Patent ID: 6884250

Claim:
An intratubular anastomosis apparatus for joining organ portions of a hollow organ after intussusception thereof, said apparatus including: a) an anastomosis ring, and b) a crimping support element for use therewith, wherein said anastomosis ring includes a length of a wire having a predetermined cross-sectional configuration and formed of a shape memory alloy defining a closed generally circular shape, having a central opening, and having overlapping end portions, said anastomosis ring for crimping adjacent organ portions against said crimping support element so as to cause anastomosis therebetween, wherein said anastomosis ring and said shape memory alloy assumes i) a plastic state, when at a first, lower temperature and ii) an elastic state, when reaching at least a second, higher temperature, thereby enabling said anastomosis ring to retain a preselected configuration at the first, lower temperature, and an elastic crimping configuration upon reverting to the second, higher temperature; and wherein said crimping support element for intratubular insertion so as to provide a support for crimping said organ portions against said support element, said crimping support element having i) a generally cylindrical side-wall; ii) proximal and distal end walls formed generally transversely to said side-wall, thereby to define therewith said crimping support element, iii) a generally axial aperture for providing flow communication therethrough, and iv) attachment means for operationally engaging said crimping support element to a crimping applicator member so as to position said crimping support element adjacent to said anastomosis ring for facilitating crimping of preselected wall portions of a hollow organ therebetween.