Patent ID: 8277466

Claim:
A method for performing a ureter-to-ureter anastomosis procedure comprising: providing an anastomosis device including a distalmost pair of tines and a medial inflation balloon, said distalmost pair of tines including a first tine set and a second tine set with each tine set being located between a distal end and the medial inflation balloon; advancing the distal end of the anastomosis device such that the distal end leads the anastomosis device through a urinary tract and into a severed ureteral member such that the first tine set is positioned within a distal severed ureter portion and the second tine set is positioned within a proximal severed ureter portion, said proximal severed ureter portion being attached to a bladder; extending the first tine set to grasp the distal severed ureter portion; inflating the medial inflation balloon within the bladder such that the medial inflation balloon is proximate the proximal severed ureter portion; pushing on the bladder with the medial inflation balloon to direct the proximal severed ureter portion into contact with the distal severed ureter portion; and extending the second tine set to grasp the proximal severed ureter portion and retain the proximal severed ureter portion and the distal severed ureter portion in approximation.