Patent ID: 8690756

Claim:
An advancing system comprising: an endoscope having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a working channel extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, an aperture disposed at the distal portion and in communication with the working channel, and a port disposed at the proximal portion and in communication with the working channel; a flexible tether comprising a first portion extending external the endoscope from the proximal portion of the endoscope to the aperture, the tether further comprising a second portion extending through the working channel from the aperture to the proximal portion of the endoscope, wherein the first portion of the tether comprises a coupling element configured to be coupled to a medical device and apply a pulling force thereto; and a guiding device configured to be movably advanced through the working channel of the endoscope and alongside the second portion of the tether, the guiding device comprising an elongate shaft having a shaft proximal portion and a shaft distal portion, the guiding device further comprising a fulcrum disposed at the shaft distal portion and configured to movably receive the tether there through at a location distal of and spaced apart from the distal portion of the endoscope.