Patent ID: 8216271

Claim:
An apparatus for restricting the medically effective volume of a stomach, comprising: a probe configured for placement between walls of a stomach, the probe comprising an exterior wall, at least one lumen within said exterior wall, and a plurality of openings through the exterior wall that are in communication with the at least one lumen; a vacuum source operatively coupled with the at least one lumen of the probe and capable of providing suction through the plurality of openings; and a slidable member positioned within the at least one lumen of the probe, the slidable member comprising a plurality of retractable needles that are moveable between a retracted position and an extended position and said member configured to be slidably positioned within the at least one lumen of the probe; wherein operation of the vacuum source causes the releasable coupling of the walls of the stomach with the exterior of the probe, thereby creating a first stomach portion and second stomach portion, and the plurality of retractable needles are capable of moving to the extended position, extending through the plurality of openings, and puncturing the walls of the stomach when the walls of the stomach are releasably coupled with the exterior of the probe.