A protective sleeve apparatus for protecting an endoscopic or laparoscopicinstrument includes an elongated tubular member having an open proximal endand an open distal end. The elongated tubular member is sized and configured toreceive a laparoscopic or endoscopic instrument therethrough. The tubularmember has a folded section adjacent the distal end in releasable engagementwith an intermediate section of the tubular member to define a substantiallyenclosed sleeve to receive the instrument and substantially prevent entry ofcontaminants within an interior of the tubular member. The folded section isreleasable from the intermediate section upon exertion of a proximal force tothe tubular member to facilitate removal of the tubular member along the instrument.
