Patent ID: 7468066

Claim:
A method for performing an anastomosis procedure between a graft vessel and a target vessel, each of the vessels having a wall around a lumen, the method comprising: providing a deployment tool including an anastomosis device, a holder configured to hold the anastomosis device, and a cutting device movable relative to said holder; attaching the graft vessel to said anastomosis device; placing said deployment tool in proximity to the target vessel; punching an opening in the target vessel with said cutting device; withdrawing at least a portion of said cutting device from the target vessel after said punching has formed the opening in the target vessel; inserting said anastomosis device at least partially into the opening in the target vessel; deploying said anastomosis device to attach the graft vessel to the target vessel; and maintaining the entirety of said cutting device out of the lumen of the graft vessel during said attaching, said withdrawing, and said inserting.