Circular stapling devices with tissue-puncturing anvil features

A circular surgical stapling device, comprising:

• a staple cartridge operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein;
• a trocar shaft having a tissue-piercing tip formed thereon, said trocar shaft being selectively axially movable relative to said staple cartridge;
• and
• an umbrella-like anvil assembly movably supported relative to said staple cartridge, said umbrella-like anvil assembly comprising a plurality of anvil plate segments movably supported relative to each other for selective movement from an unexpanded orientation to an expanded orientation in response to an application of actuation motion applied thereto by said trocar shaft, said plurality of anvil plate segments forming an annular anvil plate assembly in substantial confronting relationship to said staple cartridge when said anvil assembly is in said expanded orientation.

A surgical procedure for forming an anastomosis comprising:

• providing a circular stapler having a staple cartridge end with an anvil attached thereto that is selectively movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• orienting the anvil in a collapsed orientation;
• inserting the staple cartridge end with collapsed anvil attached thereto through an opening in a patient;
• piercing through target tissues through which the anastomosis is to be formed with the staple cartridge end with anvil attached thereto;
• expanding the anvil such that the target tissues are located between the expanded anvil and the staple cartridge end;
• firing the stapler to drive surgical staples supported in the staple cartridge into forming contact with the expanded anvil;
• and
• removing the staple cartridge end with an anvil attached thereto from the patient.