An endoscope decontamination sheath includes a terminal section for seeing therethrough for an image and a sleeve section connected to the terminal section for receiving an endoscope to insert therein. The terminal section is of a tubular configuration. The terminal section has a front end to which a lens is mounted and a rear end in which an insertion groove is formed. The sleeve section is of an elongated tubular configuration having a front end fit into the insertion groove of the terminal section. In medical treatment of endoscopy or intubation, the endoscope is inserted into and sleeved with the sleeve section, and the endoscope sleeved with the decontamination sheath is inserted into an endotracheal tube. The matched arrangement between the lens and a lens of the endoscope helps prevent image deterioration and thus making images clearer. The decontamination sheath, after use, can be disposed of to prevent cross infection.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an endoscope decontamination sheath, and more particularly to an endoscope decontamination sheath that helps prevent cross inflection and cross contamination in endoscopy or intubation and that does not affect acquisition or capture of an image by a front-end lens of an endoscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

An endoscope1, which is commonly used in medical procedures, comprises a bougie11, as shown inFIG.6. The bougie11has a front end to which a tubular body12is mounted for receiving components, including a filter, a lens, and optical elements, to be arranged inside the tubular body12, and a rear end to which an insertion piece13is mounted for insertion into and connection with a control circuit. To use, the endoscope1is inserted into the oral cavity of a patient and the control circuit is connected to a host device that includes a display. As being illuminated by the optical elements light, images of organs can be captured and acquired by the lens, and the images are transmitted to the control circuit at the rear end of the endoscope1to allow the image to be displayed on the display of the host device for observation.

The known endoscope1must be subjected to proper disinfection and decontamination after each use in order to prevent cross infection or cross contamination. This is labor- and time-consuming and it is impossible to achieve the purposes of completely eliminate cross infection or cross contamination. Consequently, a transparent sleeve2(such as plastic bag) is often fit over the endoscope1and after use, the used sleeve2is disposed of. This effectively prevents cross infection. However, the transparent sleeve2is formed by connecting multiple sheets together, so that the capture and acquisition of images by the front-end lens are affected when the endoscope1is fit therein, and further, the material that makes the sleeve2would cause deterioration of quality of images captured by the lens of the endoscope1, and this would affect displaying of the image at the rear end, making it hard to effect observe minute details of symptoms. In view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide an endoscope decontamination sheath that helps prevent cross infection and cross contamination in endoscopy or intubation and that does not affect acquisition and capture of an image by a front-end lens of an endoscope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an endoscope decontamination sheath that is fit over an endoscope in endoscopy or intubation and is disposed of after use so as to prevent cross infection and cross contamination and prevent deterioration of images for making images captured thereby clearer.

The endoscope decontamination sheath according to the present invention comprises a terminal section for seeing therethrough for an image; and a sleeve section connected to the terminal section for receiving an endoscope to insert therein, so that after medical treatment with endoscopy or intubation, the used decontamination sheath is disposable of to prevent cross infection and also to prevent image deterioration to thereby make an image captured with the endoscope clearer.

In the above endoscope decontamination sheath, the terminal section is a tubular body and the terminal section has a front end to which a lens is mounted. The terminal section is formed, in a rear end, with an insertion groove having a predetermined depth. The sleeve section is an elongated tubular body having a front end fit into and received in the insertion groove of the terminal section. In the medical treatment of endoscopy or intubation, the endoscope is inserted into and sleeved with the sleeve section, and the endoscope that is sleeved with the decontamination sheath is inserted into an endotracheal tube, wherein the matched arrangement between the lens and a lens of the endoscope helps prevent image deterioration and thus making a captured image clearer.

In the above endoscope decontamination sheath, the terminal section comprises an outer tubular body and an inner tubular body connected to the outer tubular body, wherein the outer tubular body is of a tubular configuration in the form of a cylindrical cap having a top end that is formed with a through hole for protrusion and exposure of the lens.

In the above endoscope decontamination sheath, the inner tubular body of the terminal section is provided with an upper stepped portion formed in an inside surface of an upper portion thereof and the lens is of an inverted T-shape, such that a protruding part of a lower portion of the lens is fit and retained in the stepped portion of the inner tubular body to allow a top of the lens exposed through the through hole formed in the top end of the outer tubular body.

