Patent ID: 6921361

Claim:
An apparatus for forming an artificial valve to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, comprising: a first endoscope that has an observation system and that is adapted to be orally inserted into a body cavity; a holding device extending out of a distal end of the first endoscope, the holding device comprising a distal end portion adapted to hold a point of a digestive wall of the body cavity where the artificial valve is to be formed , and an elongated portion that passes through a first channel provided in the first endoscope; a first needle that is moveable relative to the first endoscope for penetrating the digestive wall; a second needle positioned beside and spaced apart by a distance from the first needle; a suture adapted to pass through type digestive wall following the first needle; a suture retaining device having a grasping section adapted to grasp the suture after the suture has passed through the digestive wall, wherein the suture retaining device is adapted to pull the suture out from the body cavity; and a knot pushing device adapted to move a knot of the suture, which is formed outside the body cavity after the suture has been pulled out from the body cavity by the suture retaining device, into the body cavity.