Flexible transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and method

Abstract

A transoral gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device has sufficient flexibility and dimension to be passed through the mouth, throat, and esophagus of a patient into the patient's stomach. The device includes a first member and a second member hingedly coupled to the first member. The first and second members are configured to flex in a direction to follow the esophageal path into the stomach and to be substantially rigid when forming the restored gastroesophageal flap valve.

1 .- 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method of restoring a gastroesophageal flap valve comprising:
 providing a transoral gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device comprising a first member and a second member hingedly coupled to the first member, the first member including a slotted structure and the second member including an arcuate structure rendering the members flexible for esophageal passage into a stomach and substantially rigid when receiving stomach tissue there between to form a flap of a gastroesophageal flap valve;   feeding the device down the esophagus into the stomach with the slotted and arcuate structures rendering the device in the flexible condition; and   pulling stomach tissue between the first and second members with the first and second members substantially rigid to form the flap of the gastroesophageal flap valve.   
     
     
         47 . A device for restoring a gastroesophageal flap valve comprising:
 a first member; and   a second member hingedly coupled to the first member, the first member including a slotted structure and the second member including an arcuate structure rendering each of the first and second members flexible for esophageal passage into a stomach and substantially rigid when receiving stomach tissue there between for forming a flap of a gastroesophageal flap valve.