Patent ID: 8911363

Claim:
A continuous flow irrigation endoscope, comprising: a body having a proximal end and a distal end; an outer tube, wherein at least a portion of the outer tube has a first diameter; an inner tube located within the outer tube, the inner tube having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter, wherein the inner tube further defines within the outer tube a closed cavity within the body of the endoscope, the closed cavity surrounding an entire circumference of the inner tube; and wherein the endoscope further comprises: an inflow port formed on an outer circumferential portion of the outer tube at a proximal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid to enter through the outer tube and into the closed cavity; a plurality of perforations formed on an outer circumferential portion of the outer tube at a distal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid to exit the closed cavity; an outflow port formed on an outer circumferential portion of the inner tube at a proximal end thereof and being configured to allow fluid and/or tissue debris to exit the body of the endoscope through the inner tube; wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner tube, wherein a cross-sectional area of the outflow port is equal to a cross-sectional area of a distally located opening being in communication with the outflow port, and wherein the inner and the outer tubes touch each other at their distal most ends, the distally located opening representing openings of both the tubes at a position where the tubes make a fluid tight contact with each other, and wherein the inner channel accommodates an optical channel.