An inflatable medical instrument for tissue damage in gastric reduction
surgery includes a main chamber composed of a biocompatible material
capable of being selectively inflated. The medical instrument also
includes a longitudinally extending tab member secured to an outer
surface of the main chamber, a series of suction holes are formed along
the tab member and an electrode is mounted on the tab member. The present
invention also provides a method for forming a tissue junction used in
defining a gastric pouch including damaging opposed tissue layers,
apposing the tissue layers and fastening the tissue layers to allow the
tissue layers to heal together.