a medical method includes sliding two substantially straight unconnected arms over a fold of body tissue such that a first arm contacts a first portion of the fold and a second arm contacts a second portion . then , each arm is bent completely through the fold such that both of the arms compress the portions of the fold into contact with each other . another method includes releasably coupling first and second substantially linear arms to a bridge , each of the arms having a substantially straight sliding portion and a bendable piercing portion . the arms are slid over opposing sides of two body tissue layers , the first arm sliding over the first layer and the second over the second layer . while the sliding portions of the arms remain substantially straight , each piercing portion is bent completely through the adjacent layer and halfway through the other layer to compress the two layers together .