Fluid seal for endoscope

Abstract

A seal is provided for effectively inhibiting the egress of fluids from the working channel of an endoscope when an elongate device having a region with a non-circular cross-sectional shape is disposed therein. The seal has a body portion with a proximal end adapted for insertion of the elongate device, a distal end adapted for connection to the proximal end of the endoscope, and a wall defining a lumen adapted to receive the elongate device and to provide access to the working channel of the endoscope. The seal includes a sealing element for sealing the region of the elongate device with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The sealing element conforms to the profile of the non-circular region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device system, comprising:
 an endoscope including a channel formed in the endoscope; and   a sealing device comprising:
 a seal body capable of attaching to the endoscope and to provide access to the channel formed in the endoscope; and 
 a seal disposed within the seal body, the seal being capable of sealing against a medical device extending through the seal body and into the channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device system of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate medical device extending through the sealing device and the endoscope. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal body includes an adapter that allows the seal body to be attached to a plurality of differently-sized endoscopes. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device system of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the medical device has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device system of  claim 2 , wherein the medical device includes a catheter or a guidewire. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a plurality of inward-projecting protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device system of  claim 2 , wherein the seal includes a projection having a shape complementary to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the medical device. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal body includes a clamp configured to engage a port on the endoscope. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein the seal body further comprises means for applying a compressive force on the seal. 
     
     
         10 . A medical device system, comprising:
 an endoscope;   a seal attached to the endoscope;   an elongate medical device extending through the seal and the endoscope; and   a seal member disposed within the seal, the seal member being sealed against the medical device.   
     
     
         11 . The medical device system of  claim 10 , wherein the seal member includes a foam disk. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device system of  claim 10 , wherein the medical device includes a catheter or a guidewire. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the medical device has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device system of  claim 10 , wherein the seal member includes a plurality of inward-projecting protrusions. 
     
     
         15 . A sealing device for use with a medical device and an endoscope, the sealing device comprising:
 a seal body configured for attachment to an endoscope and to provide access to a channel formed in the endoscope; and   a seal disposed within the seal body, the seal being configured to seal against a medical device extending through the seal body and into the channel.   
     
     
         16 . The sealing device of  claim 15 , wherein the seal body includes an adapter that allows the seal body to be attached to a plurality of differently-sized endoscopes. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing device of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the medical device has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The sealing device of  claim 15 , wherein the seal includes a plurality of inward-projecting protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The sealing device of  claim 15 , wherein the seal body includes a clamp configured to engage a port on the endoscope. 
     
     
         20 . The sealing device of  claim 15 , wherein the seal body further comprises means for applying a compressive force on the seal.