Sterile protective sheath and drape for video laparoscope and method of use

A sterile sheath for a laparoscope which has a rigid insertion tube of a predetermined outer diameter, imaging means contained within a distal tip of the insertion tube for obtaining an image as viewed by the imaging means of a target, and an elongated flexible umbilical to couple said insertion tube to illumination equipment;

• the sterile sheath comprising a rigid tube with an inside diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the insertion tube for slidably fitting thereover and a transparent face plate at a distal tip of the rigid tube, and a sterile generally tubular drape formed of a flexible membrane having a distal end attached to a proximal end of said rigid tube, and being folded axially back and forth over the rigid tube, with the sterile sheath further comprising a gripping mechanism at a proximal end of said rigid tube, including tightening means for releasably gripping the insertion tube, wherein said gripping mechanism further includes a ring member on a distal end of said gripping mechanism retaining a distal end of said drape on said rigid tube, and wherein said drape has a main body of a predetermined film thickness and a nose portion of a greater film thickness adjacent said ring member, with said drape being free of external securing means along its length, such that after the sterile sheath is installed on said insertion tube for a surgical procedure, the folded drape is unfolded by drawing the same proximally to enclose said umbilical therewithin, and following a surgical procedure, the unfolded drape is inverted by drawing the same distally to ,cover the rigid tube and to contain within the drape any contaminants that have collected on it during said surgical procedure.