Patent ID: 6726694
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for anastomosis of a wall of a first vessel to a second vessel comprising:inserting an intraluminally directed anvil apparatus within the lumen of a first vessel at a remote location relative to an anastomosis site, wherein the intraluminally directed anvil apparatus has an anvil and an anvil pull extending from an engaging end of the anvil; advancing the intraluminally directed anvil apparatus within the lumen of the first vessel to the anastomosis site; positioning the intraluminally directed anvil apparatus at the anastomosis site such that the anvil pull extends out of the first vessel through an initial piercing in the wall of the first vessel and can be maneuvered to hold the engaging end of the anvil against the interior of the wall of the first vessel; forming a first vessel opening in the wall of the first vessel by pulling the anvil pull such that the engaging end of the anvil pushes against the interior of the wall of the first vessel while the engaging end of the anvil is engaged by a cutting device; attaching a portion of the first vessel that defines the first vessel opening to a portion of a second vessel that defines a second vessel opening such that the first vessel and the second vessel are anastomosed together; and removing the intraluminally directed anvil apparatus from the first vessel.