Patent ID: 6551238
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61B,A61L

Abstract:
A protective tube adapted to be slipped on a distal end portion of a flexible endoscope prior to a vacuum sterilization method and adapted to be removed from said distal end portion after sterilization prior to a consecutive use of said flexible endoscope, said protective tube havinga tubular body, a diameter of said protective tube is selected such that said protective tube can be slipped onto said distal end portion of said flexible endoscope and fits onto said distal end portion, a length of said protective tube being selected such that it covers at least said end portion of said flexible endoscope with said flexible endoscope, and a structure of said body of said protective tube being selected such that said flexible sleeve is protected under vacuum condition against expanding, a sterilizing agent used during sterilizing of said flexible endoscope is able to penetrate between an outside of said sleeve and said protective tube applied onto said sleeve.