Patent ID: 8317771

Claim:
A method of forming a submucosal bleb comprising the steps of: inserting a safe access needle injection instrument through a natural orifice in a patient, the safe access needle injection instrument including, i) an elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough, ii) a tissue holding member having a coil configuration positioned adjacent the distal end of said elongate tubular member and adapted to engage a desired region of a mucosal layer, the coiled configuration defining a diameter, iii) a needle member having a lumen wherein said needle member is longitudinally movably disposed within the lumen of said elongate tubular member and adapted to pierce a desired region of the mucosal layer engaged by said tissue holding member and enter the submucosal layer such that delivery of a fluid through the lumen of said needle member enters said submucosal layer to thereby elevate said desired region of the mucosal layer, and iv) an electrosurgical connection electrically coupled to the tissue holding member for receiving a cautery current from a cautery current supply; positioning said safe access needle injection instrument adjacent a target site in the digestive tract; operating said safe access needle injection instrument to engage tissue at said target site, said operating including rotating the coiled configuration of the tissue holding member into the tissue such that coils of the coiled configuration extend within the tissue; elevating a mucosal layer by injecting a fluid into a submucosal layer at said target site to form a bleb using said safe access needle injection instrument; applying a cautery energy to the tissue holding member in the coiled configuration to cauterize a hole of the diameter of the coiled configuration in the tissue at said target site, wherein the cauterization of the hole releases engagement of the tissue holding member from the tissue; and removing said safe access needle injection instrument from said patient.