Patent ID: 6951568

Claim:
Surgical apparatus comprising an elongated cannula further comprising: a first lumen extending within the cannula between proximal and distal ends thereof for housing an endoscope therein; a transparent tip disposed at the distal end of the first lumen for performing tissue dissection and providing endoscopic visualization therethrough; a second lumen eccentric the first lumen and having an open distal end positioned proximal to the distal end of the first lumen for housing a medical instrument therein to protrude from the open distal end for performing procedures on tissue viewed through the transparent tip; and a flexible hood extending from the distal end of the second lumen and gradually tapering down towards the distal end of the first lumen, the hood maintaining its tapered configuration even in the absence of a medical instrument in the second lumen, to form a smooth transition surface adjacent the transparent tip to facilitate blunt tissue dissection and maneuverability, wherein the flexible hood comprises an open distal end and wherein the flexible hood assumes expanded configuration in response to extension through the distal end thereof of the medical instrument projecting from the open distal end of the second lumen and through the open distal end of the hood.