Apparatus and method for manipulating stomach tissue and treating gastroesophageal reflux disease

A method of restoring a flap of a gastroesophageal flap valve associated with a stomach, comprising:

• providing a medical device for forming a folded flap of stomach tissue and placing a first fastener in the folded flap of stomach tissue;
• first, inflate the stomach to a first pressure;
• after inflating the stomach to the first pressure, aligning a portion of the medical device with the Z-line;
• second, after aligning a portion of the medical device with the Z-line, inflate the stomach to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure;
• the medical device having a cable at a distal end of the medical device, and a coil at a distal end of the cable;
• after inflating the stomach to the second pressure, gripping stomach tissue with the coil from within the stomach at a point displaced from the esophageal opening of the stomach;
• deflating the stomach;
• after deflating the stomach, pulling the cable and the gripped stomach tissue into a mold to form the folded flap of stomach tissue;
• and
• third, after pulling the gripped stomach tissue into the mold, inflate the stomach to a pressure sufficient to provide a good view of the folded flap of stomach tissue and deploying the first fastener through the folded flap of stomach tissue.