SHEATH FOR PROTECTING AND ALTERING THE BENDING CHARACTERISTICS OF A FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE

摘要

A sheath (30) for use with an endoscope (34) having a flexible insertion tube (32) to isolate at least a portion of the insertion tube from an external environment, and to alter the bending characteristics of at least a portion of the insertion tube, is shown and described. The sheath includes a compliant tube (40) and an elongated shape-retaining member (38) attached to the compliant tube. The compliant tube has a proximal end (42) having an interior area configured to receive a first portion of the flexible insertion tube. The shape-retaining member extends axially along a second portion of the flexible insertion tube when the first portion of the flexible insertion tube is positioned in the interior area of the compliant tube. The shape-retaining member is sufficiently stiff to remain in a selected shape or position, and to retain the second portion of the flexible insertion tube in the selected shape or position. The shape-retaining member in one embodiment is rigid, and in another embodiment is sufficiently bendable to allow the operator to conform the insertion tube to other selected shapes or positions. In another alternate embodiment, the sheath has a rigid, shape-retaining member along a first portion of the sheath, a bendable shape-retaining member along a second portion of the sheath, and the compliant tube along a distal portion of the sheath.