Hollow probe with sleeve
AssigneeOttek Ltd.
InventorYoav Lichtenstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscopic probe which advances within a lumen having a central valve unit. The valve unit has a central bore defining a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one valve for controlling the introduction and withdrawal of fluid into the central bore. The probe further includes a sliding tubular sheath movably disposed inside the central valve unit, and a flexible sleeve, impermeable to the fluid and sealingly anchored to the central valve unit on both distal proximal ends. The sleeve is folded over to cover both the inside and outside of the sheath to sealingly envelop the sheath and contain the fluid, together with said valve unit, while allowing sliding of the sheath. A method for providing, assembling and operating the probe is also provided.
Claims36
A hollow probe for advancing and retracting medical instruments within an internal lumen, the hollow probe comprising:
- a central valve unit external to a body of the patient and including a central bore and at least one valve, the at least one valve configured for controlling introduction and withdrawal of fluid into the central bore;
- a tubular sheath having an intermediate portion between a proximal portion and a distal portion, the tubular sheath insertable into and slidably movable within the central bore such that the central valve unit encircles the intermediate portion and the proximal and distal portions extend from the central bore;
- and
- a flexible sleeve impermeable to fluid having first and second ends;
- the flexible sleeve attached at the first end to a proximal end of the central valve unit and attached at the second end to a distal end of the central valve unit,
- wherein the flexible sleeve is folded over tips of the tubular sheath and inverted to cover both inside and outside surfaces of the proximal and distal sheath portions of the tubular sheath such that the flexible sleeve envelopes the tubular sheath containing fluid and allowing sliding of the tubular sheath within the central bore.
A method for propelling a hollow probe within an internal lumen, the probe enabling insertion, advancement, and retraction of medical instruments within the internal lumen, the method comprising:
- inserting a flexible sleeve within a tubular sheath, the flexible sleeve impermeable to fluid and the tubular sheath having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion;
- sliding the intermediate portion of the tubular sheath within a central bore of a central valve unit and extending the proximal and distal portions of the tubular sheath from the central bore, the central valve unit external to a body of a patient;
- folding a proximal portion of the flexible sleeve inside out over the proximal portion of the tubular sheath covering both an inside surface and an outside surface of the proximal portion of the tubular sheath;
- folding a distal portion of the flexible sleeve inside out over the distal portion of the tubular sheath covering both an inside surface and an outside surface of the distal portion of the tubular sheath;
- anchoring the proximal portion of the flexible sleeve to a proximal end of the central bore and anchoring the distal portion of the flexible sleeve to a distal end of the central bore, such that the flexible sleeve and the central valve unit envelop the tubular sheath, the anchoring forming a seal to contain fluid;
- inserting a distal tip portion of a tip of the tubular sleeve into the internal lumen;
- and
- advancing and retracting the tubular sheath within the internal lumen,
- wherein the flexible sleeve and the central valve unit envelop the tubular sheath throughout operation of the hollow probe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.