Patent ID: 8277467

Claim:
A method of performing anastomosis, the method comprising: inserting a portion of an anastomosis device into a body lumen of a patient, the anastomosis device comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; first and second tissue approximating structures having deployed and retracted positions relative to the elongated body; and an actuating mechanism at the proximal end of the elongated body for independently deploying and retracting each of the first and second sets of tissue approximating structures; deploying the first and second tissue approximating structures into severed tissue of the patient by activating the actuating mechanism; maintaining the first and second tissue approximating structures within the severed tissue for a period of time; using an extraction tool to disengage at least one of the first and second tissue approximating structures from the severed tissue; wherein the extraction tool comprises a tubular structure that has a diameter that is slightly larger than a diameter of the elongated body of the anastomosis device.