Patent ID: 8226670

Claim:
Apparatus for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow organ and for inserting a connector conduit into the hole to facilitate connection of the connector conduit to the hollow organ, said apparatus comprising: a connector conduit; and an applicator comprising: a hole forming element for forming a hole in the wall of the organ, said hole forming element having a cutting element on a distal end thereof and being adapted for coupling with the connector conduit, with a distal end of said connector conduit being adjacent said cutting element during a procedure for implanting the connector conduit within the organ wall; positioning means coupled to said hole forming element for positioning said hole forming element; a retractor element operatively coupled to said positioning means; and sequencing means for coordinating the relative movement of said retractor element with respect to said hole forming element in a sequential manner to thereby carry out a procedure for forming a hole in the wall of the hollow organ and inserting the connector conduit in the hole.