Anastomosis System with Cutting Element

1 . A surgical tool for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, comprising:

an anvil;

a cutting element connected to said anvil; and

an energy source connected to said cutting element, wherein said energy source is configured to deliver energy to said cutting element.

2 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein said cutting element is configured to vibrate upon delivery of energy thereto.

3 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein said cutting element further comprises an emitter connected to said energy source.

4 . The surgical tool of claim 3 , wherein said emitter is configured to emit laser energy upon delivery of energy thereto.

5 . The surgical tool of claim 3 , wherein said emitter is configured to emit radio frequency energy upon delivery of energy thereto.

6 . The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein said cutting element is movably connected to said anvil.

7 . The surgical tool of claim 6 , wherein said anvil includes a channel defined therein, wherein said cutting element is movable within and along said channel.

8 . The surgical tool of claim 7 , wherein said cutting element includes at least one projection extending generally upward.

9 . The surgical tool of claim 8 , wherein at least one said projection is movable upward, then along, then downward relative to said channel.

10 . A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, each vessel having a lumen therein, comprising:

placing an end of the graft vessel against a side of the target vessel;

creating an opening in the wall of the target vessel at a first location;

inserting an anvil through the opening from outside the wall of the target vessel into the lumen of the target vessel;

creating an incision in the wall of the target vessel, the incision spaced apart from the first location; and

connecting the graft vessel to the target vessel.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said creating an incision is performed by translating a cutting element relative to said anvil.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said placing an end of the graft vessel against a side of the target vessel defines a closed area on the side of the target vessel, and said incising is performed by controlling said cutting element to position said incision entirely within the closed area.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said controlling is performed by biasing said cutting element upward and providing at least one control element on the upper surface of said cutting element.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said controlling is performed by biasing said cutting element downward and providing at least one control element on the lower surface of said cutting element.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said anvil includes a channel defined therein, and wherein at least part of said translating comprises translating at least part of said cutting element within and along said channel.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said cutting element includes at least one projection extending generally upward; further comprises moving said projection to a position completely within said channel after said creating an incision.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said creating an incision is performed outward from the lumen of the target vessel through the wall of the target vessel.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said creating an incision is performed by delivering energy from said cutting element to the wall of the target vessel.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said delivering energy comprises delivering ultrasonic energy.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said delivering energy comprises delivering laser energy.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said delivering energy comprises delivering radio frequency energy.