Apparatus and method for radially bunching a bodily lumen

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a locking portion;
• (b) a flexible pulling portion, wherein the locking portion is configured to receive the pulling portion, wherein the pulling portion is configured to engage and translate relative to the locking portion after the locking portion has received the pulling portion to define a loop;
• and
• (c) a plurality of barb features, wherein the barb features are configured to engage a tubular region of tissue and thereby form pleats in the tubular region of tissue, wherein each barb feature in the plurality of barb features defines a retaining gap, wherein the flexible pulling portion is slidably disposed within the retaining gap of each barb feature such that the flexible pulling portion is slidable in the retaining gap of each barb feature, wherein each barb feature in the plurality of barb features comprises a base, a pair of upper angled arms extending from the base and terminating into a first point, and a pair of lower angled arms extending from the base and terminating into a second point.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a locking portion;
• (b) a flexible pulling portion, wherein the locking portion is configured to receive the pulling portion, wherein the pulling portion is configured to engage and translate relative to the locking portion after the locking portion has received the pulling portion;
• (c) a flexible body, wherein the flexible body extends from the locking portion to the pulling portion, wherein the flexible body is configured to form a loop when the pulling portion engages the locking portion, wherein the loop is configured to decrease in size in response to pulling of the pulling portion relative to the locking portion;
• and
• (d) a plurality of barb features extending laterally from the body, wherein the barb features are configured to engage a tubular region of tissue and thereby form pleats in the tubular region of tissue, wherein each barb feature in the plurality of barb features defines a gap, wherein the flexible pulling portion is slidably disposed in the gap of each barb feature in the plurality of barb features such that the flexible pulling portion is slidable in the gap of each barb feature, wherein each barb feature in the plurality of barb features comprises a base, a pair of upper angled arms extending from the base and terminating into a first point, and a pair of lower angled arms extending from the base and terminating into a second point.