Protective sheath for an endoscope

1. A protective sheath for an endoscope comprising:

an elongated shaft disposed along a shaft axis and including a distal end and a proximal end and having a longitudinal bore extending from a bore proximal opening at the shaft proximal end to a bore distal opening at the shaft distal end;

wherein the longitudinal bore is sized for receiving an endoscope tube inserted axially into the bore from the shaft proximal end; and

wherein the shaft distal end includes a shovel-shaped portion comprising:

a bowl having a bowl floor and a lateral sidewall, wherein the sidewall has an inner surface and an outer surface and extends from the bowl floor to a bowl rim comprising a generally planar flange disposed opposite the bowl floor, and wherein the flange comprises a rib that is disposed generally parallel to the shaft axis and projects outwardly beyond an outermost portion of the sidewall outer surface, and

a shovel distal end that includes a generally flat surface terminating in a forward-projecting cutting edge adapted for cutting muscle, fat or other soft tissue;

wherein the generally flat surface is generally parallel to the planar flange and wherein the forward-projecting cutting edge is disposed generally perpendicular to the shaft axis for a width greater than a maximum width of the bore distal opening at the shaft distal end.

2. The sheath of claim 1 wherein the shaft proximal end includes a clip configured for attachment to an endoscopic camera.

3. The sheath of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes a light-reflective surface.

4. The sheath of claim 1 wherein one or more surfaces of the shovel-shaped portion are adapted for retracting soft tissue during a surgical procedure.

5. The sheath of claim 1 wherein the sheath is configured for placement above a transverse carpel ligament during a carpel ligament release procedure.

6. The sheath of claim 1 wherein the forward-projecting cutting edge is disposed outside of a space bounded by:

a first plane that is generally parallel to the shaft axis and that intersects the bowl floor at an outermost point of the bowl floor; and

a second plane that is generally parallel to the first plane and that intersects a perimeter of the bore distal opening at a point that is laterally farthest from the outermost point of the bowl floor.

7. A protective sheath for an endoscope comprising:

an elongated shaft disposed along a shaft axis and including a distal end and a proximal end and having a longitudinal bore from a bore proximal opening at the shaft proximal end to a bore distal opening at the shaft distal end;

wherein the longitudinal bore is sized for receiving an endoscope tube inserted axially into the bore from the shaft proximal end;

wherein the shaft distal end includes a shovel-shaped portion comprising a bowl including a sidewall extending to a bowl rim from a bowl floor and having an inner surface and an outer surface;

wherein the bowl rim comprises a generally planar rib that projects outwardly beyond an outermost portion of the sidewall outer surface and that is disposed generally parallel to the shaft axis; and

wherein the shovel-shaped portion includes a generally flat surface that is generally parallel to the planar rib and that terminates at a forward-projecting edge disposed generally perpendicular to the planar rib for a width greater than a maximum width of the bore distal opening at the shaft distal end.

8. The sheath of claim 7 wherein the shaft proximal end includes a clip configured for attachment to an endoscopic camera.

9. The sheath of claim 7 wherein the bowl floor includes a sloped surface that extends longitudinally toward and terminates at the forward-projecting edge.

10. The sheath of claim 7 wherein the sidewall extends outwardly from the bowl floor.

11. The sheath of claim 7 wherein one or more surfaces of the shovel-shaped portion are adapted for retracting soft tissue during a surgical procedure.

12. The sheath of claim 7 wherein the forward-projecting edge is adapted for cutting muscle, fat or other soft tissue.

13. The sheath of claim 7 wherein the forward-projecting edge is disposed outside of a space bounded by:

a first plane that is generally parallel to the shaft axis and that intersects the bowl floor at an outermost point of the bowl floor; and

a second plane that is generally parallel to the first plane and that intersects a perimeter of the bore distal opening at a point that is laterally farthest from the outermost point of the bowl floor.

14. A protective sheath for an endoscope comprising:

an elongated shaft disposed along a shaft axis and including a distal end and a proximal end and having a bore extending longitudinally from a bore proximal opening at the shaft proximal end to a bore distal opening at the shaft distal end;

wherein the longitudinal bore is sized for receiving an endoscope tube inserted axially into the bore from the shaft proximal end;

wherein the shaft distal end includes a shovel-shaped portion comprising:

a bowl including a sidewall extending from a bowl floor to a bowl rim including a generally planar flange disposed opposite the bowl floor, wherein the flange comprises a rib disposed generally parallel to the shaft axis and projecting outwardly beyond an outermost portion of an outer surface of the sidewall; and

a shovel distal end comprising a generally flat surface disposed generally parallel to the shaft axis and having a forward-projecting distal edge disposed generally perpendicular to the shaft axis for a width greater than a maximum width of the bore distal opening at the shaft distal end.

15. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the shovel distal end generally flat surface has a width that is greater than the maximum width of the bore distal opening at the shaft distal end.

16. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the shovel distal end generally flat surface has a width that is greater than the maximum width of the shaft distal end.

17. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the shovel-shaped portion has a length of about 0.42 inch.

18. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the longitudinal bore within the distal shaft end has a width in a range from about 0.11 to about 0.12 inches.

19. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the shovel distal end generally flat surface has a width of about 0.27 inch.

20. The sheath of claim 14 wherein the rib extends outwardly from the sidewall about 0.03 inch.