Instrument with sealing device and methods of advancing fluid therethrough

1. A medical device comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector assembly;

an elongate member connecting the handle portion to the end effector assembly; and

a sealing device associated with at least one of the handle portion and the elongate member to substantially prevent flow communication between a lumen of the elongate member and an environment external to the device;

wherein a distal-most end of the sealing device which is closest to the end effector assembly has a radially inner surface disposed radially outward of a radially outer surface of the elongate member,

wherein the distal-most end of the sealing device comprises at least one of a silicone, a rubber, and a plastic,

wherein the handle portion includes protrusions contacting the sealing device, and

wherein the handle portion includes a tube in flow communication with the elongate member.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is configured to substantially prevent fluid flow through a gap between the tube and the elongate member.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing device is disposed around the elongate member and the tube.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the elongate member.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the tube.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the elongate member and the tube.

7. The device of claim 3 , wherein the sealing device is configured to allow longitudinal movement of the tube relative to the elongate member.

8. The device of claim 3 , wherein a tip of the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the tube.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is disposed between an inner surface of the handle portion and an outer surface of the elongate member.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the sealing device and a proximal end of the elongate member.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing device is an elastic sleeve.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured to be in flow communication with the environment external to the device via a proximal end of the tube.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the sealing device is disposed on the tube.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the sealing device is a cap at the proximal end of the tube.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sealing device which extends over the elongate member has a length, and an outer diameter of the sealing device along the length is substantially constant.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the sealing device has a first outer diameter and a distal end of the sealing device has a second outer diameter, and

wherein the first outer diameter is smaller than the second outer diameter.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sealing device which extends over the elongate member consists essentially of at least one of a silicone, a rubber, and a plastic.

18. A medical device comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector assembly;

an elongate member connecting the handle portion to the end effector assembly; and

a sealing device associated with at least one of the handle portion and the elongate member to substantially prevent flow communication between a lumen of the elongate member and an environment external to the device, the sealing device extending proximally of a proximal-most end of the elongate member which is farthest from the end effector assembly;

wherein the sealing device is compressed between an inner surface of the handle portion and an outer surface of the elongate member,

wherein a portion of the sealing device comprises at least one of a silicone, a rubber, and a plastic, the portion being compressed between the inner surface of the handle portion and the outer surface of the elongate member, and

wherein the handle portion includes a tube in flow communication with the elongate member.

19. A medical device comprising:

a handle portion;

an end effector assembly;

an elongate member connecting the handle portion to the end effector assembly; and

a sealing device associated with at least one of the handle portion and the elongate member to substantially prevent flow communication between a lumen of the elongate member and an environment external to the device;

wherein a distal-most end of the sealing device which is closest to the end effector assembly has a radially inner surface disposed radially outward of a radially outer surface of the elongate member,

wherein the distal-most end of the sealing device comprises at least one of a silicone, a rubber, and a plastic,

wherein the handle portion includes protrusions contacting the sealing device, and

wherein the end effector assembly includes biopsy forceps jaws.

20. A medical device comprising:

a handle portion;

an elongate member extending in a distal direction from the handle portion; and

a sealing device associated with at least one of the handle portion and the elongate member to substantially prevent flow communication between a lumen of the elongate member and an environment external to the device;

wherein a distal-most end of the sealing device which is closest to a distal end of the elongate member has a radially inner surface disposed radially outward of a radially outer surface of the elongate member,

wherein the distal-most end of the sealing device comprises at least one of a silicone, a rubber, and a plastic,

wherein a proximal end of the sealing device has a first outer diameter and a distal end of the sealing device has a second outer diameter,

wherein the first outer diameter is smaller than the second outer diameter, and

wherein the handle portion includes a tube in flow communication with the elongate member.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the sealing device is configured to substantially prevent fluid flow through a gap between the tube and the elongate member.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the sealing device is disposed around the elongate member and the tube.

23. The device of claim 21 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the elongate member.

24. The device of claim 21 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the tube.

25. The device of claim 21 , wherein a tip of the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the tube.

26. The device of claim 20 , wherein the sealing device is disposed between an inner surface of the handle portion and an outer surface of the elongate member.

27. The device of claim 11 , wherein the sealing device is compressed between an inner surface of the handle portion and an outer surface of the elongate member.

28. The device of claim 20 , wherein the sealing device is configured to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the sealing device and a proximal end of the elongate member.

29. The device of claim 20 , wherein the sealing device is an elastic sleeve.

30. The device of claim 20 , wherein the tube is configured to be in flow communication with the environment external to the device via a proximal end of the tube.

31. The device of claim 30 , wherein the sealing device is disposed on the tube.

32. The device of claim 30 , wherein the sealing device is a cap at the proximal end of the tube.

33. The device of claim 11 , wherein the handle portion includes protrusions contacting the sealing device.

34. The device of claim 20 , wherein a portion of the sealing device which extends over the elongate member has a length, and an outer diameter of the sealing device along the length is substantially constant.