Device and method of using a surgical assembly with mesh sheath

A surgical assembly comprising:

• an elongated flexible outer tube;
• a scope coaxially disposed within the elongated tube;
• one or more elongated passages aligned axially within the outer tube;
• the elongated outer tube having at least a distal portion that is laterally expandable within said body cavity and adapted for axial extension to length or retraction to shorten the longitudinal dimension of the tube while respectively diminishing or enlarging the radial dimensions thereof.

A method of using a surgical assembly to view the interior of a patient, the assembly having an elongated flexible outer tube, at least a distal portion of the outer tube being adapted for axial extension to length or retraction to shorten the longitudinal dimension of the tube while respectively diminishing or enlarging the radial dimensions thereof within said patient interior, comprising the steps of:

• placing an endoscope having a distal end within the elongated flexible tube of the assembly;
• inserting the tube, with the endoscope disposed within it, into a body cavity of a patient for viewing the interior of the body cavity;
• enlarging the radial dimensions of said tube;
• and
• using the endoscope to view the cavity through a window in a distal housing disposed at the distal end of the assembly.

A method of using a surgical assembly comprising an endoscope coaxially disposed within an elongated, flexible tube, comprising the steps of:

• placing the endoscope within the elongated flexible tube having a mesh configuration;
• using the endoscope to view through a window in a distal housing located at a distal end of the assembly;
• inserting the assembly into a body cavity of a patient for viewing the interior of the body cavity;
• and
• compressing the tube longitudinally to expand the tube laterally within the patient until the tube touches the interior of the patient, whereby the tube acts to anchor the assembly, take samples from wall of the body cavity, or dilate a stricture in the body cavity.

A method of using a surgical assembly comprising a surgical scope coaxially disposed within an elongated flexible tube, comprising the steps of:

• placing the surgical scope within the elongated flexible tube having the ability to expand;
• inserting the assembly into a body cavity of a patient;
• removing the endoscope from the assembly while the assembly remains in the patient;
• and
• inserting cylindrical rods of increasing diameter in the tube until a desired diameter is achieved.

A method of using a surgical assembly comprising a surgical scope coaxially disposed within a hermetically sealed flexible tube, comprising the steps of:

• placing the surgical scope within the hermetically sealed flexible tube having the ability to expand;
• inserting the assembly into a body cavity of a patient;
• attaching a proximal end of the hermetically sealed tube to a source of pressurized air;
• and
• inserting pressurized air into the tube to expand its diameter.