Endoscopic system for resection of tissue

1. Apparatus for facilitating resection of tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a proximal barrel adapted to be detachably coupled to a functional endoscope;

a distal barrel coupled to the proximal barrel, the distal and proximal barrels each having a lumen partially overlapping with the lumen of the other, wherein the distal barrel comprises an outer circumferential region forming a substantially circular shape; and

a cutting member disposed within a lumen of the distal barrel and configured to resect a segment of tissue,

wherein a central longitudinal axis of the proximal barrel is radially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel, and

wherein the central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel is radially aligned with a working lumen of the endoscope.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member comprises a cylindrical main body having a beveled distal region.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member is disposed for longitudinal and rotational movement relative to the distal barrel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stop member adapted to limit maximum distal movement of the cutting member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member is coupled to an actuating member disposed within the working lumen of the endoscope, wherein the actuating member is coupled to a proximal support section of the cutting member along a central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a proximal support section of the cutting member comprises a plurality of supporting struts separated by a plurality of viewing windows, wherein the plurality of viewing windows permit endoscopic visualization of tissue distal to the distal barrel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first separating segment formed between the proximal barrel and the distal barrel, wherein the first separating segment prevents the distal barrel from being advanced proximally over the endoscope; and

a second separating segment formed between the proximal barrel and the distal barrel, wherein the second separating segment limits proximal movement of the cutting member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the proximal barrel is adapted to be disposed about an exterior surface of the endoscope and comprises an elastic member having a larger diameter state adapted to be placed over the endoscope and a smaller diameter state that permits the proximal barrel to be elastically secured about the exterior surface of the endoscope.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an endoscope, wherein the proximal barrel is disposed on a distal end of the endoscope.

10. A method for facilitating resection of tissue, the method comprising:

providing apparatus comprising a proximal barrel and a distal barrel, the distal and proximal barrels each having a lumen partially overlapping with the lumen of the other;

detachably coupling at least a portion of the proximal barrel to a functional endoscope;

disposing a cutting member within a lumen of the distal barrel; and

actuating the cutting member in at least one of a longitudinal or rotational direction relative to the distal barrel to resect a segment of tissue,

wherein a central longitudinal axis of the cutting member is radially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a central longitudinal axis of the proximal barrel is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel is aligned with a working lumen of the endoscope.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the cutting member comprises a cylindrical main body and a beveled distal region, the method further comprising longitudinally advancing and rotating the cutting member relative to the distal barrel.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a stop member to limit maximum distal movement of the cutting member.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the cutting member comprises at least one viewing window that permits endoscopic visualization of tissue distal to the distal barrel.

15. Apparatus for facilitating resection of tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a proximal barrel adapted to be coupled to an endoscope;

a distal barrel coupled to the proximal barrel; and

a cutting member disposed within a lumen of the distal barrel and configured to resect a segment of tissue, wherein the cutting member is disposed for at least one of longitudinal and rotational movement relative to the distal barrel,

wherein the cutting member comprises at least one viewing window that permits endoscopic visualization of tissue distal to the distal barrel,

wherein a central longitudinal axis of the proximal barrel is radially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel, and wherein the central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel is radially aligned with a working lumen of the endoscope.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cutting member comprises a cylindrical main body having a beveled distal region.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cutting member is coupled to an actuating member disposed within the working lumen of the endoscope, wherein the actuating member is coupled to a proximal support section of the cutting member along the central longitudinal axis of the distal barrel.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a stop member adapted to limit maximum distal movement of the cutting member.