Endoscopic tools with soft tip and method

An endoscopic tool for use with an endoscope for surgical procedures within a body cavity comprises:

• a manipulator disposed at a proximal end of the tool for controlling the tool;
• a primary filament coupled to the manipulator by a proximal end of the primary filament;
• an instrument disposed at a distal end of the tool and coupled with the primary filament, the primary filament having a stiffness sufficient to both push and pull the instrument;
• an elongated tubular lumen has a longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of the primary filament extends through the tubular lumen along the longitudinal axis of the tubular lumen, and the instrument is disposed within the tubular lumen in a fully retracted position and extends from the tubular lumen in a fully extended position;
• a blunt tip comprises a soft material, whereby biological tissues within the body cavity are not damaged when the tip is pressed against the tissues, and the blunt tip is coupled to the tubular lumen;
• an orifice is disposed on a side wall of the tubular lumen or the blunt tip and is arranged such that the instrument extends from the orifice in the fully extended position transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular lumen.