Magnetic compression anastomosis device

1. An apparatus for joining organ wall portions of first and second hollow organs, comprising:

first and second connectors, wherein either one or both of the first and second connectors is capable of producing a magnetic field; and

a device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs, wherein the device is configured to axially align the first and second connectors for performing circular anastomosis of the first and second hollow organs, the device including:

a neck portion adapted to releasably house the second connector at a distal end of the neck portion; and

a head portion including a proximal end, wherein the first connector is detachably affixed to the head portion, wherein the second connector includes an inner diametrical surface defining a cavity therethrough, the inner diametrical surface configured to allow the head portion to be retracted through the cavity, the head portion further including:

a rod extending axially outward from the proximal end of the head portion and configured to be detachably mountable to a distal portion of the neck portion; and

a knife having a cutting edge disposed at the proximal end of the head portion, wherein, after the rod is mounted to the distal portion of the neck portion and the organ wall portions of the first and second hollow organs are pulled into close approximation, as the head portion is retracted into the neck portion, the knife is pulled from a distal-most position to a proximal-most position to core tissue within the first and second hollow organs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein either one or both of the first and second connectors is formed substantially entirely of a magnetic material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the knife is less than a diameter of the inner diametrical surface of the second connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs further includes a handle portion, and wherein the neck portion is supported on a distal end of the handle portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each one of the first and second connectors has a generally annular body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the neck portion includes a sleeve portion at the distal end of the neck portion, the sleeve portion configured to releasably house the second connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the neck portion further includes an actuator that is movable in relation to the sleeve portion between a first position, in which disengagement of the head portion from the actuator is allowed, and a second position, in which disengagement of the head portion from the actuator is prevented.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the rod is slideably receivable into the actuator and includes an annular recess configured to be engaged by the actuator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, after the rod is engaged by the actuator, as the actuator is retracted into the neck portion, the organ wall portions of the first and second hollow organs are pulled into close approximation and magnetic attraction between the first and second connectors maintains a compression force on said organ wall portions.

10. An apparatus for joining organ wall portions of first and second hollow organs, comprising:

a first connector having a substantially annular ring shape, the first connector including a first inner diametrical surface defining a first cavity therethrough,

a second connector having a substantially annular ring shape, the second connector including a second inner diametrical surface defining a second cavity therethrough, wherein either one or both of the first and second connectors is capable of producing a magnetic field; and

a device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs, the device including:

a neck portion adapted to releasably house the second connector at a distal end of the neck portion; and

a head portion including an outer diametrical surface and a proximal end, wherein a diameter of the outer diametrical surface is less than a diameter of the second inner diametrical surface, wherein the first connector is detachably affixed to the head portion, the head portion further including:

an annular knife having a cutting edge disposed at the proximal end of the head portion, wherein, when the head portion is retracted into the neck portion, the annular knife is pulled from a distal-most position to a proximal-most position to core tissue within the first and second hollow organs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the device for delivering and deploying the first and second connectors to portions of the first and second hollow organs further includes a handle portion, and wherein the neck portion is supported on a distal end of the handle portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second connectors includes a protrusion to provide an increased tissue-to-tissue contact area when the first and second connectors are axially-aligned.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second connectors each include an inner connector member and an outer connector member, wherein each outer connector member is adapted to provide an increased tissue-to-tissue contact area when the first and second connectors are axially-aligned.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the neck portion includes a sleeve portion at the distal end of the neck portion, the sleeve portion configured to releasably house the second connector.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the neck portion further includes an actuator that is movable in relation to the sleeve portion between a first position, in which disengagement of the head portion from the actuator is allowed, and a second position, in which disengagement of the head portion from the actuator is prevented.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a rod extending axially outward from the proximal end of the head portion and configured to be detachably mountable to a distal portion of the neck portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the rod is slideably receivable into the actuator and includes an annular recess configured to be engaged by the actuator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein, after the rod is engaged by the actuator, as the actuator is retracted into the neck portion, the organ wall portions of the first and second hollow organs are pulled into close approximation and magnetic attraction between the first and second connectors maintains a compression force on said organ wall portions.