Patent ID: 8262680

Claim:
An apparatus for forming an anastomosis by compressing tissue between a magnet and a surface of an anastomotic portion wherein the apparatus is configurable between an extended state to form the anastomosis and a collapsed state to pass through the anastomosis, the apparatus comprising: an anastomotic portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the anastomotic portion comprising a first end and a second end and a surface therebetween to contact one side of the tissue and to magnetically couple to a magnet on another side of the tissue, wherein the magnet and the surface of the anastomotic portion are positionable to compress the tissue therebetween with sufficient force to create an anastomosis through the tissue; and at least one flexible portion protruding from the first end of the anastomotic portion along the longitudinal axis, the at least one flexible portion comprising a first articulation node located between the first end of the anastomotic portion and the at least one flexible portion, wherein the at least one flexible portion is bendable at the articulation node from an extended state extending along the longitudinal axis to a collapsed state relative to the longitudinal axis; wherein the articulation node enables the at least one flexible portion to move relative to the anastomotic portion, and wherein when the at least one flexible portion is in the extended state the anastomosis is formed by compressing the tissue between the surface of the anastomotic portion and the magnet and when the at least one flexible portion is in the collapsed state the magnet, the anastomotic portion, and the at least one flexible portion have a configuration suitable for passing through the anastomosis formed in the tissue.