Patent ID: 7235089

Claim:
An apparatus for resecting tissue within a body lumen, comprising: an operating capsule including a coupling structure for selectively coupling to a flexible endoscope, the operating capsule being sized so that, when in an operative position entirely located within a body lumen adjacent to a selected portion of tissue to be resected structural integrity of lumenal tissue is maintained, the operating capsule including a suturing assembly and defining a cutting zone adjacent to the suturing assembly, wherein the endoscope is slidably received within an endoscope receiving lumen formed in the operating capsule; a flexible member extending proximally from the operating capsule to a control handle, wherein, when the operating capsule is in an operative position within a body lumen, the flexible member extends through the body and out a natural body orifice to the control handle; and a tissue grabber grasping a full thickness fold of tissue including the selected portion of tissue and drawing the grasped fold of tissue into the cutting zone, wherein the suturing assembly fastens abutting portions of the grasped fold of tissue.