Disposable endoscopic sheath support and positioning assembly
US5702348A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/00135
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.