The invention describes a device (10) and method for anchoring two or more body tissue layers (22,24) to one another. The device (10) in one form may be a hollow, collapsible and microthin polymeric shaft (16) affixed to a noncollapsible tip (20) at a distal end (12) of the polymeric shaft (16). A preformed balloonable distention (18) formed in a discrete region of the shaft (16) proximal to the noncollapsible tip (20) would be adapted to anchor against one of the body tissue layers within a body orifice (26). A rod (50) attached at one end to the tip (20) which extends along the shaft (16) and terminates at a second end near a proximal end (14) of the device (10) would be used for transferring movement from the second end to the first end so as to effect a movement in the tip (20). The method pertains to the method of using such a device to secure one or more tissue layers together and ultimately to assist in the fusion of the layers.
