Devices and methods for treating morbid obesity

1. A surgical method comprising positioning an adjustable gastric band having two ends that can be joined around a portion of a stomach, wherein said surgical method is carried out using endoscopic devices introduced through natural body openings without creating any incisions in the abdominal wall for the introduction of said endoscopic devices,

wherein the adjustable gastric band is applied around the portion of the stomach using a transgastric procedure carried out by introducing the adjustable gastric band and all surgical tools endoluminally,

wherein said surgical method comprises steps of

introducing the gastric band and an endoscopic device into the stomach without creating an incision in the abdominal wall,

using said endoscopic device to cut a hole in a wall of said stomach,

withdrawing said endoscopic device from said stomach, and

introducing into said stomach a second endoscopic device having a stapler mounted on a tip of said second endoscopic device, and using said stapler to close said hole.

2. A surgical method for performing a first stage of a Gastric Bypass procedure said surgical method comprising:

bisecting a stomach to form a closed pouch, said surgical method carried out

using endoscopic devices introduced through natural body openings without creating any incisions in the abdominal wall for the introduction of said endoscopic devices,

wherein, one of said endoscopic devices comprises at least one working channel and a distal end,

said one of said endoscopic devices also comprises on said distal end at least one linear stapler that applies two parallel lines of staples and a video camera,

said video camera adapted and oriented to provide a visual representation of an anatomical structure and any surgical or diagnostic tools present in a field of view of said video camera.

3. A surgical method according to claim 2 , wherein the endoscopic devices are introduced transorally through the esophagus into the stomach.

4. A surgical method according to claim 2 , wherein the endoscopic devices are introduced through the anus and part of the colon into the abdominal cavity.

5. A surgical method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of performing a second stage of the Gastric Bypass procedure.

6. A surgical method according to claim 5 , wherein the Gastric Bypass procedure is a mini Gastric Bypass.

7. A surgical method according to claim 5 , wherein the Gastric Bypass procedure is a complete Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

8. A surgical method comprising positioning an adjustable gastric band having two ends that can be joined around a portion of a stomach, wherein said surgical method is carried out using endoscopic devices introduced through natural body openings without creating any incisions in the abdominal wall for the introduction of said endoscopic devices,

wherein the stomach wall is plicated, forming plications, and attached to an external wall of a cardia in at least two spaced apart locations using a GERD endoscope,

wherein a working channel endoscope with the adjustable gastric band held in front of the working channel endoscope by a grasping tool is introduced through the esophagus into the stomach,

wherein the adjustable gastric band is implanted using the grasping tool.

9. A surgical method according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustable gastric band is applied within said stomach around loops created by said plications.

10. A surgical method according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustable gastric band is applied around said external wall of the cardia within loops created by said plications.