Gastrointestinal tissue approximation clip (GI TAC) system

A gastrointestinal tissue approximation clip (“GI TAC”) system for approximating tissue defects, the GI TAC system comprising:

• an applicator that is sized to travel through an instrument channel of an endoscope;
• a plurality of tissue approximation clips that are transported to a plurality of locations about a tissue defect respectively by the applicator;
• a suture coupled to at least one of the tissue approximation clips;
• and
• a clip approximation means for approximating the tissue approximation clips,
• wherein the clip approximation means and the tissue approximation clips are sized respectively to travel through the instrument channel, and
• wherein the tissue approximation clips are adapted to be detachably coupled to the applicator;
• wherein the clip approximation means is a suture adjoining clamp, the suture adjoining clamp comprising movable arms,
• wherein each of the arms of the suture adjoining clamp includes a grip and a through-hole through which threading of the suture is permitted, and
• wherein the arms of the suture adjoining clamp are movable from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position, and movable from the approximated position to the spaced-apart position;
• wherein the suture adjoining clamp further comprising a cutting device which includes:
• a tube having an end;
• and
• a blade to cut the suture,
• wherein the cutting device is sized to pass through the instrument channel of the endoscope,
• wherein the blade is constructed to slide away from about an edge of the tube end to open the end of the tube,
• wherein the blade is constructed to slide towards to at least about the edge of the tube end to cut the suture, and
• wherein the end, when opened, creates a through-hole that permits the suture to pass through.