Patent ID: 8197499

Claim:
A method for joining at least two non-conjoined lumens in a patient, wherein at least one of the lumens has a clamp to arrest the flow of the fluid therein, which method comprises: (a) placing a biocompatible sol-gel composition by injection with a hypodermic needle and/or a syringe in a liquid phase or a gel phase in at least a distal portion of the lumen having the clamp, wherein when the sol-gel composition is placed in the lumen in the liquid phase, a phase transition is induced wherein the liquid phase changes to the gel phase, and wherein the gel phase of the sol-gel composition provides structural support to said portion of the lumen; (b) aligning the lumens; (c) closing the aligned lumens to form a conduit; (d) inducing a phase change of the biocompatible sol-gel composition from the gel phase to the liquid phase; (e) confirming substantial completion of the phase change; and (f) removing the clamp thereby establishing flow through the conduit.