Surgical device to prepare body tissue for anastomosis

A surgical device for preparing body tissue for anastomosis by compressing body tissue and guiding a cutting blade comprising:

• a base member having at least one holding means for holding body tissue and at least one groove for guiding a cutting blade substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said at least one holding means;
• a pressure applying member cooperating with said base member, said pressure applying member including a compliant finger adapted to atraumatically compress a portion of said body tissue held within said at least one holding means, said compliant finger being provided with a curved tissue contacting surface dimensioned to fit within said at least one holding means for holding body tissue.

A surgical device for preparing body tissue for anastomosis by compressing body tissue and guiding a cutting blade comprising:

• base means having means for holding body tissue and means for guiding a cutting blade, said guiding means disposed substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said means for holding body tissue and said means for holding body tissue includes at least one holding groove in said base means;
• and
• pressure applying means including a compliant finger to compress a portion of body tissue held by said at least one holding groove.

A surgical device for compressing body tissue and guiding a cutting blade comprising:

• a base member having at least one holding means for holding body tissue and first and second grooves for guiding a cutting blade substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said at least one holding means, said first and second grooves being of unequal size;
• a pressure-applying member cooperating with said base member, said pressure-applying member having at least one projection adapted to atraumatically compress a portion of said body tissue held within said at least one holding means.

A surgical device for compressing body tissue and guiding a cutting blade comprising:

• a base member having at least one holding means for holding body tissue and at least one groove oriented substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said at least one holding means for guiding a cutting blade;
• a pressure-applying member cooperating with said base member, said pressure-applying member having at least one projection adapted to atraumatically compress a portion of said body tissue held within said at least one holding means, said pressure-applying member having a width less than the width of said at least one holding means such that differential compression is applied along the length of body tissue.