Patent ID: 7828834

Claim:
A method for positioning connecting devices adapted for end-to-end anastomosis of at least two body ducts through an intermediary prosthesis having at least two ends, each end being intubated in one of the at least two body ducts, the method comprising: intubating a first end of the prosthesis in a first body duct; securing the first end of the prosthesis to the first body duct by a first connecting device, the first connecting device and an inflatable balloon catheter being introduced into an interior of the prosthesis through a second end of the prosthesis, the first connecting device comprising: a mesh sleeve capable of radial expansion between a first stable minimal-diameter configuration and a second after-expansion configuration that is also stable, and a plurality of transfixion pins positioned at substantially regular intervals about a circumference of the mesh sleeve proximate each sleeve end, each of the transfixion pins having a pin length sufficient to pass entirely through a wall of the body duct and each of the transfixion pins being adapted to transfix a portion of the body duct and the prosthesis surrounding the mesh sleeve upon radial expansion of the mesh sleeve to the second stable configuration, wherein each of the transfixion pins have at least a bottom portion extending longitudinally in an outward and substantially perpendicular direction from an external surface of the mesh sleeve, and wherein each of the transfixion pins have a hemostatic profile comprising a circular base section extending to a trihedral-shaped end portion whereby hemostasis is achieved at transfixion sites formed by the transfixion pins in the wall of the body duct upon radial expansion of the mesh sleeve to the second stable configuration; intubating a second end of the prosthesis in a second body duct; and securing a second connecting device, by a catheter introduced into the interior of the prosthesis through an orifice formed in a wall of the prosthesis that is subsequently re-closed, the second connecting device being substantially identical to the first connecting device.