Patent ID: 7018387

Claim:
A method of connecting a first hollow structure to a second hollow structure, comprising: creating an opening in the second hollow structure; providing a device having a body and a plurality of arms pivotably attached to the body, each of the plurality of arms having a proximal end and a distal end, the plurality of arms being movable about the proximal end from a first position, where the distal ends of the arms are separated by a first distance which is less than a distance of separation between the proximal ends of the anus in the first position, and a second position, where the distal ends of the arms are separated by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; positioning at least a portion of each of the plurality of arms within the opening of the second hollow structure while the plurality of arms are in the first position; moving the plurality of arms from the first position to the second position; and creating an anastomosis between the first hollow structure and the second hollow structure.