Laparoscopic or endoscopic anastomosis technique and associated instruments

A method for connected two hollow organs so that the organs communicate with one another, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a flexible fiber optic endoscope assembly through an opening in a patient into a first hollow organ of the patient;
• during said step of inserting, utilizing light-transmitting componentry of said endoscope assembly to visually inspect said first hollow organ internally;
• upon insertion of said endoscope assembly to a desired surgical site inside said first hollow organ, as determined during said step of utilizing, ejecting from a distal end of said endoscope assembly a stapling device having a flexible shaft and a first staple forming member at a distal end of said shaft;
• inserting a cooperating second staple forming member into a second hollow organ;
• moving said first staple forming member towards a cooperating second staple forming member disposed in said second hollow organ, thereby clamping walls of said first and said second hollow organ to one another between said first and said second staple forming member;
• in essentially a single stapling operation, firing a plurality of staples in an endless type configuration from one of said first and said second staple forming member through said walls towards the other of said first and said second staple forming member;
• closing said staples during said step of firing, thereby stapling said first hollow organ to said second hollow organ at said surgical site;
• in an area enclosed by the fired staples, cutting substantially aligned apertures in said first hollow organ and said second hollow organ;
• and
• removing said first staple forming member and said second staple forming member from said first and said second hollow organ.

A method for forming an anastomosis, comprising the steps of:

• inserting into a first hollow organ part a stapling device including a stapling member with a plurality of staples in an endless type configuration, said stapling member being attached to a distal end of an elongate shaft;
• inserting into a second hollow organ part an anvil member;
• juxtaposing a first side wall of said first hollow organ part to a second side wall of said second hollow organ part;
• clamping said first side wall and said second side wall to one another between said stapling member and said anvil member;
• in essentially a single stapling operation, firing, from said stapling member towards said anvil member, said plurality of staples in a common direction transverse relative to said shaft at the distal end thereof;
• closing said staples during said step of firing, thereby stapling said first hollow organ part to said second hollow organ part;
• in an area enclosed by the fired staples, cutting substantially aligned apertures in said first hollow organ part and said second hollow organ part;
• and
• removing said stapling member and said anvil member from said first and said second hollow organ part.

A method for performing a choledocoduodenostomy, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a flexible fiber optic endoscope assembly through a patient's mouth, the esophagus, and the stomach;
• during said step of inserting, utilizing light-transmitting componentry of said endoscope assembly to visually inspect tissues along an insertion path;
• upon insertion of said endoscope assembly to a desired surgical site inside the duodenum of the patient, as determined by utilizing the light-transmitting componentry of said endoscope assembly, ejecting from a distal end of said endoscope assembly a stapling device having a flexible shaft and a first staple forming member at a distal end of said shaft;
• inserting a second staple forming member through an abdominal wall and the liver of the patient and into the common bile duct;
• clamping walls of the common bile duct and the duodenum to one another between said first and said second staple forming member;
• in essentially a single stapling operation, firing a plurality of staples in an endless type configuration from one of said first and said second staple forming member through said walls towards the other of said first and said second staple forming member;
• closing said staples during said step of firing, thereby stapling said duodenum to said common bile duct;
• cutting substantially aligned apertures in the walls of the duodenum and the common bile duct;
• and
• removing said first and said second staple forming member from the duodenum and the common bile duct.