Patent ID: 6758806
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a handle; a first elongate tubular body, comprising a generally rigid material and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the handle such that an interface between the handle and the first tubular body has a flexibility at most equivalent to the flexibility of the first tubular body, the proximal end defining an entry port; a second tubular body, comprising a polymer material and having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second tubular body coupled to the distal end of the first tubular body and the distal end defining a guide face, wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are co-linearly aligned and collectively define a first lumen therethrough extending from the entry port to the guide face, the first lumen coaxially aligned with an axis of the first tubular body and with an axis of the second tubular body, and having a dimension adequate to accommodate in a co-linear alignment with the first tubular body: a second lumen having a dimension adequate to accommodate an instrument therethrough; at least one illumination fiber; and a third lumen comprising at least one lens disposed at the distal end of the second tubular body; wherein the second tubular body has a dimension adequate for insertion into a body of a human subject, and wherein the guide face comprises an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the second tubular body.