Patent ID: 8469972

Claim:
A method for reducing gastric volume comprising: accessing an external surface of a wall of the gastrointestinal tract through a laparoscopic port; inserting a distal end of a device shaft through the laparoscopic port and positioning a first tissue engagement mechanism associated with the distal end of the device shaft in proximity to the external surface of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract; actuating the first tissue engagement mechanism from a position outside the laparoscopic port and piercing the external wall of the stomach with the first tissue engagement mechanism at a first tissue site; piercing the external wall of the stomach with a second tissue engagement mechanism at a second tissue site spaced apart from the first tissue site; while the first and second tissue sites are pierced by the first and second tissue engagement mechanisms, respectively, the first and second tissue sites are approximated to form an invaginated fold extending into an interior space of the gastrointestinal tract; and fastening the approximated first and second tissue sites to secure the fold, thereby creating at least one plication extend into the interior space of the gastrointestinal tract.