Sheath apparatus for endoscopes and methods for forming same
US6530881B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/753
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thin-walled elastic sheath that can be stretched axially over an elongated imaging device to closely conform to the device and isolate the device from an external environment, and a method of forming such a sheath, are shown and described. The method includes the steps of heating at least a portion of a sheet of an elastomeric material to an elevated temperature to form a malleable heated portion of the sheet, pressing an elongated forming tool against the sheet at a location central with respect to the heated portion of the sheet, stretching the heated portion of the elastomeric material with the forming tool until an elastic conforming portion of the sheet is conformed to at least a portion of the length of the forming tool, and removing the forming tool from the conforming portion of the sheet to leave the thin-walled, elastic sheath having a wall thickness approximately equal to or less than 0.006 inches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.