US 12,226,076 B2
Rigid endoscope system
Theodore R. Kucklick, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to PSIP2 LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed by PSIP2 LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/914,344.
Application 16/914,344 is a continuation of application No. 15/666,253, filed on Aug. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,694,927.
Application 15/666,253 is a continuation of application No. 14/962,963, filed on Dec. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,717,397.
Application 14/962,963 is a continuation of application No. 14/526,285, filed on Oct. 28, 2014, granted, now 9,204,786.
Application 14/526,285 is a continuation of application No. 13/557,040, filed on Jul. 24, 2012, granted, now 8,870,748.
Application 13/557,040 is a continuation of application No. 11/774,586, filed on Jul. 7, 2007, granted, now 8,226,548.
Prior Publication US 2020/0337531 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/015 (2006.01); A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 1/12 (2006.01); A61B 1/317 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 1/00135 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00073 (2013.01); A61B 1/00078 (2013.01); A61B 1/015 (2013.01); A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 1/126 (2013.01); A61B 1/317 (2013.01); A61B 17/3417 (2013.01); A61B 17/3421 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00092 (2013.01); A61B 17/3474 (2013.01); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endoscope comprising:
an endoscope shaft having a plurality of external ribs extending radially along the outer surface of the endoscope shaft;
an external sheath having a central lumen, an inner surface of the external sheath closely matching outer edges of the ribs, the inner surface of the external sheath having a plurality of projections extending radially and inwardly from the inner surface of the external sheath;
the outer surface of the endoscope shaft, ribs, spacing of the ribs about the circumference of the endoscope shaft, and the projections being designed to:
support the external sheath in stable engagement with the endoscope shaft to retain the sheath in place relative to the endoscope shaft,
define a plurality of fluid flow channels extending within the endoscope system between the endoscope shaft and external sheath; and
the close matching and the projections designed to form a seal between the outer edges of the ribs and the inner surface of the external sheath.