Patent ID: 8758227

Claim:
A method of performing arthroscopic surgery, said method comprising the steps of: providing a system for performing arthroscopic surgery, said system comprising: an optical instrument, said optical instrument characterized by a distal tip; a rigid cannula, said rigid cannula characterized by a lumen and a distal tip, said rigid cannula sized and dimensioned such that the optical instrument may be extended through the lumen and distally of the distal tip of the rigid cannula; a sheath comprising a tube of resilient material, said sheath having an inner diameter sized and dimensioned to closely conform to an outer diameter of the rigid cannula and said sheath having a flange disposed at a distal end of the sheath, said flange having an opening, said flange disposed, sized and dimensioned to prevent the distal tip of the rigid cannula from extending distally from the sheath, said flange disposed, sized and dimensioned to allow the optical instrument to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the sheath is adapted to be removably disposed over the optical instrument; placing the optical instrument inside of the rigid cannula; placing the rigid cannula inside of the sheath; performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure.