US 11,576,560 B2Granted

Hollow probe with sleeve

AssigneeOttek Ltd.

InventorYoav Lichtenstein

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Abstract

A hollow probe enabling insertion and accommodation of endoscopic and other instruments advancing within a lumen includes a central valve unit featuring a central bore and at least one valve for controlling the introduction and withdrawal of fluid into the central bore. A sliding tubular sheath is movably disposed inside the central valve unit. An impermeable flexible sleeve is sealingly anchored to the central valve unit and folds over to cover both the inside and outside of the sheath to sealingly envelop the sheath and contain the fluid, together with the valve unit, while allowing sliding of the sleeve-covered-sheath. An endoscope adapter is mountable to the proximal end of the sleeve-covered-sheath, for allowing insertion of the endoscope through the adapter into the sleeve-covered-sheath, includes at least one gasket for sealing at least one gap between the endoscope and the sleeve-covered-sheath for withholding fluids from escaping.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A hollow probe enabling insertion and accommodation of an endoscope, to be advanced or retracted within a lumen of a body, the hollow probe comprising:

a central valve unit comprising a central bore having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one valve for controlling the introduction and withdrawal of an inflating/deflating fluid into said central bore;
a sliding tubular sheath movably disposed inside the central bore of said central valve unit;
a flexible sleeve, impermeable to said inflating/deflating fluid and sealingly anchored to said central valve unit on both said distal end and said proximal end, said sleeve being folded over to cover both inside and outside of said sheath to sealingly envelop said sheath together with said central valve unit to produce a sleeve-covered-sheath, the sleeve configured to contain said inflating/deflating fluid, while allowing sliding movement of the sleeve-covered-sheath within said central bore;
and
an endoscope adapter, comprising an adapter housing, sealingly mounted to the proximal end of said sleeve-covered-sheath and sealingly coupled to the proximal end of said central valve unit, the endoscope adapter configured to allow insertion of said endoscope through the endoscope adapter into said sleeve-covered-sheath, the endoscope adapter further comprising at least one gasket configured to seal at least one gap between said endoscope adapter and said endoscope or said sleeve-covered-sheath for withholding body fluids from escaping through said at least one gap, the endoscope adapter further comprising a flexible portion, configured for extension and contraction for extending and contracting said adapter housing to facilitate free insertion and retraction movement of said endoscope within said sleeve-covered-sheath.

2 more elements

A method for propelling a hollow probe within a lumen of a body, the probe enabling insertion and accommodation of an endoscope to be advanced or retracted within the lumen, the method comprising procedures of:

inserting a flexible sleeve within a tubular sheath;
sliding said sheath within a central bore of a central valve unit;
folding over a proximal sleeve portion and a distal sleeve portion of said sleeve over both ends of said sheath to cover both inside and outside of a proximal sheath portion and a distal sheath portion of said sheath;
anchoring said proximal sleeve portion to a proximal end of said central bore and anchoring said distal sleeve portion to a distal end of said central bore, such that said sleeve together with said central valve unit sealingly envelop said sheath to produce a sleeve-covered-sheath;
inserting a distal tip portion of said sleeve-covered-sheath into said lumen;
advancing and retracting said sheath within said lumen while maintaining said sheath covered by said sleeve;
and
sealingly mounting an adapter housing of an endoscope adapter to a proximal end of the sleeve-covered-sheath and sealingly coupling said adapter housing to a proximal end of said central valve unit;
inserting said endoscope through said endoscope adapter into said sleeve-covered-sheath;
sealing at least one gap between said endoscope adapter and said endoscope or said sleeve-covered-sheath to withhold body fluids from escaping through said, using at least one gasket of said endoscope adapter;
extending and contracting a flexible portion of the endoscope adapter for extending and contracting said adapter housing to facilitate free insertion and retraction movement of said endoscope within said sleeve-covered-sheath;
and
selectively inflating or deflating said sleeve for advancing or receding said sheath or for inserting, retracting or operating said endoscope, by introducing or withdrawing an inflating/deflating fluid into said central bore through at least one valve of said central valve unit.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/756,920Filed 18 Oct 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 19 Oct 2017
Published: US 2021/0093157 A11 Apr 2021
Granted: 14 Feb 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61B 1/00151
Holding or positioning arrangements: using everted tubes
A61B 1/00066
Constructional details of the endoscope body: proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles
A61B 1/00135
Accessories for endoscopes: oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
A61B 1/00137
Accessories for endoscopes: end pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs