Patent ID: 7112211

Claim:
A method of forming an anastomosis for placing a lumen of a graft vessel in fluid communication with a lumen of a target vessel, the method comprising: (a) forming an opening in a target vessel wall; (b) passing at least a distal end of an anastomosis device through the opening in the target vessel wall, the anastomosis device comprising: (i) a fastening flange having a first dimension sized to pass through the opening and being expandable to a second dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension; and (ii) a plurality of staple members extending from the fastening flange; (c) bringing an end of the graft vessel proximate to the opening in the target vessel wall; (d) engaging at least one of the graft vessel and the target vessel with the plurality of staple members; and (e) expanding the fastening flange from the first dimension to the second dimension.