Devices and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis

• US 5,695,504 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gifford, Hanson S. III, Stein, Jeffrey A., Bolduc, Lee R., Costa, Peter F., Holmes, William A., DiCesare, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US08/394,333
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/151, 606/152, 606/153, 606/154, 606/155, 606/219
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1103 Approximator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol

Abstract

A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple. A second aspect of the invention includes an anastomotic fitting, having an inner flange over which the graft vessel is everted and an outer flange which contacts the exterior surface of the target vessel. A tailored amount of compression applied by the inner and outer flanges grips the target vessel wall and creates a leak-proof seal between the graft vessel and the target vessel. A third aspect of the invention has a flange to which the graft vessel attaches, by everting the graft vessel over the flange, and a plurality of staple-like members which attach the flange and the everted end of the graft vessel to the wall of the target vessel to form the anastomosis.

Claims

1. An anastomosis device for connection to a wall of a target vessel in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis device comprising:

a graft vessel having a free end, a conduit portion adjacent said free end, and a graft vessel lumen extending therethrough;

an anchor member, said anchor member having a body with a central opening and a plurality of attachment legs extending from said body adjacent said central opening configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the conduit portion of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said graft vessel lumen is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel;

wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs is deformable from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein, in said deployed configuration, said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel inwardly toward said body of said anchor member, and wherein said coupling member is atraumatic to at least said conduit portion of said graft vessel between said proximal and distal ends of said coupling member.

2. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a central opening and a plurality of attachment legs adjacent said central opening configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel;

wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs is deformable from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration, the initial configuration comprising a first segment extending generally laterally away from said central opening, a transition segment connecting said first segment to a distal segment extending generally axially with respect to said anchor member, and a distal end configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel.

3. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2 wherein said attachment legs are configured to attach said anchor member to an exterior surface of said wall of said target vessel at a position external to said lumen of said target vessel.

4. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2 wherein, in said deployed configuration, each of said plurality of attachment legs penetrates said wall of said target vessel with said distal segment contacting an interior surface of said wall of said target vessel.

5. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2 wherein, in said deployed configuration, said distal segment of each of said plurality of attachment legs is approximately parallel to said first segment.

6. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2 wherein said anchor member comprises a ring-shaped body configured to receive said coupling member within a central opening within said ring-shaped body.

7. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2, wherein said coupling member is initially separable from said anchor member and said coupling mechanism is configured to allow said coupling member to be connected to said anchor member after said anchor member has been attached to said wall of said target vessel.

8. The anastomosis staple device of claim 2, wherein said coupling member is configured to extend into said opening in said wall of said target vessel and to hold the everted end of said graft vessel within said opening in contact with an interior surface within said opening when said coupling member is connected to said anchor member.

9. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a body with a central opening and a plurality of attachment legs extending from said body adjacent said central opening configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel;

wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs is deformable from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein, in said deployed configuration, said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel inwardly toward said body of said anchor member.

10. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a central opening and a plurality of attachment legs adjacent said central opening configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel;

wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs is deformable from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein, in said deployed configuration, said plurality of attachment legs is configured to axially compress said graft vessel against said wall of said target vessel.

11. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel though an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a plurality of attachment legs configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein said coupling member is configured to hold the everted end of said graft vessel in contact with an exterior surface of said wall of said target vessel when said coupling member is connected to said anchor member.

12. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a plurality of attachment legs configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein;

said anchor member comprises a ring-shaped body configured to receive said coupling member within a central opening within said ring-shaped body,

said plurality of attachment legs extending from said ring-shaped body, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel, and to attach said ring-shaped body to an exterior surface of said wall of said target vessel at a position external to said lumen of said target vessel,

and wherein said coupling member is initially separable from said anchor member and said coupling means is configured to allow said coupling member to be connected to said anchor member after said anchor member has been attached to said wall of said target vessel.

13. The anastomosis staple device of claim 12, wherein said coupling means comprises at least one retaining clip connected to said ring-shaped body of said anchor member, said retaining clip being configured to engage said proximal end of said tubular body of said coupling member.

14. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a plurality of attachment legs configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein;

said anchor member comprises a tubular extension configured to receive said coupling member within a central opening within said tubular extension,

a flange extending from a distal end of said tubular extension, said plurality of attachment legs being connected to said flange, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel, and to attach said flange and said tubular extension to an exterior surface of said wall of said target vessel at a position external to said lumen of said target vessel,

and wherein said coupling member is initially separable from said anchor member and said coupling means is configured to allow said coupling member to be connected to said anchor member after said anchor member has been attached to said wall of said target vessel.

15. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

an anchor member, said anchor member having a plurality of attachment legs configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein said anchor member has a central opening for receiving the coupling member, and said coupling mechanism comprises an hourglass-shaped internal contour within said central opening of said anchor member and a corresponding hourglass-shaped external contour on said tubular body of said coupling member, whereby said coupling member is coupled to said anchor member by insertion of the hourglass-shaped external contour of said tubular body into the hourglass-shaped internal contour within said central opening of said anchor member.

16. An anastomosis staple device for connecting to a wall of a target vessel in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a graft vessel selected from the group consisting of allografts, xenografts and artificial grafts, said graft vessel having a free end and a graft vessel lumen therethrough;

an anchor member, said anchor member having a plurality of attachment legs configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel for attaching said anchor member to said wall of said target vessel,

a coupling member, said coupling member having a tubular body with an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of the graft vessel, a proximal end, and a distal end configured to allow eversion of said free end of said graft vessel thereover to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member, and

a coupling mechanism operative on the coupling member and the anchor member for attaching said coupling member to said anchor member such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said graft vessel lumen is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel;

wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs is deformable from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein, in said deployed configuration, said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel inwardly toward said body of said anchor member.

17. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member, and

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel, wherein said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel toward said tubular member.

18. The anastomosis staple device of claim 17 wherein said tubular member comprises a distal end configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member by everting said free end of said graft vessel over said distal end of said tubular member.

19. The anastomosis staple device of claim 18, wherein said tubular member is configured to extend into said opening in said wall of said target vessel and to hold the everted end of said graft vessel within said opening in contact with an interior surface within said opening.

20. The anastomosis staple device of claim 17 further comprising a flange connected to a distal end of said tubular member, said flange being configured to engage an interior surface of said wall of said target vessel.

21. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member,

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel; and

a flange connected to a distal end of said tubular member, said flange being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member by everting said free end of said graft vessel over said flange, wherein said tubular member is configured to extend into said opening in said wall of said target vessel and said flange is configured to hold the everted end of said graft vessel in contact with an interior surface of said wall of said target vessel, wherein said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel radially toward said tubular member.

22. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member,

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel; and

a flange connected to a distal end of said tubular member, said flange being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said coupling member by everting said free end of said graft vessel over said flange, wherein said tubular member is configured to extend into said opening in said wall of said target vessel and said flange is configured to hold the everted end of said graft vessel in contact with an interior surface of said wall of said target vessel, wherein said plurality of attachment legs is configured to axially compress said graft vessel against said wall of said target vessel.

23. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member, and

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel, wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs has a first segment which is attached to said tubular member at an attachment point, and a second segment connected to said first segment, said second segment describing an arc having a radius of curvature with a center of rotation proximate said attachment point, said second segment having a tip configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel,

whereby as the first segment is rotated about said attachment point, said tip of said second segment penetrates said wall of said target vessel and said second segment traverses said wall in an arcuate path.

24. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member, and

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel, wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs has a first segment which is attached to said tubular member at an attachment point, and a second segment which describes an arc having a radius of curvature with a center of rotation proximate said attachment point, and a transition segment connecting said first segment to said second segment, said transition segment describing an arc having a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of said second segment, said second segment having a tip configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel,

whereby as the first segment is rotated about said attachment point, said tip of said second segment penetrates said wall of said target vessel and said second segment traverses said wall in an arcuate path, and subsequently said transition segment traverses said wall of said target vessel compressing said wall of said target vessel radially toward said tubular member.

25. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being configured to attach said free end of said graft vessel to said tubular member, and

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel, wherein each of said plurality of attachment legs has a first segment which is attached to said tubular member at an attachment point, said attachment point defining a primary center of rotation, and a second segment connected to said first segment, said second segment describing an arc having a radius of curvature with a center of rotation proximate said attachment point, said first segment having a bending point defining a secondary center of rotation on said first segment intermediate said tubular member and said second segment, said second segment having a tip configured to penetrate said wall of said target vessel,

whereby as the first segment is rotated about said primary center of rotation, said tip of said second segment penetrates said wall of said target vessel and said second segment traverses said wall in an arcuate path, and subsequently said first segment bends about said secondary center of rotation, thereby compressing said wall of said target vessel radially toward said tubular member.

