Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. One of the first and second members has a configuration alterable by a deployment wire to permit release of the fastener from the deployment wire after deployment and without causing excessive tissue trauma.

A device for forming a tissue fold includes a recess and an opening at the end of the recess. Tissue is drawn into the recess and through the opening using a tissue engaging element. As the tissue is drawn through the opening, the tissue layers are compressed together. A fastener is used to secure the tissue fold.

A tissue displacing and fastening device is provided for manipulating and fastening tissue together. The device includes a tissue displacing elements, which displaces tissue. A fold is formed from the displaced tissue and the tissue is fastened together to secure the fold.

A sphincter sizing instrument includes a body that defines a lumen and a shaft that longitudinally translates through the lumen relative to the body. The body includes opposing proximal and distal ends. The distal end includes a first magnetic coupling feature and a first mechanical coupling feature. The shaft includes opposing proximal and distal ends and a coupler coupled with the distal end. The coupler includes a second magnetic coupling feature and a second mechanical coupling feature. The second magnetic coupling feature is configured to attract and couple with the first magnetic coupling feature to form a magnetic connection. The second mechanical coupling feature is configured to couple with the first mechanical coupling feature to form a mechanical connection.

A surgical instrument (100) for placement of a movement restriction device (10) for use in a surgical procedure for treating reflux disease in a patient. The instrument comprises a sleeve (113) and a holding device (111) configured to engage the movement restriction device, wherein the holding device is configured to be placed within the sleeve and be displaceable in relation to the sleeve. The instrument further comprises a first handling portion (101) connected to the sleeve, and a second handling portion (102) connected to the holding device. The handling of at least one of the first and second handling portion creates relative displacement of the holding device in relation to the sleeve, which disengages the holding device from the movement restriction device for performing the placement of the movement restriction device.

An improved hiatal hernia treatment enhances recovery after surgery by reducing a patient's pain at an area of treatment. The area of treatment contains a hiatal hernia and must be extensively divided before the hiatal hernia can be treated. The improved hiatal hernia treatment reduces pain through directed application of anesthetic via an applicator positioned within the area of treatment. Reduction of pain increases patient comfort reduces the need for pain medication, and lowers patient blood pressure to enhance recovery.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion of the patient's stomach wall, and an operation device for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

The present invention relates to an anti-reflux valve for preventing gastro-esophageal reflux disease and includes a body formed in a ring shape and fixed to an upper end of a gastro-esophagus; a reflux blocking plate coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the body to be rotatable in one direction; and a fixing clip coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the body to fix the body to the upper end of the gastro-esophagus.

A patient's stomach may be secured to the patient's diaphragm. A method to accomplish this includes visualizing a wall of a patient's stomach adjacent the patient's diaphragm from within the patient's stomach, inserting a fastener deployment apparatus down the patient's esophagus and into the mammalian's stomach, and fastening the patient's stomach to the patient's diaphragm with the fastener deployment apparatus and from within the stomach. The procedure may be employed to advantage to treat a hiatal hernia, for example, either alone or in conjunction with the restoration of the patient's gastroesophageal flap valve.

An assembly for restoring a gastroesophageal flap valve includes a restoration device substantially free for rotation. The assembly comprises an elongated member configured to be fed through a throat, down an adjoining esophagus and into an associated stomach. The elongated member has a distal end. The assembly further comprises a gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device carried on the distal end of the elongated member for placement in the stomach, and an invaginator carried by the elongated member. The invaginator is configured to grip the esophagus and the elongated member and invaginator are coupled for restricted relative axial movement and substantially free relative rotational movement.