Patent ID: 7204843

Claim:
A method of deforming a plurality of surgical fasteners to secure an anastomosis between first and second vessels, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of surgical fasteners each having: a base leg, a prong and an upwardly extending support leg connecting said base leg and said prong; a traumatic tip disposed at a distal end of said base leg and a traumatic tip disposed at the distal end of said prong; and a convexity which projects from said support leg in the direction of said base leg; providing an anastomosis instrument having: a fastener support member configured to releasably support said surgical fasteners; and an anvil which is movable relative to said fastener support member; everting one end of a first vessel over said traumatic tips of said surgical fasteners; inserting the end of the first vessel into an incision in a second vessel; and moving said anvil relative to said fastener support member to deform said plurality of surgical fasteners through the first and second vessels to secure the anastomosis between the two vessels such that said traumatic tip, said prong and said convexity cooperate to retain the first blood vessel against the second blood vessel after deformation of the surgical fastener.