Patent ID: 8888684

Claim:
A method of selectively releasing an analgesic drug agent from an endoscope in vivo, said method comprising: routing an endoscope through an intestinal tract of a patient's body, wherein said endoscope comprises: (a) a shaft having proximal and distal ends, a working channel lumen, and an outer surface; (b) a hydrogel outermost layer disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the shaft; (c) an analgesic drug agent carried in or on a portion of the hydrogel outermost layer; (d) three or more electrodes spaced apart along a length of the endoscope in contact with the outermost layer, wherein each of the electrodes is adapted to be individually selectively energized; and (e) a stimulus generator associated with the endoscope, the stimulus generator, based upon a selective input, generating an electrical stimulus that causes the drug agent to be released from the hydrogel outermost layer; and selectively energizing said electrodes to release the analgesic drug agent from the hydrogel outermost layer, wherein the analgesic drug agent is delivered locally to a wall of the intestinal tract for relieving patient discomfort.