Patent ID: 7041052

Claim:
Apparatus for advancing a first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument into a hollow body organ of unsupported anatomy, the apparatus comprising: a reusable handle; an overtube removably coupled to the handle, the overtube comprising a plurality of spool links and a plurality of clamp links having an elongated portion, a distal region, a distal opening and a lumen extending therethrough to permit passage of a first diagnostic or therapeutic instrument, wherein the spool links have rounded distal ends and proximal ends and the clamp links are interposed between adjacent ones of the spool links, and wherein each clamp link has an interior surface with grooves adapted to engage a distal end of a first adjacent spool link and a second adjacent spool link; means for applying a clamping load to the plurality of links; and an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal region adjacent to the distal opening.