# US 2015/0087907 A1 · Oblong endoscope sheath > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0087907 A1 - Document ID: US20150087907A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/496,473 - Filed: 2014-09-25 - Published: 2015-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-26 - Assignees: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. - Applicants: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. d.b.a Olympus Surgical Technologies America - Inventors: Gregory S. Konstorum; Ming J. Cheng; Daniel R. Goldberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150087907A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation - A61B 1/00068: {Valve switch arrangements} - A61B 1/00091: {Nozzles} - A61B 1/00119: {Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope} - A61B 1/00135: {Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion} - A61B 1/00142: {with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath} - A61B 1/06: with illuminating arrangements - A61B 1/126: {provided with means for cleaning in-use} - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61B 1/00128: {mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes} - A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscope sheath comprising: a proximal end; a distal end having a distal end region; a surface extending between and connecting the proximal end and the distal end; and a plurality of positioning devices located along the surface; wherein the sheath is configured to (1) receive all or a portion of an endoscope having a cylindrical end and (2) provide a conduit for communicating fluid between the proximal end of the sheath and the distal end of the sheath when the endoscope is inserted inside the sheath; and wherein the distal end region of the sheath includes the plurality of positioning devices that secure the cylindrical end of the endoscope against a portion of an inner wall of the surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end so that a fluid barrier is created between the cylindrical end of the endoscope and the inner wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope sheath comprising: a proximal end; a distal end having a distal end region; a surface extending between and connecting the proximal end and the distal end; and a plurality of positioning devices located along the surface; wherein the sheath is configured to: (1) receive all or a portion of an endoscope having a cylindrical end and (2) provide a conduit for communicating fluid between the proximal end of the sheath and the distal end of the sheath when the endoscope is inserted inside the sheath; and wherein the distal end region of the sheath includes the plurality of positioning devices that secure the cylindrical end of the endoscope against a portion of an inner wall of the surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end so that a fluid barrier is created between the cylindrical end of the endoscope and the inner wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope cleaner of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioning devices are two spaced apart dimples that move the endoscope into contact with the inner wall of the sheath. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope cleaner of claim 1, wherein the portion of the inner wall is generally circular and the inner wall has an arc length in contact with the endoscope of about 30 degrees or more. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The endoscope cleaner of claim 2, wherein the conduit is located proximate to and between the two spaced apart dimples. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope cleaner of claim 1, wherein the endoscope cleaner includes an opening that extends at an angle from a first side of the surface towards a second side of the surface as the opening extends in a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end and the positioning devices are located at the proximal end of the opening so that the conduit is formed on the first side of surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The endoscope cleaner of claim 5, wherein the plurality positioning features moves the endoscope from a first side of the surface to a second side of the surface so that the conduit is created at the first side so that irrigation fluid is moved over a viewing lens of the endoscope and the angle of the opening substantially matches an angle of the viewing lens. ### Claim 7 An endoscope cleaner comprising: a sheath having: a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; wherein the sheath is configured to receive all or a portion of an endoscope and provide a conduit for communicating fluid between the proximal end of the sheath and the distal end of the sheath when the endoscope is inserted inside the sheath, and wherein the distal end of the sheath has a cross-section with a circular portion having a diameter substantially matching a diameter of the endoscope and one or more tangent portions that have one or more segments that are tangent to the circular portion at one or more points. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein the one or more tangent portions are configured to contact an endoscope so that the endoscope is moved into contact with the diameter substantially matching a diameter of the endoscope and the conduit is created opposite the diameter substantially matching the diameter of the endoscope. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein the tangent portion has one or more tangent segments that extend between and are connect to a first end of the circular portion and a second end of the circular portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein the tangent portion includes a circular segment and the radius of the circular segment is less than the radius of the circular portion, ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein the tangent portion includes a circular segment and the radius of the circular segment and the radius of the circular portion are substantially equal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein a shape of he sheath is continuous along a length of the sheath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The endoscope cleaner of claim 7, wherein a shape of the sheath is varied along a length of the sheath. ### Claim 14 An endoscope cleaner comprising: a. a proximal end, b. a distal end including: i. two or more non-unitary positioning features that are configured to provide an axial end stop for an endoscope, and c. a surface extending between and connecting the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the two or more non-unitary positioning features are connected to the distal end of the surface by one or more fasteners, adhesives, or both. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The endoscope cleaner of claim 13, wherein the two or more non-unitary positioning features are free of a welded connection to the surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The endoscope cleaner of claim 13, wherein the two or more non-unitary positioning features are pins that form a threaded connection with the surface, a friction fit with the surface, or both. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The endoscope cleaner of claim 13, wherein the surface includes two or more unitary positioning features that are formed in the surface without any additional material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The endoscope cleaner of claim 17, wherein the two or more unitary positioning features are spaced apart and are circumferentially aligned along a length of the surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The endoscope cleaner of claim 17, wherein the two or more unitary positioning features are three unitary positioning features and the three unitary positioning features center the endoscope within the surface so that an annular gap is formed around the endoscope. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The endoscope cleaner of claim 17, wherein the two or more unitary positioning features form a connection that is substantially flush with an outside of the surface.