Patent ID: 8512350

Claim:
A method for operating a medical device to perform an operation in a body, comprising: inserting a medical device into a body, the medical device comprising: a sheath including a lumen, a distal end, and a proximal end; an end effector unit and an elongate member connected to the end effector unit and extending proximally from the end effector unit within the lumen of the sheath, the end effector unit and sheath movable relative to each other such that in a first state the lumen houses the end effector unit and in a second state the end effector unit extends from the distal end of the sheath; a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the handle being connected to the proximal end of the sheath, the handle including an actuator; and a ring disposed along an exterior surface of the handle, wherein the ring is located along the handle closer to the distal end of the handle than the proximal end of the handle; grasping the handle with a hand of an operator in a position to activate the actuator such that a first finger of the operator's hand is positioned within the ring; grasping the sheath with the first finger and another finger of the hand grasping the handle; advancing the sheath with the first finger and the another finger of the hand grasping the handle to position the end effector unit near a treatment site; and actuating the actuator of the handle with the same hand used to advance the sheath, wherein, during the step of actuating the actuator, the ring is stationary relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle, and wherein, during the step of actuating the actuator, a longitudinal piece disposed internally within the handle slides relative to a proximal opening in the handle.