Expandable Compression Rings for Improved Anastomotic Joining of Tissues

A circular anastomosis stapler kit comprising:

• a) A compression device having an upper ring-shaped or disk-shaped flange at a distal end of said device connected to a lower ring-shaped expandable flange at a proximal end of said device via a hollow cylindrical tubular body and an opening forming an axial passage through said upper flange, lower flange, and tubular body;
• and
• b) an anastomotic stapler comprising a stapling head and an anvil moveable longitudinally relative to the stapling head and mounted on an axially extending moveable shaft,
• wherein said compression device can be releasably attachable to said anvil.

A method of establishing an anastomotic joint between tubular tissue lumens with an anastomotic stapler, the stapler having a stapling head connectable to an opposing anvil and the stapling head containing a plurality of deployable staples, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. Axially positioning on the anvil a compression device having an upper ring-shaped or disk-shaped flange at a distal end of said device connected to a lower ring-shaped expandable flange at a proximal end of said device via a hollow cylindrical tubular body and an opening forming an axial passage through said upper flange, lower flange, and tubular body;
• b. Axially inserting the anvil into a first tubular tissue;
• c. Axially inserting the anastomotic stapler into a second tubular tissue;
• d. Connecting the anvil to the stapling head via an anvil shaft;
• e. Approximating the anvil and the stapling head and compressing said first and second tubular tissues between the stapling head and the anvil;
• f. Firing the anastomotic stapler and establishing the anastomotic joint between said first and second tubular tissues;
• g. Partially withdrawing the anastomotic stapler thus positioning said compression device with said upper flange above stapled areas of said first and second tubular tissues and said lower flange below the stapled areas of said first and second tubular tissues;
• h. Expanding said upper flange;
• i. Expanding said lower flange, thus compressing the stapled areas of said first and second tubular tissues between the upper flange and the lower flange;
• j. Removing the anastomotic stapler from the tubular tissues;
• k. Separating the anastomotic stapler from the compression device;
• and
• l. Leaving the compression device within said first and second tubular tissues with the upper flange above the stapled areas and the lower flange below the stapled areas.