Importance

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Abstract

A disposable sheath (10) for a medical scope (11) and having a flexible, elongated body portion (13) formed from a translucent plastic material (15) with a rough-textured interior surface (19) and a flexible, transparent tip portion (22). The rough-textured interior surface includes projections (18) that result from a plurality of indentations (17) formed in the exterior surface (16) of the body portion of the sheath. The translucent plastic material of the body portion is bonded to the transparent tip portion of the sheath by high frequency heat sealing, which is pathogen impermeable. The plastic materials of the sheath are also pathogen impermeable. In one embodiment, the tip portion (46) of the sheath (33) is formed from a flat, foldable sheet (48) of plastic material. The lateral edges (51, 52) of the foldable sheet are heat sealed to each other, and the proximal edges (49, 50) are heat sealed to the distal end (47) of the body portion (35) of the sheath. The body portion is formed from two strips (36, 37) of plastic material with a shape memory for a flat configuration that are longitudinally heat sealed along the edges (38, 39) thereof. A stylet (43) is positioned in the sheath for maintaining the sheath in an open condition (42) during handling and storage.

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First Claim