Methods and apparatus for performing endoluminal gastroplasty

A method for endoluminally performing gastroplasty, comprising:

• advancing a sizing tube down a patient's throat into the patient's stomach;
• reversibly adhering a curved sidewall of the sizing tube to the patient's stomach with a plurality of reversible adhering elements, at least one reversible adhering element comprising a suction port;
• endoluminally forming a pouch around the sizing tube by steering a steerable guide in at least two dimensions to form multiple approximations of opposing anterior and posterior portions of the stomach around the sizing tube at different levels within the superior-inferior plane of the patient's stomach, with the sizing tube assisting in determining a dimension of the pouch, and with the steerable guide comprising a tissue grasper and a tissue anchor delivery system;
• and
• removing the sizing tube from the patient.

A system for endoluminally performing gastroplasty comprising:

• a sizing tube having a plurality of reversible adhering elements, at least one reversible adhering element comprising a suction port, a lumen extending at least partially through the sizing tube, and at least one side port in the sizing tube;
• a steerable guide configured for insertion within the lumen and passage through the side port, with the steerable guide having multiple sections to allow the steerable guide to steer, retroflex, rigidize, or shape-lock, or a combination of them;
• and
• at least one endoluminal tool comprising a tissue grasper and a tissue anchor delivery system advanceable through or along the steerable guide.

A system for endoluminally performing gastroplasty, comprising:

• a sizing tube for endoluminal passage through a patient's esophagus into the patient's stomach, the sizing tube having at least one reversible adhering element comprising a suction port, a sizing tube lumen extending at least partially through the sizing tube, at least one side port in the sizing tube, and a mechanical anchor comprising an inflatable member located adjacent to a front end of the sizing tube;
• a steerable guide for insertion within the sizing tube lumen and out through the side port, with the steerable guide having at least one control wire to facilitate steering, and with the steerable guide having at least one tool lumen to allow movement of an endoscopic tool through the steerable guide;
• and
• a first endoluminal tool extendable through the tool lumen, the first endoluminal tool comprising a tissue grasper and a tissue anchor delivery system.