Patent ID: 6939353

Claim:
A sheath for a medical device, comprising: a proximal sheath end; a distal sheath end; and a wall extending from the proximal sheath end to the distal sheath end, the wall defining at least one lumen extending from the proximal sheath end to the distal sheath end, wherein the lumen in the distal sheath end is adapted for receiving an object-engaging unit, the wall including a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, each of the proximal, intermediate, and distal portions configured for insertion in a body cavity, the proximal portion being substantially longer than the intermediate portion, the flexibility of the proximal and distal portions being substantially the same, the intermediate portion being more flexible than the proximal and distal portions and comprising a plurality of sections, wherein at least one of the sections comprises a different material than at least one of the other sections, and the distal portion being sufficiently rigid to receive the object-engaging unit without deformation of the distal portion.