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
An hollow probe enabling insertion and accommodation of endoscopic and other instruments, which advances within a lumen, 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 fluid into said central bore;
- a sliding tubular sheath movably disposed inside said central valve unit;
- and
- a flexible sleeve, impermeable to said 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 the inside and outside of said sheath to sealingly envelop said sheath and contain said fluid, together with said valve unit, while allowing sliding of said sheath.
A method for propelling a hollow probe within a lumen, the probe enabling insertion and accommodation of endoscopic and other instruments, comprising the 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 inside out over both ends of said sheath to cover both the inside of said sheath and the outside of a proximal sheath portion and a distal sheath portion of said sheath;
- anchoring said proximal sleeve portion to a proximal bore end of said central bore and said distal sleeve portion to a distal bore end of said central bore, such that said sleeve together with said valve unit envelop said sheath;
- inserting a distal tip portion of said sleeve-covered sheath into said lumen;
- and
- advancing and retracting said sheath within said lumen while maintaining said sheath covered by said sleeve.
A method for propelling a hollow probe within a lumen, the probe enabling insertion and accommodation of endoscopic and other instruments, comprising the procedures of:
- inserting a flexible sleeve within a tubular sheath, the sleeve being impermeable to a fluid;
- sliding said sheath through a central bore of a central valve unit having at least one valve for controlling the introduction and withdrawal of said fluid into said central bore;
- folding inside out a proximal sleeve portion and a distal sleeve portion of said sleeve over both ends of said sheath to cover both the inside of said sheath and the outside of a proximal sheath portion and a distal sheath portion of said sheath;
- sealingly anchoring said proximal sleeve portion to a proximal bore end of said central bore and said distal sleeve portion to a distal bore end of said central bore, such that said sleeve together with said valve unit sealingly envelop said sheath and contain said fluid;
- inserting a distal tip portion of said sleeve-covered sheath into said lumen;
- and
- advancing and retracting said sheath while maintaining said sheath covered by said sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.