Patent ID: 8382770

Claim:
A method for implanting a percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube in a patient, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an access needle, the access needle comprising a stylet and a cannula, the stylet being removably insertable into the cannula, wherein the distal end of the stylet extends distally for an appreciable distance beyond the distal end of the cannula; (b) inserting the stylet, but not the cannula, into the jejunum; (c) grabbing the stylet with an endoscopically-positioned snare; (d) anchoring the jejunum against the abdominal wall of the patient using the snared stylet; (e) loosening the snare slightly while advancing the cannula into the jejunum and into the loosened snare; (f) tightening the snare around the cannula; (g) removing the stylet from the cannula; (h) inserting a guide wire or suture through the cannula and into the jejunum; and (i) using the guide wire or suture to implant a PEJ tube into the patient.