Patent ID: 7621925

Claim:
A needle assembly for use in forming a tissue fold, comprising: a housing having a shuttle member enclosed within; an elongate pusher attached to the shuttle member and extending from a distal end of the housing; a tubular sheath having a first lumen adapted to receive the elongate pusher therethrough and having a proximal end which is attachable to the housing, the tubular sheath having a flexible distal region such that the tubular sheath has a first position in which the flexible distal region extends substantially along a longitudinal axis defined by the remainder of the tubular sheath and a second position in which the flexible distal region forms an arcuate shape relative to the longitudinal axis whereby a distal end of the tubular sheath is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis; an actuation member disposed on the housing, wherein articulation of the actuation member translates the elongate pusher longitudinally relative to the housing; a needle body disposed on a distal end of the sheath, the needle body having a second lumen therethrough in communication with the first lumen of the tubular sheath; at least one anchor positioned distally of the elongate pusher; and a tissue manipulation assembly comprising a first extension member and a second extension member configured to receive a tissue fold in a space located between said first and second extension members; wherein said needle body has a first position in which the needle body is located outside of the space between said first and second extension members and a second position in which the needle body is located within the space between said first and second extension members.