Patent ID: 7510560

Claim:
An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising: a) a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body supporting an onion portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of longitudinally oriented slots, the onion portion supported near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the onion portion having a first configuration wherein the ribs are within a radial dimension of the tubular body and a second configuration wherein the ribs are outside the radial dimension of the tubular body; b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body; and c) a plunger assembly for being received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged for deploying the onion portion from the first position to the second position.