Surgical instrument for colorectal polyp removal

A method for polypectomy, comprising:

• inserting a distal end of a surgical instrument through an endoscope, the surgical instrument comprising:
• an elongate flexible tubular sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a snare having a loop and controlled by a pair of wires, wherein the pair of wires is located within a shaft, wherein the shaft is located within the elongate flexible tubular sheath;
• a biopsy forceps having a pair of jaws sized to fit within and coplanar to the loop of the snare, wherein the biopsy forceps jaws are located between the loop of the snare and remain entirely within the loop of the snare in both open and closed positions during gripping;
• and
• wherein both the biopsy forceps and the snare are routed through the elongate flexible tubular sheath so that the loop of the snare and the pair of jaws exit the distal end of the elongate flexible tubular sheath, and a control for the biopsy forceps is coaxial and within the pair of wires such that the control for the biopsy forceps is within the shaft, and the snare is in a retracted position and the biopsy forceps is in a closed position;
• opening the snare;
• opening the biopsy forceps;
• positioning the pair of jaws of the biopsy forceps around a polyp;
• closing the pair of jaws of the biopsy forceps on the polyp, thereby securing the polyp;
• positioning the loop of the snare around the polyp that has been secured by the biopsy forceps;
• and
• closing the loop of the snare around the polyp.