Patent ID: 7951158

Claim:
A device for stenting a lumen or cavity in the body of a human or animal subject, said device comprising: an endoscope having a distal end and defining an endoscope longitudinal axis; an elongate endoscope channel for receiving the endoscope therein; an elongate channel substantially parallel to the endoscope channel, the elongate channel houses at least one support member prior to deployment; an elongate structure configured to project laterally from the elongate channel, the elongate structure retaining a counteractive element; wherein the at least one support member is positioned within the lumen or cavity or in tissue adjacent to the lumen or cavity and generally parallel to the endoscope longitudinal axis after deployment from the elongate channel, the at least one support member having a length greater than a width and including a plurality of spaced arms extending along the length; and at least one tensioning member attached to the at least one support member at a first end and the counteractive elements at a second end, said at least one tensioning member being under sufficient tension to cause the at least one support member to stent the lumen and being generally perpendicular to the endoscope longitudinal axis after deployment; wherein the at least one tensioning member is defined by inelastic material and the plurality of spaced arms compress the at least one tensioning member; wherein the distal end of the endoscope is positioned to view deployment of the at least one support member.