Tissue fixation devices and a transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and assembly using same

Abstract

Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together. The fasteners include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. The first and second members are substantially parallel to each other. The fasteners may be deployed in limited spaces and in various applications including the restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve.

1 .- 105 . (canceled) 
     
     
         106 . A transoral gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device comprising:
 a longitudinal member, a portion of which is arranged for transoral placement into a stomach;   a fastener; and   a tissue shaper carried on the longitudinal member that shapes stomach tissue into a shape, the tissue shaper comprising a pair of hingedly coupled first and second arms for receiving the stomach tissue therebetween, the first arm including a fastener director that directs the fastener into the stomach tissue and the second are including an opening permitting the fastener to be driven through the stomach tissue while being held between the first and second arms.   
     
     
         107 . The device of  claim 106  wherein the second arm of the tissue shaper is a frame structure. 
     
     
         108 . The device of  claim 106  wherein the tissue shaper further comprises a tissue gripper that grips the stomach tissue and pulls the stomach tissue into and between the first and second arms. 
     
     
         109 . The device of  claim 106  wherein the first arm of the tissue shaper has a tissue engaging surface and wherein the fastener director includes a channel communicating with the tissue engaging surface through which the fastener passes into the stomach tissue. 
     
     
         110 . The device of  claim 109  wherein the fastener director includes a plurality of the channels to direct a like plurality of fasteners into the stomach tissue. 
     
     
         111 . The device of  claim 109  further comprising a fastener deployment wire extending through the channel and that guides the fastener through the channel and into the stomach tissue. 
     
     
         112 . The device of  claim 111  wherein the fastener comprises a first member, a second member, the first and second members having first and second ends, and a connecting member fixed to each of the first and second members intermediate the first and second ends and extending between the first and second members, the first and second members being substantially parallel to each other and separated by the connecting member when the fastener is deployed, and one of the first and second members having a longitudinal axis and a through channel along the axis arranged to be slidingly received on the fastener deployment wire.