Patent ID: 8225799

Claim:
A method of disposing a support structure between adjacent intestinal sections, comprising the steps of: providing a circular surgical anastomosis device, the circular surgical anastomosis device including: an anvil assembly having an anvil member and a first shaft; and a tubular body portion having an annular knife operatively disposed therein and a second shaft disposed radially inward of the annular knife, the first shaft of the anvil assembly being selectively attachable to the second shaft of the tubular body; inserting the anvil assembly into a first intestinal section; inserting the tubular body portion into a second intestinal section; disposing a support structure between the first intestinal section and the second intestinal section, the support structure including a body and having at least one layer of expandable material comprising a first and a second membrane extending radially outward from the body; approximating the anvil assembly and tubular body portion with one another so that an end portion of the first intestinal section, the support structure, and an end portion of the second intestinal section are disposed between the anvil member and the tubular body portion, the support structure being disposed between the first intestinal section and the second intestinal section; firing the surgical anastomosis device to sever the portions of the first and second intestinal sections disposed radially inward of the annular knife, and to touch the portions of the first and second intestinal sections radially outward of the annular knife against the structure; and expanding the at least one layer of expandable material by deploying each of the first and second membranes from a rolled-up condition to an expanded condition.