Patent ID: 7942887

Claim:
A method of forming a flap valve in a lower portion of the esophageal tract, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a longitudinal member, a tissue holding element, and a tissue gripping element having a vacuum orifice, the tissue holding element being coupled to the longitudinal member, the vacuum orifice being positioned proximal to the tissue holding element, the device also having a proximal end and a distal end; advancing the distal end of the device transorally into an esophageal tract of a patient while the proximal end remains outside the patient; gripping tissue by applying suction to the vacuum orifice so that the vacuum orifice grips tissue in the esophageal tract proximal to the tissue holding element; displacing a portion of the fundus toward the patient's feet; moving a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer together to create a fold of tissue using the portion of the fundus displaced during the displacing step, the first and second tissue layers both being formed from the portion of the fundus displaced during the displacing step, the moving step being carried out with an intersection of the stomach and the esophageal tract being formed by the fold of tissue; holding the first and second tissue layers together using the tissue holding element; and attaching the first and second tissue layers together; wherein the displacing step is carried out before completing the moving step so that the fundus is displaced toward the feet before forming the fold of tissue.