Patent ID: 6858035

Claim:
An anastomosis connector system comprising a fitting comprising: a base adapted for attachment to a graft, a leading segment extending from said base and adapted for introduction into a host vessel; a rear segment extending from said base, wherein said fitting has a length dimension extending from said leading segment to said rear segment and has a width dimension transverse to said length dimension, wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension; and a hinge zone associated with said base and comprising at least one torsion member, wherein by means of said at least one torsion member said rear segment is torsionally deflectable about said binge zone relative to said base such that said fitting can be advanced into a host vessel and wherein, upon returning to a substantially undeflected position, said rear segment prohibits retraction of said fitting from the host vessel; wherein said fitting comprises a plurality of interconnected links having spaces therebetween and adapted to engage the inner surface of the host vessel wherein the area of contact between the interconnected links and the inner surface area of the host vessel is no greater than about 35% of the total area of the fitting upon forming an anastomosis.