Patent ID: 8702734

Claim:
A method of manipulating gastroesophageal tissue, comprising the steps of: introducing a device through an esophageal tract and into a stomach of a patient, the device having a longitudinal member and a tissue engaging element coupled to the longitudinal member, the tissue engaging element being movable from a retracted position to an extended position, the device also including as mold coupled to the longitudinal member, the mold having a molding surface; engaging stomach tissue with the tissue engaging element, the tissue engaging element moving from the retracted position to the extended position when engaging the stomach tissue, the engaging step is carried out by engaging stomach tissue outside the mold; displacing the stomach tissue into the stomach to form a fold of tissue using the stomach tissue, the displacing step being carried out by moving the tissue engaging element toward the retracted position after the engaging step, the displacing step is carried out with the stomach tissue being drawn into the mold by the tissue engaging element, wherein the displacing step is carried out with the molding surface having a fixed position relative to the longitudinal member while tissue is drawn into the mold to form the fold of tissue; fastening the stomach tissue together after the displacing step to secure the fold of stomach tissue, the stomach tissue forming an intersection between the esophageal tract and the stomach with the molding surface being in the fixed position; and wherein the displacing step is carried out to mold the tissue while the molding surface has a fixed position relative to the longitudinal member.