Patent ID: 8287554

Claim:
A medical instrument, comprising: a tissue manipulator configured for introduction into a patient and including first and second jaws, a sealing member configured to substantially seal a section of the tissue manipulator from contact with bodily fluids, the first and second jaws being movable within the sealing member and having a portion extending out of the sealing member, the first and second jaws being configured to move in a first plane such that the first and second jaws can move toward and away from one another, and the first and second jaws being configured to move in a second plane generally perpendicular to the first plane such that the first and second jaws can move out of axial alignment with the sealing member, and a tissue engaging member configured to contact and stabilize tissue, the tissue engaging member being axially movable within the sealing member and having a portion extending out of the sealing member, the tissue engaging member being configured to articulate with the first and second jaws when moving out of axial alignment with the sealing member.