Patent ID: 8361091

Claim:
A cannula for connecting an organ to an external fluid flow system, the cannula comprising: a first portion; a second portion, a pre-positioning structure formed on the first portion; a complementary pre-positioning structure formed on the second portion. the pre-positioning structure and the complementary pre-positioning structure arranged to engage each other while permitting relative movement of the first and second portions, wherein: a chamber is formed when the first and second portions are brought together; a first fitting is disposed on one of the first and the second portions, the first fitting being in fluid communication with the chamber; the second portion has a hole, the hole being in fluid communication with the chamber and being adapted to receive a section of tissue of the organ; at least one sealing surface is adapted to secure the section of tissue by pressure applied to the section of secured tissue between the first and second portions when the first and second portions are brought together; at least one of the first fitting and the hole is adapted to allow fluid flow from the external fluid flow system into the section of tissue, and the relative movement permitted by the engagement of the pre-positioning structure and the complementary pre-positioning structure allows the first portion and the second portion to be positioned relative to each other such that a first sealing surface on the first portion is parallel to a second sealing surface on the second portion when the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are spaced apart and allows the first and second portions to be brought together, while maintaining the first sealing surface parallel to the second sealing surface, to secure the section of tissue.