Patent ID: 8080030

Claim:
An endoscopic sheath, comprising: an elongate outer tube having a rigid structure; an elongate inner tube, having a rigid structure, concentrically disposed within a lumen of said elongate outer tube; an inflatable membrane disposed in encircling relation to said elongate outer tube so that said elongate outer tube is substantially held against movement when inserted into a patient's tissue and said inflatable membrane is inflated; a plurality of elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands disposed in interconnecting relation between the elongate inner tube and the elongate outer tube, said elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands extending radially outwardly with respect to said elongate inner tube and said elongate flexible suspension strands being elastic in said radial direction; said plurality of elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands defining three sets of longitudinally spaced elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands, each set of longitudinally spaced elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands comprising a plurality of said elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands disposed in equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another; said elongate inner tube has a longitudinal axis of symmetry coincident with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said elongate outer tube when each of said elongate elastic, flexible suspension strands and said elongate inner tube is in a position of repose; said elongate inner tube having a lumen adapted to slidingly receive a surgical tool therewithin; and said elongate inner tube remaining within said lumen of said elongate outer tube when said inflatable membrane is inflated.