Endoscopic system for resection of tissue

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.

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.