Covering Apparatus For An Endoscope Lens

1 . A covering apparatus for a surgical viewing instrument having an elongated shaft including a viewing portion at a distal end thereof, the covering apparatus comprising a tape having a first length overlying the viewing portion, the tape movable across the viewing portion to move the first length away from the viewing portion and advance a second cleaner length of tape to a position overlying the viewing portion.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first rotatable roller, a second rotatable roller, a third length of tape, and a fourth length of tape, the third length of tape wound about the first roller in response to movement of the first length of tape away from the viewing portion, and the fourth length of the tape unwound from the second roller in response to movement of the first length of tape away from the viewing portion.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tape includes first and second ends, the first roller includes a first slot for receiving the first end and the second roller includes a second slot for receiving the second end.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second rollers are mounted to a band positioned over the elongated shaft.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein rotation of at least one of the first and second rollers is restricted in one direction.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein rotation is restricted in one direction by a ratchet, the ratchet operably engaging at least one of the first and second rollers to restrict the rotation of at least one of the first and second rollers.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tape has first and second ends supported on opposing sides of the surgical instrument.

8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tape further includes at least one flexible cable operably coupled to the first and second rollers.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least the first length of tape is formed from a transparent material.

10 . A cleaning apparatus for positioning on a surgical viewing instrument having a viewing portion, the cleaning apparatus comprising an elongated cleaning member having a first portion to overlie the viewing portion to enable viewing through the viewing portion, a second portion composed of a material to clean the viewing portion and advanceable across the viewing portion to clean the viewing portion, and a third portion advanceable to overlie the viewing portion to enable viewing through the viewing portion, the second portion being positioned between the first and third portions, and the second portion being movable across the viewing portion as the first portion is moved away from the viewing portion and the third portion being movable over the viewing portion as the second portion is subsequently moved away from the viewing portion.

11 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first portion provides a shield for the viewing portion.

12 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first portion is composed of a substantially transparent material.

13 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first portion includes a cutout.

14 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a sheath, the sheath mountable over at least a distal portion of the surgical viewing instrument.

15 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the third portion includes a cutout.

16 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a rotating mechanism for moving the cleaning member across the viewing portion, the cleaning member supported on first and second opposing sides of the surgical viewing instrument.

17 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is removably mounted to the surgical viewing instrument.

18 . A method for covering a lens of a scope comprising;

providing a covering device having first, second and third portions;

positioning the first portion over the lens of the scope;

moving the first portion away from the lens for placement of the second portion over the lens; and

subsequently moving the second portion away from the lens for placement of the third portion over the lens.

19 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first and third portions enable viewing through the lens.

20 . The cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second portion includes a cleaning material to clean the lens as it passes thereover.