operated through wires extending through said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endoscope sheath of claim 13 wherein said instrument is an optical device that may be connected to an optical wave guide extending through said channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
167 words
An elongated, flexible endoscope (8, 90) having a viewing window (96) at its distal end and means for conveying an image viewed through said window (32, 118) to the proximal end of said endoscope (8, 90); and a removable, thin-walled, flexible, elongated, tubular protective sheath (10, 110) having an opening at its proximal end from which the proximal end of said endoscope (8, 90) projects, said sheath (10, 110) tightly fitting over and surrounding said endoscope (8, 90), characterised in that said sheath isolates at least the portion of said endoscope (8, 90) which is inserted into a body cavity from the external environment, said sheath (10, 110) having a window near its distal end positioned over the viewing window (96) of said endoscope (8, 90), said sheath (10, 110) further including a tube (36, 130) having an open distal and an a proximal end so that the interior of said tube (36, 130) is externally accessible and isolated from the interior of said sheath (10, 110).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The endoscope of claim 18, wherein said tube (36) is positioned within the interior of said sheath (10) with the distal end of said tube (36) extending through the distal end of said sheath (10).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The endoscope of claim 18 or 19, wherein said sheath (10, 110) further including an inflation nozzle near the proximal end of said sheath (10, 110), said nozzle (64) communicating with the interior of said sheath (10, 110) to allow said sheath (10, 110) to be inflated to facilitate insertion of an endoscope into said sheath (10, 110).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
An endoscope of claim 20, further including a sealing collar (66) at the proximal end of said sheath, with said inflation nozzle (64) being positioned between said sealing collar (66) and the distal end of said sheath (10), said sealing collar (66) having a circular seal extending around said endoscope to reduce the flow of gas from inside said sheath when said endoscope is inserted into said sheath through said sealing collar (66) and a gas is being forced into said inflation nozzle (64).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The endoscope of any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein said sheath (10) further including a washing nozzle (42) mounted in the distal end of said tube (36), said nozzle being aimed at the outer surface of the window (32) at the distal end of said sheath (10).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The endoscope of any of claims 18 to 22, wherein said sheath (10, 110) further including a rigid support body in which said window (32, 118) is mounted, said support body being mounted at the distal end of said sheath (10, 110) in coaxial relationship with said endoscope (8, 90).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The endoscope of any of claims 18 to 23, wherein said sheath (10, 110) further including an isolation bag sealingly engaging said endoscope sheath (10, 110), said isolation bag surrounding said endoscope (8, 90) controls and valves to substantially isolate the proximal end of said endoscope (8, 90) from the external environment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The endoscope of any of claims 18 to 24, wherein said endoscope having formed therein an externally accessible, longitudinal groove (108) wherein said internal longitudinal tube (36) of said sheath (10) may be placed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endoscope of claim 25 wherein said viewing window (96) faces in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of said endoscope to provide end-viewing capability.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endoscope of claim 25 wherein said viewing window (96) faces in a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said endoscope to provide side-viewing capability.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of isolating a flexible endoscope (8, 90) from viruses, bacteria and the like in an external environment, said endoscope (8, 90) having formed therein a longitudinal groove, characterized by the step of placing a thin-walled, flexible, elongated sheath over said endoscope (8, 90), said sheath (10,110) having an opening at its proximal end through which the proximal end of said endoscope (8, 90) is adapted to extend and a window (32, 118) at its distal end positioned over the viewing window (96) of an endoscope, and a tube (36,130) extending along the length of said sheath (10, 110) within its interior with its distal end extending through the distal end of said sheath (10, 110), said sheath (10, 110) being installed on said endoscope (8, 90) by rolling up said sheath (10, 110) from its proximal end toward its distal end, placing the distal end of said sheath (10, 110) adjacent the distal end of said encoscope (8, 90), placing the tube (36,130) of said sheath (10, 110) in the groove of said endoscope (8, 90), and then unrolling said sheath (10, 110) onto and along the length of said endoscope (8, 90).
Claim 29
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of isolating a flexible endoscope (8, 90) from viruses, bacteria and the like in an external environment, comprising the step of placing a thin-walled, flexible, resilient, elongated sheath (10, 110) over said endoscope (8, 90), said sheath (10, 110) having an opening at its proximal end through which the proximal end of said endoscope (8, 90) extends characterised in that a window (36, 118) at the distal end of the sheath is positioned over the viewing window (96) of an endoscope, said sheath (10, 110) having a tube (36, 130) extending along the length of said sheath (10, 110) within its interior and with the distal end of said tube (36, 110) extending through the distal end of said sheath (10, 110), said sheath is installed on said endoscope by placing the distal end of said endoscope into the proximal end of said sheath (10, 110), placing the tube (36, 130) of said sheath into the groove of said endoscope (8, 90) and forcing gas into the interior of said sheath to expand the walls (48) of said sheath, then sliding said sheath onto said endoscope, and when said sheath has been installed on said endoscope (8, 90), terminating the flow of gas into the interior of said sheath to allow said sheath to contract onto the cylindrical wall of said endoscope (8, 90).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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