Importance

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Abstract

There is disclosed a surgical instrument and loading unit for performing an anastomosis of first and second blood vessels. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly and a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly. The detachable loading unit includes an anvil releasably engagable with a distal end of the body portion and having a plurality of fasteners disposed in channels about the circumference of a distal end of the anvil. A pusher is slidably mounted over the anvil such that distal movement of the pusher in response to actuation of the handle assembly cams the fasteners between the anvil and a distal end of the pusher to simultaneously crimp the fasteners about tissue. A method of performing an anastomosis is also disclosed and includes positioning a first vessel in the loading unit and partially inserting the first vessel through an opening in a second vessel. The surgical instrument is subsequently attached to the loading unit and the handle assembly is actuated to crimp fasteners about the first and second vessels to form an anastomosis.

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First Claim