Endoscope sleeve and irrigation device

A sleeve for holding an endoscope used in surgical procedures comprising:

• a hollow cylinder for receiving the outer tube of an endoscope, the endoscope having a viewing hub at its proximal end and a window at its distal end positioned about 2 cm to 3 cm beyond the end of the hollow cylinder;
• a docking member at the proximal end of the cylinder to receive and retain the viewing hub of the endoscope, thereby removably retaining the endoscope in the sleeve with its distal window adjacent the end of the cylinder;
• means for continuously supplying suction to an inlet adjacent the distal end of the cylinder;
• and
• means for supplying pressurized fluid when desired to an outlet adjacent the distal end of the cylinder in which the pressurized fluid is supplied through a fluid line comprising flexible tubing connected to a high-pressure fluid source, a control valve is positioned in the fluid line to control the flow of fluid to the sleeve, and the valve is located in the fluid line at a spacing of at least about 15 cm from the endoscope sleeve.

A method for performing endoscopic surgery in a body cavity comprising:

• providing a surgical endoscope with a viewing hub at its proximal end and a window at its distal end and a sleeve for holding the endoscope, the sleeve including a hollow cylinder for receiving the endoscope, means for continuously supplying suction to an inlet adjacent the distal end of the cylinder, and means for supplying pressurized fluid when desired to an outlet adjacent the distal end of the cylinder;
• positioning the distal end of the hollow cylinder within a body cavity;
• positioning surgical instruments alongside the endoscope, as needed;
• performing a desired medical procedure in the cavity using the surgical instruments while continuously supplying suction to the inlet adjacent to the distal end of the cylinder, and supplying pressurized fluid to the outlet adjacent to the distal end of the cylinder as needed to clear debris and fogging from the window of the endoscope, and to irrigate the body cavity.