Patent ID: 7534247

Claim:
A surgical instrument for implanting an anastomotic ring device, comprising: (i) a handle; (ii) a ring deployment mechanism configured to receive an anastomotic ring, the ring deployment mechanism having a plurality of distal fingers, a plurality of proximal fingers, and a central member positioned longitudinally between the plurality of distal fingers and the plurality of proximal fingers, wherein the ring deployment mechanism is adapted to move between an unactuated, generally cylindrical position and an actuated, hollow rivet-forming position, wherein each distal finger comprises a proximal segment and a distal segment, wherein the proximal segment of each distal finger is hingedly connected at a first end to a corresponding distal segment of each distal finger and hingedly connected at a second end to the central member, wherein the distal segment of each distal finger is hingedly connected at a first end to a corresponding proximal segment of each distal finger and hingedly connected at a second end to a distal portion of the ring deployment mechanism, wherein each proximal finger comprises a proximal segment and a distal segment, wherein the distal segment of each proximal finger is hingedly connected at a first end to a corresponding proximal segment of each proximal finger and hingedly connected at a second end to the central member, wherein the proximal segment of each proximal finger is hingedly connected at a first end to a corresponding distal segment of each proximal finger and hingedly connected at a second end to a proximal portion of the ring deployment mechanism; (iii) an elongate flexible shaft connecting the handle to the ring deployment mechanism; (iv) a first actuator operable to communicate a first actuating force to the plurality of distal fingers of the ring deployment mechanism and a second actuator operable to communicate a second actuating force to the plurality of proximal fingers of the ring deployment mechanism, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are independently actuated; and (v) a plurality of distal panels adapted to cover the plurality of distal fingers of the ring deployment mechanism and a plurality of proximal panels adapted to cover the plurality of proximal fingers during insertion and extraction of the instrument, wherein the panels are adapted to move passively with the fingers from the unactuated position to the actuated position upon actuation of the first and second actuators.