Abstract: A gastric reduction pouch of a stomach is formed by gathering stomach tissue circumferentially from within the stomach to form a reduced diameter stomach section. A plurality of fasteners are deployed within the gathered stomach tissue to maintain the reduced diameter stomach portion. The gathering step may include folding the stomach tissue to produce a plurality of stomach tissue folds.

Abstract: An assembly that delivers tissue fasteners for deployment in tissue comprises a stylet that guides a fastener into tissue. The stylet has a proximal end. The assembly further includes a bolt attached to the proximal end of the stylet, a receiver that slidingly receives the bolt permitting linear movement of the bolt and stylet along a path. The assembly may further comprise a pusher that intersects the path of the stylet and pushes the fastener along the stylet towards and into the tissue.

Abstract: Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. One of the first and second members has a configuration alterable by a deployment wire to permit release of the fastener from the deployment wire after deployment and without causing excessive tissue trauma.

Abstract: A plurality of tissue fasteners are carried on a tissue piercing stylet to serially fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together. The fasteners slide over a latch of the stylet to assume a loaded position ready for deployment. The fasteners may be deployed with a single stroke movement of the stylet. The fasteners have a configuration alterable by the stylet to permit release of the fasteners from the stylet after deployment.

Abstract: Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. One of the first and second members has a configuration alterable by a deployment wire to permit release of the fastener from the deployment wire after deployment and without causing excessive tissue trauma.

Abstract: A tissue fastener assembly delivers a fastener for deployment. The assembly includes a fastener including a first member, a second member, the first and second members having first and second ends, and a flexible connecting member fixed to each of the first and second members intermediate the first and second ends and extending between the first and second members. The first member has a longitudinal axis and a through channel along the axis. The assembly further includes a deployment wire slidingly received within the through channel of the first member that pierces into the tissue and guides the first member through the tissue, a guide structure defining a lumen that receives the fastener and deployment wire and guides the deployment wire and fastener to the tissue, and a fastener configuration structure that orientates the second member in a predetermined position relative to the first member within the lumen for dependable deployment.