Apparatus and methods for treating tissue at or near a sphincter provide
for transluminal introduction of an energy delivery device. The device
includes a tissue compression member to compress target tissue at or near
the sphincter. A radiofrequency energy source is coupleable to the
delivery device to deliver radiofrequency energy to the target tissue.
Energy is delivered to heat the tissue to a desired temperature. The
desired temperature is selected to induce an injury-healing response or
to inducing shrinkage of collagen fibers in the target tissue to thereby
reduce laxity in the target tissue.