Patent ID: 7708748

Claim:
An instrument for use in a procedure to effect anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy, comprising: a tube assembly, comprising a spine member, a first rod, and a second rod, wherein said rods are movable with respect to each other and to said spine member, wherein the tube assembly has a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an end effector assembly operably supported by the distal portion of said tube assembly, further comprising: a positioner assembly in operable mechanical communication with said first rod so as to be actuable by movement of said first rod with respect to said spine member, an anchor driver assembly in operable mechanical communication with said second rod so as to be actuable by movement of said second rod with respect to said spine member, an anchor releasably held by said anchor driver assembly, and an anchor guide held by said end effector assembly through which said anchor moves when said anchor is driven proximally by actuation of said anchor driver assembly, wherein the anchor guide is configured to guide a distal end of the anchor into tissue as the anchor is initially being driven into tissue wherein the anchor guide is proximal to the anchor driver such that the anchor guide is longitudinally positioned between the anchor driver and the proximal portion of the tube assembly.