26. The anastomosis staple device of claim 25, further comprising a ledge which extends from an exterior surface of said tubular body and which contacts each of said first segments at said bending point on said first segment intermediate said tubular member and said second segment, thereby providing said secondary center of rotation about which said first segment bends to compress said wall of said target vessel radially toward said tubular member.

27. An anastomosis staple device for connecting a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the anastomosis staple device comprising:

a graft vessel selected from the group consisting of allografts, xenografts and artificial grafts, said graft vessel having a free end and a graft vessel lumen therethrough;

a tubular member having an internal lumen of sufficient size to accommodate an external diameter of said graft vessel, said tubular member being attached to said free end of said graft vessel, and

a plurality of attachment legs extending from said tubular member, said plurality of attachment legs being configured to at least partially penetrate said wall of said target vessel, wherein said plurality of attachment legs is configured to compress said wall of said target vessel toward said tubular member.

28. A method of performing an anastomosis to connect a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the method comprising:

attaching an anchor member to an exterior surface of said target vessel;

creating an opening in said wall of said target vessel;

attaching a coupling member to said free end of said graft vessel; and

connecting said coupling member to said anchor member so as to hold said coupling member proximate said wall of said target vessel such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein said anchor member is attached to said exterior surface of said target vessel by penetrating said wall of said target vessel with a plurality of attachment legs connected to said anchor member, and subsequently deforming said attachment legs to affix said anchor member to said exterior surface of said target vessel.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said anchor member is attached to said exterior surface of said target vessel by penetrating said wall of said target vessel with a plurality of attachment legs connected to said anchor member.

30. The method of claim 28 where said coupling member is attached to said free end of said graft vessel with an attachment that is atraumatic to said graft vessel.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of attaching said coupling member to said free end of said graft vessel includes the substeps of passing said free end of said graft vessel through an internal lumen of said coupling member and everting said end of said graft vessel over a distal surface of said coupling member.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of axially compressing the everted end of said graft vessel against said wall of said target vessel to create an anastomotic seal.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of connecting said coupling member to said anchor member includes the substep of approximating the everted end of said graft vessel to said exterior surface of said target vessel.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of connecting said coupling member to said anchor member includes the substep of inserting said coupling member with said graft vessel attached into said opening in said wall of said target vessel thereby approximating the everted end of said graft vessel to an interior surface of said target vessel.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of radially compressing said wall of said target vessel around said coupling member to create an anastomotic seal between the everted end of said graft vessel and said wall of said target vessel.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein said anchor member has a ring-shaped body having an orifice therethrough and the step of connecting said coupling member to said anchor member comprises the substep of inserting said coupling member into said orifice in said anchor member.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein said anchor member is attached to said exterior surface of said target vessel prior to creating said opening in said wall of said target vessel, and wherein said opening in said wall of said target vessel is created by inserting a vessel punch through an orifice within said anchor member and cutting an opening in said wall of said target vessel in alignment with said orifice within said anchor member.

38. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of attaching an anchor member to an exterior surface of a target vessel comprises attaching said anchor member to an exterior surface of an aorta of a patient.

39. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of attaching a coupling member to a free end of a graft vessel comprises attaching said coupling member to a free end of a coronary artery bypass graft.

40. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of

creating at least one access port into a chest cavity of a patient through an intercostal space of the patient without cutting a sternum of said patient;

inserting said anchor member into said chest cavity through said access port; and

inserting said coupling member into said chest cavity through said access port.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of:

imaging said target vessel with an endoscopic imaging instrument inserted through an access port into said chest cavity of said patient through an intercostal space of the patient.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of attaching a coupling member to said free end of said graft vessel includes the substeps of passing said free end of a said graft vessel out of the chest of the patient through said at least one access port, attaching said coupling member to said free end of said graft vessel outside of the chest of the patient, and reinserting the free end of said graft vessel with the coupling member attached into the chest of the patient through said at least one access port.