In the above endoscope decontamination sheath, the inner tubular body pf the terminal section is provided with a lower stepped portion formed in an outside surface of a lower portion thereof, such that the insertion groove having the predetermined depth is defined between the inner tubular body and the outer tubular body in the lower portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring simultaneously toFIGS.1and2, a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the present invention are shown. As depicted in the drawings, the present invention comprises a terminal section3and a sleeve section4connected to the terminal section3. In this structural arrangement, the terminal section3comprises an outer tubular body31and an inner tubular body32connected to the outer tubular body31. The outer tubular body31is of a tubular configuration in the form of a cylindrical cap having a top end that is formed with a through hole311. The inner tubular body32is of a tubular configuration in the form of a cylinder having an outer wall contacting and in tight engagement with an inner wall of the outer tubular body31and provided with an upper stepped portion321formed in an inside surface of an upper portion thereof and a lower stepped portion322formed in an outside surface of a lower portion, such that the inner tubular body32and the outer tubular body31define therebetween an insertion groove33in the lower portion. In the instant embodiment, the outer tubular body31and the inner tubular body32are formed of a stainless steel material.

A lens34is made in an inverted T-shape, so that a protruding part of a lower portion of the lens34is received into and retained in the stepped portion321of the inner tubular body32for positioning in such a way that a top portion of the lens34extending through and exposed through the through hole311formed in the top end of the outer tubular body31. The lens34is preferably of a curved surface that corresponds to a curved surface of a lens of an endoscope.

The sleeve section4is made in the form of an elongated tube having an end inserted into and fit in the insertion groove33of the terminal section3, with an opposite end forming an opening. In the instant embodiment, the sleeve section4is formed of a plastic material and has a top end fit into the insertion groove33of the terminal section3and applied with a bonding agent or adhesive for securely bonding.

The components as described above are assembled to form an endoscope decontamination sheath A. In medical treatment with endoscopy or intubation, an endoscope is inserted through the sleeve section4to be fit into and sleeved with the decontamination sheath A, and then, the endoscope that is sleeved with the decontamination sheath A is inserted into an oral cavity of a patient to allow an optical element at a front end of the endoscope to illuminate for enabling a lens to capture an image of an organ. In the capture of the image, the matched combination of the lens34and the lens of the endoscope makes it possible to prevent image deterioration and making the image so captured clearer. Further, after the medical treatment of endoscopy or intubation, the decontamination sheath A so used can be disposed of to avoid and prevent cross infection or cross contamination.

Referring simultaneously toFIGS.3and4, a perspective view showing a state of sleeving the endoscope according to the present invention and a cross-sectional view showing the state of sleeving the endoscope according to the present invention are provided. As shown in the drawings, to use the present invention, the endoscope1is inserted through the opening of the sleeve section4of the decontamination sheath A in order to have the endoscope1sleeved with and enclosed in the decontamination sheath A. After the endoscope1so inserted, the endoscope1can be inserted into the oral cavity of the patient for operation and the optical element at the front end of the endoscope1illuminates to enable the lens to capture an image of an organ. The image is transmitted to a control circuit that is connected to an insertion piece13at a rear end of the endoscope1to be displayed on a display of a host device for observation. After the medical treatment of endoscopy or intubation is finished, the decontamination sheath A so used can be disposed of for the purposes of preventing cross infection or cross contamination.

Referring toFIG.4, a cross-sectional view showing the state of sleeving the endoscope according to the present invention is provided. As shown in the drawing, the endoscope1is so sleeved with and housed in the decontamination sheath A according to the present invention that the lens14of the endoscope1is in full surface contact engagement with and flat fitting with the lens34of the terminal section3of the decontamination sheath A in order to prevent undesired influence on image capture caused by light reflection. Since the curved surface or curvature of the lens34is identical to that of the lens14, deterioration of image can be effectively avoided and further, due to incoming light being increased, a wide angle effect may be obtained for the image to therefore improve quality of medical treatment.

The embodiment provided above is just for illustration of a preferred way of practicing the present invention and is not intended for limiting the scope of the present invention. Minor modifications and alterations that do not deviate from the essence and gist of the present invention are considered falling within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

In summary, the present invention provides a structure of an endoscope decontamination sheath that includes a lens having a curved surface or curvature corresponding to a lens of an endoscope and a terminal section formed with an insertion groove for collaborative combination with a sleeve section fit into and connectable to the terminal section. Such a structure allows an endoscope to be inserted therein and enclosed thereby in medical treatment with endoscopy or intubation and also allows for disposal of after used to prevent cross infection or cross contamination and also to prevent deterioration of image for making an image captured clearer to thereby improve quality of medical treatment.