Endoscopic tissue removal apparatus and method

A method for withdrawing a tissue specimen through an endoscope comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• a grasping instrument;
• an endoscope including an endoscopic shaft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween;
• first and second hoop-like support members, each of the hoop-like support members being selectively slideable within the lumen from a first position to at least one second position, each of the hoop-like support members including a diameter which is variable from a first diameter to at least one different diameter;
• and
• a pouch having first and second ends which attach to respective first and second hoop-like support members, the pouch defining a container therein for retaining the tissue specimen;
• grasping the tissue specimen with the grasping instrument;
• sliding the first and second hoop-like members from the first to second positions such that the diameter of the second hoop-like member expands and encapsulates the tissue specimen;
• closing the second end of the pouch about the tissue specimen;
• withdrawing the grasping instrument through the lumen;
• closing the first end of the pouch about the tissue specimen;
• and
• withdrawing the tissue specimen and pouch proximally through the lumen.

An apparatus for retrieving a tissue specimen, comprising:

• a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween;
• a first support member in the shape of a loop and a second support member in the shape of a loop, the first support member and the second support member being slidably received in the lumen;
• and
• a pouch extending between the first support member and the second support member, the second support member being expandable form a first configuration to a second configuration.

An apparatus for withdrawing a tissue specimen, comprising:

• an endoscope including an endoscopic shaft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween;
• at least one hoop-like support member selectively slideable within the lumen from a first position wherein the hoop-like support member has a first diameter to at least one second position wherein the hoop-like support member has a second diameter which is different from the first diameter, the hoop-like support member including a pair of arcuate portions which slidingly reciprocate with respect to one another to vary the diameter of the hoop-like support member;
• a pouch having first and second ends, the first end being an open end attached to the hoop-like support member, the pouch defining a container therein for retaining the tissue specimen;
• and
• a remote actuator disposed proximate the proximal end of the endoscopic shaft, the remote actuator being selectively actuateable to close the first end to encapsulate the tissue specimen.