Endoscope sheath apparatuses

Inventors: Alexander Q. Tilson (Burlingame, CA); Thomas Hsiu (Palo Alto, CA); Niklas J. Helmick (San Jose, CA); Stephan T. Hoffmann (Danville, CA); Eugene Duval (Menlo Park, CA); Christopher J. Hasser (Lotus, CA); James M. Hayes (La Honda, CA); Elias Eleftheriades (Redwood City, CA); Kai Pohlhammer (San Ramon, CA)

Assignee: Neptune Medical Inc.

A61B1/00142 A61B1/00055 A61B1/00057 A61B1/00128 A61B1/00137 A61B1/012 A61B2090/064 A61B2090/081

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12708252
App. No.: 18/325,974
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Sheaths that may be used with endoscopes, and in particular, robotic endoscopes and/or telescoping endoscopes, as well as method of using these sheaths to prevent cross-contamination between patients and contamination of the endoscope are described. These sheaths include both an outer sheath for covering the outside of the endoscope and one or more inner sheaths for covering a lumen of the endoscope, and are configured so as not to interfere with the flexibility or operation of the endoscope. These sheaths may reduce or eliminate the need for endoscope cleaning.

Claims (38)

1 . An endoscope sheath device configured to prevent contamination of an endoscope, the endoscope sheath device comprising:

an external sheath that is configured to be transitioned between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration, the external sheath having a lumen;

a cap sealingly coupled to a distal end of the external sheath, the cap comprising an engagement region configured to secure the cap to a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the engagement region is configured to mate with the distal end of the endoscope when compressed from an oval resting cross-sectional configuration into a substantially circular mating cross-sectional configuration; and

one or more internal sheaths each comprising an elongate flexible body extending within the lumen of the external sheath, wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths has one or more internal lumens and is configured to pass through a lumen of the endoscope to form a fluid-impermeable internal contamination barrier, further wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths is sealingly coupled to the cap so that the one or more internal lumens is open through the cap.

2 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the external sheath is shorter than the one or more internal sheaths.

3 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the cap is at least partially transparent.

4 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a transparent region configured to align with a camera of the endoscope.

5 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement region is configured to secure to the cap to the distal end of the endoscope comprises one or more of: a friction fitting configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a snap fit configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a magnet configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a bayonet connector configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, or a threaded region configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope.

6 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more internal sheaths comprises a multi-lumen catheter.

7 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more internal sheaths comprises a working channel liner having a working channel lumen.

8 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal attachment on the external sheath configured to seal the external sheath to an outer surface of the endoscope.

9 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 8 , wherein the proximal attachment comprises an elastic attachment.

10 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the external sheath is flexible and is configured to form an external fluid-impermeable contamination barrier.

11 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal sheaths comprises a working channel liner configured to form an internal fluid- impermeable contamination barrier within a working channel of the endoscope.

12 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing region at a proximal end region of the internal sheath that is configured to be heat sealed to close off the one or more internal lumens after use to prevent contamination during removal of the one or more internal sheaths from within the lumen of the endoscope.

13 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 12 , wherein the sealing region is configured to be heat sealed and/or pressure sealed.

14 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 1 , wherein an internal lumen of the one or more internal sheaths comprises a hydrophilic coating.

15 . An endoscope sheath device configured to prevent contamination of an endoscope, the endoscope sheath device comprising:

a tubular external sheath having a lumen, the tubular external sheath configured to form a fluid-impermeable external contamination barrier when the endoscope is within the lumen of the tubular external sheath, wherein the tubular external sheath is configured to be transitioned between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration by an application or release of pressure;

a cap sealingly coupled to a distal end of the tubular external sheath, wherein the cap comprises an engagement region that is configured to secure to a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the engagement region is configured to mate with the distal end of the endoscope when compressed from an oval resting cross-sectional configuration into a substantially circular mating cross-sectional configuration; and

one or more internal sheaths each comprising an elongate flexible body having one or more internal lumens, each of the one or more internal sheaths extending within the lumen of the tubular external sheath, wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths are configured to pass through a lumen of the endoscope to form a fluid-impermeable internal contamination barrier, wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths is sealingly coupled to the cap so that the one or more internal lumens are open through the cap.

16 . An endoscope sheath device configured to prevent contamination of an endoscope, the endoscope sheath device comprising:

a tubular external sheath configured to fit over the endoscope, wherein the tubular external sheath has a lumen and is configured to be transitioned between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration by an application or release of pressure;

a cap sealingly coupled to a distal end of the tubular external sheath, the cap comprising an engagement region configured to secure the cap to a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the engagement region is configured to mate with the distal end of the endoscope when compressed from an oval resting cross-sectional configuration into a substantially circular mating cross-sectional configuration;

one or more internal sheaths each comprising an elongate flexible body extending within the lumen of the tubular external sheath and configured to fit within a lumen extending through the endoscope, wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths has one or more internal lumens, further wherein each of the one or more internal sheaths is sealingly coupled to the cap so that the one or more internal lumens is open through the cap; and

a sealing region at a proximal end of the one or more internal sheaths that is configured to be sealed after use to prevent contamination during removal of the one or more internal sheaths from within the lumen extending through the endoscope.

17 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the sealing region comprises a crimping region.

18 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the sealing region is configured to be heat sealed.

19 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the sealing region is configured to be pressure sealed.

20 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the tubular external sheath is shorter than the one or more internal sheaths.

21 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the cap is at least partially transparent.

22 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the cap comprises a transparent region configured to align with a camera of the endoscope.

23 . The endoscope sheath device of claim 16 , wherein the engagement region configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope comprises: a friction fitting configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a snap fit configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a magnet configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, a bayonet connector configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope, or a threaded region configured to secure the cap to the distal end of the endoscope.

24 . An endoscope sheath device configured to prevent contamination of an endoscope, the endoscope sheath device comprising:

an external sheath having a lumen therethrough that is configured to be transitioned between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration;

an internal sheath comprising a catheter extending within the lumen of the external sheath, wherein the internal sheath is sealingly coupled to the cap so that a lumen of the catheter is open through the cap, further wherein the internal sheath is configured to extend through a lumen of the endoscope; and

a sealing region at a proximal end region of the internal sheath that is configured to heat sealed to close off the lumen of the catheter after use to prevent contamination during removal of the internal sheath from within the lumen of the endoscope.