Patent ID: 7621924

Claim:
A device for joining a first body vessel to a second body vessel, comprising: a) a cartridge having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis wherein the cartridge comprises an inner member and an outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member, the sutures being disposed in channels formed in the inner member; b) a radially expandable anchor disposed at the distal end of the cartridge for engaging the first body vessel, the expandable anchor having an initial condition and an expanded condition wherein the expandable anchor is radially larger than the expandable anchor in the initial condition; c) a plurality of sutures disposed within the cartridge and being deployable therefrom so as to engage the second body vessel, the sutures being threaded through the expandable anchor; and d) a plurality of needle anchors, wherein each needle anchor of the plurality of needle anchors is attached to a distal end of a corresponding one of the plurality of sutures; wherein the expandable anchor is disposed between the inner member and the outer member.