Endoscopic ablation system with flexible coupling

A method of ablating tissue on the interior lining of a lumen of a bodily organ, said method comprising:

• providing a flexible endoscope;
• providing an endoscopic ablation system, wherein said endoscopic ablation system comprises:
• at least two electrodes;
• an ablation cap for creating space in the lumen of a bodily organ, wherein said at least two electrodes are positioned on said ablation cap, and said ablation cap includes a relatively rigid support member;
• a viewing window between an adjacent pair of said at least two electrodes, wherein said viewing window is made of a transparent material and forms at least a part of said rigid support member;
• an RF generator electrically connected to said at least two electrodes, wherein the operator may actuate said RF generator to ablate tissue between said electrodes;
• a sheath, wherein the distal end of said sheath is attached to said relatively rigid support member by a flexible coupling, and the distal end of the flexible endoscope may be inserted through said sheath, said flexible coupling, and at least partially into said ablation end cap.
• inserting the distal end of said flexible endoscope into said sheath and at least partially into said ablation cap;
• intubating the distal end of said flexible endoscope with said sheath and said ablation cap into the lumen of a bodily organ;
• positioning under endoscopic visualization said viewing window against tissue to be treated;
• and
• actuating said RF generator to ablate the tissue between said electrodes.

A medical apparatus comprising:

• a sheath for insertion in a body lumen;
• a support member disposed at a distal end of the sheath, said support member supporting first and second electrodes;
• and
• a flexible coupling disposed intermediate said sheath and said support member for accommodating motion of the housing relative to said sheath.