Endoscope having a deflectable distal section and a semi-rigid proximal section

An endoscope comprising

• an elongated shaft, including
• a first elongated sheath tube having a selected length, a deflectable distal section and a semi-rigid proximal section, said deflectable distal section having a distal portion having a triangular shaped cross-sectional area of a selected geometrical dimension and a proximal portion extending in a direction opposite to said distal tip and having a generally rounded cross-sectional area, said proximal section terminating in a proximal end positioned away from said central section, said first elongated sheath tube including
• means defining a first working channel and a second working channel, each of which extends axially from the proximal section of the first elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof;
• means defining a fiber optic image bundle channel which is adapted to receive a fiber optic image bundle;
• and
• a second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube having a first end and a second end, said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube being positioned over and enclosing the proximal section of said first elongated sheath tube and having a predetermined length to define a transition zone between the elongated sheath tube and wherein said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube is shorter than said selected length to enable said deflectable distal section to extend beyond the first end of said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube a sufficient distance to be slightly deflectable, said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube having a generally rounded cross-sectional area of a geometrical dimension which is slightly greater than that of said first elongated sheath tube rounded cross-sectional area enabling the second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube to be positioned contiguous the said first elongated sheath tube, said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube having cross-sectional shape sufficient to pass the proximal section of said first elongated sheath tube therethrough.

An endoscope comprising

• a shaft having a first elongated sheath tube and a second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube which is slightly shorter than and which encloses said first elongated sheath tube, said first elongated sheath tube having a deflectable distal section which extends beyond said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube and wherein said distal section having a distal portion which has a geometrically shape cross-sectional area having at least one protuberance, said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube being operatively connected to said first elongated sheath tube to define a smooth, elongated shaft having a tapered transition zone between the elongated sheaths which is located near the distal tip and which has a sufficiently semi-rigid proximal section which controls deflection of the first elongated sheath and a deflectable distal section which extends beyond the sufficiently rigid proximal section a sufficient distance which permits deflection, said first elongated sheath tube including
• means defining a first working channel and a second working channel, each of which extends axially from the proximal section of the first elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof;
• and
• means defining a fiber optic image bundle channel which is adapted to receive a fiber optic image bundle.

An endoscope comprising

• an elongated shaft which is sufficiently flexible enabling it to be displaced through a ureter by axial and rotational translation by maneuvering of the shaft, said elongated shaft having a first elongated sheath tube having a deflectable distal section and a semi-rigid proximal section and a second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube which is slightly shorter than said first elongated sheath tube and which is positioned contiguous to and encloses the proximal section of said first elongated sheath tube, and wherein said elongated shaft includes
• means defining a first working channel and a second working channel, each of which extends axially from the proximal section of the first elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof;
• and
• means defining a fiber optic image bundle channel which is adapted to receive a fiber optic image bundle;
• said deflectable distal section of said first elongated sheath tube terminating in a substantially triangular cross sectional distal tip which extends beyond said second elongated sheath tube and a sufficient distance to be deflectable defining an elongated shaft having a generally smooth outer surface, said deflectable distal section of said first elongated sheath tube being sufficiently flexible to be able to deflect as it traverses through and dilates a ureter and said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube being sufficiently rigid to control deflection.

A method for performing a procedure in a cavity comprising the steps of

• providing an endoscope including an elongated shaft having a first elongated sheath tube and a second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube having an external surface which defines the elongated shaft and wherein said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube is slightly shorter than and which encloses said first elongated sheath tube, said first elongated sheath tube having a deflectable distal section terminating in a substantially triangular shaped cross-sectional area and which extends beyond said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube, and wherein said elongated shaft includes means defining a first working channel and a second working channel, each of which extends axially from the proximal section of the first elongated sheath tube to the distal tip thereof and means defining a fiber optic image bundle channel which is adapted to receive a fiber optic image bundle, said second semi-rigid elongated sheath tube being operatively connected to said first elongated sheath tube at a transition zone to define a smooth elongated shaft having a sufficiently rigid proximal section which controls deflection and a flexible distal section which permits deflection;
• inserting the substantially triangular shaped deflectable distal section of the elongated shaft into a cavity allowing the deflectable distal section followed by the semi-rigid second elongated sheath tube to pass into said cavity;
• and
• viewing from the proximal section of the first elongated sheath tube said cavity through one channel in the endoscope.