Patent ID: 8002698

Claim:
A method of either diagnosing or treating a Vater's papilla and tissue located adjacently thereto, comprising: a first step in which a first endoscope is inserted into an insertion channel of an overtube provided with only a single balloon, the single balloon being provided on the overtube close to a distal end of the overtube and being selectively expandable or shrinkable; a second step in which, with the first endoscope inserted through the insertion channel of the overtube and the balloon shrunk on the overtube, the first endoscope and the overtube are orally inserted into an object being examined toward a jejunum of the object; a third step in which, when a distal end portion of the insertion tube of the first endoscope reaches a position facing a jejunum-to-jejunum anastomosed portion of the jejunum, the distal end of the overtube is positionally fixed to the jejunum by making the balloon expand to touch the jejunum; a fourth step in which the distal end portion of the insertion tube of the first endoscope is directed toward the jejunum-to-jejunum anastomosed portion; a fifth step in which the directed insertion tube is made to advance via the jejunum-to-jejunum anastomosed portion and a jejunum-anastomosed bent portion to enable the distal end portion of the insertion tube to be positioned adjacently to a Vater's papilla of a duodenum of the object; a sixth step in which the distal end of the overtube is released from being positionally fixed to the jejunum by making the balloon shrink; a seventh step in which the overtube is made to advance along the insertion tube of the first endoscope such that the distal end of the overtube is positioned adjacently to the Vater's papilla; an eighth step in which the distal end of the overtube is fixed to the duodenum by making the balloon expand to touch the duodenum; a ninth step in which the first endoscope is pulled out of the insertion channel of the overtube; and a tenth step in which a second endoscope is inserted into the insertion channel of the overtube to enable a distal end portion of an insertion tube of the second endoscope to be protruded from the distal end of the overtube and position the distal end portion adjacently to the Vater's papilla, the second endoscope being for diagnosis or treatment of the Vater's papilla and the tissue located adjacently thereto.