Importance

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Abstract

A device for anastomosing a pair of living vessels includes a ring having at least two integrally formed hooking protrusions and an integrally formed tab by which the surgeon positions the ring. The surgeon draws an end of a first vessel through the ring and impales the wall of the vessel on the protrusions, thereby everting the first vessel. Next the surgeon hooks the second vessel wall on the protrusions to appose the intima of the vessels and anastomose the vessels. Then the surgeon detaches the tab. By using the tab to hold the ring and a forceps to manipulate the vessels, in turn, the surgeon can very rapidly join the vessels together without assistance and without approximating clamps. To aid in anastomosing vessels to a ring having outwardly-extending hooking protrusions, a microsurgical forceps is provided in which very small forked tips at the ends of the forceps. The vessel is gripped with the forceps, and the openings between the fork prongs are placed adjacent to the ends of the hooking protrusions. Then the forceps are pushed inward to impale the vessel wall with the prongs flanking the hooking protrusion. The forceps may then be slid away from the hooking protrusion, leaving the vessel wall impaled thereon.

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First Claim