Abstract: A holding tray assembly for holding an endoscopic sheath during installation of the sheath onto an insertion tube of an endoscope and removal of the sheath from the insertion tube, wherein the sheath has a distal end and an open proximal end shaped to receive the insertion tube. The holding tray assembly has a tray with a slot formed therein extending inward from the peripheral edge of the tray. The slot is adapted to receive at least a portion of the endoscopic sheath so the proximal end of the sheath is positioned above the tray and the distal end of the sheath is below the tray. A sheath holding clamp is connected to the tray adjacent to a closed end of the slot, wherein the sheath holding clamp is adapted to releasably hold at least a portion of the endoscopic sheath within the slot. A tray securing apparatus is connected to the tray and is adapted to secure the tray onto a floor stand or other tray support structure.

Abstract: An endoscopic sheath assembly having an endoscope tube and a plurality of working channels, wherein the endoscope tube is adapted to receive and tightly surround a flexible, elongated endoscope that has a neutral bending plane. Working channels, including a biopsy channel, an air channel, and a water channel, are disposed within and substantially parallel to the endoscope tube along its length radially outward of the neutral bending plane of the endoscope. The biopsy, air, and water channels each have proximal sections and expansion sections. The suction channel has a proximal section comprising a lubricious inner tube forming a lubricious inner lumen, and a kink resistant outer tube bonded to the inner tube. The expansion section of the biopsy channel has a close pitch, axially wound, flat wire spring tightly surrounded by an extruded elastomeric material that is adapted to maintain radial compression force on the spring member.