Patent ID: 8216259

Claim:
A method for joining at least two non-conjoined lumens in a patient which method comprises: a) placing a biocompatible sol-gel composition in a liquid phase or a gel phase in at least the distal portion of at least one of the lumens by injection with a hypodermic needle and/or a syringe, 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 to facilitate joining of the lumens; b) aligning the lumens; c) closing the aligned lumens to form a conduit; and d) removing the sol-gel composition by inducing a phase transition of the sol-gel composition from the gel phase to the liquid phase thereby establishing flow through the conduit.