43. A method of performing an anastomosis to connect a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the method comprising:

attaching an anchor member to an exterior surface of said target vessel;

creating an opening in said wall of said target vessel;

attaching a coupling member to said free end of said graft vessel; and

connecting said coupling member to said anchor member so as to hold said coupling member proximate said wall of said target vessel such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein said anchor member has a tubular extension connected thereto and the step of connecting said coupling member to said anchor member comprises the substep of inserting said coupling member into said tubular extension connected to said anchor member.

44. A method of performing an anastomosis to connect a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the method comprising:

attaching said free end of said graft vessel to an anastomosis staple by passing the end of said graft vessel through an internal lumen in said anastomosis staple and everting said free end of said graft vessel over a distal end of said anastomosis staple;

inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through said opening in said wall of said target vessel; and

penetrating said wall of said target vessel with a plurality of attachment legs connected to said anastomosis staple to hold said anastomosis staple within said opening in said wall of said target vessel such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, further comprising the step of compressing said wall of said target vessel radially toward said distal end of said anastomosis staple within said opening in said wall of said target vessel.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of everting said free end of said graft vessel over a distal end of said anastomosis staple includes the substep of everting said free end of said graft vessel over a flange connected to said distal end of said anastomosis staple.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of axially compressing the everted end of said graft vessel against said wall of said target vessel to create an anastomotic seal.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of attaching said free end of said graft vessel to an anastomosis staple comprises attaching a free end of a coronary bypass graft to said anastomosis staple.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through said opening in said wall of said target vessel comprises inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through an opening in a wall of a coronary artery within said chest cavity of said patient.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through said opening in said wall of said target vessel comprises inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through an opening in a wall of an aorta within said chest cavity of said patient.

50. The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of

creating at least one access port into a chest cavity of a patient through an intercostal space of the patient without cutting or substantially displacing any ribs or sternum of said patient;

inserting said anastomosis staple into said chest cavity through said access port.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of:

imaging said target vessel with an endoscopic imaging instrument inserted through an access port into said chest cavity of said patient through an intercostal space of the patient.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of attaching said free end of said graft vessel to an anastomosis staple includes the substeps of passing said free end of a said graft vessel out of the chest of the patient through said at least one access port, attaching said free end of said graft vessel to said anastomosis staple outside of the chest of the patient, and reinserting the free end of said graft vessel with the anastomosis staple attached into the chest of the patient through said at least one access port.

53. A method of performing an anastomosis to connect a free end of a graft vessel to a wall of a target vessel such that a lumen in the graft vessel is in fluid communication with a lumen in the target vessel through an opening in the wall of the target vessel, the method comprising:

attaching said free end of said graft vessel to an anastomosis staple by passing the end of said graft vessel through an internal lumen in said anastomosis staple and everting said free end of said graft vessel over a distal end of said anastomosis staple;

inserting said distal end of said anastomosis staple with the everted end of said graft vessel attached through said opening in said wall of said target vessel; and

penetrating said wall of said target vessel with a plurality of attachment legs connected to said anastomosis staple to hold said anastomosis staple within said opening in said wall of said target vessel such that said end of said graft vessel is sealingly connected to said wall of said target vessel and said lumen of said graft vessel is in fluid communication with said lumen of said target vessel through said opening in said wall of said target vessel, wherein the step of penetrating said wall of said target vessel with a plurality of attachment legs comprises applying a force in a distal direction to said plurality of attachment legs to deform said plurality of attachment legs such that a distal portion of said plurality of attachment legs penetrates said wall of said target vessel.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of applying a force in a distal direction to said plurality of attachment legs to deform said plurality of attachment legs comprises causing each of said plurality of attachment legs to rotate about a pivot point such that an arc-shaped distal portion of said plurality of attachment legs penetrates said wall of said target vessel in an arcuate path.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising a step of subsequently causing each of said plurality of attachment legs to rotate further about said pivot point such that a transition portion of said plurality of attachment legs penetrates said wall of said target vessel in an arcuate path thereby compressing said wall of said target vessel radially toward said distal end of said anastomosis staple within said opening in said wall of said target vessel.

56. The method of claim 54 further comprising a step of subsequently causing each of said plurality of attachment legs to rotate about a second pivot point thereby compressing said wall of said target vessel radially toward said distal end of said anastomosis staple within said opening in said wall of said target vessel.