Patent ID: 7931661

Claim:
A method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: endoluminally advancing a conduit per-orally into a patient's stomach; breaching a wall of the stomach; securing the conduit to the wall in a vicinity of the breach; rigidizing the conduit; advancing an instrument along or through the conduit such that the instrument passes transluminally from the interior to the exterior of the stomach; performing the surgical procedure with the instrument; retrieving the instrument back into the stomach; grasping a first portion of tissue on the wall of the stomach at or near the location of the breach; advancing a needle through the first portion of tissue; deploying a first anchor from the needle; retracting the needle from the first portion of tissue, whereby a suture extends from the first anchor and through the first portion of tissue; releasing the first portion of tissue; grasping a second portion of tissue on the wall of the stomach at or near the location of the breach; advancing the needle through the second portion of tissue; deploying a second anchor from the needle, the second anchor being disposed on the suture; retracting the needle from the second portion of tissue, whereby the suture extends from the second anchor and through the second portion of tissue; and releasing the second portion of tissue.