Patent ID: 7431694

Claim:
A method of advancing a medical device in a patient's body in association with an endoscope, the method comprising the steps of: providing a flexible endoscope having an insertion length; providing an overtube, wherein the overtube is configured to engage the endoscope, wherein the overtube has an interior surface and an exterior surface; providing a continuous track having a length at least as long as the insertion length of the endoscope, wherein the track is separated from the outer wall of the endoscope by at least one radial distance; and wherein the track is secured to the exterior surface of the overtube via a flange; associating the track with the endoscope, wherein the act of associating the track with the endoscope comprises supporting the track such that upon flexure of the endoscope a portion of the track in a plane of bending of the endoscope moves circumferentially with respect to the endoscope to follow a curved path outside the plane of bending of the endoscope; and advancing a medical device along the track.