Transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device, assembly, system and method

A method of manipulating gastroesophageal tissue, comprising the steps of:

• Introducing a device through an esophageal tract and into a stomach of a patient, the device having a longitudinal member and a tissue engaging element coupled to the longitudinal member, the tissue engaging element being movable from a retracted position to an extended position;
• engaging stomach tissue with the tissue engaging element, the tissue engaging element moving from the retracted position to the extended position when engaging the stomach tissue;
• displacing the stomach tissue into the stomach to form a fold of tissue using the stomach tissue, the displacing step being carried out by moving the tissue engaging element toward the retracted position after the engaging step;
• and
• fastening the stomach tissue together after the displacing step to secure the fold of stomach tissue, the stomach tissue forming an intersection between the esophageal tract and the stomach.