Method and apparatus for manipulating the side wall of a body lumen or body cavity so as to provide increased visualization of the same and/or increased access to the same, and/or for stabilizing instruments relative to the same

A method for endoscopically retracting tissue, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus for endoscopically retracting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
• a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope;
• a balloon movably mounted to the sleeve;
• and
• at least one connector extending from the balloon and configured to be secured to tissue which is to be retracted;
• positioning an endoscope disposed within the sleeve adjacent to tissue which is to be retracted;
• securing the at least one connector to the balloon and to the tissue which is to be retracted;
• and
• retracting the tissue away from the endoscope by moving the balloon away from the endoscope.

A method for endoscopically retracting tissue, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus for endoscopically retracting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
• a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope;
• and
• a tensioning tool extending through the sleeve and configured to be secured to tissue which is to be retracted;
• positioning an endoscope disposed within the sleeve adjacent to tissue which is to be retracted;
• connecting the tensioning tool to the tissue which is to be retracted;
• and
• retracting the tissue by moving the tensioning tool relative to the endoscope.

Apparatus for endoscopically retracting tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope;
• a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a bridge;
• and
• at least one connector extending from the bridge and configured to be secured to tissue which is to be retracted;
• wherein the pair of push tubes are configured to be moved relative to the sleeve in order to retract the tissue.

A method for endoscopically retracting tissue, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus for endoscopically retracting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
• a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope;
• a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a bridge;
• and
• at least one connector extending from the bridge and configured to be secured to tissue which is to be retracted;
• positioning an endoscope disposed within the sleeve adjacent to tissue which is to be retracted;
• securing the at least connector to the pair of push tubes and to the tissue which is to be retracted;
• and
• retracting the tissue away from the endoscope by moving the pair of push tubes relative to the endoscope.