METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND FLATTENING THE SIDE WALL OF A BODY LUMEN OR BODY CAVITY SO AS TO PROVIDE THREE DIMENSIONAL EXPOSURE OF A LESION OR ABNORMALITY WITHIN THE BODY LUMEN OR BODY CAVITY, AND/OR FOR STABILIZING AN INSTRUMENT RELATIVE TO THE SAME

摘要

Apparatus for straightening and flattening a side wall of a body lumen or body cavity so as to provide three dimensional exposure of a lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, and simultaneously providing for the stabilization or docking of the working end of an endoscope or surgical tool, the apparatus comprising:a deployable hoop expander comprising a structure defining a volume;the deployable hoop expander being configured so as to be transitionable between (i) a reduced cross-sectional configuration, and (ii) an expanded cross-sectional configuration, whereby the deployable hoop expander can be configured in its reduced cross-sectional configuration for easy insertion into a body lumen, and it can thereafter be re-configured into its expanded cross-sectional configuration so as to engage, straighten and flatten the side wall of the body lumen, whereby to provide three dimensional exposure of the lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, the deployable hoop expander being configured for simultaneously providing for the docking of the end of the endoscope or other instrument so as to stabilize the same for endoscopic viewing and/or therapy.