Endoscope sheath assembly with isolating fabric sleeve
US5827177A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/018
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope sheath assembly usable within an elongated flexible endoscope to isolate a portion of the endoscope from an external environment during a therapeutic or diagnostic endoscopic procedure. The sheath assembly has a sheath with an elongated flexible endoscope tube, a plurality of working channels extending the endoscope tube, and a low-friction, fabric isolating sleeve positioned within the endoscope tube and surrounding portions of the working channels. The isolating sleeve includes first and second sleeve lumens formed therein through which respective working channels extend. The coefficient of friction between the isolating sleeve and the working channels is less than the coefficient of friction between the working channels themselves so that working channels are frictionally isolated from each other, from the endoscope tube, and from the insertion tube to reduce resistance to articulation of the endoscope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.