Method and Apparatus for RF Anastomosis

1 . A method for creating an anastomosis between vessels or organs, comprising the steps of:

fusing tissues together with RF electrocautery to create a seal between two or more tissue surfaces; and

making an opening between said tissue surfaces at a location at which said tissues are fused together to allow fluid communication between structures defined by said two or more tissue surfaces.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

performing said fusing and opening steps to create a side-to-side bowel anastomosis.

3 . A method for creating a side-to-side bowel anastomosis, comprising the steps of:

using an RF device to seal and dissect two portions of a bowel having a diseased segment therebetween;

removing the diseased bowel segment;

creating openings in the sealed end of each of the two portions of the bowel to accommodate the jaws of said RF device;

inserting the jaws of said RF device into the openings in both ends of the bowel, clamping the jaws of the RF device together with opposing electrodes thereof facing walls of the two portions of the bowel, and applying RF energy to create a sealed region therebetween; and

dissecting a portion of the sealed region along a bowel axis to create an opening between the two portions of the bowel to allow fluid communication therebetween; and

using the RF device to seal both ends of the bowel;

wherein two healthy portions of the bowel are communicatively joined in a side-to-side fashion.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of:

using a cutting blade in the RF device to create said opening between the two portions of the bowel.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of:

creating said openings in the sealed end of each of the two portions of the bowel by cutting corners out of the sealed end regions thereof.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of:

using said RF device to seal and remove a mesentery that supplies said diseased segment of the bowel.

7 . The method of claim 3 , said step of using the RF device to seal and dissect both ends of the bowel to isolate and remove the diseased segment further comprising the steps of:

sealing the ends of each of the two portions of the bowel by the application of RF energy to the bowel on either side of the diseased bowel segment through a pair of electrode-bearing jaws; and

using a blade within the RF device to cut the diseased segment away from the two sealed portions of the bowel.

8 . An apparatus for creating an anastomosis between vessels or organs, comprising:

an RF device having a pair of jaws comprising opposed electrode surfaces that are configured for fusing tissues together with RF electrocautery to create a seal between two or more tissue surfaces; and

means within said RF device for making an opening between said tissue surfaces at a location at which said tissues are fused together to allow fluid communication between structures defined by said two or more tissue surfaces.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said RF device is adapted for use to create a side-to-side bowel anastomosis.

10 . An apparatus for creating a side-to-side bowel anastomosis, comprising:

an RF device having a pair of jaws comprising opposed electrode surfaces that are configured to seal and dissect two portions of a bowel having a diseased segment therebetween;

said RF device jaws being configured for insertion into the openings in both ends of the bowel, said RF device jaws being operable to clamp the jaws of the RF device together with opposing electrodes thereof facing walls of the two portions of the bowel, and said electrodes being operable to apply RF energy to create a sealed region therebetween; and

said RF device comprising a cutting device for dissecting a portion of the sealed region along a bowel axis to create an opening between the two portions of the bowel to allow fluid communication therebetween; and

said RF device being configured to seal both ends of the bowel;

wherein two healthy portions of the bowel are communicatively joined in a side-to-side fashion.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a cutting blade in the RF device to create said opening between the two portions of the bowel.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the RF device configured to seal the ends of each of the two portions of the bowel by the application of RF energy to the bowel on either side of the diseased bowel segment through a pair of electrode-bearing jaws; and

a blade within the RF device for cutting the diseased segment away from the two sealed portions of the bowel.