Patent ID: 7481225
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for medically treating patient tissue using a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument includes a flexible sheath having a distal end and an end effector attached to the sheath proximate the distal end and insertable into a patient, wherein the end effector includes opposing and retroflexed first and second jaws and includes at least one medical-treatment electrode supported by the second jaw, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is rotatable, and wherein the method includes the steps of: a) inserting the end effector into the mouth of a patient and translating the end effector to the esophagus or the stomach of the patient; b) inserting a working end of a flexible tube of an endoscope into the mouth of the patient and translating the working end of the flexible tube to the esophagus or the stomach of the patient; c) grasping the working end of the flexible tube with the first and second jaws; d) using the endoscope to bend the working end of the flexible tube to move the second jaw against patient tissue of the esophagus or the stomach; and e) medically treating the patient tissue using the at-least-one medical-treatment electrode.