Disposable endoscopic sheath support and positioning assembly

An endoscope sheath and sheath support assembly for use with an endoscope, the endoscope having an insertion tube, the sheath support assembly being connectable to a vacuum source, comprising:

• a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being expandable to an expanded position to receive the endoscope insertion tube so a distal end of the insertion tube is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the sheath;
• and
• a sheath support assembly removably containing a portion of the sheath, the sheath support assembly including:
• an elongated support tube with an interior area extending between proximal and distal ends of the support tube, the support tube being connectable to the vacuum source;
• a sheath engaging member attached to the support tube adjacent the distal end of the sheath when a sheath is inserted in the support tube, the sheath engaging member being movable by a partial vacuum between a released position and a retaining position, the sheath engaging member being moved from the released position to the retaining position when the partial vacuum is generated in the support tube to retain the distal end of the sheath in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube.

A method of inserting an insertion tube of an endoscope into an endoscopic sheath, the sheath having proximal and distal ends, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sheath support member having a support tube with an open proximal end, a distal end, and an interior area extending between the proximal and distal ends;
• inserting the sheath into the interior area of the support tube, the support tube having a sheath engaging member positioned adjacent to the distal end of the sheath, the sheath engaging member being movable relative to the support tube between a radially outward released position and a radially inward retaining position;
• connecting a vacuum source to the support tube and creating a partial vacuum in the interior area;
• moving the sheath engaging member with the partial vacuum from the released position to the retaining position and engaging the distal end of the sheath;
• retaining the distal end of the sheath with the sheath engaging member in a substantially fixed position relative to the support tube;
• and
• inserting the insertion tube into the sheath.