"Working Tubes are used during minimally invasive spinal surgery. Their function is to maintain an artificial access corridor to the surgical site by holding back soft tissue. The access corridor is created by soft tissue dilation using dilators. In general, working tubes are inserted over said dilators. Additionally, working tubes serve as guidance for other medical devices (e.g. endoscopes, surgical instruments and implants) to the surgical site. Working tubes consist of the following sections: • A handle at the proximal end of the working tube • A long shaft that acts as access corridor to the surgical side • A (protection) lip at the distal end"
A component of a rigid or flexible endoscope assembly designed as a tube through which an endoscope (e.g., hysteroscope) and endoscopic elements are introduced and assembled to create a complete operative endoscopic unit; it is also designed to function as a protective barrier to isolate the endoscope from patient contact and prevent contamination of the endoscope controls during a procedure. It typically contains ports to enable the insertion of instruments (through the endoscope or through independent working channels), insufflation ports, valves and connectors. It is made of plastic and metal materials. This is a reusable device.