Method and apparatus for anastomosis including an anchoring sleeve

1. An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising:

a) a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable anchor formed near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the expandable anchor having a first position within a radial dimension of the tubular body and a second position outside the radial dimension of the tubular body, the expandable anchor having a plurality of barbs for engaging the first body vessel, the barbs being arranged to face in a proximal direction when the expandable anchor is in the second position; and

b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plunger assembly received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged for selectively engaging an interior surface of the expandable anchor to deploy the expandable anchor from the first position to the second position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plunger assembly comprises a head portion longitudinally movable relative to the tubular body to selectively engage the interior surface of the expandable anchor, the head portion dimensioned to press radially outward on the interior surface of the expandable anchor to deploy the expandable anchor from the first position to the second position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the head portion comprises a coupling element configured to selectively engage a corresponding coupling element formed near the distal end of the tubular body.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the coupling element of the head portion and the coupling element formed near the distal end of the tubular body comprise corresponding helical threads.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the coupling element of the head portion and the coupling element formed near the distal end of the tubular body comprise corresponding a bayonet type coupling.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plunger assembly is longitudinally movable relative to the tubular body to selectively approximate the first body vessel and the second body vessel when the expandable anchor is in the second position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchor comprises an onion portion of the tubular body, the onion portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of longitudinally oriented slots.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein each of the ribs has at least one flexure line defined therein.

10. An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising:

a) a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable anchor formed near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the expandable anchor defining an over-center mechanism having a retracted position within a radial dimension of the tubular body and an expanded position outside the radial dimension of the tubular body;

b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body; and

c) a plunger assembly received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged to selectively advance distally past the expandable anchor to deploy the expandable anchor from the retracted position to the expanded position.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the expandable anchor is biased when in the retracted position and unbiased when in the expanded position.