Method and apparatus for radical prostatectomy anastomosis

1. An apparatus for performing a surgical anastomosis, comprising:

a tubular body defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the tubular body having a first expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof; and

a sleeve slidably received about the tubular body, the sleeve having a second expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof;

the first expandable anchor including a central hub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the central hub, an annular ring interconnecting a distal end of each of the plurality of spokes and at least one contact portion protruding from the annular ring at the intersection of each of the plurality of spokes and the annular ring in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the central hub, the plurality of spokes and the annular ring define a cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first expandable anchor has a first position in which the first expandable anchor has a radius which is at most equal to the radius of the tubular body and a second position in which the first expandable anchor has a radius which is greater than the radius of the tubular body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second expandable anchor has a first position in which the second expandable anchor is at most equal to the radius of the sleeve and a second position in which the second expandable anchor has a radius which is greater than the radius of the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact portion includes a spherical portion portion has a radial diameter that is greater than a radial diameter of the annular ring.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first expandable anchor is inflatable, the tubular body including an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the cavity of the expandable anchor of the tubular body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body defines a lumen extending therethrough and includes an opening formed near a distal end thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second expandable anchor defines a cavity and the sleeve includes an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the cavity of the second expandable anchor.

8. An apparatus for performing a surgical anastomosis, comprising:

a tubular body having a first expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof and defining a longitudinal axis; and

a sleeve slidably received about the tubular body, the sleeve having a second expandable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof;

the first expandable anchor including an annular ring concentric with the longitudinal axis, the annular ring defined by a plurality of discrete members radially spaced around the annular ring, a plurality of spokes attached to the annular ring and at least one contact portion protruding from the annular ring at the intersection of each of the plurality of spokes and the annular ring.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein includes a the at least one contact portion includes a spherical portion spherical portion has a radial diameter that is greater than a radial diameter of the annular ring.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first expandable anchor is inflatable, the tubular body including an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the cavity of the expandable anchor of the tubular body.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the tubular body defines a lumen extending therethrough and includes an opening formed near a distal end thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second expandable anchor defines a cavity and the sleeve includes an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the cavity of the second expandable anchor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second expandable anchor comprises an expandable anchor selected from the group consisting of: a sponge and a plurality of flexible arms biased toward an expanded position.

14. A method for performing a radical prostatectomy anastomosis, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising a tubular body defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the tubular body having a first inflatable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof; and a sleeve slidably received about the tubular body, the sleeve having a second inflatable anchor operatively coupled near a distal end thereof; the first inflatable anchor including a central hub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the central hub, an annular ring interconnecting a distal end of each of the plurality of spokes and at least one contact portion protruding from the annular ring at the intersection of each of the plurality of spokes and the annular ring in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the central hub, the plurality of spokes and the annular ring define a cavity;

passing the apparatus through a urethra and into a bladder such that the first inflatable anchor on the tubular body of the apparatus is positioned distally of the bladder;

inflating the first inflatable anchor of the tubular body to engage the bladder;

positioning the sleeve of the apparatus so that the second inflatable anchor on the sleeve is located near the urethra;

inflating the second inflatable anchor of the sleeve to engage the urethra;

withdrawing the tubular body until the bladder contacts a distal end of the urethra; and

fixing the tubular body relative to the sleeve.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of removing a prostate gland by freeing the urethra from the prostate gland to thereby define a urethral stump, and freeing the prostate gland from the bladder to thereby define a bladder neck.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of maintaining the tubular body and sleeve within the bladder and urethra for a period of time sufficient for the bladder neck and urethral stump to heal and grow together.

17. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising the step of draining fluid from the bladder through an opening that provides access to a central lumen in the tubular body.