The invention is a transgastric method for the endoscopic partial
fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). The method makes use of an articulated endoscope, which is
introduced through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach of the
patient. A cutting tool is introduced through the working channel of the
endoscope to cut a hole in the wall of the stomach. The endoscope is
pushed through the hole and a grabbing tool is introduced through the
working channel and used to grab the tissue at a location on the outer
surface of the stomach and move the grabbed tissue close to the
esophagus. The grabbed tissue is then stapled to the esophagus using a
stapling device that is an integral part of the endoscope. If desired,
after stapling the endoscope can be rotated one or more times and the
procedure repeated. After the selected portions of the stomach wall have
been attached to the esophagus, the endoscope is withdrawn from the body
of the patient and the hole in the stomach wall is closed, preferably by
means of a dedicated endoscopic stapling device especially designed for
the task of closing holes in tissue.