Patent ID: 7264624

Claim:
A system to effect a port, connection, or anastomosis of a portion of blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ in the body of a living being by use of a connector assembly, said system comprising a piercer-dilator instrument, an introducer sheath, and a deployment instrument, wherein said piercer-dilator instrument comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and said piercer-dilator instrument is arranged to form a small opening in said blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ to allow for the introduction of said introducer sheath, wherein said introducer sheath comprises a proximal end and a distal end, with said introducer sheath being arranged to facilitate introduction of said deployment instrument, wherein said deployment instrument comprises said connector assembly, wherein said connector assembly comprises at least a first connector member and an anchor member, with said members being separate and arranged to be fixedly attached to each other, and said first connector member comprising a tubular flanged member having a free end portion, and wherein at least a portion of said connector assembly is arranged to be deployed internal to said blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ, and wherein said anchor member is arranged to be engaged with an interior surface of said blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ, and wherein said free end portion is arranged to extend through said small opening in said blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ, the system further comprising a positioning member arranged to move a portion of the first connector member into cooperative engagement with the anchor member, and whereby said system is capable of establishing a port, connection or anastomosis of said blood vessel, duct, lumen or other tubular organ.