Patent ID: 7704264
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of reconfiguring tissue, comprising: advancing a distal end of an endoscopic member through an opening in the body of a patient until the distal end of the endoscopic member is located in the vicinity of a portion of tissue, said endoscopic member having an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; drawing the portion of tissue via a suction force through an aperture into an internal passageway located at the distal end of the endoscopic member to form a tissue fold; advancing a piercing element slidably disposed in the endoscopic member from a retracted position in which a distal end of the piercing element is located substantially proximal of the aperture to an extended position in which the distal end of the piercing element extends substantially distal of the aperture and remains within the internal passageway, whereby the piercing element extends into the tissue fold drawn into the internal passageway, wherein at least one anchor of an anchor assembly has a through-passage of a size to accommodate the piercing element such that the at least one anchor is disposed substantially concentrically on an exterior surface of the piercing element; deploying the anchor assembly through said tissue fold using said piercing element such that a distal anchor is deployed on a first side of the tissue fold, a proximal anchor is deployed on a second side of the tissue fold, and a connector extends through the tissue fold to connect the distal anchor to the proximal anchor; and decreasing the distance between the proximal and distal anchors to thereby secure the tissue fold.