Patent ID: 8771170

Claim:
A method of performing transesophageal surgery, wherein the method comprises: inserting a liner, having a first proximate end, a second distal end and a body portion connecting the first proximate end and the second distal end, through a mouth of a patient; positioning the first proximate end such that the first proximate end is closer to the mouth of the patient and open to a body lumen, positioning the second distal end so that the second distal end is more distal from the mouth and so that the liner is proximate to tissue of the body lumen, wherein the act of positioning the liner further includes applying at least a portion of a longitudinal wall of the body portion of the liner to the tissue of the body lumen; inserting a distal portion of a surgical instrument through the mouth of the patient and passing the distal portion of the surgical instrument by the first proximate end of the liner and adjacent to the longitudinal wall of the body portion of the liner; and extending the distal portion of the surgical instrument through the longitudinal wall of the body portion of the liner and entirely through the tissue of the body lumen, wherein the liner is placed in the patient's esophagus, and the surgical instrument is passed entirely through the liner and the esophagus.