Patent ID: 6129661
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An endoscope for internal inspection of an object comprising:a housing having a distal end and a working channel extending therethrough to the distal end, the working channel configured to allow passage of a surgical instrument;an elongated insertion section having a proximal end mounted to the housing and a distal end to be inserted into the object, the elongated insertion section defining an optical axis of the endoscope; anda sheath, detachable from the housing distal end of the, and having a proximal end configured to be directly attached to the housing and a distal end, the sheath extending along the optical axis, covering a portion of the elongated insertion section, and defining a working space for the surgical instrument, the working space extending substantially from the proximal end of the sheath to the distal end of the sheath and communicating with the working channel of the housing, wherein a first portion of the working space occupied by the insertion section and a second portion of the working space occupied by the surgical instrument are contiguous with each other, the endoscope being configured to allow visualization, via the insertion section, of the surgical instrument inserted through the working channel and into the working space.