Patent ID: 8424742

Claim:
A method of disposing a support structure between adjacent intestinal sections, comprising the steps of: providing a circular surgical anastomosis device, the circular surgical anastomosis device including: an anvil assembly having an anvil member and a first shaft; and a tubular body portion having an annular knife operatively disposed therein and a second shaft disposed radially inward of the annular knife, the first shaft of the anvil assembly being selectively attachable to the second shaft of the tubular body; inserting the anvil assembly into a first intestinal section; inserting the tubular body portion into a second intestinal section; disposing a support structure between the first intestinal section and the second intestinal section, the support structure having a body having an outer terminal edge and at least one layer of expandable material extending radially outward from the outer terminal edge; approximating the anvil assembly and tubular body portion with one another so that an end portion of the first intestinal section, the support structure, and an end portion of the second intestinal section are disposed between the anvil member and the tubular body portion, the support structure being disposed between the first intestinal section and the second intestinal section; firing the surgical anastomosis device to sever the portions of the first and second intestinal sections disposed radially inward of the annular knife, and to touch the portions of the first and second intestinal sections radially outward of the annular knife against the structure; and expanding the at least one layer of expandable material.