Laparoscopic anastomosis devices and methods of use thereof

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first end effector element defining a first receptacle configured to hold a first coupler element of a coupler;
• a first articulating member coupling a proximal end of the first end effector element to an elongate body;
• a second end effector element defining a second receptacle configured to hold a second coupler element of the coupler, a distal end of the second end effector element coupled to a distal end of the first end effector element such that the first and second effector elements can articulate about their respective distal ends;
• and
• a second articulating member coupling a proximal end of the second end effector element to the elongate body,
• wherein the end effector is configured to move between:
• (i) a first configuration in which the first and second articulating members dispose the first and second end effector elements to allow a first axial end of a first vessel to be received into the first coupler element;
• (ii) a second configuration different from the first configuration in which the first and second articulating members dispose the first and second end effector to allow a second axial end of a second vessel to be received into the second coupler element;
• and (iii) a third configuration in which the first and second articulating members dispose at least a portion of the first end effector element proximate to a corresponding portion of the second end effector element such that the first coupler element is coupled to the second coupler elements to couple the first vessel to the second vessel.

A method for anastomosis of a first vessel with a second vessel within a body of a patient, comprising:

• inserting a distal end of an elongate body of an apparatus into the body of the patient, an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongate body, the end effector including a first end effector element coupled to the elongate body via a first articulating member, and a second end effector element coupled to the elongate body via a second articulating member;
• moving the end effector into a first configuration in which at least a portion of the first end effector is nearly perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body;
• inserting an axial end of the first vessel through a first coupler element coupled to the first end effector element;
• moving the end effector into a second configuration in which at least a portion of the second end effector element is nearly perpendicular to the axis of the elongate body;
• inserting an axial end of the second vessel through a second coupler element coupled to the second end effector element;
• moving the end effector into a third configuration to cause at least the portion of the first end effector element to move proximate to the corresponding portion of the second end effector element to couple the first coupler element to the second coupler element, thereby coupling the first vessel to the second vessel;
• and
• releasing the first coupler element from the first end effector element and the second coupler element from the second end effector element.

A method for anastomosis, the method comprising:

• transitioning, after an end effector of an anastomosis device has been positioned into a body of a patient, the end effector to a first configuration;
• receiving, when the end effector is in the first configuration, an axial end of a first vessel through a first coupler element mounted to a first portion of the end effector;
• transitioning the end effector to a second configuration different from the first configuration;
• receiving, when the end effector is in the second configuration, an axial end of a second vessel through a second coupler element mounted to a second portion of the end effector;
• transitioning the end effector into a third configuration in which at least the first portion of the end effector is positioned proximate to the second portion of the end effector to couple the first coupler element to the second coupler element, thereby coupling the first vessel to the second vessel;
• and
• releasing the first and second coupler elements from the end effector.