Surgical tissue protection sheath

Abstract

A surgical sheath for use in endoscopic trans-nasal or intra-ocular surgery has an angle section joined to a conical section, with the conical section having a central axis not parallel to a central axis of the angle section. A body section is joined to the angle section, with the body section having a length at least twice the length of the angle section. The conical section, the angle section and the body section may be a flexible or compliant material. The sheath reduces collateral trauma to the tissues in the surgical pathway.

1 . A surgical sheath comprising:
 a conical section having a larger conical section first end tapering to a smaller conical section second end, with the larger conical section first end forming a proximal opening of the surgical sheath;   an angle section having a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, and the smaller conical section second end joined to a first side of the angle section;   a body section having a larger body section first end tapering to a smaller body section second end, with a second side of the angle section joined to the body section second end; and   with the body section having a first length and the conical section having a second length, and with the first length greater than the second length, and with the conical section, the angle section and the body section comprising a flexible material to allow the sheath to conform to inner walls of a patient's nostril.   
     
     
         2 . The sheath of  claim 1  further comprising one or more pleats on the body section to allow the body section to stretch outwardly more easily than the conical section. 
     
     
         3 . The sheath of  claim 1  with the body section having a wall thickness less than a wall thickness of the conical section. 
     
     
         4 . The sheath of  claim 1  further comprising two or more ridges on an outside surface of the body section. 
     
     
         5 . The sheath of  claim 1  with conical section having an opening in a plane at an acute angle of 50-70 degrees to a central axis of the body section. 
     
     
         6 . The sheath of  claim 1  with the body section having a central axis and a distal opening in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The sheath of  claim 1  with the angle section having four sides and with none of the sides parallel to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The sheath of  claim 1  with the first and second sides of the angle section opposite from each other, and with the angle section having third and fourth sides opposite from each other, and with the third side perpendicular to the first side. 
     
     
         9 . The sheath of  claim 1  with the body section having a central axis perpendicular to the second side of the angle section. 
     
     
         10 . The sheath of  claim 12  wherein the body section has a central axis that bisects the second side of the angle section. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical sheath comprising:
 a conical section having a free first end tapering to a smaller second end, with the free first end forming a proximal opening of the surgical sheath;   an angle section having at least first, second and third sides, with first side at an acute angle to the second side, and the smaller second end of the conical section adjoining the first side of the angle section;   a body section having a free first end tapering to a smaller second end, with the second side of the angle section joined to the smaller second end of the body section; and   with the body section having a first length and the conical section having a second length, and with the first length greater than the second length, and with the conical section, the angle section and the body section comprising a flexible material to allow the sheath to conform to inner walls of a patient's nostril.   
     
     
         12 . The sheath of  claim 11  with the third side of the angle section forming a first acute angle with the first side of the angle section and forming a second acute angle with the second side of the angle section.